Fourth Sunday of
Easter — May 3, 2020
Today’s Theme for
Worship:
“Good Shepherd Sunday” reminds us of the special relationship we enjoy with our
Savior.
Opening Hymn: 442 Have No Fear Little Flock
1 Have no fear, little flock; Have no
fear, little flock,
For the Father has chosen To give you the kingdom;
Have no fear, little flock!
2 Have good cheer, little flock; Have
good cheer, little flock,
For the Father will keep you In his love forever;
Have good cheer, little flock!
3 Praise the Lord high above; Praise the
Lord high above,
For he stoops down to heal you,
Uplift and restore you;
Praise the Lord high above!
4 Thankful hearts raise to God; Thankful
hearts raise to God,
For he stays close beside you, In all things works with you;
Thankful hearts raise to God!
Text: Marjorie A. Jillson,
b. 1931. From Five Hymns. © 1973 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
P: The grace of our
Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you.
C: And also with you.
Confession of Sins
P: We have come
into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear
children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment.
Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father
in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned
against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus,
my Savior, I pray: have mercy on me according to your
unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away
my guilt.
P: God, our
heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent
death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his
own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
P: In the peace of
forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
♬ Oh Taste And See
Oh,
taste and see that the Lord is good.
Bless-ed
are they who take re-fuge in him.
Your
Word, O Lord, is e-ter-nal;
it
stands firm in the heav-ens.
Your
faith-ful-ness con-tin-ues
for-ev-er.
Oh,
taste and see that the Lord is good.
Bless-ed
are they who take re-fuge in him.
Prayer of the Day
P: Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Good
Shepherd who laid down your life for the sheep. Lead us now by the still waters
of your life-giving Word that we may abide in your Father’s house forevermore;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C: ♬ Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60
Stephen dies as a martyr. He is killed because
he confesses Christ, yet, he dies in peace.
In those days, as the number of disciples
was increasing, a complaint arose from the Greek-speaking Jews against the
Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily
distribution of food.
2So the Twelve
called together the whole group of disciples and said, “It is not right for us
to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers,
carefully select from among you seven men with good reputations, who are full
of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this service. 4But
we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5This proposal
pleased the entire group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6They had these men
stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7The word of God kept
on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly. Also a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
8Now Stephen, full
of grace and power, was doing great wonders and miraculous signs among the
people. 9Some men who were from what is called the Synagogue of the
Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some from
Cilicia and Asia) rose up and disputed with Stephen.
7:2Stephen said,
“Gentlemen, brothers and fathers, listen!
51“You stiff-necked
people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit!
You are doing just what your fathers did. 52Which of the prophets
did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who prophesied the coming of
the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers— 53you
who received the law as transmitted by angels, but did
not keep it.”
54When they heard
these things, they were furious and gnashed their
teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed up into
heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56He
said, “Look, I see heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand
of God.”
57But they screamed
at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and rushed at him with one
purpose in mind. 58They threw him out of the city and stoned him.
The witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were
stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60Then
he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.” After he said this, he fell asleep.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 23 Special Music sings the
verses, congregation joins in the refrain
“I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever.”
Refrain
The Lord’s my Shepherd,
I’ll not want.
The Lord’s my Shepherd.
The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green, he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
Refrain
The Lord’s my Shepherd,
I’ll not want.
The Lord’s my Shepherd.
My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E’en for his own
name’s sake.
21Indeed, you were
called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example
so that you would follow in his steps. 22He did not commit a sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth. 23When he was insulted, he did
not insult in return. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself carried our
sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to
righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25For you were like
sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of
your souls.
Verse:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
These words are written that we may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel: John 10:1-10
Jesus
contrasts his role as the Good Shepherd with that of thieves and robbers. While
they come only to steal and kill, Jesus comes to give us life in all its
fullness.
“Amen, Amen, I tell you: Anyone who does
not enter the sheep pen by the door, but climbs in by some other way, is a
thief and a robber. 2The one who enters by the door is the shepherd
of the sheep. 3The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep
listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When
he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow
him because they know his voice. 5They will never follow a stranger,
but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus
used this illustration in speaking to the people, but they did not understand
what he was telling them.
7So Jesus said
again, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: I am the door for the sheep. 8All
who came before me were thieves and robbers, but
the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. Whoever enters
through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and
find pasture.
10“A thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
C: ♬ Praise be to you, O Christ!
Hymn of the Day: Special Music - The King of
Love My Shepherd Is
Congregation joins in verses 3 and 6.
1 The King of love my shepherd is, Whose
goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his, And he is mine forever.
2 Where streams of living water flow, My
Savior gently leads me;
And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feeds me.
3 Confused and foolish oft I strayed, But yet
in love he sought me
And on his shoulder gently laid And home, rejoicing, brought me.
4 In death’s dark vale I fear no ill With you,
dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still, Your cross before to guide me.
5 You spread a table in my sight, A banquet
here bestowing;
Your oil of welcome, my delight; My cup is
overflowing!
6 And so through all the length of days Your
goodness fails me never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever!
Text: Henry W. Baker, 1821-77, alt.
Arr. Koineʹ
Sermon 1 Peter 2:19-25
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended
into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From
there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Electronic Giving!
You can give your offerings from your smartphone with the GivePlusChurch
app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play or the
App Store. You can also
give at holytrinitylutheranwyoming.com by clicking the Offerings link at the
top of the page or scan the QR code below. If you have any questions
about any of these options, please contact Dave Conrad at dconrad765@gmail.com
or 616-406-7172
Prayer of the Church
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen
Hymn: 374 My Shepherd Will Supply
My Need
1 My shepherd will supply my need-Jehovah is
his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed Beside
the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring
spirit back When I forsake his ways
And leads me, for his mercy’s sake, In
paths of truth and grace.
2 When I walk through the shades of
death, His presence is my stay;
One word of his supporting breath Drives
all my fears away.
His hand, in sight of all my foes, Will
still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows; His oil
anoints my head.
3 The sure provisions of my God Attend me all
my days;
Oh, may his house be my abode And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest While
others go and come,
No more a stranger or a guest But like a child at home.
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.
Prayer and Blessing
P: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour
out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and
truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving
peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
or
P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching
us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to
keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in
holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: ♬ A-men.
P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live
in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be
gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and + give
you peace.
C: ♬ A-men, A-men, A-men
Closing Hymn: 360 The Lord’s My Shepherd;
I’ll Not Want
1 The Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want. He makes me down
to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me The
quiet waters by.
2 My soul he doth restore again And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for his own name’s sake.
3 Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, Yet will I
fear no ill;
For thou art with me, and thy rod And
staff me comfort still.
4 My table thou hast furnished In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup
overflows.
5 Goodness and mercy, all my life, Shall surely follow
me,
And in God’s house forevermore My dwelling-place
shall be.
Text: The Psalms of David in Meeter,
Edinburgh, 1650.
Today’s Organist: Mr.
Jack Vogel
