Order of Worship
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2021
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN Shepherd Me, O God (Marty Haugen) ELW 780
Refrain
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace. Refrain
Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your name. Refrain
Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope. Refrain
You have set me a banquet of love
in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my pow'r to hold. Refrain
Surely your kindness and mercy follow me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore. Refrain
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
All may make the sign of the cross.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Made new by the resurrection life we share in Christ,
let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
We thank you, risen Christ, for these waters where you make us new, leading us from death to life, from tears to joy. We bless you, risen Christ, that your Spirit comes to us in the grace-filled waters of rebirth. Breathe your peace on your church when we hide in fear. Clothe us with your mercy and forgiveness. Send us companions on our journey as we share your life. Make us one, risen Christ. To you be given all praise, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, now and forever.
Amen.
ACCLAMATION
He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!
Alleluia!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray
O Lord Christ, good shepherd of the sheep, you seek the lost and guide us into your fold. Feed us, and we shall be satisfied; heal us, and we shall be whole. Make us one with you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
+WORD +
FIRST READING: Acts 4:5-12
Peter and John had been arrested the previous day because they were proclaiming the news of the resurrection to the people. In today’s reading, Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he can proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name to the religious authorities.
5The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 23 (Psalm will be read in unison)
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff —
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
GOSPEL: Luke 24: 36b-48
The holy gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
In language that recalls the twenty-third psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and he is able to overcome death for them
[Jesus said:] 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love.
A brief silence.
Loving Shepherd, your voice calls us to your loving embrace. Strengthen your church throughout the world that we bear witness to your expansive love. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Hope-giving Shepherd, the nations and peoples are your heritage. Place into the hearts of all leaders and rulers the passion to serve. Remove any desire to overpower others and give leaders joy in lifting up the lowly. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Abiding Shepherd, your love flows as we reach out to those around us. Heal those who are suffering, particularly Alena, Jenna, Marilyn, Jerod & Julia, Nick, Julie, Marcella, Michael, Ken, Jack, Anne, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Betty, Dione, Dottie, Theresa, Dottie, Tim, Glenn, Henry, Mary, Greg, Ann Joyce, Barbara, and Shelby, that they may feel your healing touch today. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Saving Shepherd, you restore us to wholeness. Help our community in our life together and give us vigor as a people of faith. In the midst of challenges and opportunities, fill us anew with you Holy Spirit. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Eternal Shepherd, you hold us securely in your loving hands. In the assurance of resurrection hope, we remember our loved ones who have died in you. Bring us, with them, to dwell in your house forever. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
GREETING OF PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
+ MEAL +
OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin: who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses
of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise y our name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the
highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
Blessed are you, O God of the universe.
Your mercy is everlasting
and your faithfulness endures from age to age.
Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood.
Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea.
Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness
to the land of milk and honey.
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one.
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ.
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup
we remember our Lord’s passover from death to life
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
O God of resurrection and new life:
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Bless this feast.
Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread.
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world.
Breathe new life into us.
Send us forth,
burning with justice, peace, and love.
Come, Holy Spirit.
With your holy ones of all times and places,
with the earth and all its creatures,
with sun and moon and stars,
we praise you, O God,
blessed and holy Trinity,
now and forever.
Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
BLESSING AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people. Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
Amen.
SENDING HYMN At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (vs 1, 7, 8) ELW
At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious king,
who has washed us in the tide
flowing from his wounded side. Alleluia!
Easter triumph, Easter joy,
this alone can sin destroy!
From sin's pow'r, Lord, set us free,
newborn souls in you to be. Alleluia!
Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days:
Three in One, your name we praise.
Alleluia!
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Shepherd Me, O God Marty Haugen, b. 1950, based on Psalm 23, Music: Marty Haugen, Text and Music © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing. Text: Latin hymn, 17th cent.; tr. Robert Campbell, 1814-1868, alt. Music: Bohemian Brethren, Kirchenenseng, 1566. Public domain.
