Fourth Sunday of EasterApril 25th and 26th, 2015Holy Communion (ELW I)

INTRODUCTION

The image of the Good Shepherd shows us how the risen Christ brings us to life. It is the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, one of mutual knowledge and love, that gives the shepherd authority. The shepherd's willingness to lay down his life for the sheep shows his love. First John illustrates what it means to lay down our lives for one another by the example of sharing our wealth with any sister or brother in need.

CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.

As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.

We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so that we may record your presence with us.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW

O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE Prelude in Eb from The Well-Tempered Clavier Bach

WELCOME

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

GATHERING SONG: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (ELW 836)

GREETING

Alleluia! Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!And also with you!

KYRIE

CANTICLE OF PRAISE

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.

Please be seated.

A MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN

FIRST READING: Acts 4:5–12

5The next day their 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.

PSALMODY: Psalm 23

Refrain:

Tone:

1The LORD | is my shepherd;I shall not | be in want.

2The LORD makes me lie down | in green pasturesand leads me be- | side still waters.

3You restore my | soul, O LORD,and guide me along right pathways | for your name's sake.

4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil;

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. R

5You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the | LORD forever. R

SECOND READING: 1 John 3:16–24

16We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

18Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what

pleases him. 23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name

of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Please stand for the reading of the gospel. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

VERSE: Jesus says, I am | the good shepherd.*I know my own and my | own know me. (John 10:14)

GOSPEL: John 10:11-18

The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.Glory to you, O Lord.

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 Pastor Charles Peterson

Please be seated.

HYMN OF THE DAY: Have No Fear, Little Flock (ELW 764)

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Confident that the resurrection of Christ has defeated sin and death, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.

Please sit or kneel as you are able.

Each petition ends with:let us pray.Have mercy, O God.

Holy God, by the death and resurrection of your Son, you have granted new life, abundant renewal, and salvation. Hear our prayers for the sake of the one who has set us free, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Brothers and sisters, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us now confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

PEACE

Alleluia! Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!The peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

Please stand and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING My Shepherd Will Supply My Need    Neidman

OFFERTORY HYMN: Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful (ELW 182)

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray.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.

DIALOGUE

PREFACE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation. 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.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people and be given our inheritance with all your saints.

To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.

LORD'S PRAYER

Risen Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray: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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!

COMMUNION

The body of Christ, given for you.The blood of Christ, shed for you.Amen.

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christ’s body and blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as God’s guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become part of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you can’t or don’t wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over your chest for a blessing as you come forward.

LAMB OF GOD

SONG DURING DISTRIBUTION: The King of Love My Shepherd Is

SONG AFTER COMMUNION: This Joyful Eastertide, v. 1 (ELW 391)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Let us pray. 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.

BLESSING

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do God's will, working in you that which is pleasing in God's sight; through + Jesus Christ,to whom be the glory forever and ever.Amen.

SENDING HYMN: Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us (ELW 789)

DISMISSAL

Alleluia! Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!Go in peace. Share the good news.Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

POSTLUDE Toccata in c-minor            Johann Pachelbel

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God. Presented by Jason and Martha McKitrick

The Altar flowers are administered by the worship committee.  The 2015 Altar Flower chart is posted on the bulletin board in the lower lobby and there is attached to it a tear-off sheet for donors to complete and hand into the office or place in the offering plate for proper publication in the bulletin.

If you would like to purchase flowers for worship in memory of or in honor of someone, please sign up. The cost is $35 per arrangement, and checks should be made out to Trinity Lutheran Church. The contact person is Mary in the church office (614) 224.6818 or email: oldtrinityoffice@gmail.com

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Wednesday, April 29, 2015Catherine of Siena, theologian, died 1380

This theologian was the first woman among Roman Catholics to receive the title "Doctor [teacher] of the Church." Catherine was a Dominican sister known for her mystical visions as well as her work on behalf of people who were poor and imprisoned.

Friday, May 1Philip and James, Apostles

Philip was one of the first disciples of Jesus, and called Nathanael to "come and see." Little is known of James, the son of Alphaeus, called "the Less" to distinguish him from another apostle named James.

Saturday, May 2Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, died 373

Best remembered for defending the teaching that Christ was fully God against those who taught otherwise, Athanasius was an influential church leader around the time of the Council of Nicea. He was banished from Alexandria five times for his forthright views.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26794.

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Thank you.