fourth Sunday of Easter

Date
May 8, 2022
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins

Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 8, 2022 – 10:30 AM

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
901 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4688
(937) 298-0136

Introduction

The gift of new life, of eternal life, is the gift of the risen Christ. It is the promise of Jesus. It was true for Dorcas in Joppa. It was true for those “who have come out of the great ordeal” in the Revelation vision. It is true for us and for all the baptized: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Aligned by Grace
As a group corners Jesus in the portico at the time of the festival of the Dedication, they are in- tent on determining whether he is the Messiah. Jesus’ response points to two things: the words he has spoken and the testimony of his works. Jesus’ words and works are aligned, and this integrity is grounded in the unity of Jesus and the Father.
People are complicated. We have an ability to justify ourselves when our speech and our ac- tions do not align. We have a capacity to hold together contradictory ideas, some of which can be full of love, others of which can be harmful to our neighbors. We are not sometimes good and sometimes sinful, but both at once.
How does this paradox impact our integrity and our witness? Our words and actions matter in that they affect other people. To the extent that we can put effort into aligning our speech and our deeds in faithful ways, we should do so, but ultimately it is Jesus who draws us into align- ment. The voice of Jesus is like the magnetic force that brings the compass needle to point north, or like the mechanic who adjusts the alignment on a car so it will steer straight.
We will inevitably get out of alignment with our values and our faith from time to time, but the voice of the Shepherd is always there to invite us back into alignment with grace and love. As we seek to live with faithful integrity, we do so with the promise that we cannot be snatched away from God.

GATHERING

PRELUDE

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MISSION MOMENT

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation.
Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters, and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN – “Come, Bless the Lord”

Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
He is risen.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
He is risen.

Heaven’s joy, creation’s King
Left his throne to save us,
Born of love for suffering,
On the cross forgave us.

Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord
Come, bless the Lord.
He is risen.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord He is risen.

On the cross our debt was paid.
Jesus died, rejected.
Three days in the grave he laid.
How he’s resurrected.

Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord
Come, bless the Lord.
He is risen.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord.
Come, bless the Lord
He is risen.

GREETING

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

In peace, in peace, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For the reign of God, and for peace thoughout the world;
for the unity of all, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For your people here, who have come to give you praise;
for the strength to live your Word, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Help, save and defend us, O God.
Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain,
whose blood has freed and united us
to be one great people of God. Refrain

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

Power and riches, wisdom and might,
all honor and glory to Christ forever. Refrain

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

For God has come to dwell with us,
to make us people of God;
to make all things new.

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God of peace,
you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shep- herd of the sheep. By the blood of your eternal covenant, make us complete in every- thing good that we may do your will, and work among us all that is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING Acts 9:36-43

Dorcas was a faithful and devoted woman of charity in the community of Joppa. Her kindness and her work with clothing were well-known, especially to the widows in town. When she fell ill and died, Peter raised her back to life through the power of prayer.

A reading from the book of Acts.
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Jop- pa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he ar- rived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING Revelation 7:9-17

Christ is the shepherd who leads his faithful to springs of the water of life. Christ is also the lamb who vanquishes sin and suffering.

A reading from the book of Revelation.
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, Alleluia. Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia!

GOSPEL READING John 10:22-30

Jesus responds to questions about his identity with the remarkable claim that he and the Father are one. Those who understand this are his sheep; they hear his voice, follow, and will never be snatched from his hand.

The Holy Gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.