4th Sunday after Easter: Date: April 28, 2024
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Theme: A Beautiful Tree in the Garden of God’s Church
PRESERVICE PRAYER: Oh Lord, who has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our edification, grant us Your Holy Spirit that He might open our hearts to reverently hear Your Word, and hearing that we may be brought to a fuller knowledge of your glory revealed in our salvation in Jesus Christ. Grant that, having fed our souls upon the Bread of life, we may be invigorated to live our lives to the glory of our Savior’s name. It is in His name alone that we pray. Amen.
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: (p. 22 Worship Supplement 2000)
Hymn 17: Oh, Worship the King
1 Oh, worship the King, All-glorious above,
Oh, gratefully sing His pow’r and His love,
Our Shield and Defender, The Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor And girded with praise.
2 Oh, tell of His might, Oh, sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space!
His chariots of wrath The deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path On the wings of the storm.
3 This earth, with its store Of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy pow’r Hath founded of old,
Hath stablished it fast By a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, Like a mantle, the sea.
4 Thy bountiful care What tongues can recite?
It breathes in the air, It shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, It descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills In the dew and the rain.
5 Frail children of dust And feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, Nor find Thee to fail.
Thy mercies, how tender, How firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
6 O measureless Might, Ineffable Love,
While angels delight To hymn Thee above,
Thy humbler creation, Though feeble their lays,
With true adoration Shall sing to Thy praise.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
C: If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
P: Together let us pray.
C: Almighty God, merciful Father, we are sinful by nature, and have sinned against You in our thoughts, words, and actions. But we are sorry for our transgressions and pray You, of Your bountiful mercy, to be gracious and merciful unto us. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake, renew us by Your Spirit, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.
P: Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. We are forgiven! With boldness and confidence we may approach the throne to find grace to help in time of need. In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
C: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
C: Amen.
THE EPISTLE LESSON: 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” …
19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (NKJV)
THE GOSPEL LESSON: John 15:9-17
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.” (NKJV)
THE APOSTLES CREED (The Lutheran Hymnal p. 12)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn 409: Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
1 Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love, Let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.
2 Let us suffer here with Jesus, To His image e’er conform;
Heaven’s glory soon will please us, Sunshine follow on the storm.
Tho’ we sow in tears of sorrow, We shall reap with heav’nly joy;
And the fears that now annoy Shall be laughter on the morrow.
Christ, I suffer here with Thee; There, oh, share Thy joy with me!
3 Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death,
From our soul’s destruction, frees us, Quickens us with life’s glad breath.
Let us mortify, while living, Flesh and blood and die to sin;
And the grave that shuts us in Shall but prove the gate to heaven.
Jesus, here I die to Thee There to live eternally.
4 Let us gladly live with Jesus; Since He’s risen from the dead,
Death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou art now our Head,
We are truly Thine own members; Where Thou livest, there live we.
Take and own us constantly, Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
Jesus, here I live to Thee, Also there eternally.
THE SERMON: Acts 9:36-42
Theme: A Beautiful Tree in the Garden of God’s Church
I. Tabitha’s Life Gave off the Fragrance of Good Works.
II. May Our Lives do the Same.
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. (NKJV)
OFFERTORY: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen
PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
The offering of thankful hearts will now be received.
Hymn 403: Savior, Thy Dying Love
1 Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest me;
Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow, My heart fulfil its vow,
Some off’ring bring Thee now, Something for Thee.
2 O’er the blest mercy seat, Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise or prayer, Something for Thee.
3 Give me a faithful heart, Likeness to Thee.
That each departing day Henceforth may see
Some work of love begun, Some deed of kindness done,
Some wand’rer sought and won, Something for Thee.
4 All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see, My ransomed soul shall be
Thro’ all eternity, Something for Thee.
BENEDICTION:
C: Amen.
Hymn 283: God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage
God’s Word is our great heritage,
And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age
Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way;
In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure,
We keep its teachings pure,
Throughout all generations.
CALENDAR
TODAY: No Bible Class this morning.
TUESDAY: Pastor expects to arrive home late Tuesday evening.
SATURDAY: Church Spring cleaning 9:00- 12:00.
NEXT SUNDAY: Worship at 9:30. With Bible class following the service.
MONDAY APRIL29 through TUESDAY MAY 7: Pastor Barthels will be out of town. Pastor emeritus Paul Fleischer will be covering in case of emergency. Pastor Barthels will be available at his cell number during his absence.
SERVING TODAY
Organist: Lane Fischer
Minister of the gospel: Pastor em. Paul Fleischer
Our special thanks to Pastor Fleischer and Teacher Lane Fischer for their service to the congregation this morning.
OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL:
Attendance: April 28 worship –19, Bible Class 14
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Weekly Offerings Needed |
$1,374.00 |
Other Offerings: |
|
Offerings Received |
$1,875.00 |
Memorials: Barb Nickson Prop Imprv. Fund $20.00 Norm Schwartz Prop. Improv. Fund $20.00 General Fund $40.00 |
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Needed for Year: |
$23,358.00 | |
|
Received for Year: |
$18,697.00 |
May Church Cleaning: Cleaning/work day May 11, 9:00 -noon.
April/May Lawn Mowing: Leon.
CONGREGATION NEWS: Church purchased a new stove for the parsonage kitchen. It is nice and very much appreciated by the Barthels. It will be paid for from the Property Improvement fund, Special offerings to the property fund would help cover the cost of this purchase.
CLC NEWS: Mrs. Karen Swyter, a member of Peace with God Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI, has accepted the call to be the 1st & 2nd grade teacher of Faith Lutheran School, Markesan, WI.
Blair Sydow has accepted the one-year call to teach the upper grades at Holy Trinity Ev. Lutheran School in West Columbia, SC. Blair is a member of Holy Trinity Ev. Lutheran.
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church Austin Minnesota 