4 Easter

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He gave us new life and hope by raising Jesus from the dead.

He has claimed us as his own.

He called us from our darkness into the light of his new day.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

GATHERING SONGS “Thine is the Glory" ELW#376

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

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

Amen

God has given to all nations the repentance that leads to life.

Let us come with repentant hearts to the God who makes all things new.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Gracious God,

we confess to you all the ways in which we dismiss the resurrection news,

Foolish and slow of heart to believe, we turn from others and retreat in fear.

Come into our locked rooms and breathe into us your forgiving Spirit.

Reawaken our trust and strengthen our hope,

that we may be witnesses to your saving power. Amen

Peace be with you, my sisters and brothers.

In baptism you have received a spirit of adoption; you are God's beloved children.

In the name of Christ your sins are forgiven. Rejoice, and welcome this freedom as a gift.

Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil; for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

ANTHEM Shepherd Me, O God ELW #780

THE SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 2:19-25

For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

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

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: John 10:1-15

The holy gospel according to Saint John. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said: "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The 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. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

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

SERMON “Jesus The Good Shepherd” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us” #789

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

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.

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR HEALING

In the name of God

our healer

we pray.

God of life

God of hope

God of all

Lift us

on your love

like eagle's wings

Sustain us Receive Christ’s healing touch

Guide us to make you whole

Heal us in body,

mind,

Then send us and spirit.

forth into

the world May the power of God strengthen you,

That we the love of God dwell in you

may love and give you peace.

as you love. Amen.

Amen. (From the Ministry for Healing, The New Zealand Prayer Book)

THE 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

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “Alleluia, Jesus is Risen” #377

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia, alleluia!

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.