NEXT SUNDAY, May 3, our Sunday morning worship time changes to 9:30, for the summer

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1 Today s worship folder is sponsored by Jean Dahl in honor of her mother, Helen Maland, who will celebrate her 98th birthday on April 30. NEXT SUNDAY, May 3, our Sunday morning worship time changes to 9:30, for the summer Christ Lutheran Church Community of Faith location: 126 Front Street mailing address: P.O. Box 166 Cottonwood, Minnesota Church Office Phone and Voice Mail: PASTOR JIM DEMKE SEE OFFICE PHONE [ or, cell ] PASTORAL ASST. GWEN ARNESON SEE OFFICE PHONE [or, cell ] ADMIN. ASST. RHODA SCHMIDT SEE OFFICE PHONE [or, cell ] CUSTODIANS JON & JEANNETTE MYRVIK [cell ; ] christlutheran@christcotton.com T h i s W e e k a t C h r i s t L u t h e r a n A p r i l 2 6, Today, April 26 9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Live (last day) 9:15 a.m. Fellowship/Refreshments 10:15 a.m. Worship/Baptisms 11:30 a.m. Worship on Cable Chan. 180 Next Sunday, May 3: God s Work. Our Hands. 9:00 a.m. Fellowship/Refreshments 9:30 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion 10:00 a.m. God s Work. Our Hands. Various Ways of Serving 11:30 Return to Church for Prayer, Blessing 11:30 a.m. Worship on Cable Chan. 180 Monday, April 27 7 p.m. Deborah Church Tuesday, April 28 1:30 p.m. Community Bible Study 1:30 p.m. West Prairie Apts. 2:30 p.m. Fieldcrest Asst. Living Wednesday, April 29 F.I.R.E.! and Faith Affirmation Journey 5:45 p.m. Meal 6:30 p.m. Faith5 Worship 7 7:30 p.m. Discovery/Learning Time 7:45 p.m. Choir Page 2

2 Prayer Requests The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7 to, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Your prayers are a gift to those requesting them, and encouragement for one another as we experience challenges, sorrows, or thanksgivings of any kind. We pray for those with Health Concerns, as well as Others In Our Hearts and On Our Minds: Tom Bahn Jean Bjornebo, transitioned to Hospice House Erin Eaton Karen Geihl, foot surgery Apr. 27 Julie Jaeger Jan Johnson Darrell Nikolaisen Julie Pederson Paul Rasmussen Cayson Rialson Mary Schwisow Gary Timmerman Ann-Marie Varpness, sister-in-law of Jeff and Lisa, recovering from stroke following brain tumor surgery All those dealing with illness, addictions, depression, unemployment, underemployment, and any challenges in their lives. May God be merciful and a comfort in their time of need. We Pray for Families of our Congregation. This week pray for: Darleen Cole Barb Crouse Jean Dahl We Pray for our Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Care Center Residents. This week pray for Shi Aamodt at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. We Pray for our Workers in Other Countries, Missionaries, and Local Congregation Missions. This week pray for the various ways of serving our local community on God s Work. Our Hands. Day. Received into God s Kingdom of Grace through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism during today s Worship is Jasmine Marie Schroer, as well as the son of Jasmine and Brook Hurt - Hunter Michael Hurt. Please remember them in your prayers, as well as sponsors Mellisa Dallenbach, Scott and Stacy VanDerostyne, and Emily Wandersee. Page 3

3 Thank You For Serving Our Lord Today - April 26, 2015 Ushers *Charlie Olson, Josh Anderson, Tom Bahn, Mitch Huso, Greg Lund, Gary Morken, Shawn Myers Fellowship Host Darleen Cole Greeters Claire & Kathie Erickson Acolytes Colby Marczak Trysta Schuler Organist Gwen Arneson Lector and Assisting Minister Carolyn Olson Video Operator Erik Lundberg PA Operator Craig Aamodt Altar Care Karen Berg Becky Timm Offering Counters Jonathan Olson Mary Schwisow A room at the rear of the Sanctuary is available for parents or others who wish for a comfortable place to comfort a young child during the worship service. With the large glass window into the sanctuary, it is possible to continue to see and hear what is happening in the service while enjoying the comfort of the separate room. A rocking chair is available for your convenience. If you need some activities for your children, there are bags hanging on the bag tree at the back of the Sanctuary with books, coloring pages, activities, and a snack. Feel free to take a bag...just please put it back when you leave church. Our Nursery is available for parents needing to comfort a young child. It is located in the lower level at the bottom of the stairs. For those needing a changing table, it is available in the rest room located on the main floor by the offices. Congratulations to College Graduates this Spring. We join with our members and their families who are celebrating graduations this spring from institutions near and far! We aren t aware of those marking this important milestone in their lives, and look forward to hearing from you so that we might also include your names in our list of thanksgivings and celebrations! Please let us know of College Graduates. Thank you! Volunteer Training for Prairie Home Hospice. This training is for anyone who would like to receive more information about Prairie Home Hospice or to become a patient volunteer. One must attend all three sessions to become a patient volunteer. The first training meeting will be held in three towns: 1) April 27, at the Marshall Hospice Office, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30; April 29, Minneota Manor, 5:30-7:30; April 30, Tracy O Brien Court, 5:30-7:30. The second training is May 4 at Marshall Hospice Office, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30. The third training is May 11 at Marshall Adult Community Center, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30. Classes are free; pre-regis encouraged. Call hospice office at Page 4

4 ~~ Grateful for those Called to Educate! ~~ On behalf of our community of faith, our Christian Education Committee would like to express gratitude to each person who contributes in any way to the mission of education entrusted to Christ Lutheran Congregation! Some are teachers, helpers, and music leaders for Sunday Morning Live. Some are teachers, worship examples, discussion leaders, and discussion participants with adults and youth together for Wednesday evening F.I.R.E., Faith Affirmation Journey, and Y.E.S. Some are formal faith mentors for our youth who are preparing to publicly affirm their faith. Some teach and help with summer CampFIRE/VBS. Some lead and share their faith in our women s Bible studies. Some serve as lectors, educating us all in the Word as it is read in worship. Even though our Sunday Morning Live and Wednesday Evening F.I.R.E. are concluding their seasons this week, Christian education continues to happen in various gatherings and in our homes as we make use of devotion and prayer time, especially the FAITH5 practices we have used and learned about this past year! See Using the Faith5 Cross insert, pages We as a congregation express our thanks to those who serve on our Christian Education Committee as they continue to oversee and plan and evaluate and strive for the best ways help us all grow in our faith understanding from cradle to grave. We are always learning! God s Work. Our Hands. Day Next Sunday, May 3rd The great experience we had at our first God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday last Fall is coming back this Spring to Christ Lutheran. It s an opportunity to live our freedom in Christ to serve and love our neighbor by participating in various projects. See Special Insert, page 13. NEXT SUNDAY, May 3, our Sunday morning worship time changes to 9:30, for the summer. Remind others! Page 5

5 Fourth Sunday of Easter April 26, :15 a.m. Christ Lutheran Church Cottonwood, MN 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. (Sundays and Seasons, Augsburg Fortress, 2013) +++ Gentle Shepherd, who knows our hearts desire and our spirits need, assure us now of your presence with us, we pray. Claim this time and place as your own that we may not mistakenly view this church as our own possession. Grant us a universal vision that recognizes all your children as members of one family in Christ. Amen. (Whispers of God, Lavon Bayler, Pilgrim Press) GATHERING The page number notations in the worship bulletin refer to the pages in the front portion of the hymnal. The hymn numbers in brackets are found in the latter half of the hymnal. Prelude Call to Worship P: Christ is risen! Alleluia! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Welcome and Announcements Please stand as you are able. Confession and Forgiveness P: We worship as we live each day, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: The goodness and mercy of God are ours to claim. Let us bring our need for forgiveness and healing to this time of confession. Silence is kept for reflection. Merciful God, C: Let us listen for the voice of our Shepherd King, calling us to love one another. Let us watch for the staff of our Shepherd King, leading us to unity with all. P: For the many voices that shout down love C: Including my own voice of contempt and complaint, Lord, have mercy. Grant us the right spirit to hear your call to love. Page 6

6 P: For the many conflicts that divide God s flock C: Including my own walls of prejudice and pride, Christ have mercy. Grant us the right spirit to work out our differences. P: Gracious God, C: Like scattered sheep, we have wandered far from grace and are lost in dangerous isolation. Gather us in, bring us to the table of reconciliation, forgive us, and restore in us your right spirit. P: Here is Good News: God is patient and true to love. And we who do not stay true to love know love by this, that by the laying down of his life, Jesus Christ chose to abide in love, even unto death. Know that you are forgiven by this great love, and then, let us choose to abide in love, as we are surely pursued by God s goodness and mercy all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in God s house forever. C: Amen. Gathering Hymn Gather Us In [532] Greeting P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. Prayer of the Day P: Let us pray. C: 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. Sacrament of Holy Baptism for Jasmine Marie Schroer and Hunter Michael Hurt page 227 Children s Message Anne Isaackson WORD First Reading Acts 4: The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let 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. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. L: Word of God, word of life. C: Thanks be to God. Page 7

7 Second Reading 1 John 3: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How 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? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And 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. 24 All 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. L: Word of God, word of life. C: Thanks be to God. Please stand as you are able. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Music is found on page 102 in the front of the hymnal.) Gospel Announcement P: The Holy Gospel is written in John, the tenth chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No 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. P: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ. Please be seated. Sermon Pastor Jim Demke Hymn of the Day The King of Love My Shepherd Is [502] Page 8

8 Please stand as you are able. Sharing of God s Peace P: The peace of our Risen Savior and Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, be with you all. C: And also with you. Please share a sign of God s peace with your neighbors. Please be seated. THANKSGIVING Offering As we think beyond ourselves, we give to causes and purposes greater than our own interests. By God s grace we are never in want. Our abundance is intended for ministry to others needs. We give, then, in thanksgiving to God and concern for our neighbors. Choir Anthem Shepherd Psalm Hall/McDonald Please stand as you are able. Offertory Prayer A: Let us pray. Gracious God, you fill our cups to overflowing and empower us for good deeds. Be pleased, O God, to use these tokens of our love for the sake of your whole flock. May our gifts serve to bring others into your fold and equip us all to live fully as your own. C: Amen. Prayers of God s People The congregation will respond with, hear our prayer. Lord s Prayer (Our Father, who art in heaven ) SENDING Blessing and Dismissal P: Christ is risen! Alleluia! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! P: Let this good news fill us with a right spirit so that our words and actions will reflect God s love at home in us. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. A: Go now, to love and serve the Lord! C: Thanks be to God! Sending Hymn Praise the Lord, Rise Up Rejoicing [544] Postlude Prayer for the Journey Loving God, you reach out to restore our souls and touch us each day with your word of truth. Draw us deeper into a vital relationship with you and all your children. Lead us in paths of righteousness that we may show your love in conversation and action. In Jesus name. Amen. Page 9

9 To the parents of our young children, may we suggest Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don t feel you have to suppress it in God s house. All are welcome! Sit toward the front where it is easier for your little ones to see and hear what s going on at the altar. They tire of seeing the backs of others heads. Quietly explain the parts of the worship service and actions of the pastor and worship leaders, choir, and ushers, and readers. Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you. If you have to leave the sanctuary with your child, feel free to do so, but please come back. As Jesus said, Let the children come to me. Remember that the way we welcome children in worship directly affects the way they respond to the Church and a life a faith, to God, and to one another. Let them know that they are at home in this house of worship. You may wish to let your child use the reverse side of this card to draw and doodle. They may even put their artistic offering in the offering plate at that point in the service. To the members of our congregation: The presence of children is a gift to the Church and they are a reminder that the Church of Jesus Christ is a multi-generational body of Christ followers. Please welcome our children and give a smile of encouragement to their parents and caregivers. Page 10

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12 God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday May 3rd The great experience we had at our first God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday last Fall is coming back this Spring to Christ Lutheran. It s an opportunity to live our freedom in Christ to serve and love our neighbor by participating in various projects. We ll begin the day with worship at 9:30 a.m. which will begin our summer season worship time and receive Holy Communion before leaving the sanctuary to Go in peace and serve the Lord. (OK! We will!) At 10:00, we will be about our various ways of serving! We have a variety of service opportunities from which you may choose. Some may stay in the building to assemble frozen cookie plates, make fleece blankets, put together meals to freeze, assemble food for the Lakeview School s weekend backpack* program, or sort and organize clothing for Hunter s Helping Hands. Others will leave the building to lead worship at Fieldcrest and West Prairie, or do tasks at W. Prairie, or spruce up the City Park. Sign up on the Lists on the Table in the Fireplace Room OR sign up Online by going to christcottonwood.org and selecting the Current Events menu. We ll conclude our serving tasks and be back at the church by 11:30 in order to share stories of our experiences, pray, give thanks for all the ways God was able to use us for God s glory this day, and be blessed! We want to do this together as the Body of Christ in this place! We want to have as many people participating as possible! Please help us plan and prepare by Signing Up Today! *Suggestions for backpack food items to be brought to our building s front entry: Granola bars, fruit snacks, canned ravioli, macaroni and cheese, any sort of microwavable single serving meals, tuna meal packets, fruit cups, pudding cups, Jello cups, cereal, peanut butter, crackers, beef jerky, instant oatmeal, etc. Page 13