A Prayer Upon Entering Church O blessed Jesus, by Your own blood You have purchased for Yourself a church here upon earth. Make me truly sensible of the honor You have done me, in making me a member of Your church, and admitting me by my Baptism into the participation of all those blessings You have bestowed upon it. Amen. ~ Johann Gerhard, 1582-1637 A.D. The Fourth Sunday of Easter April 17, 2016 + 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. Welcome to the Lord s Day. The Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd (Revelation 7:17). The victim has become the victor, the slave has become the lord, the lamb has become the shepherd: in the resurrection of Jesus, He who suffered for us becomes our consolation and comfort in the midst of suffering, and in so doing He announces a new reign and kingdom that does not stand by force or coercion, but by faith and love. Through the death of Jesus, God has revealed true life!
Sharing God s Blessings Today Sunday s Radio Broadcast is sponsored by Orlin and Delores Kottke in thanksgiving for many blessings received on the occasion of their 69th wedding anniversary (April 12). The flowers at the altar are sponsored by Arnie Luechau in loving memory of Janet and Timothy Luechau. Sunday s bulletins are sponsored by Orlin and Delores Kottke in thanksgiving for many blessings received on the occasion of their 69th wedding anniversary (April 12). The sponsor charts for 2016 for Broadcasts and Flowers are available for you to sign up. The charts are by the stairs by the northwest entry. A Welcome for Those With Young Children This house is your children s home, too. Relax and enjoy your time here: Jesus knows that children tend to wiggle and squawk, so please don t feel embarrassed by it. Your children are welcome at Zion. To make it a bit easier on your family, please consider sitting towards the front where your children can easily see the worship leaders, hear the words, note the colors, wonder about some of the images up there, and embrace the action at the altar. As we go along, softly explain the liturgy to your children, encouraging them to chime in with their parts: Amen! Lord have mercy! And also with you! I believe! Our Father! All of that belongs to them, too. Be sure to sing and pray your parts as you stand and kneel and sit. Your children learn by following your lead. If you and your child must leave, please hurry back. There is a nursery downstairs for those who would like to use it, but like Jesus, we want your children in the liturgy, not out. Let the little children come unto me. (Luke 18:16). If you need help, just ask. There are lots of folks here who will lend a hand. Announcements Parish announcements may be found in the weekly newsletter, For You, provided by the ushers after worship. 2
PRELUDE Three Interpretations of Christ the Lord is risen Today, Alleluia! Alfred V. Fedak; Jeffrey Blersch; Kevin Hildebrand RINGING OF THE BELLS Please stand and turn toward the cross as it is carried into the sanctuary. PROCESSIONAL HYMN Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia! green hymnal #128 GREETING P: Alleluia! Christ is risen! C: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! 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. KYRIE P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Shepherd of tender youth, guiding in love and truth through devious ways, Christ, our triumphant king, we come thy name to sing and here our children bring to join thy praise. ~ Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D. P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. 3
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the holy Church, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. HYMN OF PRAISE L: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. 4
PRAYER OF THE DAY P: The Lord be with you. 5
P: Let us pray... Almighty God, merciful Father, since you have wakened from death the Shepherd of your sheep, grant us your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know him who calls us each by name and follow where he leads; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen Please be seated. CHORAL RESPONSE (9:00 a.m.) The Lord Is My Shepherd Allen Pote FIRST LESSON Acts of the Apostles 20:17-35 17 Now from Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for 6
the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. God loves a cheerful giver. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7 L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. PSALM 23 Choir/ The LORD is my shepherd;* L: I shall not be in want. C: He makes me lie down in green pastures* and leads me be side still waters. Choir/ He re vives my soul* L: and guides me along right pathways for his name s sake. C: Though 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. Choir/ You spread a table before me in the presence of those who L: trouble me;* you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. 7
C: Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,* and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. And, it says, "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." To be sure, one might think that robes dipped in blood would be red, not white. And so, how is it that they have become white? Because, according to the opinion of allwise Paul, baptism is completed in the death of the Lord and wipes clean from every filth of sin, so that those baptized in him are made clean.... All: Glory 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 SECOND LESSON Revelation 7:9-17 9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come? 14I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 8
Please stand. VERSE GOSPEL P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 10th chapter. 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.... However, the reception of the lifegiving blood of Christ also gives the same grace, for the Lord said concerning his own blood that it was poured out "for many" and "for the sake of many" and "for the forgiveness of sins. ~ Oecumenius, around 700 A.D. P: The Gospel of the Lord. 9
A five-yearold girl had drawn a sheep following the presentation of the Good Shepherd parable. Some months later, after the presentation of baptism, she took out her drawing once again and added a lighted candle beside the sheep, and explained: "It has the light of Jesus inside; it's not a sheep like the others, it's in his sheepfold." ~ Sofia Cavaletti, 1917-2011 A.D. NICENE CREED P: Let us confess the faith with one heart: C: 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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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 Please be seated. SUNDAY SCHOOL (9:00 a.m.) During the singing of the hymn, children of preschool age through grade 4 may leave for Sunday School classes downstairs in the church hall. Please reclaim your children at 10:25 a.m. after their music time in the balcony. 10
HYMN OF THE DAY The King of Love My Shepherd Is green hymnal #456 SERMON My Sheep Hear My Voice Please stand. (We do not kneel for prayer during the Easter season.) PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P: Standing in the glorious light of the resurrection, let us pray. P:... O Lord of life, C: hear our prayer. P: Hear our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Savior. C: Amen Please be seated. OFFERING While the offerings are received, please pass in your row the Friendship Register, and add your name(s). If you are a guest or visitor, please include your address. VOLUNTARY The King of Love My Shepherd Is Charles Callahan Please stand. 11
What the Passover of the Old Testament lamb typified, Christ is; and what the Passover supper of the Old Testament typified, the supper of Christ is; and that which is promised and shadowed in the Passover supper is given in the Lord's Supper, in very deed and substance. The supernatural presence of Christ's body and blood cannot be less true, but is more true, than the natural presence of the body and blood of the Passover lamb. ~ Charles Porterfield Krauth 1823-1883 A.D. OFFERTORY He Is Arisen! Glorious Word! OFFERTORY PRAYER P: Let us pray... Living God, C: in Christ you will raise us up from death to eternal life. Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in His body and blood. Amen 12
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING P: The Lord be with you. P: Lift up your hearts. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is indeed right and salutary... we praise your name and join their unending hymn: SANCTUS ( Holy ) 13
For our sakes Christ became bread and wine, food and drink. We make bold to eat him and to drink him. This bread gives us solid and substantial strength. This wine bestows courage, joy out of all earthly measure, sweetness, beauty, limitless enlargement and perception. It brings life in intoxicating excess, both to possess and to impart. ~ Romano Guardini, 1885-1865 A.D. WORDS OF INSTITUTION P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me. THE LORD S PRAYER P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray: C: 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 ACCLAMATION P: This is the feast of victory for our God. C: Alleluia! 14
SEQUENCE HYMN Christ Is Arisen 15
Please be seated. The congregation is ushered forward for Communion. If you cannot use the steps to the altar, you may either ask an usher to have Communion brought to you, or you may go to the altar in the side (west) chapel. Those not communing may cross their arms over their chest for a blessing. Come to the table. Eat and drink. In the address of the body and blood to you, hear the shepherd s voice calling you by name, knowing you and your need. Here is the end of hunger and thirst, the beginning of wiping away of all tears, the flowing of the springs of life-giving waters. ~ Pr. Gordon Lathrop, Lutheran liturgical scholar Holy Communion is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which He joyfully gives to His Church to eat and to drink. This gift bestows tremendous benefits. His body and blood forgives ours sins, strengthens our faith, binds us to the Lord, and unites us with each other. In this is life and salvation. The Lord therefore invites to His altar baptized Christians who trust that they will receive in Holy Communion all that He promises there: His body and blood, the forgiveness of sins, union with Christ and His Church, life, and salvation. Know that He gives it to you with great joy. COMMUNION HYMNS The Lord s My Shepherd green hymnal #451 I Am Jesus Little Lamb 16
Please stand after all have received the sacrament. POST-COMMUNION PRAYER P: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen BENEDICTION P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. DISMISSAL P: Go in peace. Alleluia! C: Christ is risen. Alleluia! Please turn toward the cross as it is carried out of the sanctuary. 17
RECESSIONAL HYMN The Day of Resurrection A Prayer As You Go God, You have taught us to keep all Your heavenly commandments by loving You and our neighbor. Grant us the spirit of peace and grace, that we may be both devoted to You with our whole heart, and united to each other with a pure will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ prayerbook of Leo I, 400 s A.D. SILENT PRAYER POSTLUDE Fugue/Finale on Lancashire + Soli Deo Gloria + To God alone be glory 18 Kevin Hildebrand
Serving at Worship Presiding Pastor: Rev. Ted Gulhaugen Preaching Pastor: Rev. Steven Gjerde Organist: Kantor Irene Beethe Choir: (9:00) Zion Kantorei Lector: (9:00) Jan Gaugush (11:00) Carl Boettcher Radio Announcer: (9:00) Scott Schubring Acolytes: (9:00) Alec Fernstaedt; Olivia Fernstaedt; Taylor Halverson Elder: (9:00) Gordon Schalow (11:00) Adam Holzschuh Ushers: (9:00) Mark Gehrke; Jane Janz; Grace Mueller; Frank and Tammie Rodemeier (11:00) Al Lippert; Herbert Zahrt Communion Assistants: (9:00) Ruth Hochberger; Lois Jarosz (11:00) Marge Gausewitz; Donna Nuernberg Altar Guild: Sally Christoffersen; Janet Dettmering Acknowledgements The liturgy is reprinted from the Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress license #13202-L. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Used by permission. He Is Arisen! Glorious Word! Text and Tune: Public Domain. Christ Is Arisen 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB HymnLicense.net #100013767. I Am Jesus Little Lamb and The Day of Resurrection :Text and Tune: Public Domain. 19
Zion Lutheran Church Sixth and Grant Streets, Wausau, Wisconsin 54403 Those who trust in the Lord shall be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. (Psalm 125:1) Church Telephone: 715-848-7286 Senior Pastor Steven K. Gjerde Associate Pastor Theodore B. Gulhaugen Kantor Irene Beethe Parish Nurse Lenore Grosinske Office Manager Pam Gabriel Secretary Anna Mae Zeinemann Head Custodian Michael Renken Custodian Roger Ormond To contact us by email: zion@dwave.net To visit our webpage: www.zionlutheranwausau.com Host of the Wausau Lutheran Hour Sundays, 9:00 am, WSAU Radio 550AM (or click Listen Live at www.wsau.com) Member Congregation of Lutheran CORE www.lutherancore.org 20