Welcome to GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH A congregation of the ELCA 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. 1 John 3:18 SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 Fourth Sunday of Easter 205 S. Garner St., State College, PA 16801 phone: 814-238-2478 email: churchoffice@glcpa.org web address: w w w.glcpa.org 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. worship service Today s Hymns #ELW 361 #ELW 502 #ELW 551 Distribution #ELW 778 #ELW 755 Our Mission Statement: Grace Lutheran Church is energized by the Holy Spirit and nurtured through God s Word and Sacrament to gather, feed, and send people in the name of J esus Christ.
ABOUT TODAY S THEME 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. ABOUT THE LESSONS. The First Lesson: Peter and John had been arrested the previous day because they were proclaiming the news of the resurrection to the people. In today s reading, Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he is able to proclaim salvation in Jesus name to the religious authorities. The Second Lesson: Jesus death on our behalf is the clearest demonstration of divine love. This is the very love we share with others, not just through our words but especially through our deeds. In sharing such love we fulfill God s commandments. The Gospel Lesson: In language that recalls the twenty-third psalm, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is willing to die for them, and he is able to overcome death for them. BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT...In Baptism we are adopted by God and gifted with both His promise and His Spirit. Just such a moment comes today at our 10:30 A.M. service, when Adalyn Kay Davidson, born November 10, 2017, daughter of Cameron and Kaleena Davidson, receives this holy sacrament. We welcome Adalyn into the Lord s family, a fellow member with us of the body of Christ, and a worker with us in the Kingdom of God. All are welcome to our weekly coffee hour in Harkins Hall following the 9 AM service! = Please stand as you are able =Please be seated 2 Grace Lutheran is now on Twitter! Follow us @GraceLCPA.
Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church - State College, Pennsylvania PRELUDE Ellacombe Kerr WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. P: God of all mercy and consolation, come to the aid of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Kneel/Sit P: Most merciful God, C: We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, your only Son our Lord. Amen. P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. GATHER The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. PROCESSIONAL HYMN The Day of Resurrection!...ELW #361 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. 3
KYRIE (ELW p. 147) 4
HYMN OF PRAISE (ELW p. 149) 5
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. FEED God speaks to us in scripture reading, and feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. (10:30) CHILDREN S MESSAGE..Peter Horn We welcome everyone to worship and encourage children of all ages to participate fully in our service. Qualified nursery care is available as needed. The nursery is located in room 202. FIRST LESSON.........Acts 4:5-12 (pew Bible p. 887) 5 The next day [the] 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. 6
PSALM 23 Please sing responsively from the selected verses. L: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. C: The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me be- side still waters. L: You restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your 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. L: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over. C: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. SECOND LESSON...1 John 3:16-24 (pew Bible p. 990) 16 We know love by this, that [Jesus Christ] 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. 7
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW p. 151a) HOLY GOSPEL... John 10:11-18 (pew Bible p. 872) P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John the 10th chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord. (spoken) [Jesus said:] 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 8
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. (spoken) SERMON.. Vicar Ariel HYMN OF THE DAY The King of Love My Shepherd Is....ELW #502 (10:30 A.M.) HOLY BAPTISM...ELW p. 227 APOSTLES CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Response after each petition: P: Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer. WE SHARE THE LORD S PEACE P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. (10:30 only) OFFERTORY Shepherd Me...Douglas Wagner; The Shepherd's Song..Michael McCabe (sung by Crossfire, soloists Ethan Hardyk and Sammy Hallacher; Betsy Hunter and Declan Flanagan; Laura Pauley, piano) 9
OFFERTORY SONG......(ELW #184) C: Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing, Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life. Gather the hopes and dreams of all; unite them with the prayers we offer. Grace our table with your presence, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come. P: Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, your only Son our Lord. C: Amen. GREAT THANKSGIVING (ELW p. 152) P: C: P: C: P: C: 10
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise... we praise your name and join their unending hymn: C: (ELW p. 153) P: Everlasting God, the whole universe sings a new song of praise: the rivers clap their hands, the hills ring out for joy. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us voices ready to cry out for justice and proclaim resurrection joy wherever your Spirit leads us. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. With this bread and cup we remember our Lord s Passover from death to life, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. P: God of salvation and resurrection, pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and grace. And to you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be praise and honor, now and forever. C: Amen. 11
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. P: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, the meal is ready. C: Thanks be to God. COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION All who are baptized are invited to join the congregation in receiving the Savior s Body and Blood. Children not yet receiving Communion are invited forward for a blessing. Rice wafers and grape juice are available for those who have sensitivities to wheat or alcohol. An acolyte has a special tray with these alternative communion elements. C: (ELW p.154) COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION Santo, Santo, Santo..arr. Mary Kay Parrish (sung by Crossfire; Laura Pauley, piano) COMMUNION HYMNS: ELW #778 -- The Lord s My Shepherd ELW #755 -- Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. C: Amen. 12
C: P: O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. As you send us into the world, guard us from the power of evil, keep us in unity with all your people, and by your Spirit move us to testify to your grace in our words and actions; through Christ our Lord. C: Amen. SEND God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. 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. C: Amen. HYMN The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve...ELW #551 A: Go in peace; serve the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Prelude and Fugue in F major, BWV 556 J. S. Bach The Rev. P. Stevens Lynn, Senior Pastor... pastorlynn@glcpa.org The Rev. Scott E. Schul, Pastor...pastorschul@glcpa.org Vicar Ariel Williams, Faith Formation... awilliams@glcpa.org Laurel Sanders... Director of Music Ministries Jayne Glocke.Adult Choir Director Erik Clayton... Organist Pat Lloyd & June Miller.....Pianists Joan Kovalchik Flute Anna Carol Buffington... The Bells of Grace Director From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20807. 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. 13
Worship Assistants for Sunday, April 22, 2018 8:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 10:30 A.M. Lectors Kerry Richards Allison Wicks Linda Schul Greeters Carla Rossi Louise Tarman Helen & Dick Brenneman Acolytes Annika Bechtel Jacob Fritz Deacons Cindy Nicosia Carl Bankert Sally Keiser-Bankert Nicholas Kewitt Patrick Williams John & Brenda Palmgren Worship Assistant George Weigand Cantor Laurel Sanders Ethan Hardyk Ushers Dan Bright Del Bright Erin Kauffman Shawn Kauffman Ken Tamminga Nancy Tamminga Harold Cassady Peter Forster Kurt Gibble Jeya Chandra Radio Ministry; Sound Coffee Hour Hosts 10:00-10:30 a.m. Welcoming Center Hosts Wayne Pauley The Flanagans Sue Forster The altar flowers are sponsored by Lenore Horner in memory of Jack Horner This morning s bulletin is sponsored by Barb & Al Fiscus in honor of our children and grandchildren Today s radio broadcast on WRSC - 1390 AM is sponsored by Betty Houts in memory of Suzanne & Robert 14
Super Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Homemade Salisbury steak with gravy, oven browned potatoes, honey glazed carrots & dessert SUPER WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE 11:00 am Adult Bible Study, led by Pastor Lynn 5:00-5:30 pm Angel Choir (ages 3-5), Room 203 5:00-5:45 pm Sing n Ring Choir (K-grade 5) Choir room next to Harkins Hall; Kindergartners can choose either choir 5:30-6:15 pm Super Wednesday Supper, Harkins Hall 6:15-7:15 pm Adult Bible Study, led by Pastor Lynn 6:15-7:15 pm The Re:Formers (5th-8th grades), HH Stage 6:15-7:15 pm Kid s Club, Miller Center 7:30-9:00 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 15
This Week At Grace 16