St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660
www.StPaulsManistee.com
Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821
April 28, 2024 5th Sunday of Easter “The Living Lord Produces Active Faith”
WELCOME
HYMN 168 “With High Delight Let Us Unite”
(Please stand for last stanza)
SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
O God, you form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may ever yearn for the lasting joys of heaven; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
(Sing) Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Acts 4:32-37
In the early church, as the apostles preached the resurrection of Christ, the living Lord produced the fruits or unity and generosity.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 67 – page 91
SECOND LESSON: 1 John 3:18-24
St. John encourages us to demonstrate living faith in loving words and actions.
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord. Alleluia.
(Sing) Alleluia.....page 40
GOSPEL: John 15:1-8
Jesus is the vine who gives us, his branches, the ability to produce fruits of faith.
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesso that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN 497 “This Is My Will”
SERMON: John 15:1-8
Stay Connected to the Vine of Christ
APOSTLES’ CREED - page 4
RESPONSIVE PRAYER - page 43
LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN 462 “Oh, that the Lord Would Guide My Ways”
PRAYER - page 43
C: Amen. (sung)
BLESSING - page 443
C: Amen. Amen. Amen. (sung)
HYMN 323 “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS
THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR
The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.
Common Service © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.
All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.