St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
May 8, 2022 Easter 4 - Good Shepherd
Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for being the Lamb of God. If You hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have eternal life. Thank You also for being the Good Shepherd. If You wouldn’t be, I would be in constant difficulty
Hymn 375 Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ,/ You are the Good Shepherd who laid down Your life for the sheep. Lead us now to the still waters of Your life-giving Word/ that we may abide in Your Father’s house forevermore; for You live & reign with Him & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 34:25-31
If all the people in the world would be followers of the Shepherd-King Jesus and live lives loyal to Him, then we might look around us and see the perfection of the Garden of Eden. But such is not the case. We will have to wait until we are removed from this sin-infested world to experience perfection.
25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.
Verse: The Lord is my Shepherd. He laid down His life for His sheep. Alleluia (Sing) Alleluia, pg 30
Epistle Revelation 7: 9-17
Jesus the Lamb of God is also our Shepherd. He lived, died & rose so we might be cleansed of sin & live with Him in perfection in heaven.
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come 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 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’‘ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Hymn 374
Gospel: John 10:22-30
Jesus, our good Shepherd, speaks words of eternal life to us. We, His sheep, hear and believe the message of salvation and enjoy the assurance that God is protecting our faith.
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Hymn 436
Sermon Text: Gospel
Theme:.We are safe in Jesus’ hands
He is our Good Shepherd
He gives us eternal life
He and the Father are one
Nicene Creed, pg 31
Thankoffering The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.
Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 32
Special Prayers, Lord’s Prayer
Continue page 33, front of hymnal
Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St Paul's & other WELS or ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith (1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with someone after worship. We would be delighted to help someone come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation.
Hymn 360 during distribution
Continue page 36 front of hymnal
Hymn 432