3rd of Easter (Misericordias Domini) ~ 2024

 

Today's Service Leader Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor Holy Cross Lutheran Church

 

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting One, LSB pages 151ff.

 

Opening Hymn

Text: attr. Clement of Alexandria, c. 170–c. 220; tr. Henry M. Dexter, 1821–90, alt.
Tune: Felice de Giardini, 1716–96
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross T may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation 151

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

"Silent Reflection before Confession"

 

Confession of Sins LSB 151

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

 

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Introit Psalm 33:1, 18–20; antiphon: vv. 5b, 6a

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Alle- | luia.*
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. Alle- | luia.
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you | righteous!*
Praise befits the | upright.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who | fear him,*
on those who hope in his | steadfast love,
that he may deliver their | soul from death*
and keep them alive in | famine.
Our soul waits | for the Lord;*
he is our help | and our shield.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Alle- | luia.*
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. Alle- | luia.

 

 

Kyrie LSB 152

A In peace let us pray to the Lord. 

A For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

A For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

A For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

A Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

 

This Is the Feast LSB 155

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Please be Seated

 

The Old Testament lesson for the 3rd Sunday of Easter is from Ezekiel, chapter 34.

 

Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 34:11–16

¹¹“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. ¹²As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. ¹³And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. ¹⁶I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm ~ Sung Psalm 23; antiphon: v. 6

¹The Lord is my | shepherd;*
I | shall not want.
²He makes me lie down in green | pastures.*
He leads me beside still | waters.
³He re- | stores my soul.*
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his | name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are | with me;*
your rod and your staff, they | comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my | enemies;*
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup | overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days | of my life,*
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for- | ever.

 

Gloria Patri LSB 186

 

Epistle 1 Peter 2:21–25

²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²²He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Please Stand

 

Gospel Processional~Sung by Cantor and Congregation LSB 459-460

 

460 Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Text (sts. 1–3): tr. Martin Seltz, 1909–67, alt.; (sts. 1–3): German, 12–15th cent.; (sts. 1–3): attr. Wipo of Burgundy, d. c. 1050; (sts. 1–3): tr. The English Hymnal, 1906, alt.
Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, Wittenberg, 1533, ed. Joseph Klug; Latin, ca. 1100; Attr. Wipo of Burgundy, d. ca. 1050
Text (sts. 1–3): © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Text (sts. 1–3): Public domain
Tune: Public domain

 

Holy Gospel John 10:11–16

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the tenth chapter.

¹¹[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Please be Seated

 

 

709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is

 

5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
    Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh, what transport of delight
    From Thy pure chalice floweth!

 

6 And so through all the length of days
    Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
    Within Thy house forever!

Text: Henry W. Baker, 1821–77
Tune: Irish, c. 18th cent.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

 

Sermon~Rev. Brett E. Cornelius, Pastor Holy Cross Lutheran Church ~"The Bishop and Guardian of Your Soul" 1 Peter 2:21-25

 

 

Please Stand

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church

 

Prayer

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Father, You sent Jesus to the cross to suffer and not to threaten, to be judged and not to condemn. He commended His Spirit and bore our sins. Inspire Your Church to trust His holy Passion and follow His example. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O God, send faithful shepherds to care for Your flock here and scattered throughout the world. Keep them devoted to You and Your truth, and so turn them in dutiful service toward Your people. Spare us from hirelings who would serve ego, belly or the world’s doctrines. Give discerning ears to Your sheep to listen for the voice of Christ, our Good Shepherd. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Eternal Lord, through the Paschal Lamb You have wrought peace between man and God. By Your gift of good government, grant peace and good days also to our citizens and between the nations of the world, that we and all our neighbors may lead quiet lives in godly contentment. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, by the firstfruits of Christ’s life from the dead, You secured forgiveness for our troubled consciences. Bless also with temporal health and well-being those who suffer among us [especially _____________]. Grant them aid in this moment and, even more so, true, immortal health in the world to come. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful God, You gave Your Son to be the Lamb. He has given us His own flesh to be our food and His very blood to be our drink. Give us Your Holy Spirit so that we who approach His table may receive His gifts with repentant hearts and faith, that what we receive with our lips we may keep in holy hearts and show forth in holy lives. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, Your Son promises to gather His sheep into one flock. Join us with the faithful departed from all times and places to share in the feast that has no end. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, out of Your fatherly goodness You have remembered us poor, miserable sinners and given Your beloved Son to be our Shepherd — not only to nourish us by His Word, but also to defend us from sin, death and the devil. Grant us Your Holy Spirit, that even as this Shepherd knows us and helps in every affliction, we also may know Him, trust Him, seek help and comfort in Him, heartily obey His voice, and obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Please be Seated

 

Offering

 

Offering Hymn

 

467 Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

 

5 The world against me rages,
    Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wages,
    Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me.
    Misfortune now is play,
    And night is bright as day.

 

6 Now I will cling forever
    To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
    Whate’er He passes through.
He rends death’s iron chain;
He breaks through sin and pain;
    He shatters hell’s grim thrall;
    I follow Him through all.

 

7 He brings me to the portal
    That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal
    Is found in script of gold:
“Who there My cross has shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
    Who there with Me has died
    Shall here be glorified.”

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; tr. John Kelly, 1833–90, alt.
Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662
Text and tune: Public domain

 

The offering is presented on the last stanza

 

Please Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Preface LSB 160

 

Proper Preface

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 161

 

 

Lord’s Prayer LSB 162

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.

 

The Words of Our Lord

 

The Words of Our Lord

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 T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after 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 T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 163

 

Agnus Dei LSB 163

 

Please be Seated

 

 

Distribution

 

Distribution Hymns

 

617 O Lord, We Praise Thee

Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; (st. 1): German, 14th cent.; (sts. 2–3): Martin Luther, 1483–1546
Tune: Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, 1524, Wittenberg, ed. Johann Walter
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

482 This Joyful Eastertide

Text: George R. Woodward, 1848–1934
Tune: Davids Psalmen, 1684, Amsterdam
Text and tune: Public domain

 

740 I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb

Text: Henrietta L. von Hayn, 1724–82; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
Tune: Choral-Buch . . . Brüder-Gemeinen, 1784, Leipzig
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Please Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Benediction LSB 166

 

 

Closing Hymn

 

666 O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe

Text: Jacob Fabricius, 1593–1654; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: German, 1534, Nürnberg
Text and tune: Public domain

 

 

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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