4th Sunday of Easter - 2023

 

Today's Service Leader and Speaker - Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner, Emeritus

 

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

 

684 Come unto Me, Ye Weary

Text: William C. Dix, 1837–98, alt.
Tune: Friedrich K. Anthes, 1812–after 1857
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross 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.

 

 

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 66:3, 5, 8–9; antiphon: vv. 1–2

Shout for joy to God, all the earth. Alleluia.
Sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Alleluia.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.”
Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
Glory be 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.
Shout for joy to God, all the earth. Alleluia.
Sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Alleluia.

 

 

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 The Lord be with you.

P Let us pray.

Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all such things as are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Sacrament of the Altar (Part 3)

P Today's catechetical reading is the third portion under the Sacrament of the Altar.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

C Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here:  “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”  These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament.  Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “Forgiveness of sins.” (3)

P What passages of Holy Scripture inform us and convince us of this truth?

C [W]hoever comes to me I will never cast out. –John 6:37b (K)

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. –Matthew 24:13 (1)

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. –Luke 1:45 (2)

“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But [Jesus] said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” –Luke 11:27b-28 (4)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. –John 10:27-28 (5)

 

 

Old Testament Reading Lamentations 3:22–33

²²The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
²³they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
²⁵The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
²⁶It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷It is good for a man that he bear
the yoke in his youth.
²⁸Let him sit alone in silence
when it is laid on him;
²⁹let him put his mouth in the dust—
there may yet be hope;
³⁰let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
and let him be filled with insults.
³¹For the Lord will not
cast off forever,
³²but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
³³for he does not willingly afflict
or grieve the children of men.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Psalm 111:9a; Luke 24:26

Alleluia. He sent redemption to his people. Alleluia. Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? Alleluia.

 

Epistle 1 Peter 2:11–20

¹¹Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹²Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

¹³Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

 

Alleluia Verse LSB 156

 

Holy Gospel John 16:16–22

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

¹⁶[Jesus said:] “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

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.

 

Sit

 

 

483 With High Delight Let Us Unite

Text: Georg Vetter, 1536–99; tr. Martin H. Franzmann, 1907–76
Tune: Cinquante Pseaumes, 1543, Geneva
Text: © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

 

Sermon - No Such Thing as A "God-failure" - Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner, Emeritus

 

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Prayer of the Church

P Gracious God, Your mercies are new every morning. Continually provide us with all we need to support this body and life, and grant that we receive Your gifts with thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, grant us the gift of true teachers and servants of the Word who truly fulfill Your command and preach nothing contrary to Your Holy Word. Send forth laborers into Your harvest. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, bless our homes. Preserve all married couples in love and faithfulness [especially _____________]; strengthen parents for their task as teachers of the faith; uphold the unmarried honorable and unashamed in their station; and with good deeds in every home, let the ignorance of foolish people be put to silence by Your divine institution. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord of lords, You sustain every rule, authority and power as You see fit until this world’s powers pass away. Bless all whom You place in civil authority, that they would not provoke Your wrath but maintain order and justice for the peace of Your people. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father, on the day when this little while ends, we will ask nothing. Now, in every need, we are bold to ask everything in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our mediator. Hear our supplications and intercessions for every need [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, You have shown us a generous heart and taught us it is more blessed to give than to receive. Accept our gratitude for Your mercies and tender care in time of need. Receive now the gifts of our hands with our voices raised in thanksgiving and praise. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Give joy in the midst of sorrow here at the Sacrament of the Altar. Grant us repentance, a firm faith and a united confession, that we may have honest fellowship in the blessings of Christ’s testament. With consciences thus cleansed from evil and renewed in You, enable us to stand undaunted until the day of visitation. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, of Your fatherly goodness You allow Your children to come under Your chastening rod to conform us to Your only begotten Son here in suffering on earth and hereafter in glory. Comfort us by Your Holy Spirit in all temptations and afflictions, that we would not despair, but trust continually in Your Son’s promise that our trials will endure but a little while and then be followed by eternal joy. Grant that we would overcome all evil in patient hope and at last 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.

 

Sit

 

The offering is gathered.

 

Stand

 

Preface LSB 160

P The Lord be with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

 

Proclamation of Christ

P As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

P O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

 

Sanctus LSB 161

 

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving 161

P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

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

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

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

 

Agnus Dei LSB 163

 

Sit

 

 

Distribution

 

559 Oh, How Great Is Your Compassion

Text: Johann Olearius, 1611–84; tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.
Tune: Schäffer-Belustigung . . . Hirthen-Lieder, 1653, Altdorf
Text and tune: Public domain

 

629 What Is This Bread

Text: Frederic W. Baue, 1946
Tune: Jean Neuhauser Baue, 1951
Text and tune: © 1991 Fred and Jean Baue. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

725 Children of the Heavenly Father

Text: Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832–1903; tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870–1958
Tune: Lofsånger och andeliga wisor, 1873, Sweden
Text: Public domain
Tune: Public domain

 

863 Our Father, by Whose Name

Text: F. Bland Tucker, 1895–1984
Tune: John D. Edwards, 1805–85
Text: © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Thank the Lord LSB 164

 

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

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 T give you peace.

 

 

733 O God, Our Help in Ages Past

 

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
    Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten as a dream
    Dies at the op’ning day.

 

6 O God, our help in ages past,
    Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last
    And our eternal home!

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt.
Tune: William Croft, 1678–1727
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.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House.