Fourth Sunday of Easter 5/11/25
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
MAY 11, 2025
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Make Songs of Joy Setting: Walter L Pelz
WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN Make Songs of Joy LSB 484
1 Make songs of joy to Christ, our head;
Alleluia!
He lives again who once was dead!
Alleluia!
2 Our life was purchased by His loss;
Alleluia!
He died our death upon the cross.
Alleluia!
3 O death, where is your deadly sting?
Alleluia!
Assumed by our triumphant King!
Alleluia!
4 And where your victory, O grave,
Alleluia!
When one like Christ has come to save?
Alleluia!
5 Behold, the tyrants, one and all,
Alleluia!
Before our mighty Savior fall!
Alleluia!
6 For this be praised the Son who rose,
Alleluia!
The Father, and the Holy Ghost!
Alleluia!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
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.
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 ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE LSB 152
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE – “This is the Feast” LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty God, merciful Father,
since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your
Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who
calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Acts 20:17-35
Now from Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(8:00) ANTHEM Jubilation Choir Lord God, We Praise and Thank You for Your Love
Text: Dorothy R. Schultz Setting: Ralph C. Schultz
Lord God, we praise and thank you for your love,
For each new day, a gift from heav’n above,
Creator wise of earth and sea and sun,
Guide us, we pray, and let your will be done.
Lord Jesus, come and hear us as we pray,
Enfold us now within your arms today.
Redeemer true, our Shepherd and our Friend,
Protect your lambs and lead us to life’s end.
O Spirit come, our love and joy increase,
Give to our hearts the blessings of your peace.
Most holy Light, let faith within us shine,
That we may know eternal life divine.
(10:30) PSALM 23 (Sung responsively)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even 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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
SECOND LESSON Revelation 7:9-17
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“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.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
10:30 CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL John 10:22-30
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 10th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 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. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly known as Good Shepherd Sunday. And that’s because each year on this Sunday we read a portion of John 10 – the chapter where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd.
The portion of the chapter we read this year does not include this name. But we do hear Jesus mention his “sheep.” He also mentions a common task of shepherding – that of making sure no one gets snatched away.
In the Easter season, all of our readings come from the book of John. And one thing that can be said of John in particular is that he shows Jesus making a special effort to assure his disciples that even after he leaves them, he will still care for them. We hear this already in the tenth chapter as Jesus contrasts himself with those who abandon the flock and run away. He also does this as he points to the future and says there will be “one flock and one shepherd.” These promises were particularly meaningful for those first disciples, since Jesus would soon leave them by ascending into heaven.
But the words of today’s text fit the season of Easter for another reason as well. And that’s because they record doubts about Jesus. These doubts remind us of the many people who doubt that Jesus has risen from the dead, finding the message just too hard to believe.
The doubts in today’s text come as some Jews – probably religious leaders – said to him: “Why do you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” This may sound like a genuine question, but we know from Jesus’ response that the question was really asked in order to trap him. The encounter takes place in winter, around the Feast of Hanukkah. And this seems to highlight the chilly reception Jesus was receiving.
Even though Jesus knew this was a trap, he answered their question, nonetheless. And he does this by pointing to his deeds, saying: “The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me.”
By this time in his ministry, Jesus had performed countless works that both amazed and helped people. Just a short time before this he had given sight to a man who was born blind. These many works helped people by providing them with food, healing their illnesses, and making their life better. And they certainly gave evidence to Jesus’ power, authority and goodness.
And yet, when Jesus refers to his “works,” he also means his teaching. Jesus spent great amounts of time teaching the people how to pray, how to interpret the Scriptures, and how to do religion rightly. These works of his were even more important than his miracles.
As we see, Jesus’ statement about his works is much more than just a claim that he is a man of action over words. Rather, it is a statement calling people to look at the specific things he was doing. And this is doubly important to understand because Jesus was not doing the works which most of the people thought the Messiah would do. He was not encouraging people to take up arms against their Roman oppressors, nor was he building a new government to lead the people to prosperity. Rather he was teaching people to trust God and to live according to God’s will.
By pointing to his works, Jesus was doing one additional thing as well. He was also preparing the people to see what he would do next. And this was of highest importance, for not long after this Jesus would accomplish his greatest work—that being his sacrificial death and his glorious resurrection.
After calling on the people to notice his works, Jesus then steered the conversation back to the topic he had started earlier, which was the blessing of being “the sheep of his fold.” About this blessing he says: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Jesus’ gift here is certainly the greatest of all blessings, for it gives a safety and security that is not just for this life but for all eternity.
Jesus then concludes his teaching here by giving one more statement about his identity. This is a statement even stronger than his claim of being the Messiah. For he says: “I and the Father are one.”
Some claim that by these words Jesus simply indicated that he and God have the same purpose. They interpret his statement as being about common goals.
But those who heard him that day knew better. And they understood Jesus’ real claim. We know this because when we read on in the chapter, we hear how they immediately picked up stones to throw at him. They did this because they took his words to be blasphemy—meaning that he claimed to be God.
Jesus was able to stop them from stoning him that day, by making an argument from scripture they couldn’t contest. But notice that Jesus did not refute the accusation of the doubters. He couldn’t refute it… because they were right. Jesus was God.
In this reading we hear very important teachings about the identity of Jesus. Not only do we hear that he is the Messiah but also that he is God himself. It is because of these identities that we worship him and place our faith in him as both Savior and Lord.
But for the remainder of the sermon I’d like us to focus more on our identity. Jesus speaks of those who believe in him as “my sheep.” And certainly he calls us this because he is the Good Shepherd and shepherds shepherd sheep. That’s what they do, thus the image. But the image certainly conveys other meanings as well.
One meaning it conveys is a continuity with the Old Testament prophets. The prophets also spoke of God’s people as being his flock, and Jesus wanted people to know that he understood this and that he honored the prophet’s messages.
And because shepherds and sheep are very common in the land of the Bible, the image makes the point that even common people are known by God and are important to him too.
Beyond this, however, I’ve also heard it said, and perhaps you have too, that the image is appropriate because sheep are rather dumb. I don’t know if that’s a fair assessment about sheep, but I do know that it’s an accurate description of much human behavior.
Still, even though sheep may not be the brightest animals, they apparently do pretty well at listening to their shepherd’s voice. And this is what Jesus wants his sheep to do too.
Jesus said: “My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The ability to follow the voice of the shepherd is critical for the well-being of sheep. And it is critical for us as well.
We should therefore be asking ourselves: “Do I know Jesus’ voice? Do I know what he has to say and do I recognize his voice when I hear it?”
Thankfully, those first followers of Jesus knew his voice. And not only did they know it, but they also recorded his message for us in their accounts of his life and in their letters to the churches. These accounts and letters, our holy scriptures, are the living voice of Jesus in our world.
And let us not forget, too, that when we today proclaim the message of the Holy Scriptures in our sermons and in our counsel with one another and in our messaging to the world, we also are the living voice of Jesus. As one of my old preaching textbooks from seminary puts it, in the very first chapter: “God has redeemed men through Christ to be his own and puts the Word of Christ on the lips of people to give men life and faith.”
In our first reading today, from Acts chapter twenty, Paul reminded the Ephesian pastors of his preaching by saying: “for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Paul didn’t hold anything back from them but made sure they heard everything they needed.
And then Paul encouraged those pastors in their work, by saying: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” Notice that Paul uses the same image of
a flock as Jesus does. And notice that he describes their work as “caring.” That’s a very important point for us pastors to catch.
When we listen to the voice of Jesus, we hear the most wonderful things. In today’s reading we hear Jesus say: “I give my sheep eternal life, and they will never perish.” He says this because he earned eternal life for us by paying the price for our sins – accomplishing this on the cross. And he gives this eternal life to us as a free gift, without any merit or worthiness in us. Jesus has overcome death so that death is no longer our end. Or to put it another way: death, our greatest enemy, has been defeated.
Jesus also says: “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” And this is important too, because while death has been defeated, there is still one who wishes to snatch God’s children from the jaws of victory. That “one” – the Devil – has great power in this world and has enlisted many helpers.
Jesus’ statement here is not a voicing of the so-called “once saved, always saved” teaching that some Christians hold to. Rather, it is a promise that no one can cause us to fall away from our faith or keep us from eternal life through their persuasion or action. People of faith can still choose to walk away from God on their own. But no one can cause this. I know we question this teaching because it seems like many who fall away do so on account of the influence of peers or celebrities or those in academia or the media. But the voice of Christ is far more powerful than all of these. The only question is whether we will listen to it.
“My Sheep listen to my voice,” says Jesus. And then he adds: “I know them, and they follow me.”
This is true. We do follow him. But we don’t do it perfectly. And sometimes our following isn’t very good at all.
At other times, however, it is. If you’ve said a prayer today, you’re following him. If you made it to church today, you’re following him. If you showed care or concern to a fellow human being this morning, you’re following him. If you’ve treated other people according to the Laws of God, you’re following him.
These good efforts don’t earn our salvation. But they do work to keep us in faith. And they bless our neighbor as well.
We all need reminders to be good followers. And we could all improve in our following too. It’s hard to be a follower because we’d much rather be a leader and we don’t like to be boxed in or labeled. Yet I would hope that you would see the blessings of being a follower of Jesus and would identify yourself openly as such.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. And we do well to rejoice in being his sheep and a part of his flock. If being a sheep sometimes seems demeaning or unattractive, we should remember that Jesus
himself was also a sheep. In fact, he was a young sheep – a lamb. Jesus took this role upon himself when he offered himself for our sins. He was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
The heavenly hosts know to celebrate this Lamb. We heard this in our reading today from the Book of Revelation. There we see the hosts gathered together – a great multitude from all nations – facing the Lamb and offering him their praise. They praise him because his sacrifice has given them life and his blood has made them clean. That Lamb is now their Shepherd.
On Good Shepherd Sunday, we give thanks for the excellent shepherding our Lord Jesus does in our lives as he teaches and protects us. And we give thanks for his promise to hang in there with us and to extend his grace.
May God then lead us always to see Jesus as our Good Shepherd. And may we listen to his voice as the source of our strength and our salvation. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) The King of Love My Shepherd Is LSB 709
1 The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
2 Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul He leadeth
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
3 Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me.
4 In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me,
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
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!
APOSTLES’ CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life ✠ everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Heavenly Father, in Your name Your Son purchased us with His own most holy blood, and He now leads us through the gate of death to our eternal home with You. As the sheep of His fold, inspire us to hear His voice gladly and to follow Him steadfastly through every tribulation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, Shepherd of souls, Your apostle Paul promised that fierce opposition and twisted speech would come against Your Church, even from within her own fold. Raise up faithful men to pastor your flock through these threats, and grant that they would not shrink from proclaiming the kingdom of Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, You have given us a mirror of Your love in the vocation of mothers who nurture, guide and raise their children in all things good. Bless them in their calling, sustain them through weary and difficult times, and give them much joy in their work. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, our King, You are Lord of all peoples, nations and tribes. Grant wisdom and truth to those who rule this land, that they may faithfully promote good and punish evil. And wherever our laws or policies or actions are contrary to Your will, reform them for Your mercy’s sake. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have not forgotten us in our afflictions or abandoned us in our weakness. Deliver the sick and suffering according to Your will, especially our brothers and sisters Geraine, Sophia, Brooks, June, Peter, Wendy, James, Russell, Marvin, Yi, Michael, Marian, Val and all whom we name in our hearts at this time… Guard us against despair and grant us patience in the days of our trouble as we await Your perfect healing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of all the living, You shepherd Your saints through the gate of death, out of all tribulation, to the very throne room of heaven. Bless those who grieve and give them eyes of faith to see the deaths they mourn in light of the resurrection of Your Son. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our Shepherd, You calm all fears in this valley of the shadow of death and You prepare the holy table of Your Son’s testament for us in the presence of our enemies. Grant us repentant and faithful hearts. And in every tribulation or besetting sin, lead us to find comfort and strength in Your overflowing mercy given to us in this Sacrament. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You promised to raise up a shepherd to deliver Your sheep from all their enemies. We give You thanks for giving us Your own Son to be our Good Shepherd. Grant us to hear His voice, know Him by faith and follow where He leads, that He may deliver us into Your arms forever; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
OFFERTORY LSB 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
PREFACE LSB 160
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good, right, and salutary …evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
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:
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb LSB 740
1 I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need and well provides me,
Loves me ev’ry day the same,
Even calls me by my name.
2 Day by day, at home, away,
Jesus is my staff and stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me;
When I thirst, He bids me go
Where the quiet waters flow.
3 Who so happy as I am,
Even now the Shepherd’s lamb?
And when my short life is ended,
By His angel host attended,
He shall fold me to His breast,
There within His arms to rest.
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns LSB 525
1 Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless king
Through all eternity.
2 Crown Him the virgin’s Son,
The God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won
Which now His brow adorn:
Fruit of the mystic rose,
Yet of that rose the stem,
The root whence mercy ever flows,
The babe of Bethlehem.
3 Crown Him the Lord of love.
Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bend their wond’ring eyes
At mysteries so bright.
4 Crown Him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.
5 Crown Him the Lord of heav’n,
Enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the king to whom is giv’n
The wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns
As thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns,
For He is king of all.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Crown Him with Many Crowns Setting: Michael Burkhardt
FELLOWSHIP – Leisure Group
FLOWERS – In loving memory of my father, George Mayores. By Priscilla Altmann
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Steve Berg
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Norm Williams
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: SP Youth
Comm. assist: SP Youth/Dan Buuck
Reader: SP Youth
Acolyte: Noelle Blomster
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 © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.
484 Make Songs of Joy Text: Juraj Tranovský, 1591–1637; tr. Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919–2008 Tune: Velká Partitúra, 1936, ed. Juraj Chorvát Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is Text: Henry W. Baker, 1821–77 Tune: Irish, c. 18th cent. 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
525 Crown Him with Many Crowns Text (sts. 1–3, 5): Matthew Bridges, 1800–94, alt.; (st. 4): Godfrey Thring, 1823–1903 Tune: George J. Elvey, 1816–93 Text and tune: Public domain
