3rd 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.

 

685 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus

Text: Sigismund von Birken, 1626–81; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978, alt.
Tune: Georg G. Boltze, 18th cent.
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
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 33:1, 18–20; antiphon: vv. 5b, 6a

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Alleluia.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. Alleluia.
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 beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Alleluia.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. 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.

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.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Sacrament of the Altar (Part 2)

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

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

C These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words.  For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. (3)

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

C [T]he blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. –1 John 1:7 (K)

[F]or this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. –Matthew 26:28 (1)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? –Romans 8:31-32 (2)

[Y]ou were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. –1 Peter 1:18-19 (4)

[H]e has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.  –Colossians 1:22 (5)

He 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. –1 Peter 2:24 (5)

 

 

Choir - Loving Shepherd of the Sheep

 

 

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.

 

 

Gradual Luke 24:35b; John 10:14

Alleluia. [The Lord] was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Alleluia. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Alleluia.

 

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.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB 156

 

Holy Gospel John 10:1–18

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

¹“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ²But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹I 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. ¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

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

 

 

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 - "I Am the Good Shepherd" - Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner, Emeritus

 

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Prayer of the Church

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

Loving Father, Your Son is the great Shepherd of the sheep, who faithfully gathers His flock to Himself in the pastures of the Church. Grant us steadfast faith to hear His voice and follow Him, even through the valley of the shadow of death, that we may receive our portion in His abundant life. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, You provide shepherds in Your Church. Inspire the service of all pastors to feed Your flock with Your Word. Seek the scattered and bind up the injured, that we may abide forever in Your rich pasture. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful Lord, You have called us to be Your people through Baptism and faith. Bless all the schools and seminaries of our Synod, that our pastors may be well trained for Your service and our young well prepared for their occupations, serving as Your children. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O gracious King, You have ordered the nations of the world so that men might seek security in You and not in earthly powers. Give servant-hearts to our leaders and grant peace through their labors, that many may find You in the sanctuary of Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Great Physician, by the wounds of Your Son on the cross You bring healing to the world. Extend Your healing to [_____________ and] all who suffer in this life, and instill in them the hope of resurrection and perfect healing. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, You gathered Your people of old to the Temple Mount. Gather us now to Your altar and feed us with Your Son, that we may never be scattered from You, but dwell forever in the rich pasture of Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, 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.

 

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.

 

Proper Preface LSB 161

P It is truly good, right, and salutary . . . evermore praising You and saying:

 

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

 

711 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us

Text: Hymns for the Young, 1836, 4th ed., London, alt.
Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1816–68
Text and tune: Public domain

 

719 I Leave All Things to God’s Direction

Text: Salomo Franck, 1659–1725; tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.
Tune: Georg Neumark, 1621–81
Text and tune: Public domain

 

737 Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing

 

5 He only will with patience chide,
    His rod falls gently down;
And all your sins He casts aside
    In ocean depths to drown.

 

6 His wisdom never plans in vain
    Nor falters nor mistakes.
All that His counsels may ordain
    A blessèd ending makes.

 

7 Upon your lips, then, lay your hand,
    And trust His guiding love;
Then like a rock your peace shall stand
    Here and in heav’n above.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; tr. John Kelly, 1833–90, alt.
Tune: Harmonischer Lieder-Schatz, 1738, Frankfurt
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

 

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.

 

 

710 The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want

Text: The Psalms of David in Meeter, 1650, Edinburgh
Tune: William Gardiner, 1770–1853
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.