The Holy Eucharist
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2021
9:30 a.m.
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lancaster, PA
Welcome to worship. If you are visiting with us, a special welcome. We invite you to return and worship with us as often as you are able. Please sign the guest book in the narthex. Guest cards are also available. Please take one, fill it out and return it to an usher. The offering box is by the baptismal font to receive your gift of an offering. If you need a large print bulletin, please ask an usher. As you enter the nave, please conclude all conversations and silence all cell phones and other electronic devices, as to fully enter into this time of worship.
Please note the instructions on distancing for the sharing of the peace and receiving Holy Communion in the sections below.
The Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
The congregation stands.
Easter Acclamation
P
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
C
He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
The Processional
The Apostolic Greeting and Prayer of the Day
P
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C
And also with you.
P
Let us pray. Holy and righteous God, you are the author of life, and you adopt us to be your children. Fill us with your words of life, that we may live as witnesses to the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C
Amen
Please be seated.
Children’s Message
The children remain at their seat as the pastor share a message with them.
First Reading
Acts 4:5-12
A reading from Acts: The next day [the] rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
A
The word of the Lord.
C
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 23
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 right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I 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
my whole life long.
The Second Reading
1 John 3:16-24
A reading from First John: We know love by this, that [Jesus Christ] laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
A
The Word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God.
Please stand
The Holy Gospel
Luke 10:11-18
P
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke the tenth chapter.
C
Glory be to you O Lord.
[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
P
The Gospel of the Lord
C
Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.
The Sermon
Silence for reflection follows.
Please stand.
The Nicene Creed
C
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
As a sign of resurrection glory, the people remain standing for the prayers during the Easter season.
The Prayers of the Church
A
Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love.
After each portion of the prayers:
A
Lord, in your mercy,
C
Hear our prayer.
The prayers conclude:
P
Into your hands Gracious God we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
C
Amen.
The Peace
P
The peace of Christ be with you always.
C
And also with you.
Without leaving your seat offer a wave to your neighbor, sharing God’s peace, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Please stand.
Offertory Prayer
A
Let us pray. Faithful God,
C
you call us beloved children and welcome us to your table. Receive our lives and the gifts we offer. Abide with us and send us in service to a suffering world; for the sake of your beloved Child, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
P
The Lord be with you.
C
And also with you.
P
Lift up your hearts.
C
We lift them to the Lord.
P
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Eucharistic Prayer
P
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God.
You are most holy,
and great is the majesty of your glory.
You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but have eternal life.
We give you thanks for his coming into the world
to fulfill for us your holy will
and to accomplish all things for our salvation.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
C
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and the promise of his coming again,
we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty,
not as we ought but as we are able;
we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving
and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants,
and these your own gifts of bread and wine,
so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ
may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace,
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be formed to live as your holy people
and be given our inheritance with all your saints.
To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.
C
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
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 Invitation to Communion
P
Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, gives everyone a place at the welcome table.
C
Alleluia! Thanks be to God.
Please be seated.
The Distribution of Holy Communion
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices open table hospitality. Baptized communicants of other Christian denominations, of all ages, are welcome to receive the sacrament. An usher will direct each seating area to come forward to receive the sacrament. Bring your communion cup with you, or take one from the usher. The pastor will drop the host into your hand. Next move to receive the wine from the Assisting Minister. Then take another step to consume the sacrament. As you return to your seat, place the empty cup into the receptacle. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.
Please stand.
Post Communion Blessing
P
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C
Amen.
Post Communion Prayer
A
Let us pray. Wellspring of happiness, through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts. Satisfy the hunger still around us, and send us as witnesses, that your love may bring peace to the hearts of all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C
Amen.
The Blessing
P
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.
The Dismissal
P
Alleluia, Christ has risen!
C
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
A
Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
C
Thanks be to God. We will!
Postlude
+++
Today’s flowers are sponsored by
Tom & Sandy Rohrback
in memory of our parents.
Coming up at Holy Spirit
| May 4 | Book Club, 7:00 p.m. |
| May 8 | Drive-Up Food Drive, 10 a.m. – Noon |
| May 16 | Semi-annual Congregation Meeting |
| May 23 | The Festival of Pentecost with the Rite of Confirmation |
The text for next week:
Easter 5
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8
Acknowledgments
Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103416.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.
Eucharistic Prayer from Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collection of Litanies, Laments, and Thanksgivings at Font and Table by Gail Ramshaw, copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.