04/26/26

As We Gather

We remember that we are living in a difficult world, and sometimes we feel lost and helpless. We can remember that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He leads us through the difficulties of the world. He even entered into those difficulties Himself—suffering, dying, and rising for us and our salvation. So while we live in a difficult world, it is no match for Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Children Activity Bags 

We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion 

The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood, together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused, and that participation in the Lord’s Supper is an act of confession of faith, we ordinarily commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. If you have a question, please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.
 Baptism of Infants Surely Effective “I still maintain that the surest Baptism is infant Baptism. For an old person may deceive, may come to Christ as a Judas and permit himself to be Baptized. But a child cannot deceive. It comes to Christ in baptism as John came to Him and as the little children were brought to Him, that His Word and work may come over them, touch them, and thus make them holy. For his Word and work cannot pass by without effect; in Baptism they are directed at the child alone. If they were to fail of success here, they would have to be entire failures, and useless means, which is impossible.” What Luther Says # 139

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 26, 2026

Opening Hymn                 The Lord’s My Shepherd I’ll not Want              LSB 710  vs. 1-4

Invocation, Confession and Absolution 

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God;

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C:   He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

P:   The Lord is our Good Shepherd;

C:   He leads us and restores our souls.

P:   He walks beside us through the valley of the shadow of death,

C:   and never abandons us, even in death.

P:   He goes before us and prepares a table for us,

C:   and we will dwell in His house forever.

P:   Though our Lord goes before us, beside us, and behind us, we still find a way to run away from His good pasture. We devote ourselves to all sorts of destruction. Still, our Good Shepherd seeks us out and brings us back to the safety of his flock. He invites us to confess our sins before His heavenly Father.

C:   Heavenly Father, we have strayed from You with our divided loyalties. We have wounded You with our sin. We have wounded others with our sin. We have wounded ourselves with our sin. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us back to Your good pasture and the ways of ,life everlasting, on account of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.

Silence for reflection.

P:   Though we have strayed, Jesus always keeps searching for us. Though we have been lost in our priorities, Jesus is always and ever devoted to us. We see this most clearly as almighty God, in His mercy, has given His Son to die and rise for you, and for His sake forgives you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen. We are forgiven. Our souls are restored in Christ, our Shepherd. Amen.

Hymn of Praise         I am Jesus’ Little Lamb                                            LSB 740

Prayer of the Day 

All:    Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd who has brought together sheep from every tribe, nation, and language to be one flock ever following You. Strengthen us to devote ourselves to Your Word and Sacraments, to prayer and fellowship, for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1^st Lesson                               (The Disciples pattern of life)                                   Acts 2:42–47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Baptism of Reinhardt William Peterson                                                (10:30am)

2^nd Lesson            (Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.)              1 Peter 2:19–25

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 

Gospel Lesson           (Jesus is the Shepherd of the sheep)                           John 10:1–10

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³ The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. ⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Message Song                 Lead On Good Shepherd

Well, I’ve been turned ’round  But I’ve never been lost

Seen the water get troubled  But we walked across

When my knees were shaking  You held my hand

Turning my problems  To a promised land

                         Chorus     Lead on, Good Shepherd   I’ll follow all my days

There ain’t nothing sweeter   Than to watch You make a way

You’ve walked me through the valley  But You never steered me wrong

So lead on Good Shepherd   Lead on

Seen some mighty deep canyons  That You brought me through

Seen some mighty big mountains  That just up and moved

Glory, glory hallelujah  Yeah, that’s my song

              Walking with my Father  Into the great unknown      Chorus

                     Bridge:      Step by step, day by day  Lead me on, Lord I pray                      Road gets dark, walk by faith   Lead on, Good Shepherd.        Repeat

Message                                                    I’ll Not Be In Want

1. In the pastures                 of His leading and the waters He supplies                .                   

                                                                                       Acts 2: 42ff; 1 Peter 2: 25; John 10: 9

2. In this valley                of death I am traveling                  .         vs 10; Isaiah 40: 31

3. In front                  of the enemies            I face.                    2 Peter 2; Romans 8:27

Christian Creed – Psalm 23 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides 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 love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Offering 

Offertory                            Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow                        LSB 805

Prayers of the Church  

 After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.

The 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.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                      page 194 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And with thy spirit.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them up unto the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  ♪ It is meet and right so to do.

P:  It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And with the host of heaven we sing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                          page 195 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ Ho -ly, ho-ly, ho-ly Lord God of Sa – ba – oth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy   

        glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, 

        blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna 

        in the highest.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                  page 197 in the hymnal

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.C:  ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                                          page 198 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         grant us Thy peace.  A – men.

Distribution of Communion

Distribution Hymn                           The King of Love My Shepherd Is                        LSB 709

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                              page 211 in the hymnal

C: ♪ O Lord, now let Your servant      Depart in heav’nly peace,    For I have seen the glory     Of Your redeeming grace:     A light to lead the Gentiles    Unto Your holy hill,    The glory of Your people,   Your chosen Israel.  All glory to the Father,   All glory to the Son,  All glory to the Spirit,    Forever Three in One;    For as in the beginning,    Is now, shall ever be,   God’s triune name resounding    Through all eternity.

Post Communion Collect

All:   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. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                    Numbers 6:24–26                                                                                           

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 ✠ give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn                                Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us                           LSB 711

Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.      

C:   Thanks be to God!   

Postlude

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”