BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, MAY 18TH, 2025

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY, MAY 11TH, 2025

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INTRODUCTION​

The gift of new life, of eternal life, is the gift of the risen Christ. It is the promise of
     Jesus. It was true for Dorcas in Joppa. It was true for those “who have come out
     of the great ordeal” in the Revelation vision. It is true for us and for all the
     baptized: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I
     will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

    O God of peace, you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the
     great shepherd of the sheep. By the blood of your eternal covenant, make us
     complete in everything good that we may do your will, and work among us all that
     is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who
     lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ACTS 9:36-43
Dorcas was a faithful and devoted woman of charity in the community of Joppa.
     Her kindness and her work with clothing were well-known, especially to the
     widows in town. When she fell ill and died, Peter raised her back to life through
     the power of prayer.

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is
     Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she
     became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.
     38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there,
     sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So
     Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room
     upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other
     clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them
     outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said,
     “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
     41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows,
     he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many
     believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile, he stayed in Joppa for some time with a
     certain Simon, a tanner.

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PSALM

PSALM 23
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not be in want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
3 You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Response) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

SECOND READING

REVELATION 7:9-17
Christ is the shepherd who leads his faithful to springs of the water of life. Christ
     is also the lamb who vanquishes sin and suffering.

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count,
     from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the
     throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.
     10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
     “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!”
     11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four
     living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
     12 singing,
     “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
     and thanksgiving and honor
     and power and might
     be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
     13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white,
     and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who
     knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great
     ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
     15 For this reason they are before the throne of God
     and worship him day and night within his temple,
     and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
     16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more;
     the sun will not strike them,
     nor any scorching heat,
     17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
     and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

      and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Alleluia. (John 10:14)

GOSPEL READING

JOHN 10:22-30
Jesus responds to questions about his identity with the remarkable claim that he
     and the Father are one. Those who understand this are his sheep; they hear his
     voice, follow, and will never be snatched from his hand.

22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was
     winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So
     the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in
     suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have
     told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify
     to me, 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My
     sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life,
     and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
     in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch
     them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

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LICENSES & EXPIRATION DATES
Worship Service Content is used via permission through Augsburg Fortress Liturgies

Annual License #SB144368. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 2/28/2026.
Our Hymns and Worship Music are used via permission through CCLI One
License #11327166. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 1/31/2026.

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​SERMONS​
(AVAILABILITY VARIES PENDING ON THE MINISTER)

TAKING FAITH HOME