26 Apr Bulletin – Sunday, April 26, 2026
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Organist
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Fourth Sunday of Easter
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
THANKSGIVING for BAPTISM
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism: water, and the Word, anointing by God’s Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you formed and filled us with the water of creation. You give us morning dew, gentle rains, and splashing waves. We thank you for every drop of water that nourishes.
Blessed are you. Guide us to springs of life.
Jesus Christ, Word of God, you are the faithful witness who accompanies our journeys. We give thanks for your life-giving death and resurrection and praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow.
Blessed are you. Speak to us and stir our hearts.
Holy Spirit, we need you to inspire and guide this world. There’s far too much turmoil and harm being done. Unite us in the common purpose of seeking peace and being satisfied with enough. Let nothing cloud our ability to recognize you among us.
Blessed are you. Bring calm to places of chaos.
Holy One, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism, and for making us a new creation.We join with saints and angels, giving you honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing #499
HYMN OF PRAISE
🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
🎶Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
🎶The Lord be with you.
🎶And Also with you.
Let us pray:
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Dear Savior, Lord and Shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us through shadows and valleys that threaten to harm or kill us. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security toward you and the joyous feast prepared for us in your house. Jesus Christ, you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, as one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2:42-47
[The baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
You restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
SECOND READING 1 PETER 2:19-25
It is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
🎶Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go? You hve the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Holy Gospel according to Saint John, the 10th chapter.
🎶Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL JOHN 10:1-10
[Jesus said:] “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
🎶Glory to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us #481
PROFESSION of FAITH Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
creator 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 became 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,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who 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.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Trusting in the power of Christ’s resurrection to heal and redeem the world, let us pray for the needs of all. A brief silence.
You who shepherd, call every person to yourself. Secure those following you within the fold. Help every lamb to trust your guidance, to be satisfied by your care and protection. Good and gracious God, receive our prayer.
You who save, protect and preserve the wonders of the natural world. Restrict technology which defies your creative will or disregards life and death. Good and gracious God, receive our prayer.
You who judge, uphold efforts which advocate for fair and adequate distribution of goods, services and resources. Balance every burden and benefit among society, affording opportunity to all. Good and gracious God, receive our prayer.
You who heal, comfort those who grieve and those who are ill or injured (especially those on our prayer list or in our hearts). Restore well-being to their bodies, minds and spirits. Good and gracious God, receive our prayer.
You who provide, since you have satisfied and filled us to overflowing, may we give others what they need. Good and gracious God, receive our prayer.
You who claim, both the living and the dead, we praise you for everyone who lives and dies in faith. Even now, we share a heavenly home together. Lord, make us one with you in solidarity with each other.
Indeed, you are good and gracious, God of resurrection power and might. Use us and our prayers to deliver blessings to all the world through you and in your name, Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [+]. To you belong all glory and honor, now and forever, Amen.
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 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.
EXCHANGE of PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
🎶Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.
BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN
Oh, Happy Day When We Shall Stand #351
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Altar flowers at St. Peter are presented by Ray & Audrey Rummel in memory of loved ones.