ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
1020 Private Rd. 8012 Giddings, Texas 78942
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2020
Pastor: Rev. Dale Bohm
Home: 512-253-6933 Cell: 979-492-3859
Office: 512-253-6358 E-Mail: stjohnlincoln@yahoo.com
WEB: sites.google.com/site/stjohnlutheranchurchlincoln/
Organist: Calvin Patschke Choir Director: Lois Marburger
WELCOME TO ST. JOHN: We are glad that you are worshiping with us today. We pray that your worship will be blessed and that our fellowship together will be beneficial. If you are a guest we ask you to sign the guest book in the narthex.
******************************************************************************
ORDER OF WORSHIP: Page 5
HYMNS: 431, 144, 368, 648
THE FIRST LESSON: Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 7:51-60
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2:19-25
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are 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 cross, 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.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:1-10
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone 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 one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper 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 the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They 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.
*************************************************************************************
2020 US CENSUS: Everyone Counts! Take time to fill out your 2020 Census information. You can fill it out online or mail in the form. It took me 3 minutes to submit my form online. It is about fair representation, it is about $675 billion dollars, It is about redistricting, It is your civic duty.
PRAYER LIST: Nelson Friedrich, Gloria Clark, Billy Walther, Gage Collins, Matt Favila, Bernice Boriack, Lisa Schumann, Denise Urban, Our Nation in Crisis, A Blessed Rain
BIRTHDAYS: Chesston Melcher, Dorothy Witte, Lorelei Howard, Owen Patschke, Jonathan Schimank, Keely Schumpert
ANNIVERSARY: Vernon and Sandra Umlang
Brandon and Michelle Krause
INDIVIDUAL or SMALL GROUP COMMUNION IS AVAILABLE FROM PASTOR.
Please schedule an appointment with Pastor. We will meet at church.