St. Johns - Weekly Bulletin

Hymn: You Are the Way, through You Alone                     LSB 526

Stand
 

Exhortation (p.184)
Corporate Confession (p.184)

Introit (responsively)  Psalm 30:1–5; antiphon: Psalm 149:1
 
P   Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a | new song,*
             his praise in the assembly of the | godly!
C   I will extol you, O Lord, for you have | drawn me up*
             and have not let my foes rejoice | over me.
P    O Lord my God, I cried to | you for help,*
             and you have | healed me.
C   O Lord, you have brought up my soul | from Sheol;*
             you restored me to life from among those who go down | to the pit.
P   Sing praises to the Lord, O | you his saints,*
             and give thanks to his | holy name.
C   For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a | lifetime.*
             Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the  | morning.
C    Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
              and to the Holy | Spirit;
        as it was in the be- | ginning,*
              is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
P    Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a | new song,*
              his praise in the assembly of the | godly!


Kyrie (p.186)
Gloria in Excelsis (p.187)

Collect of the Day
P  Let us pray.
O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C  Amen.

Sit

First Reading: Acts 6:1–9; 7:2a; 51–60 
            ¹Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. ²And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ³Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
            ⁷And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
            ⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. . . .
            ²And Stephen said:
            “Brothers and fathers, hear me. . . .
            ⁵¹You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵²Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, ⁵³you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
            ⁵⁴Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. ⁵⁸Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

L  This is the Word of the Lord.
C  Thanks be to God.

Gradual                 adapt. from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6
C   Christ has risen  | from the dead.*
             [God the Father] has crowned him with glory and  | honor.
       He has given him dominion over the works  | of his hands;*
             he has put all things un- | der his feet.

Epistle: 1 Peter 2:2–10  
            ²Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation— ³if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
            ⁴As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
     a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
⁷So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
     has become the cornerstone,”
⁸and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
            ⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

L  This is the Word of the Lord.
C  Thanks be to God.

Stand
Alleluia (p.190)

Gospel: John 14:1–14
            ¹[Jesus said:] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
            ⁸Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
            ¹²“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

L  This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C  Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed (p.192)        

Sit
Hymn of the Day: At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing          LSB 633
Sermon

Stand
Offertory (p.192)
Offering
Prayer of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken)
Concluding Collect
Benediction (p.201)

Sit
Announcements
Hymn: Abide, O Dearest Jesus                                             LSB 919
 
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version)
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House.

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Prayers – For the home-bound: Betty Zundel, Charlotte Scepaniak, Ken & Dorothy Maas, Betty Meints, Verdena Dabbert, Lloyd Jerde, Maralyn Hoops, Muriel Pigors, Larry & Sandra Grieben.
For those sick, injured, or recovering: Nathaniel Wendt, Michael Wendt, Phyllis Yeske, Kevin Fehn, Daryl Swanhorst, Tom Hanson, Dorothy Maas, Annikki Marttila, Keith Underberg, Doris Larson, Dwain Buntrock, Russ Brandt, Kathie Lassanske, Betty Meints, Doris Vilhauer, Cheryl Markovetz, Larry Vietmeier, Sheila Christofferson, Tami Schopp, William Cutler, and Keith Jensen.
For comfort for the family of Dean Buntrock.
For expectant mother Eliana (Klipfel) Harrier.  
For the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
For Pastor Andreasen & family, and all our LCMS missionaries.

St. John’s
Ushers: John Bisbee & Lucas Daggett
Next Week: Ray & Cyndy Larson
Last Week: Attendance – 29; Offering – $1,670

Our Savior
Altar Guild: Trisha Rausch & Family
Acolytes: Rhyan Johnson & Grace Rausch
Last Week: Attendance – 114; Sunday School – 23  
Offering – General Fund $4,137; from St. John’s for Mission Trip $365 and for LW $207.09;  Total $4,709.09

Schedule for the Week
Sunday             St. John’s Service of the Word – 8:00 am
                        St. John’s Bible Study – 9:15 am
                        Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am 
                        Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Monday            Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Tuesday           Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
Wednesday       Midweek Service – 6:00 pm
                        Bible Study – 6:30 pm
Thursday          Our Savior Elders – 5:30 pm
Saturday           Bible Study – 9:00-11:00 am
                        Parenting Workshop at St. John’s Britton                                                                                     
Next Sunday     St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
                        Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am
                        Our Savior Bible Study – 9:45 am
                        Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
                        with Confirmation and Graduate Recognition

Pastor Schopp will be on vacation through May 4^th. If you need pastoral care, please call Pastor Ludwig at 605-846-7365.

St. John’s – There will be no Divine Service on Monday, May 4^th as Pastor Schopp will just be returning from vacation. There will be a Monday service on May 18^th at 6:00 pm.

Our Savior LWML – Due to a schedule conflict, our May meeting has been moved from May 4^th to Monday, May 11^th at 3:45 pm.

Saturday Bible Study – May 9^th at 9:00-11:00 am at Our Savior. The topic will be: Just War.

Sunday School – May 10^th will be the last day of Sunday School until fall. The children will be going to Avera Mother Joseph Manor on that day to sing for the residents.

Confirmation will take place at Our Savior on Sunday, May 10^th. We have one confirmand this year – Tucker Brick.

Graduate Recognition at Our Savior will take place during the service on Sunday, May 10^th.  Congratulations to Audrey Braun, Riley Lee, and Joshua Rausch!

Parenting Toward the Kingdom – All parents are invited to this workshop on Saturday, May 9^th at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 401 Main St, Britton, SD. St. John’s is hosting with the help of a grant from Rural Gospel Initiative. The workshop is free, but we ask you to register by May 5^th so that we can plan for the noon lunch. Contact Pastor Robert Moeller at email seelsorge8@aol.com, or call or text 605-321-1641.
Registration – 8:30 to 9:00 am 
Workshop – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Presenter: Kyle Townes, author of The Road Less Traveled: Reclaiming Childhood for Christianity. She also maintains a blog at kidsarecapable.net.
This workshop outlines the core principles of Christian parenting from a solidly Biblical perspective. We will cover such topics as godly discipline, our role as parents, screen time, socialization, influential books, education, and more. We will refocus on what is truly important and eternal in our parenting. We will examine how secular parenting strategies and beliefs have led many Christian families astray, and outline a different, Biblical path forward for you and your children.

Ascension Day – We will remember the day of Jesus’ bodily ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter with a Divine Service at Our Savior on Thursday, May 14^th at 6:00 pm.
 
Seeking a Volunteer to be coordinator of our quarterly blood drive. This would entail signing people up a few weeks in advance, clearing space the day of the drive, and coordinating some snacks. Our next regularly scheduled drive is in June. If you are interested, speak to Pastor Schopp or Vicky Baumgartner.

Church League Softball starts in June. If you’d be interested in playing on a team of Our Savior and St. John’s members (age 16 and up), please contact Eric Johnson at 605-216-6701.

Vocatio: High School Retreat – June 20-26, 2026
Do you know a high school-age student who may be interested in church work someday? Concordia Seminary, St. Louis invites ninth- through 12th-grade students to attend Vocatio: High School on the campus of Concordia Seminary. This retreat encourages high school men and women to explore life as a seminarian, including attending worship and devotions and joining sessions with professors, all while having some fun and recreation! Registration is $300 (includes housing and meals) and closes May 31.  Register today at www.csl.edu/admissions/admissions-visit/vocatio-high-school/
For more information, email admit@csl.edu or call 800-822-9545.

LCMS Stewardship Ministry – Fifth Sunday of Easter
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God has called us to be His own. He has chosen us out of love, out of mercy, out of sheer, divine joy. The apostle Peter says that God chose us so that we might share in His glory and “proclaim the excellencies of Him” who has made us His own. And truly, this is our delight! His joy brings joy to our hearts as well.

Building Healthy Families – Would your mom or dad make it into a “Perfect Parent Hall of Fame”? Probably not—because let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as a perfect earthly parent. But imperfect, amazing Christian parents for whom we’re eternally thankful? Absolutely! Open your hymn book today and revisit Luther’s explanation of the 4^th commandment. How are you doing with this one? Where does it challenge you—or gently nudge you to do something different? Prayerfully consider how you might better apply this instruction. In doing so, may you discover a deeper joy in following God’s path – honoring, loving, respecting, and appreciating the imperfect parents who are part of your story.
Lutheran Family Service  www.LutheranFamilyService.org
Email: info@lutheranfamilyservice.org  or call 605-271-1081

Main Street Living – 10:00 AM- This Is the Life – “Hope Enough to Live By” – A medical research scientist falls into despair after an accident and subsequent events. 10:30 AM- Vicar Joseph Moore at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD, presents the message “The Holy Trinity Is Your God” based on John 16:5-15. Watch Main Street Living on Sunday mornings on KDLT NBC TV. Past shows are archived at www.mainstreetliving.com.   

The Lutheran Hour – Offer up your plans to God in prayer and see what God does with them. Let your plans become prayers that lead you to praise. Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the message “Planning Is Everything” based on Psalm 146:3-4. Listen to The Lutheran Hour on Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KAWZ 88.1 FM, or on Sirius-XM Family Talk 131 at 9:00 am. Sermons are also archived on the website www.lutheranhour.org.

PROVIDING ARTILLERY SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH MILITANT ON THE FRONT LINES… Issues, Etc. is a podcast and radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL, and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  Recent topics include: Intercessory Prayer in a Post-Christian Culture, Understanding Difficult Old Testament Passages, Roman Catholicism on Free Will, “The Population Bomb” by Paul Ehrlich, Luther’s Large Catechism on Holy Baptism and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app and your favorite podcast provider.