O blessed spring, where Word and sign embrace us into Christ the Vine: Here Christ enjoins each one to be a branch of this life-giving Tree. Christ, holy Vine, Christ, living Tree, be praised for this blest mystery: that Word and water thus revive and join us to Your Tree of Life. Amen.
Welcome! We ask all of you, both visitors and members, to sign a Welcome card located in the pew rack. Please fill out this card, place it in the offering plate, or hand it to an usher as you leave the service.
Our Communion Practice: Lutherans believe that the Lord’s Supper demonstrates a oneness with Christ in faith, life, and worship among those who receive Communion. Reception of the Lord’s Supper by Christians not in fellowship with us would imply a oneness which does not yet exist. For this reason, we welcome those with whom we have “altar and pulpit fellowship” to the Lord’s Supper. This includes members of sister congregations of the LCMS, members of the American Association of Lutheran Churches, and Lutheran Church Canada; as well as members of partner churches throughout the World. If you would like to know more about this practice, please arrange a time to speak with our pastor.
Prayers – For our home-bound members:
St. John’s – Alfred Larson.
Our Savior – Charlotte Scepaniak, Doris Vilhauer, Betty Zundel, Vi Schnaidt, Ken & Dorothy Maas, Loretta Podoll, Larry Nupen, Evelyn Grieben, Betty Meints, Verdena Dabbert, Lorraine Krage.
And for the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
Introit Psalm 145:1–2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon: John 16:16
A little while, and you will see me no | longer;*
and again a little while, and you will | see me.
I will extol you, my | God and King,*
and bless your name forever and | ever.
Every day I will | bless you*
and praise your name forever and | ever.
The Lord is gracious and | merciful,*
slow to anger and abounding in | steadfast love.
All your works shall give thanks to you, | O Lord,*
and all your saints shall | bless you!
My mouth will speak the praise | of the Lord,*
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and | ever.
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.
A little while, and you will see me no | longer;*
and again a little while, and you will | see me.
Collect of the Day
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.
First Reading Acts 8:26–40
26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.
27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship
28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Gradual adapt. from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6
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 John 4:1–11
1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Holy Gospel John 15:1–8
1[Jesus said:] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Acknowledgments
The Introit, Collect, Gradual, and Verse are from Lutheran service Book: Altar Book, copyright 2006 CPH. All Scripture quotations, including those from Luthern Service Book, 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.
St. John’s
Organist: SOS
Ushers: Brent & Barb Miller
Next Week: Roger & Sharon Zastrow
Last Week: Attendance – 29; Offering – $1,571
Our Savior
Organist: Marianne Klipfel
Elders: Douglas Klipfel & Don Hoops
Altar Guild: Ann Lee & Rebecca McHenry
Acolytes: Ally Johnson & Rhyan Johnson
Last Week: Attendance – 96; Sunday School – 14
Offering – General Fund $2,526.90; Sunday School $9; Total $2,535.90
Schedule for the Week
Sunday St. John’s Divine Service with Communion – 8:15 am
St. John’s Voters Meeting – after the service
Sunday School – 9:30 am
Bible Study at Our Savior – 9:45 am
Our Savior Divine Service with Communion – 10:45 am
Family Game Day & Potluck & Teacher Recognition
Monday Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Deacons – 3:30pm
Tuesday Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
Wednesday Staff Devotion – 9:00 am
Pizza for Confirmands & Families – 5:30 pm
Questioning – 6:00 pm
Pictures after Questioning
Next Sunday St. John’s Service of the Word – 8:15 am
Bible Study at St. John’s – after the service
Sunday School – 9:30 am
Our Savior Divine Service with Communion – 10:45 am
Rite of Confirmation
Pastor Ludwig will be in the office during the morning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
St. John’s Voters Meeting – The quarterly voters meeting at St. John’s will be after the service today, April 28th.
Family Game Day & Potluck & Teacher Recognition hosted by the Board of Education is today, April 28th. There will be a potluck after the service, followed by Bingo and other games. All are welcome! Enjoy the afternoon with your church family, and thank our Sunday School and Confirmation teachers for giving their time and talents to our children.
The Confirmands and their families would like to invite the congregation to join them for lunch in the fellowship hall after the service on May 5th, Confirmation Sunday. The confirmands are Abigail Andreasen, Bethany Andreasen, Ally Johnson, and Rhylan Tschappat.
Call Meeting – There will be a call meeting on Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00 pm at Our Savior. SD District President Rev. Sailer has given us a new list of names, and the call committee will narrow it down and present a shortened list for our vote.
VBS Teachers and Helpers will meet on Sunday, May 19th immediately following the service. The Board of Education will hand out your materials go over the VBS schedule.
Door Offering – On May 19th and 26th there will be a free will door offering for VBS snacks and supplies. We are also looking for someone who would be able to get a Thrivent Action Team card for materials. Thank you!
Church League Softball – Our Savior and St. John’s will put together a softball team this year. If you are interested, contact Eric Johnson 605-216-6701.
Save the Date!! Universal Church Directories will be at Our Savior doing photography for a new pictorial directory for both congregations on September 17, 18, & 19, 2024.
The Lutheran Witness – There are still copies of the April issue available in the narthex.
Annual Reports for 2023 are available in the narthex. More will be printed if they run out.
May Newsletters have been sent out, or are in the narthex for those who pick it up here.
Vacation Bible School is set for June 2 – 6, 2024. The theme is “Celebrate the Savior!” Of all the blessings God gives us, His Son Jesus is the biggest reason to celebrate. Starting with Jesus’ birth and concluding with His resurrection, children will learn about Jesus’ unending love and forgiveness.
Hours are from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, with time for a sack lunch from 5:30 to 6:00.
Registration forms are available by the library. Friends, neighbors, and relatives are welcome also!
The Board of Education needs teachers and helpers in all areas. There will be a sign-up sheet in the library area soon. Please consider your talents and how you can help serve.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry – April 28 – 5
th Sunday of Easter
John 15:2 – “Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” God is interested in the fruit that we bear in good works, and He even prunes us so that we may bring forth more fruit. Trusting in our Lord’s work for us, being grafted by grace into His vine, we desire to be more like Him, to grow into His image. That’s growth in fruit bearing — and it always comes with some pruning.
Building Healthy Families: “Don’t worry, be happy!” … remember that catchy little tune from the 80’s? Repeatedly, God gives us this same message in His Word; but isn’t it so much easier to say “don’t worry” than it is to not worry? When you’re feeling overwhelmed with worry, go to God’s Word, read, then write down on a piece of paper some of the verses that speak directly to you. To get started, check out Psalm 23:4, John 14:27, Matthew 6:25+, Romans 8:31, and Isaiah 41:10. Also know that men and women who share your Lutheran Christian faith and are trained and experienced at helping people with worry (and many other things) are available to you at Lutheran Family Service through office or telehealth visits. Call us – it’s why we’re here!
Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org
