Service of the Word€¦ · Web view2020/05/03 · ...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God! Gospel Acclamation (Holy Communion Setting 4) p.151 Announcement of the Gospel

SERVICE OF THE WORD – COVID-19 Suspension

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipService of the Word and Holy Communion Setting 4

May 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic

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This SUNDAY: May 3, 202010:30am Virtual Worship

CANCELLED through May 10: please pay attention to church website, Facebook page,

and/or word-of-mouth network for updates!Quilting, Bible StudyPreschool, ChoirSunday School, ConfirmationWednesday WorshipsSunday Worships (in-person)Pub Theology

Council meets May 11 th to reassess.

Upcoming: The following may be cancelled at a later date.Sat, June 13 – Relay for Life

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St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

May 3, 2020 10:30am4th Sunday of Easter

We are called to glorify God,

grow in faith, and build community.

Mission Statement


GatheringWelcome/Announcements

As we begin, please prepare by finding a bowl (small or large) and placing some water into the bowl; or you may pour water into the bowl at the same time as Pastor Luke.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISMAlleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are raised with him to new life.Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden.

In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock.

When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life.

We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere.

Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Take a moment to dip your hands in the water and make the sign of your cross on your family members’ or your own forehead, a sign that Christ is with us even in the midst of suffering, anxiety, and uncertainty. You may say “Remember your baptism into Christ’s life, death, and resurrection” if you are marking others who have been baptized with the sign of the cross; or “rejoice in God’s grace, poured out for all people in Jesus” if you are marking those who

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have not been baptized.

GATHERING SONG “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” ELW #789(public domain)

Savior like a shepherd lead us; much we need your tender care.In your pleasant pastures feed us, for our use your fold prepare.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours. (x2)

We are yours; in love befriend us, be the guardian of our way;keep your flock, form sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.

Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus, hear us children when we pray. (x2)

You have promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;you have mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you. (x2)

Early let us seek your favor, early let us do your will;blessed Lord and only Savior, with your love our spirits fill.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us, love us still. (x2)

GREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

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KYRIE (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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SONG OF PRAISE (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer.O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORDFirst Reading: Acts 2:42-47

42[The baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day 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, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

Psalm: Psalm 231The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.2The LORD makes me lie down in green pastures

and leads me beside still waters.3You restore my soul, O LORD,

and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.4Though 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.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

6Surely 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 2:19-2519It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

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22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23When 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. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

Gospel Acclamation (Holy Communion Setting 4)

Announcement of the GospelThe Holy Gospel, according to John 10:1-10. Glory to You, O Lord!

The Gospel is Proclaimed[Jesus said:] 1“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. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

…the gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!

SERMON Pastor Luke Kuenzli

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Jesus is at it again, using figures of speech and metaphors to speak of God.

The idea is that talking in terms of something familiar will make sense of

something unfamiliar. Sheep, shepherds, gates, and thieves would have been pretty

well understood in Jesus’ day in ancient Palestine. For most of us today, it doesn’t

work quite so well. Sure, we have seen sheep in nearby fields. I can often hear

them when I’m out in the yard, and see them when I’m biking or walking south on

the Wabash Trace. I can picture what Jesus is talking about, but I don’t know the

intricacies of sheep-herding and sheepfolds.

I do know something about the reality of losing things to thieves. I had a cell

phone and laptop stolen from me while I slept, during one of my years traveling

with a music ministry – and my ministry team mates also had items stolen that

night. I have also been “robbed” by armed guards at a highway checkpoint in West

Africa, though that was an expected robbery. It is just understood that white people

have to pay an unofficial “foreigner fee” to get through the checkpoints, and

apparently our driver didn’t grease the wheels quite well enough that day. So, we

were taken out of the car, and made to sit in a roadside booth until they were

satisfied with the amount we gave them (which was all the cash we had on us).

And I know that I’m not the only person who has been robbed;

unfortunately, it is a common reality in our world. But lately, all of us, as a

collective, have been victims of a thief and bandit known as SARS-CoV-2, the

virus that causes the disease we call COVID-19. It has stolen our communities

from us, keeping us isolated and alone, easy pickings for the metaphorical wolves

that are depression and stress and anger and loneliness. This virus has taken our

sense of control, stripping it from us with unadulterated apathy. It has taken lives

and livelihoods with complete liberty, incomes and intimacy with indemnity, our

comforts and conveniences with callous unconcern. This coronavirus has robbed us

of our regular ways of being and doing and feeling.

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We are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, to use the words

of Psalm 23. We are suffering unjustly, to use the words of 1 Peter 2. This viral

thief has come to steal and kill and destroy, to use the words of John 10. It has not

been fun, trying to maintain this social distancing, these increased hygienic

practices, this constant caution. It has been emotionally and spiritually exhausting,

and for many it has been physically exhausting, too.

As I have said over the last few weeks, however, there has been good

intermixed with all this bad. I won’t repeat what I’ve already said about the

benefits of time with family and the sudden plethora of virtual worships and

sermons that we can tune into in order to hear God’s Word proclaimed to us. I’m

going to take a different angle this week.

The still waters and green pastures of Psalm 23 speak in a new way during

this coronavirus crisis. Have you seen the pictures of the canals in Venice? The

perpetually muddy waters have cleared with the reduction of boat traffic on the

canals, and swans, fish, and other wildlife are appearing throughout the city’s

waterways. In Sardinia’s Cagliari port, there are dolphins splashing and playing,

again because there are fewer boats polluting the waters with their movement and

noise. “He leads me beside still waters.”

And while I can’t speak to actual pastures being made greener, I can speak

to the air being made cleaner. For the first time in years, Mount Kenya is clearly

visible from Nairobi. *In parts of India, people are seeing the Himalayas for the

first time in recent history. Studies in Europe are showing that because of reduced

air pollution, there are fewer asthma attacks, fewer preterm births, fewer deaths

related to heart failure… A National Geographic study is claiming that the lives

saved in China because of reduced air pollution are multiple times greater than the

number of lives lost as a direct result of COVID-19.* “He makes me lie down in

green pastures.” *https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/pollution-made-the-pandemic-worse-but-lockdowns-clean-

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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/pollution-made-the-pandemic-worse-but-lockdowns-clean-the-sky/


the-sky/*

The fact of the matter is that in the midst of all of the difficulties presented

by this SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there is also a surge in life and health happening.

Jesus tells his disciples that his sheep know him and follow his voice, and that

contrary to the destructive work done by thieves and bandits, Jesus the Gate, Jesus

the Good Shepherd, “came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Abundant life which overpowers destruction.

The lesson from Acts 2 speaks of the people trusting God’s presence and

providence so deeply that they sold all they had, shared it all in common, and

distributed it to each as any had need! And as a direct result of this commonly

shared trust and generosity, there was exponential growth in the early Church.

Abundant life, which overpowers scarcity.

The 23rd Psalm speaks of comfort found in the Shepherd’s guidance, even

through times of fear and death – a comfort so vast that we can even feast with our

enemies at a shared table! Abundant life, which overpowers enmity.

First Peter speaks of God’s approval when we endure unjust suffering, yet

remain aware of God and follow in Christ’s steps. All we like sheep have gone

astray, and we have each turned to our own way, but now we “have returned to the

shepherd and guardian of our souls!” Abundant life, which overpowers suffering!

Jesus has come that we may have life, and the life that Jesus gives us, he

achieved through the unjust suffering of the cross. He has already been where we

feel that we are now, and he came through. Through him, we will come through,

too. We believe, trust, have faith that God is at work! We hope, pray, wish for a

restoration of our souls and our world! We persevere, endure, persist in this time of

crisis and unanswered questions because we know that God is bigger than this

virus. We know that Jesus’ love is more infectious than this disease. We know that

the Holy Spirit can and does transform lives even more profoundly than our lives

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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/pollution-made-the-pandemic-worse-but-lockdowns-clean-the-sky/


have been changed by this plague.

We don’t know all that much about sheep or shepherds, but we know

something about a community’s people and leaders. We don’t know much about

sheepfolds, but a we know something about sheltering in safe places. We might not

know much about the figures of speech Jesus is using, but we can use other, more

familiar terms.

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the community by the

proper social distancing rules but waltzes in by another way is a thief and a

bandit. The one who enters with caution is the one who loves their neighbor. The

gatekeeper opens the gate for them, and their neighbors hear their voices. They call

their own neighbors by name and ask them to show care and caution by staying

in. Later, when we have brought out all our own, Jesus goes ahead of us, and our

neighbors follow him because they know his voice as it has been spoken through

our acts of neighbor-loving care.

We could have had church together today, as far as the government is

concerned. But as far as our congregation’s leaders and most of our community is

concerned, it simply isn’t safe yet. To gather in any numbers now is to invite the

thief into our house of worship, into our fellowship of believers, into our flock of

sheep. We are trying to keep our people, our flock, and through them, our

neighbors as safe and as healthy as we can in this moment. We’ll leave the

sheepfold of our collective isolation when it looks like the thief has lost interest,

and when we have some backup in the form of a posse of vaccines and more

widespread testing and a better understanding of this virus. It will take time, and it

will come in phases, and it will be figured out as we go, but we will endure, and we

will come together again.

And meanwhile, as we continue our social distance and life as a virtual

community, we give our families and our yards and our house projects the

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attention they need, and we give our earth and its creatures a breather from our

frenzied movements and cacophonous engines and constant encroachment. All of

this, knowing that the Lord is our shepherd, and will provide for all our needs, that

the Lord is our shepherd, and will add to our number those who are being saved,

that the Lord is our shepherd and will guard our souls, that the Lord is our

shepherd and has come that we might have life, and have it abundantly. Yes, life

under coronavirus is a challenge. And yes, God is good. And yes, we know who

wins that battle. Thanks be to God. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”(public domain)

The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never;I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadethand, where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me,and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me,thy rod and staff my comfort still; thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thine unction grace bestoweth;and, oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so, through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never.Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

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NICENE CREEDWe believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker 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,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Maryand became truly human.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 INTERCESSIONEach portion of the prayers ends with these or similar words.Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The presiding minister concludes the prayers with these or similar words.Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray,trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.Please take a moment to greet your family members who are with you, or to send a greeting via text message to someone you are thinking of today.

ThanksgivingOFFERING

While we cannot take up a physical offering through our virtual worship, I would encourage you to continue the practice of giving. Even though we cannot meet in person and our church building is closed to the public, we do have continued commitments to ministries beyond our congregation’s walls, such as the MCMA food pantry, the Mills County Storehouse, Bethany Lutheran Home, the Western Iowa Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as commitments to our congregation’s employees and expenses such as utilities.

OFFERTORY SONG “Now Thank We All Our God” public domain

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;

who, from our mothers’ arms, has blest us on our waywith countless gifts of love. And still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,

and keep us all in grace, and guide us when perplexed,and free us from all harm in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,the Son, and Spirit blest, who reigns in highest heaven,

the one eternal God, whom earth and heav’n adore;for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

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THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORDThe presiding minister leads one of the following or another appropriate prayer.Let us pray.

Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things:you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos,and brought life into being.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts:freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey,a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness:forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death,the way of your self-giving love.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us:renew our faith, increase our hope,and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need.Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you;through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,be honor and glory forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYEROur 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 us 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,

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forever and ever. Amen.

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SendingBLESSING

May the One who brought forth Jesus from the deadraise you to new life, fill you with hope,and turn your mourning into dancing.

Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” ELW#883(public domain) Tune of “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; come ye before him and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aid he did us make.We are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.

Oh, enter then his gates with praise; approach with joy his courts unto;praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.

For why? The Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure;his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heav’n and earth adore,from us and from the angel host be praise and glory ever more.

DISMISSALChrist is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

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Documents

Service of the Word€¦ · Web view2020/05/03 · ...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God! Gospel Acclamation (Holy Communion Setting 4) p.151 Announcement of the Gospel