WELCOME TO WORSHIP
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you to St. Paul’s. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. We pray that your soul will be strengthened by the good news of God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP
Father in heaven, you so loved me that you gave your only-begotten Son that I could have eternal life. With the same power used in his resurrection, please resurrect my heart today in loving obedience to you and your commands. Also revive my heart in loving my neighbor, that they can also know your love as I do. Bless my worship as I take in the message of your love. Amen.
OPENING HYMN 460 Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven
INVOCATION
CONFESSION
ABSOLUTION
LORD, HAVE MERCY
GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH
The Word
PRAYER OF THE DAY
FIRST READING Acts 9:36–42
SECOND READING 1 John 4:7–11, 19–21
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 1 Corinthians 13:13
GOSPEL John 15:9–17
HYMN OF THE DAY 767 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us
SERMON John 15:9–17 We Echo the Father’s Joyful Love
NICENE CREED
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Sacrament
PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LORD’S PRAYER
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
DISTRIBUTION
VOCALISTS Nearer My God to Thee
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 557 Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 676 Take and Eat
THANKSGIVING
BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN 583 God Loves Me Dearly
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE
Our midweek Bible study series is called How We Got the Bible. The story of the Bible has been called “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” But did you ever wonder where the Bible came from? Who wrote it? Why did they write it? Who decided which books to include? In this study, Dr. Paul Maier travels to The Bible Museum in Goodyear, Arizona, to take a look at how we got the Bible. Join us this Tuesday or Wednesday as we dive into how the Lord has preserved his sacred Word.
CHURCH AND SCHOOL PICNIC
In the hope that more of our church family will be able to attend, this year we’re going to have our church and school picnic on Sunday, May 26, following the second service. It will be held at the revamped school grounds so the congregation can enjoy the new blessings we have at the school. There will be food and games and good fellowship and fun.
The faculty is leading the planning and preparation, but we need much help. Please consider helping. We look for many volunteers to make this picnic a success for our St. Paul’s family. A planning meeting will be next Thursday, May 2, in the church basement, at 6:00 pm.
ST. PAUL’S LIBRARY WISH LIST
We have new beautiful cabinets installed in the basement. The plan for the upper cabinets is to develop a bigger church library for members to utilize. A library wish list has been compiled of books and series that would provide a great blessing to the congregation as we seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, his work in the world, the history of salvation and church history, how to interact with people of other religions and evaluate the teachings of other Christian denominations, and more. If you would like to donate money toward the purchase of new books for our library, you can find copies of the wish list printed in the narthex. You can submit gifts via the offering plate with “library” in the memo line, and if you’d like a specific book or series purchased then please send a note to Pastor Groth.
EXAMINATION
Examination of our potential confirmands this year will be in place of Bible study on Sunday, May 12, in the sanctuary. The congregation is invited to review the doctrines of the Bible and to witness these young Christians profess their faith.
CALENDAR
TODAY 8:00 am Worship with Communion
9:10 am Sunday School
9:15 am Bible Study
10:00 am Worship with Communion
MONDAY 6:00 pm Bible Basics Class
7:00 pm Choir Practice
TUESDAY 10:00 am Mornings with Mommy
7:00 pm Bible Study
WEDNESDAY 9:00 am Bible Study (same as Tues.)
3:30 pm Public School Catechism Class
THURSDAY 6:00 pm 3K Investigation Committee Meeting
NEXT SUNDAY 8:00 am Worship
9:10 am Sunday School
9:15 am Examination
10:00 am Worship