FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER April 28, 2024
ORDER OF WORSHIP: LSB – Divine Service, Setting III, pgs. 184ff
HYMNS: 465 - 490 - 941
SERMON: In the Vine Bearing Fruit
TEXT: John 15:1-8
CHOIR ANTHEM: Alleluia, Rejoice!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
God our Father, have mercy upon us for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ. As you have loved us and cleansed us from all sin in the blood of Jesus through His crucifixion death, let us love one another with lives of service and even self-sacrifice. As You have granted us eternal life through the victory over death by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, let Your people live in peace that surpasses all understanding and in the daily desire and determination to walk according to Your commandments. By Your Word, let your Holy Spirit work in us so that in Jesus our lives bear much fruit. Amen
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6).
▪ Thanksgiving to God our Father for giving gifts to fulfill our daily needs.
▪ For the peace of Jesus Christ upon the family of Rev. Richard Boyer since the time of his death on Wednesday, April 17th; also upon the family of Brad Lickiss since the time of his death on Sunday, April 21st.
▪ For wisdom, strength and faithfulness from God’s Word for Rev. Matthew Harrison, LCMS President, and for Rev. Justin Panzer, Kansas District LCMS President, as they carry out their duties in service to Christ’s church.
▪ For recovery and healing after surgery for Jennifer Neywick; for help and healing for those who suffer illness and injury; for release for those who struggle under the slavery of addiction.
▪ For protection upon all whose daily work requires travel or leads into danger.
THE FLOWERS on the altar this morning are a gift given in thankfulness to God by Glen Honeman in memory of Sue Honeman’s birthday, April 27th.
THE VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY of St. Paul will meet in the church basement after worship today.
ALTAR GUILD FOR MAY . . . Those serving will be Brenda Schwertfeger, Sharon Schwertfeger and Donna Briggeman. Thank you.
KIDS FAIR sponsored by Pratt County Kansas Alliance will be held this Saturday, May 4th, 2024 from 10 AM to 2 PM in Lemon Park of Pratt. St. Paul Lutheran Church will be involved in the activities of the day. Marsha Giggy will gladly provide more information to anyone who would like to help. See the fliers posted at St. Paul for more information about the work of Pratt County Kansas Alliance and the service they are providing through this event.
CONFIRMATION DAY is next Sunday, May 5th, at St. Paul. Questioning related to the chief parts of Christian doctrine from Martin Luther’s Small Catechism will be held on Saturday evening, May 4th, at 6:00. A reception in the church basement will follow. The confirmands this year are Cade Alan Liggett and Caleb Martin Lohrke. As they publicly speak their confirmation vows, we welcome and urge them to receive the Lord’s gifts of His Word and The Sacrament of the Altar regularly and faithfully, together with the people of the congregation, as Christ’s church gathers for worship. We pray for the peace of the Lord Jesus upon Cade and Caleb and their families always. The Liggett and Lohrke families are planning a confirmation dinner in the church basement to celebrate the day. The families welcome anyone who would like to attend.
KANSAS DISTRICT LCMS CIRCUIT 10 & 11 PASTORS will be hosted by St. Paul Lutheran next month on Tuesday, May 7th. The pastors will come for their regular monthly meeting (WINKEL) here starting with Divine Service at 8:45 a.m. Lunch is served at noon. A sign-up sheet has been placed in the south entrance for any volunteers willing to provide breakfast or lunch food for the day. We welcome the pastors, and we very much appreciate help in showing them hospitality.
WHO AM I - “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:16a Youth and adults are preparing to attend the Higher Things conference, July 16-19, in Clarksville, Arkansas. Registration costs will be paid by the end of April, but anyone willing to provide vehicle transportation to the conference would help reduce the costs involved. Contact Pastor or Barb to discuss details. Thank you for consideration of serving in this way!
SAINTS ALIVE AFTER 55 is an annual retreat for older adults sponsored by the Kansas District. This year’s event will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church of Salina on July 21-22. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Cliff Winter and the Bible Study Leader will be Rev. Mark Boxman. For more information, or to register, go to https://kslcms.org/ and click on the appropriate icon.
A LIFE QUOTE for Sunday, April 28: “It is He who sustains us each and every day. It is He who brings us into the world, and He who draws our earthly lives to a close at the proper time. It is He who was born for us, He who died for us, He who rose for us, and He who reigns on high for us. His is the pattern of our lives.” (Deaconess Bethany Stoever, Director-at-Large, LFL of Kansas—lutheransforlife.org)
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire ALTAR COMMITTEE: Kathie Thurman
ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, Lee Van Slyke Heather Van Slyke Janice Meredith
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH EQUIPS, ENABLES, AND ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO GROW IN FAITH AND SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE WITH ALL PEOPLE.
TODAY - 8:00 am - The Lutheran Hour, KGNO (Dodge City, 1370 AM)
8:00 am - The Lutheran Hour, KCVW (Wichita, Hutch., 94.3 FM)
8:25 am - The Lutheran Hour, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
8:30 am - The Lutheran Hour, KWBW (Hutchinson, 1450 AM)
10:00 am - St. Paul Radio Broadcast, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
6:00 pm - The Lutheran Hour, KREJ (88.1 FM)
MONDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hours
TUESDAY - 9 am - 2 pm - Quilting for Orphan Grain Train
WEDNESDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hour
7:00 pm - Adult Choir
THURSDAY - 6:30 pm - Bible Study
FRIDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hours
SATURDAY - 6:00 pm - Confirmation Questioning and Reception
SUNDAY - 9:00 am - Sunday School and Bible Class
10:00 am - Worship with Holy Communion
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - “We Can’t Stop Talking” (Acts4:20) Jesus calls His followers to undergo transformation, endure opposition, and engage others in conversation. Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler.
THE ADULT CHOIR of St. Paul will rehearse this Wednesday evening at 7:00.
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on 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. (lcms.org/stewardship)
About the Cover: Without someone to assist him, the Ethiopian eunuch could not clearly envision the figure God’s Word painted in Isaiah. But the Holy Spirit used Philip to lead him to Jesus, in whom the full picture of the Scriptures comes together. Christ’s generous love and sacrifice is for the sake of the whole world as He delivers forgiveness of sins through Word and Sacrament.
FIRST READING - Acts 8:26-40
EPISTLE - I John 4:1-11
HOLY GOSPEL - John 15:1-8