Fourth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2020

Saint James Lutheran Church

Grosse Pointe Farms

Photo: Easter 2019

SAINT JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH 170 McMillan Road

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

313.910.1923 pastor@stjamesgp.org

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WELCOME

Saint James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, a member of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America welcomes you to our online Easter Season

worship. We are not together physically in the sanctuary this year due to the

COVID19 pandemic, yet we are one body in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, worshiping

together in spirit and truth. No matter where we are today, let us proclaim that Christ

is Risen! Alleluia!

PRELUDE The King of Love My Shepherd Is Dale Wood

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

APOSTOLIC GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the

Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray, silence

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.

SPECIAL MUSIC Shelter Me Michael Joncas

See Composers Notes on page 11 for Mike Joncas’ thoughts as he wrote this piece.

1. Shepherd and sheep, my God and I:

to fresh green fields you led my steps in days gone by.

You gave me rest by quiet springs

and filled my soul with peace your loving presence brings.

REFRAIN: O shelter me, O shelter me:

The way ahead is dark and difficult to see.

O shelter me, O shelter me:

All will be well if only you will shelter me.

2. Yet now I tread a diff’rent way;

Death dogs my path with stealthy steps from day to day.

I cannot find your peaceful place

But dwell in dreary darkness, longing for your face.

REFRAIN

3. I will look back in days to come

and realize your faithfulness has led me home.

Within your house I’ll find my peace,

trusting that in your mercy you have sheltered me.

REFRAIN

[Copyright 2020. The Jan Michael Joncas Trust. All rights reserved.]

FIRST LESSON Acts 2:42-47

Today’s reading is a description of life in the community following Peter’s sermon on the day of

Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out on God’s people. The new community is sustained in

worship and fellowship, shares what they have, and ensures that everyone has enough.

A reading from the book of Acts.

The lesson is read.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 23

The LORD | is my shepherd;

I shall not | be in want. 2The LORD makes me lie down | in green pastures

and leads me be- | side 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. Refrain

Reprinted from Psalter for Worship, copyright 2007 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.

SECOND LESSON 1 Peter 2:19-25

Doing the right things does not guarantee that one will not experience difficulties, hardships, rejection, or even suffering. Here Christ is presented as the model for our path of endurance and loyalty to God, particularly amid adversity.

A reading from First Peter.

The lesson is read.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

GOSPEL John 10:1-10

Jesus uses an image familiar to the people of his day to make a point about spiritual leadership.

Those who listen to Jesus are led to abundant life.

HOMILY

NICENE CREED

We 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 Mary and 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 THE CHURCH

Rejoicing in the risen life of Christ, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church. Renew your church and unite us through your Spirit. Draw us together as one body in Christ. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all pastors and pastoral leaders who are called to shepherd your people, including our synodical Bishop Don Kreiss and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. Bless and keep them as they shepherd the flock. Give them wisdom, courage, perseverance in times of frustration, and a constant sense of your presence. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the nations. Guide leaders into the path of peace. Uphold all who govern. Direct those who make decisions and offer guidance for the sake of global health. Protect those who risk their lives to shield others from danger. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the ongoing concerns of this pandemic. Strengthen and protect those who tend the sick, bring comfort to those who watch and wait with the dying. Guide and inspire all Science and Medicine that work to find a vaccine. Inspire each of us to do what is needed to sustain the good health of our neighbors. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those in need. For those who lack safe housing and adequate food. For workers whose pay is insufficient to meet their daily needs. For those who are sick, those who are grieving, and those who carry emotional burdens, especially those we name before you silently or aloud … Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For Saint James and for all churches as they are apart from one another. Give wisdom to councils, committees, Vision teams, and all who guide congregational ministry. Lead your people to understand that the church is not a building, but it is the body of Christ in the world exercising their faith in love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

With thanksgiving, we remember those who have died in faith. In your goodness and mercy, bring us to the fulfillment of your promise to dwell in your house forever. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Joining our voices with your faithful ones in every time and place, we offer our prayers in the name of the Risen One, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise 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

Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the resurrection!

Christ is Risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

POSTLUDE Christ the Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia! Robert J. Powell

PARTICIPANTS

Pastor Denise M. Grant Officiant Kurt Heyer Minister of Music

Sue Martin Intercessor Alyssa Martin Lector Hailey Martin Lector

COMPOSER’S NOTE for SPECIAL MUSIC Shelter Me M. Joncas

Mike Joncas writes: These are difficult times for all of us, individually and globally. The

COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life as normal and called for acts of corporate and

individual heroism in the face of present suffering and an uncertain future. People of faith

may be struggling to articulate their belief in an all-good and all-powerful God in this new era.

“Shelter Me” -- is my attempt as a church composer to find God’s presence even in these

fraught times. Based on the beloved Psalm 23, my paraphrase adapts the psalmist’s sentiments

to respond to our present anxieties.

While the text is clearly in the first-person singular, reflecting the intimacy of Psalm 23, I be-

lieve that, like many spirituals also using “I” language, it can reflect our common experience

when sung by an assembly sharing the same experiences.

Saint James Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.