INTRODUCTION

The gift of new life, of eternal life, is the gift of the risen Christ. It is the promise of Jesus. It was true for Dorcas in Joppa. It was true for those “who have come out of the great ordeal” in the Revelation vision. It is true for us and for all the baptized: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE   

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity,   one God, who forgives all our sin,

whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of   Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

O God of peace, you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep. By the blood of your eternal covenant, make us complete in everything good that we may do your will, and work among us all that is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

GATHERING SONG  Holy God, We Praise Your Name (ELW 414)

FIRST READING: Acts 9:36-43

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

PSALM: Psalm 23

 1 The LORD | is my shepherd;

  I shall not | be in want.

 2 The LORD makes me lie down | in green pastures

  and leads me be- | side still waters.

 3 You restore my | soul, O LORD,

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

 4 Though 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. 

 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;

  you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.

 6 Surely 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: Revelation 7:9-17

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 

 “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, 

 “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

 and thanksgiving and honor

 and power and might

 be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

  13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from ” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,

  and worship him day and night within his temple,

  and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;

  the sun will not strike them,

  nor any scorching heat;

 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

  and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

*GOSPEL: John 10:22-30

The holy gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense  If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam

*HYMN OF THE DAY The Lord's My Shepherd (ELW 778)

* With the whole church, we profess our faith using the Nicene Creed  

We believe in one God,

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website:  stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

God of resurrection and new life, we come before you in prayer for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

You guide your people to the waters of life. Make your church a nourishing place for all who are thirsty for hope and healing. Renew us in the waters of baptism, and send us forth as signs of your love. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You tend to the earth, sustaining life in all places. Revive fragile ecosystems and restore species in danger of extinction. Teach us new ways of living in balance and harmony with our non-human neighbors. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

You lead all peoples along right pathways. Grant wisdom and compassion to judges, lawyers, mediators, and legal advocates. Dismantle systems of mass incarceration, empower processes of restorative justice, and encourage all who strive for healing in our communities. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

You wipe the tears from every eye. Tend to all who struggle with anxiety or depression, loneliness, or despair. Enfold all who are in any need in your shepherding care. We pray especially for Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Bill, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts.  We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit.  Grant them healing and wholeness.   Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

This Mother’s Day, bless mothers, grandmothers, and all who offer mothering care. Come close to those whose relationships with their families are difficult, and console all who grieve the inability to conceive. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You are the source of everlasting life. In deep gratitude for all your saints, we rejoice in the joy and hope of the resurrection made known to us in Jesus, your beloved child. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We commend these and all our prayers to you, O God, trusting that you are always with us; in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.

Amen.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

Our 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,

   forever and ever. Amen.

*BLESSING

The triune God,

who was, who is, and who is to come,

Sovereign,   Savior, and Spirit,

light your way with resurrection dawn,

now and always.

Amen.

* SENDING SONG  For All Your Saints, O Lord (ELW 427)

DISMISSAL - Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Go in peace. In Christ you are made new. Alleluia! Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of May by MaryAnne Rossi with thanks for the family that God gave me.

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

Our Financial Response  (April) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,263.55

Offering last month        $   5,294.14

Budget required to date (4 months)        $  21,790.65

Total received to date        $  22,358.56

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (4 months)        $   1,600.00

Total received to date        $   1,547.88

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.