Welcome!
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
4TH SUNDAY in the EASTER SEASON APRIL 21, 2024
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH HIDEWOOD TWP, SD
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH WATERTOWN, SD
To prepare yourselves for worship you are welcome to meditate on:
Today’s Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
ORDER for WORSHIP
The bell calls us for worship
Opening Prayer
P: Dearest Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, we pray that You would be with us this day as we gather to hear Your Word. Grant us sincere repentance from all sin and move us to live our lives in loving service to You and in joyous anticipation of Your return. Amen.
Hymn 23
Invocation
P: We begin in the name of the Triune God:
C: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Confession and Absolution of Sins
P: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve Him as His dear children. But we have disobeyed Him and deserve only His wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to Him and plead for His mercy.
ALL: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against You and do not deserve to be called Your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to Your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
P: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, He has removed your guilt forever. You are His own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to His will.C [spoken]: Amen.
Hymn 368
First Reading – Old Testament – Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will 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; My cup runs 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.
Choir Selection – You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd
1. You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd.
You, Lord, are both prince and slave.
You, peace-maker and sword-bringer Of the way you took and gave.
You, the everlasting instant; You whom we both scorn and crave.
2. Clothed in light upon the mountain, Stripped of might upon the cross.
Shining in eternal glory, Beggared by a soldier’s toss.
You, the everlasting instant; You, who are both gift and cost.
3. You, who walk each day beside us, Sit in power at God’s side.
You, who preach a way that’s narrow, Have a love that reaches wide.
You, the everlasting instant; You who are our pilgrim guide.
4. Worthy is our earthly Jesus! Worthy is our cosmic Christ!
Worthy your defeat and vict’ry! Worthy still your peace and strife!
You, the everlasting instant; You, who are our death and life!
Second Reading – New Testament Gospel – John 10:22-30
22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
P: Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and treasure it - Alleluia!
ALL SING: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
CONFESSION OF FAITH – THE APOSTLES’ CREED
ALL: I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn 648
Sermon Text – Revelation 7:9-17
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Sermon Theme: The Lamb Who Shepherds Us
1. The Lamb as the bringer of salvation
2. The Lamb delivers His Church safely into eternal life
3. The Lamb provides the ultimate in shepherd’s care
Guest speaker – Pastor George Dummann
Salem Lutheran Church – Eagle Lake, MN
ALL SING: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence. Take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Uphold with Your Spirit free.
Hymn 409
The Offering is collected / brought forward
Prayer led by the pastor
P: Lead us, tender Shepherd. Guide us through green pastures. Bring us to still waters. With Your staff snatch us from all harm. With Your rod direct our steps away from danger.
All we like sheep have gone astray. We become separated from the flock and in our aloofness fall prey to the wiles of Satan. We are so consumed with self-concern, so little caring for the needs of others, that suddenly we are friendless and in isolation. We fall victim to our foolishness and naivete. Always the devil lurks like a stalking lion, ready to pounce on our smallest blunder. We need Your wise counsel and Your guiding every passing hour. We give thanks to You, O Savior, that You are our true and faithful Shepherd.
Many would-be leaders are themselves so filled with self-concern that they do only what serves them best. But You are our true Shepherd; You have sacrificed all that we might have life and have it more abundantly. You call us by our names. We hear and recognize Your voice. We come to You and through You to eternal life.
Call all to You who labor and give them peace. In our own flock we especially need Your kindness and Your help. Hold us safely in Your arms. Guide us away from harm and danger. Nurture us. Restore us and show Yourself again to be a tender Shepherd.
Now to You, and to Your Father who has sent You, and to the Holy Spirit who has called us to be Your flock, be all our homage. We praise You and adore You, Shepherd King! Amen.
P: any special prayers there may be will be offered here...
P: And so we join to pray the words Jesus taught us:
ALL: 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.
The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you His peace.
C [spoken]: Amen.
Closing Hymn 783
STATISTICS – week of 4/14/24
Zion: Sun a.m.: 25; SS: 5
Trinity: Sun a.m.: 58; SS: 6; Wed BC: 15
Sch.Bd: 3(+PK/CK); Ch. Council: 11
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CALENDAR and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Zion Lutheran Church Hidewood Township, SD – 8:30 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church Watertown, SD – 10:30 a.m.
trinitywatertownsd.com
Members: Church of the Lutheran Confession www.clclutheran.org
Pastor Paul Krause. . . parsonpaulkrause@gmail.com cell:920-238-5775
Teacher Collette Krause . . collettekrause@gmail.com cell: 920-238-5132
Church and School: 886-2976
Organists: John Klatt, Rebecca Larson, Naomi Rehder
TODAY >> Zion: 8:30 a.m.; Trinity: 10:30 a.m.
>> Sunday School – Zion after church; Trinity at 9:20 a.m.
>> Trinity special PLANNED meal after church - details BELOW
>> Trinity quarterly voters’ meeting – 1 p.m.
>> Trinity Ladies’ Aid quarterly business meeting – 1 p.m.
TUE >> Gabe Meier instruction class – 10:30 a.m.
>> Brookings Bible Study – Dennis/Brenda Tramp’s place - 7 p.m.
WED >> Trinity – choir meeting – 6:45 p.m.
>> Trinity – adult Bible Class – 7 p.m.
THU >> Lucas Bruna catechism class – 5:30 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY >> Zion: 8:30 a.m.; Trinity: 10:30 a.m.
>> Sunday School – Zion after church; Trinity at 9:20 a.m.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
4/26&27 ILC Visitors’ Day weekend / play production
5/15 Wed Last day of school at Trinity Lutheran
5/15 Wed Last Wed p.m. adult Bible study at Trinity for the summer
5/17-18 ILC Class Day, closing concert, graduation weekend
5/19 Sun Last day for Sunday School sessions at Zion / Trinity
5/21-23 West Central Delegate Conference – Valentine, NE
TODAY’S MEAL AT TRINITY The congregation is invited for a birthday celebration honoring Paul Dummann turning 75 years old. The family will provide a dinner and cake following church TODAY.
NO MORE ANNUAL WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHANGE The Trinity voters’ agreed with the suggestion from Zion that instead of trading worship times every year we continue into the future with the current worship schedule – Zion at 8:30 a.m. and Trinity at 10:30 a.m.
MANY THANKS!
>> From Paul Dummann... “How fast a lifetime slips by and so many blessings to be thankful for! I’m thankful for the opportunity to live in a country with all our freedoms, mainly freedom of religion. I’m thankful for the pastors and teachers we’ve had over the years as well as today. I’m thankful for my wife, Melanie, of over 52 years as well as our 5 children, their spouses and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I’m thankful for all the good crops we’ve had over the years. I’m thankful for our circle of friends we can fellowship and worship with, also our extended families.
Mostly though I’m thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ, His promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him. Thank you, thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”
>> Many thanks to Pastor George Dummann for bringing us the Word of God in his sermon this morning! We appreciate his willingness to speak to us as he is here to celebrate his dad’s (Paul Dummann) birthday.
>> Do you have something you are thankful for at Zion/Trinity? Let Pastor Krause know, and he will be happy to include it in the bulletin!
CLC NEWS Undecided calls:
Pastor David Ude, Appleton, WI, to Sleepy Eye, MN
Teacher Neil Bernthal, Winter Haven, FL, to Messiah, Eau Claire, WI
Teacher Matthew Kranz, Mankato, MN, to Inver Grove Heights, MN
Mrs. Karen Swyter, Onalaska, WI, to teach at Markesan, WI
Blair Sydow (of West Columbia) to teach for 1 yr at West Columbia, SC
Accepted calls:
Seminary graduate Paul Agenten to Marquette/Iron River, MI
Retiring Teacher Ann Sprengeler, Markesan, WI, to Valentine, NE
(temporary call (Sep-Dec ‘24) until Noah Ohlmann graduates from ILC)
Returned call:
Teacher Katie Naumann, Winter Haven, FL, to Fond du Lac, WI
NEEDED: VOLUNTEERS FOR PROFESSORAGE WORK With our new professor moving in this summer, we are planning to do a considerable amount of renovations in a short amount of time at 505 Ingram. To facilitate these renovations, we would especially welcome volunteers with the skills in the following areas: general carpentry, wall framing, window installation, trim work, concrete cutting, flooring installation, electrical, and plumbing. Help with demo, clean up, and painting would also be welcome. We would like to complete much of the work from June 1 to July 1. If you are able to help, please contact Paul Heinze (paul.heinze@ilc.edu or 715-456-7194) before April 15. After that date, we will need to begin hiring local contractors to complete tasks that we are not able to do on our own. Thank you for considering using your time and God-given talents in this work for our synod.
UPDATE FROM PASTOR JOHN HEIN...the following is from what he posted on caringbridge dated April 19...
Yesterday Janelle and I arrived home and got settled in to our normal routine. Last night Christina and her crew arrived. Just a moment ago Daniel arrived. And later tonight it will be David. It is very nice to be able to be together over this weekend. There will be lots to think and pray about. I did learn this afternoon from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that I am eligible for the PT-112 research study. Now I need to figure out if this is what I should do. We did learn there are more options for treatment moving forward. A couple of them are forms of chemo via infusion. A couple of others are medications via pills. Dr. Rajan did tells us that there is one genetic marker I have that really lit up in their tissue study. Neither Janelle and myself can recall what it was. But he mentioned that there could be a research study focused on that later down the road given a specific drug he is aware of.
If I do move forward with the PT-112, the neuropathy is something they would closely monitor. I remember now why and what the change is they are hoping for. Currently they do an infusion of PT-112 for three weeks in a row, take a week off, and then alternate weeks in taking the drug and not taking the drug. The change they are hoping for is to make the infusion once a month thereafter. They would infuse twice as much each time so the total dosage would remain the same. But the idea is that more time between the infusions would allow one's body to heal any damage to the nerves in between infusions. Prior to our NIH visit I had seen the chief science officer comment in a video that they are now using PT-112 for advanced prostate cancer. In that study they found that doing infusions monthly helped reduce the chances of neuropathy. They also found that the drug helps address cancerous lesions in the bone. So that could help with my hip, pelvic bone, and thoracic tumors.
In terms of PT-112 helping with the main thymic carcinoma tumor, with 13 people thus far they have seen one person with greater than 30% tumor shrinkage and many others with 20% tumor shrinkage. They have also seen PT-112 help reduce the cancerous lymph nodes that are in the chest area, in fact most cancerous areas in the chest region which would include the tumors in my lungs. I did ask Dr. Rajan about how many total tumors I had, and he didn't really know. But he did say that my total number of tumors isn't too bad yet. I was surprised at that. One of the last questions I asked was where he thought I was in my cancer journey ... early, mid, or late. I was surprised that he didn't miss a beat and told me that he thought I was in the fairly early stages based on seeing me and how I was at the time.
There was a brief moment that my emotions got to me. I told Dr. Rajan how grateful I was that he and his team understand exactly my pain journey, obviously because he is an expert in this particular type of cancer. When he and I had a telehealth last year, he was the first one to go through each phase of my pain journey, when and where. It all made sense to him, including the pains I'm currently experiencing. For instance, the past three weeks the 4th and 5th digits on my left hand have been going numb. He told me that was the lymph nodes pressing on a certain nerve. He also had reasons for all the neck, shoulder, and chest pains that I have. When I mention that these pains are from the cancer, there have been other doctors dismiss what I say and have told me that isn't related to the cancer. I told him its so difficult to go through this when some of the health care professionals have not listened to what I relay from the things I've learned through him and Dr. King. It's also tough when some try to provide health care advice that counters what a thymic carcinoma expert like himself advices.
The LORD has once again placed an amazing person in my life, something I know is by His purpose and design. I originally learned about Dr. Rajan from our Thymic Carcinoma Facebook group, a source that has been incredibly helpful as those of us who have this share with one another what we are going through and learning. In that group, Dr. Rajan is a hero. From everything I've experienced with him, he's very humble, conscientious, knowledgeable, courteous, and kind. How thankful I am for who the LORD places in my life. He never lets us down!
SENT TO ZAMBIA The following is excerpted from Todd Ohlmann’s April 16 posting on lutheranmissions.org... Later today (Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2024), I'll be heading to Zambia for a two-week visit.
Due to some unfortunate circumstances, it's been a couple of years since my last visit, so I am excited and eager to get back to Zambia!
We live in a sinful world where, even among Christians, jealousy and contempt can find a foothold. Unfortunately, this has caused a delay in my visit. The story of this jealousy and its consequences began back in 2022, a short time after the CLC Mission Helpers spent a few weeks in Zambia, proclaiming the Gospel to more than a thousand children. After the Mission Helpers went back to the U.S., a few pastors in the Livingston, Zambia area were jealous of their child evangelism efforts among the Zambia-CLC (ZCLC) congregations and preaching stations in and around Livingston. They began to cause trouble for Pastor Ibrahim and the ZCLC by challenging his immigration status and spreading lies about him.
Pastor Ibrahim is originally from Tanzania and was trained at the, then CLC-affiliated seminary, in Himo, TZ, more than ten years ago. He relocated to Zambia in 2011 and has been spreading the truths of God's saving word and training church leaders and evangelists since.
Shortly after the trouble began in Livingston, Pastor Ibrahim decided it would be best to temporarily relocate to Lusaka with the hope and prayer that with some distance and time, the trouble would subside. Unfortunately, Satan continued his attacks against Pastor Ibrahim and the truth of God's word he was teaching. After a few months, he returned to Livingston only to find that much of the ZCLC ministry and Gospel outreach had been abandoned, and false and slanderous rumors about him had been circulating.
Pastor Ibrahim then went back to Lusaka to work on proper immigration documentation and found that it would be necessary to return to Tanzania to get paperwork from his home country. While traveling to Tanzania, he was bitten by a scorpion and spent several weeks in the hospital. For much of that time, he was near death and remembers very little from his time there. While in the hospital, his cell phone and laptop were either misplaced or stolen. After his discharge from the hospital, he traveled to his brother's home in Tanzania for a couple months of rest and recuperation. A few months ago, he traveled to Dar es Salaam and Dodoma in Tanzania to collect the necessary paperwork to apply for the required immigration documentation to continue the ministry in Zambia. He has now returned to Zambia and is looking forward to restarting the Gospel ministry in Zambia.
Thank the Lord for preserving Ibrahim through all of these struggles and the attacks of Satan and his proxies. And pray that the Lord will bless his efforts and provide all that is necessary to restart and reorganize the work of the ZCLC!
Ask the Lord to provide abundant love, wisdom, patience, protection, and blessings on all that is necessary during this visit so that His will be done and the work of spreading the Gospel in Zambia may continue in a way that is pleasing to Him and brings honor and glory to His name!