Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4768 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
office: 652-8285; cell: 319-5424; home: 732-2631;
Email: ;
Church’s Website: www.ascension-wels.net;
Pastor Robert Green; Officers: President: Gary Graf; Vice President: Chuck Thompson; Secretary: Ralph Buehler; Elders: Gary Graf, Chuck Thompson, Ralph Buehler, Rick Grove; Fellowship: Ron Althoff; Treasurer: Rick Grove; Properties: Larry Stoner; Publications: Terry Reilly; Stewardship: Franklin Stauffer; Evangelism: Steve Lange; Organists/pianists: Marge Metz, and Brook Larson; Willing Workers: Chairwoman: Barb Buehler; Secretary: Linda Graf; Altar Guild: Barb Buehler; LWMS Reporter: Marge Metz; Choir director: Lori Nowaczyk.
April 26, 2015
Fourth Sunday of Easter
A personal prayer for before worship from page 10 in the hymnal Christian Worship:
Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and sing your praise. Amen.
Welcome Guests and Visitors!
We are glad you are here. Please sign the guest book, located on the cabinet to your left as you leave the sanctuary, or fill out the guest card in the pew and put it in the offering plate. Please include your e-mail or mailing address, if you would like to be added to our weekly e-mail for sermons, bulletins and announcements. There is restroom and a nursery in the narthex.
The order of service for today is Service of the Word, found on page 38 in the front of the hymnal.
Service Introduction: The readings with this Sunday begin a gradual transition from the Half Year of Our Lord to the Half Year of the Church, from the way that God won our salvation to the way we live our salvation. This Sunday, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, focuses on the great shepherding love of God.
Opening hymn: 150 Christ the Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia
Prayer of the Day: O Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Good Shepherd who laid down your life for the sheep. Lead us now to the still waters of your life-giving Word that we may abide in your Father’s house forevermore; for you live and reign with him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
First lesson: This is the reading for the sermon.
Do you seek God’s blessing
to boldly speak his Word of truth?
Acts 4:23–31, 33 (NIV84)
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“ ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly… 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
Psalm 23 found on page 72 in the front of the hymnal. Kings were often spoken of as shepherds, but the Shepherd-King of Israel is a monarch unlike any other.
Second Lesson: The marvelous love of God has made us his children. We cannot fully grasp the magnitude of our inheritance, but we will when Jesus returns.
1 John 3:1-2 (NIV84)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Following the Verse of the Day, we join in singing the Triple Alleluia as found on page 40.
Verse of the Day: Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Alleluia. (John 10:14)
Gospel reading: Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. In contrast to the hired hands, who abandon the sheep when danger threatens, Jesus lays down his life for his sheep.
John 10:11–18 (NIV84)
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Children’s Devotion: - Sunday School dismissal after the Devotion
Sermon hymn: 375 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Sermon: by Pastor Green, based on Acts 4:22-39
Do you seek God’s blessing
to boldly speak his Word of truth?
Sermon helps: Use the following as best serves you to aid in listening to the sermon.
Telic note (the key points God is teaching in the reading): God is the creator and ruler of all things. He has control over all nations. He has created us to be his people, to follow him. In his control of all things he demands, provides for, and encourages us to always obey him rather than man. He wants us believe and boldly proclaim his Word.
Sad/Law (As I look at myself, what makes me sad about this reading, where do I see God’s law condemning my sin): Our sinful nature will always seek to please itself and avoid any hardship or persecution that may come our way because of our beliefs. The temptation is to do whatever others demand of us to avoid any suffering. The temptation is to submit or obey man, whether it be kings or presidents, teachers or parents, bosses or even friends even when this calls us to disobey God.
Glad/Gospel (What gives me joy in this reading, where do I see God’s love and forgiveness): God enables us with a new spirit to boldly proclaim his Word, even when obedience to his commands is to disobey those in authority or those who think they know better. We obey God even when it may mean great hardship, persecution, rejection, not to be saved, but because he has already saved us.
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Offering: During the offering the congregation joins in singing hymn 432 I Am Jesus' Little Lamb
Prayer of the Church for the Easter Season, page 126.
Please let Pastor Green know of any prayer requests for you or your loved ones. We pray for:
for those with cancer: Dirk Martinez; Brian Terry (Brenda Thompson’s nephew), Bob Dunlop friend of Pastor Green; Rendell Wolfe, relative of Barb Penstone for bone cancer; Grace Glenn, Patti Reed’s step-mother; Kathleen Woodall, Jeanne Green’s sister; Anthony Pockey, Lance’s father; Shirley Maxwell; Solfryd, Ann-Helen’s mother; Jim Terry, Brenda Thompson’s brother-in-law; Diane Collins, daughter-in-law of Richard and Lilla Collins;
for those with heart issues: Karen Bray, Vyonne Stephenson’s daughter, Helen Crogle, friend of Phyllis Cross; Paul Kraft;
for other health issues: Birgit Peltzer, friend of Pastor and Jeanne; Barbara Stottlelmeyer, Kimberly Larson’s grandmother, for health issues; Joylynn Larson, for multiple sclerosis; Paul Glenn, (Patti Reed’s brother) for vision problems; for Steve Murray, for stroke; Ann Swan, for kidney problems; Sonia Schmidt for cerebral palsy; Evelyn Kraft for lung issues; Bob Leathe for arthritis, heart, and kidney issues; Faye Falcone Phyllis Cross’s sister for eyesight; Doris Allen sister of Bob Leathe for a stroke.
for faith, health and welfare: Erika Hauer, Kundry’s mother, especially at the passing this past Friday of her husband and Kundry’s father; Gail Lange at the passing of her mother; Sharon Miller, Phyllis Cross’ niece; Jordan Glenn; Daniel Reed; Destiny Reed; Patrick Collins; Pam Seed; Ryan Collins; Billy Martin; Chris and Heather and sons Dalton and Dane;
for our world and home mission work;
for our college students: Eric Metz, Steven Nowaczyk, Lori Nowaczyk, and Tim Rowe.
for those in the military: Brian Easter, Sarah Buehler; Lance J. Pockey; Alyssa Briggs; Dennis Willie; Anthony R. Pockey.
Third Hymn: 374 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
Closing hymn: Supplement Hymn 766 The Lord's My Shepherd (next page)
Text: Psalter, Edinburgh, 1650
Tune: BR0THER JAMES’ AIR, (86 86 86) J. L. Macbeth Bain, c. 1840-1925, adapt. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense A-718321
A prayer for after worship from page 11 of Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal
Good Shepherd, I was glad to be here, gathered with your flock to worship you. Cause the Word I have heard to take root in my heart and bear fruit in my life. Guide me in paths of righteousness, that my words and actions might lead others to glorify you. Grant, O Lord, that the lips which have sung your praise may continue to glorify you in the world; that the ears which have heard you speak may be open always to your Word and closed to hatred and discord; that the tongues which have confessed your name may always speak the truth without fear; that all of us who have worshiped together today may be united in true love for each other as you have loved us in Jesus. Amen!
This is a short summary of what we believe here at Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church:
We believe: that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God; that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and therefore cannot save themselves. That we are saved by grace alone through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died and rose again.
We also believe that it is the mission and responsibility of every member to reach out with the Gospel to all nations. That everything we do as a congregation should support this purpose. As servants of Christ, these beliefs will lead us to use our time, talents and treasures for the growth, preservation and the extension of Christ's Kingdom.
Attendance: last Sunday: 36
Internet Attendance this week: fourteen computers were used to watch the Sunday worship service live and so far this month thirty-two computers were used to watch one of the services at a later time.
This week forty visits to the website, including thirteen from five towns and cities in and around Harrisburg (eight from Newville, two from Camp Hill; and one each from Latrobe, Linglestown, and Chambersburg.
There were visits from nine different countries including thirty-eight visits from thirteen US states, two from Brazil; one from China, Australia, India, Japan, Sweden, Thailand and one from an unknown country.
Funeral services for Marlin Hauer Sr,. Kundry Grove’s father, will be on Saturday, May 2, at Salem Lutheran Church at 12 am. Visitation will be at the church before the service. Salem is at 8th and Willow Streets in Lebanon.
If we have missed anyone’s birthday or anniversary, please tell Pastor Green.
April Birthday’s: Ray Jones 4/2, Steve Lange 4/9, Sarah Buehler 4/16, Pastor Green 4/21
April Anniversaries: Tim & Audrey Rowe 4/5, Mark & Marge Metz 4/26
May Birthday’s: Katelyn 5/3; Larry Stoner 5/5; Beth Jones 5/5; Dawn Fleming 5/13; Wendy Stoner 5/17; Linda Graf 5/22; Mike Nowaczyk 5/23;
May Anniversaries:
Mike and Lori Nowaczyk 5/13
Ushers for April: Steve Lange and Chuck Thompson
Ushers for May: Ron Althoff, Jerry Hawks, and Lance Pockey
Today, April 26, 2015, at Ascension:
9:15am Bible study for adults – Augsburg Confession
10:30am Worship Service -Sunday school dismissal after the Children’s Devotion
11:45am to 12:15pm Bible study – Worship
The week of April 27th at Ascension:
Wed. April 29th: 10:30am Bible study-on Jonah
Thurs. April 30th: 7:00pm Bible Study on the Book of
Romans
Sun. May 3rd: 9:15am Bible study- for adults on the
Augsburg Confession
10:30am Worship Service with communion
11:45am to 12:15pm Bible study – Worship
May upcoming events:
Sat. May 2nd: Spring Outdoor Church Grounds Clean-up 9:00am
Wed. May 6th: 9:00am Dodge City Breakfast Brunch
Sun. May 10th: Sunday School – dismissal after the Children’s Devotion
Sun: May 17th: Congregation Forum after the service
Mon. May 18th: 6:30pm Elders Meeting
7:00pm Church Council
Sun. May 24th: Sunday School – dismissal after the Children’s Devotion
Sat. May 30th: Apologetics Course for all members, 1:30-4:30, presented by Professor Allen Quist on his book, "Many Convincing Proofs" at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, East Brunswick. There will be a potluck lunch at 12:30 p.m. and the presentation will be 1:30 - 4:30 PM. Those interested in attending can carpool departing from church at 9:45am.