Category: Worship

God’s grace is put on display most clearly in the death and resurrection of Jesus. But it is also an act of grace that the news of His kingdom and the life He has granted in His Son should come to us. Today, we consider the work of the Holy Spirit in sending the Philip, Deacon and Evangelist – a Greek-speaking Christian – to share the Gospel with an Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40. Praise God that the good news of Jesus is not contained to any one language, but transcends ethnic and linguistic boundaries, bringing life to the world.

This Sunday, we welcome Dr. Jim and Susan Kaiser with Lutheran Bible Translators to share about the work of Bible translation, including their recent work with teams in Ethiopia to bring the good news of Jesus using the heart languages of a handful of regional dialects.

8:00 Traditional Service

10:27 Contemporary Service

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Liturgical portions from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service Setting 4. Used by permission. LSB Liturgy License #000012403.

“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing,” text © 1958, renewed 1986 Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd.; admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

“Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen,” text © 1995 Augsburg Fortress; tune © 1968 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

“Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia,” text © 1977 Howard S. Olson. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we consider Jesus’ words from John 10 and the costly care that He gives to His flock. A hired hand cares more for his own wellbeing than for that of the flock, so when danger comes, he flees. The good shepherd cares for the wellbeing of the flock – and Jesus demonstrates this by laying down His life so that His sheep may live. As recipients of His costly care, and as people who are secure in that care, we imitate His care in our lives with one another.

8:00 Traditional Service

10:27 Contemporary Service

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Liturgical portions from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service Setting 3. Used by permission. LSB Liturgy License #000012403.

All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

In the Creed, Christians confess that we believe in the “resurrection of the body.” But what does that mean? In our Gospel reading from Luke, we join the disciples in beholding with amazement the resurrected body of our Savior – talking, eating, relating. And in 1 John 3, we are told that we will be like Jesus on the day of His appearing – when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. The combination of these readings give us real hope of the full-bodied human existence we were always meant for, without shame, weakness, or death.

8:00 Traditional Service

10:27 Contemporary Service

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Liturgical portions from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service Setting 1. Used by permission. LSB Liturgy License #000012403.

“He’s Risen, He’s Risen,” text © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

In the combination of our Epistle and Gospel readings, Jesus the risen One comes to bring peace and reconciliation to his fearful and faltering followers. In John 20, He speaks peace to His disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t reject Thomas in His unbelief, but draws Him back to faith by His appearance. And in 1 John 1 and 2, we hear that Jesus lives to be the source of forgiveness and reconciliation with God that we broken people desperately need – our ultimate Advocate before the Father.

8:00 Traditional Service

10:27 Contemporary Service

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Liturgical portions from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service Setting 4. Used by permission. LSB Liturgy License #000012403.

“Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” text © 1958 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

Meaningless… worthless… useless… These are some of the most discouraging words in our vocabulary. Most of us have moments where we feel the reality that these words convey. We wonder if our work even matters. Parents wonder if their children are even listening, or if their words are wasted. Children wonder why they have endure homework. And in the midst of a world marked by so much suffering and death, we may be tempted to wonder if our faith means anything. But Jesus’ resurrection means that all of life is infused with new meaning and purpose. Because He lives, we do not believe in vain (1 Cor 15:2), nor is our work in the Lord ever in vain (1 Cor 15:58).

8:00 Traditional Service

10:27 Contemporary Service

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

“If Christ Had Not Been Raised from Death,” text © 1987 Jubilate Hymns Ltd.; admin. Hope Publishing Co. Music © 2003 Phillip Magness. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

All music in our Contemporary Service is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

“The Scriptures must be fulfilled.” This is the response of Jesus as he is arrested by the mob at Gethsemane. And the events of Jesus’ passion move forward according the Scriptures. Through his prophets, God has given His people portraits of the passion, so that we might recognize our Savior and rejoice in God’s plan of salvation, which He set in place before the world was created. Today, we journey to the cross of our Savior as we consider prophecies of the passion.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” is performed under Hope’s CCLI Copyright License 2956118 and CCLI Streaming Plus License 21360672.

“A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” text © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.

“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” text © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License #100012403.