Pr. Denny Hacker - Interim Minister 65 Sagamore Street Manchester, NH 03104 www.glcmanchester.org Church Office: 603-623-3451 Email: glcmanchester@comcast.net

Shelley Stama, Church Administrator Gary MacDonald, Music Director

May 3, 2020

Virtual Service

Fourth Sunday of Easter

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

INTRODUCTION

Today is sometimes called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Jesus is called the “gate” of the sheep in today’s gospel. The risen Christ opens the way to abundant life. He anoints our heads with oil and guides us beside the still waters of our baptism. Each Sunday he spreads a feast before us amid the world’s violence and war. We go forth to be signs of the resurrection and extend God’s tender care to all creation.

PRELUDES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O1nijBP7LE The Lord Is My Shepherd Georgia Boy Choir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9rvyvssvuI Laudate Dominum Aksel Rykkvin

GATHERING

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS (ELW p. 94)

In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spir-it. Amen.

GATHERING SONG: The Lord's My Shepherd ELW 778

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TKvnYafes

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE (ELW p. 98)

CANTICLE OF PRAISE (ELW p. 101)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.

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.

FIRST READING: 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.

42[The baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and dis-tribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

PSALM: Psalm 23

1The 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. R 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. R

SECOND READING: 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, particu-larly amid adversity.

19It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted him-self to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: ELW p.102

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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.

[Jesus said:] 1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gate-keeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was say-ing to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

VIDEO SERMON Pr. Denny Hacker

Acts 2:42-47 First Reading for Fourth Sunday of Easter 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the pray-ers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeding to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and hav-ing the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Let’s take a break from the Virus....and think of what the people witnessed after the word and breaking of the bread. Then wonders and signs. These people were still connecting to their Jewish roots, thus the common understanding, but many were not Jewish. Just like new people here may have new roots. Let’s wonder if we too might be capable of doing many signs and wonders, then we too may be counted among the living Think that such wonders and signs were only for this first congregation or do they bring to mind the healing TV preacher getting handicappers to throw away their crutches? What wonders and signs have you done? Did they bring awe? Acts says awe came upon everyone. I grew up hearing sermons and confirmation teachings that tried to scare the hell out of me and lead me from fear into faith, but such presentations of fear only made me afraid. Fear does not bring living faith. Luke in Acts says look for wonders and signs and stuff we have in common that bring awe, which brings faith. I now know that the first human reaction to the glory of creation and the felt presence of God was awe not fear. My pastor really sent me down an unpleasant path to faith. He took years of peace from my heart. Such fear made it a terrible act to pray. Think about your prayers. What do they contain? I hope you do not pray out of fear. If you do, call me. Be-sides fear, there are four categories of prayer. You’ll take these categories one way if you fear God and an-

other if you know God loves you. The four are:

Gimme, Thanks, Oops Lord and Wow!!!

When I think of these four kinds of prayers in my life • Gimme sends notice of what I don’t have

• Thanks are a bit better but even sincere thanks centers my brain on good things in my life, and I need to give thanks for those, but I need to leap beyond thanks and gimme.

• So I get to oops. “Yeah God I blew it”. From burning supper tonight to hurting the ones I love. Oops leads me to confession and apology, but not much farther.

• Then Wow leads me to awe. Oh, how wow gets me outside of myself

Wow at Dagny’s graveside last week

Wow in the arms of Karen

Wow when Frankie says she loves us

Wow when I see a photo of the whole earth from space

I wonder if that list might give us a clue to these early Christians. What brought them to awe. They are about to have 3000 new members of a bunch of races and a gazillion languages. How to get all of them into the body of Christ. That must have inspired lots of wow prayers after thousands of years of think-ing God’s children were all like the Jews. They had to change their thinking. You GLC are dreaming of new people. They won’t be like you. Will you achieve chaos or are you preparing for new life? Will you change your thinking?

Signs and wonders. Stop the video. Think of some in your life and in GLC life with your signs and wonders

Do you notice what you have in common? Really celebrate (ignoring what you do not have in common), stuff and gifts for service in GLC

Now for the tough one...give away all you have, not to the church but to those in need

This was what 3000 people did, not because they had so much, but through their differences.

Think of 3000 different tastes in music, food, child rearing, clothing, family relationships. Oh, and throw in politics, and lockdowns, guns and health care. I hear you being bothered by differences here at Gethsemane. Wait till you get to 3000. We might lock the door at 2000! Yet daily Luke says the Lord added to their number. It sure wasn’t because they agreed on everything Oh, and think of all the bread baking and wine making and worries about money. In our Ann Arbor congregation we really were on the dollar edge, really. Every so often someone would look forward to growing past that edge to having enough people and dollars to do ministry

I developed an answer that drove them up the wall. There was another Lutheran body of Christ across the city with an attendance about 11 times King of Kings. They had three pastors, three office people and two mainte-nance skilled workers....and more storage space than we had space. I would point out that God had also given them 11 times the ministry to do. It rattled feathers No sense thinking getting bigger will make it easier. I suspect I am repeating that old observation so you will hear here. Now let’s check again on having everything in common. Those of us who lived through the anticommunist era might jump to common ownership of stuff. To a point it means that, but it more deeply means to be common, ordinary, what we all have to be human, not stand out This kind of common pulls us away from high liturgy and holy chalices, from being religious to being in com-mon, together share living faith More like paper plates and plastic forks than china and silver We Americans have been so anti socialist we miss the blessing of this story if we had common medical care now. But Luke is not setting down a plan for Utopias. Read on in Acts to the stories of conflict, you’ll get it. You’ll see them day by day. Take time together to see how in common we are, not how different. Recapture spirituality. Faith begins not in fear despite my pastor’s teaching, which only led to pleas for help or to save me or in wanting greedily. Give or get for me... But in a sense of awe, wonder and then gratitude That’s the spiritual awakening that we must share with others. That’s what my vision for GLC contains Such awe has been given to me so many times

In Death Valley ...no sign of humanity...Just sand and sun In the Alps....reaching to the clouds In Notre Dame in Paris before the rose window. The fire hurt my soul, but the window survived. Awe as Alisa was born. I went on and on in my sermon three days later. It embarrassed several

men. When Steffan won the State track meet in 4x8 relay I When Calvin asks for his grandma When Frankie says I love you Peepaw When Ellery rides her bike flying down the hill When I stood in the redwoods and looked up When Obama was elected When I led the funeral for Mary....who welcomed all into our fold and asked all to stand that Mary

had been the first to greet them and 19 stood up When I saw on Facebook a message from King of Kings current pastor, “We, you and I Denny,

love so many of the same people”. When King of Kings gave back its mission support dollars because an inner-city congregation

needed them more When I see my friends of nearly 60 years on Zoom and it feels like distance ends and hope begins When it sank into my soul in Al Anon that I did not have to make everyone happy, that I could

have serenity. When I looked up at the bright green trees after my cornea transplants and thought I now see every-

thing more dearly, more clearly through some else’s eyes.

Is it great when God does our will to brag about answered prayers? Or is the real awe when we do God’s will? Oh please, take that awe into your souls, spend the week noticing awe. and you will see the Spirit Oh God, return our eyes to sight of awesomeness. Turn our eyes from the effort to elevate ourselves. Awe comes to those who wait.

HYMN OF THE DAY Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us ELW 789

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_gdg4ndGhc

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 INTERCESSION FOR SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

In thanksgiving for our Baptism and the Feast of Salvation, let us pray to our risen Savior on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people according to their needs: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being our Good Shepherd; thank you for giving us abundant life, even as we walk through valley of the shadow of death. Thank you for knowing us by name, even though we sometimes for-get and misuse yours. Help us and guide us every day, in spite of ourselves, until we are safely in your house forever. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Oh Lord, there is a pestilence sweeping the land and our hearts are hardened. Help us to confess our sins, re-pent, and turn to you, for as long as we blame others and not ourselves, your hand will continue heavy upon us. This is your world, O Lord, preserve it and sustain it with your love. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. You are the Gate of your sheep. Protect the people of every nation from false shepherds; from rulers who care nothing for their welfare; and from all the threatening dangers of this world. Bring peace in places of vio-lence; rich pasture in places of poverty; and true righteousness in places of injustice. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Save and defend your Church Universal, purchased with the precious Blood of Christ. Strengthen it through Word and Sacrament. Where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it. Give your Church faithful leadership: pastors, bishops, lay leaders and teachers. Help us and all congregations seeking a new pastor to find the right shepherd to guide us, your sheep. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. We pray for our military, for all first responders, and for all who risk their lives for the sake of others, espe-cially in this time of worldwide pandemic. Bless all those in need. Allow us to bring your light into lives darkened by sickness, loneliness, mourning, fear and uncertainty. We pray especially for those on our prayer list and for Judy Lange and her family on Arthur’s passing. Transform suffering into patient endurance; sor-row into enduring hope; shame, guilt and sin into repentant optimism; despair into new life; and the power of death into living joy. Shine the light of your healing love upon us all. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our pray-er. Lord of Abundance, you have generously given to each of us gifts unique for your purpose. Make us aware of those gifts, especially when we doubt ourselves. Make us to be broken bread and poured-out wine that we may give back to you what you have first given us, and that we may feed those hungering for your Word and slack the thirst of those seeking for your love. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. In this springtime of new growth and promise we also face the threats of severe weather. Protect us from the wiles of weather and extremes of all kinds. Grant a propitious start to the agricultural season and abundant growth to sustain your hungering world. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. All these things and whatever else you see that we need, grant us, O Lord. Into your hands, Gracious Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through Jesus Christ our Risen Savior and Lord. Amen.

PEACE

OFFERING & OFFERING MUSIC

(at this time please take a minute to write out a check to GLC or go on-line and send in your offering)

The Prayer Katherine Jenkins & The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVJXr9k_VSE

When We Face an Unknown Future (Melody is ELW 712, Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er84hfpLwqM

When We Face and Unknown Future

When we face an unknown future that we can't imagine yet, when the closeness we have treasured turns from blessing into threat — As we miss our friends and loved ones, as we crave community, may we look, God, in this season, for a whole new way to be.

Jesus faced the lonely desert as a time to look within. There he met such trial and conflict; there he knew you were with him. In this time of separation when we miss the life we've known, may we hear your voice proclaiming: "I am here! You're not alone."

May we cherish those around us as we never have before. May we think much less of profit; may we learn what matters more. May we hear our neighbors' suffering; may we see our neighbors' pain. May we learn new ways of offering life and health and hope again.

God, when illness comes to threaten, and when so much here goes wrong, may we know this thing for certain — that your love is sure and strong. You're beside us in our suffering — and when times are surely tough, we may face an unknown future, but it's filled, Lord, with your love.

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

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.

SENDING SONG All People That on Earth Do Dwell ELW 883

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DibkDQbzEo

BLESSING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFsRSV95zxg#action=share

POSTLUDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEplqV0scyo The Lord’s Prayer Adrea Bocelli

Assisting with the service this week is Hank Chary

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23624. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.