Sunday, May 3rd, 4th Sunday of Easter
​Good Shepherd Sunday
Welcome to worship this day!

We invite you to set aside a space wherever you are to participate in worship. If possible, find a candle and set a simple meal – perhaps even bread and wine or juice. While worshiping in this way is not exactly the same as being together, we trust that we are the body of Christ and connected together by the love and grace of God, no matter where we are.
 
The church is more than a building! Our life as a community continues in new and creative ways. Welcome to worship this day, and may this time of worship strengthen and encourage you in the week ahead.

Welcome and Prelude​

We are grateful to Suzi Watteyne, our musician, for her musical offerings this day. 

Opening Hymn

Opening Prayer

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.

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

Children's Story

Hymn of Day - Christ is Alive

Apostles Creed and Prayers of the Church

Let us confess our faith using the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.
        He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
        He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
        He descended to the dead.
        On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 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.

Offering
We have a number of ways to participate and contribute when you are unable to attend worship in person. You can make a gift through the "Ministry Donations" button below which allows you to make a one-time or ongoing gift using a credit card.  You can contact the church office to sigh up for simply giving.  Or you can always mail in a check too.  Through this important part of worship you help make our ministry possible!  

Some humor ...

Mailing Address for Offerings:
Eidsvold Lutheran Church
PO Box 100
Somers MT 59932

Sharing of Peace
In days gone past we may have thought of heroes being those who won the big game or starred in the big movie or something else that was monumental for all the world to see.  In these challenging days we are wonderfully redefining that image to be the ordinary men and women who have helped us remain safe, sane and healthy during these pandemic days.  For our peace today we have a new musical offering speaking of both the ways that God seeks to shelter us and inviting us to see the ways that the heroes we are naming today are helping to shelter us all.  May you be blessed by these words today as God leads us "beside still waters".

Many thanks to Grace Shroeder Scott for sending in this video, song and story.  To read more about the story and Fr. Michael Joncas who composed the song during this pandemic click on this link - Shelter Me Story.  He composed this song with Psalm 23 in mind.  He is also the composer of On Eagles Wings.

Closing Music - What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Don't just skip ahead   : - )

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Thank you for worshiping with us today.