SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER April 27, 2025
ORDER OF WORSHIP: LSB – Divine Service, Setting Three, pgs. 184ff
HYMNS: 487 - 471 - 475
SERMON: Christ’s Resurrection . . . What does this mean?
TEXT: John 20:19-31
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Gracious Savior, Jesus Christ, You are Lord and God. In the newness of life that we have in Your resurrection from the dead, give us boldness to speak and work and walk in Your name. With You as our strength, help us to stand against the temptations of the evil foe and our own sinful nature. Help us to bear Your light in the darkness of this world. Grant us Your peace so that we will live in peace with one another, always prepared to give an answer concerning the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal life we have in Your life, death, and resurrection. All glory to You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name is alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven” (Psalm 148:13).
• Thanks be to God Who created us, still takes care of us, and promises everlasting life to us for Jesus’ sake.
• We ask the Lord to bring healing to Donna Ewing after being hospitalized last week; and to Janice Meredith after recent medical care; and to all who suffer and recover from illness or injury.
• That our Father will continue to provide pastors for His church, who will faithfully proclaim Jesus Christ the Lord and administer the sacraments which He has given.
• That our seminaries will remain faithful to God’s Word and the pure confession of it, as they train men for the work of ministry.
• Thanksgiving to the Lord for workers in our congregations who provide music to accompany our singing, who offer wisdom and give of their time for doing the church’s work in an orderly way, and who work to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts He gives for us to manage.
• For the Recognized Service Organizations of the LCMS, that they will be faithful to God’s Word, using the resources entrusted to them to support the mission of Christ’s Church around the world.
THE VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY will meet in the church basement for its quarterly meeting after worship today.
MIDWEEK SCHOOL will have its ending session this Wednesday evening, April 30th, beginning at 6:30 pm. Supper will be served; salads and desserts may be brought to go with the meal. An evening prayer, closing devotion, and wrap-up of the year’s events will take place. Along with students and families, all from St. Paul are welcome.
THANK YOU to all the people of St. Paul for helping to make the day of our Easter worship a joyful one! The altar, the cross, the lilies, the music, the singing, the attendance at the services, the plentiful food for breakfast, the setup and the cleanup, the fun of hunting Easter eggs, the fellowship of young and old . . . All of it made for a beautiful day and a blessed celebration. Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
LEARNING GOD’S WORD . . . Opportunities to do this are available to you at St. Paul:
• Children’s Sunday School – each Sunday morning at 9:00 in the church basement
• Sunday Adult Bible Class – each Sunday morning at 9:00 in the church basement
• Thursday Evening Bible Class – each Thursday at 6:30 in the church basement.
THE KANSAS DISTRICT LCMS CONVENTION is to be held in Salina on June 5-6. The convention workbook is now published and online at kslcms.org. Learn more about matters that will be discussed and decisions to be considered. The theme will be Abiding in the Word, based on John 8:31-32.
PRATT COUNTY FOOD BANK . . . The featured item for the month of May is taco shells and/or taco seasoning packets. These or other non-perishable food items may be donated in the box at the south entrance of our church. Thanks for your support!
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on John 20:19 . . . “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Fear is the opposite of faith. That is, the kind of cringing fear we have in the face of something that is hostile to us and more powerful than we are. Jesus spends a lot of His time telling the disciples to not be afraid. Our fears constantly hem us in and prevent us from following the Lord’s will. But there is no need to fear. Jesus has conquered. No fear can keep us locked up. We have been set free by Jesus for lives that declare His marvelous deeds. (lcms.org/stewardship)
KFUO Radio, the broadcast voice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, shares Christ for you anytime, anywhere on KFUO.org via worship services, Bible and theology studies, practical talk programs, and sacred music. Find programs on demand at kfuo.org and wherever you get your podcasts! Find us on social: @KFUOradio on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire ALTAR COMMITTEE: Brenda Schwertfeger
ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, Lee Van Slyke Amanda Riggs Emma Burns Anna Schwertfeger
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH EQUIPS, ENABLES, AND ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO GROW IN FAITH AND SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE WITH ALL PEOPLE.
TODAY - 8:00 am - The Lutheran Hour, KGNO (Dodge City, 1370 AM)
8:00 am - The Lutheran Hour, KCVW (Wichita, Hutch., 94.3 FM)
8:25 am - The Lutheran Hour, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
8:30 am - The Lutheran Hour, KWBW (Hutchinson, 1450 AM)
10:00 am - St. Paul Radio Broadcast, KMMM (Pratt, 1290 AM)
6:00 pm - The Lutheran Hour, KREJ (88.1 FM)
MONDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hours
TUESDAY - 9 am - 2 pm - Quilt Groups meets
7:00 pm - Church Council
WEDNESDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hour
6:30 pm - Midweek Supper and Closing
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal
THURSDAY - 1:00 pm - Ladies’ Aid
6:30 pm - Bible Study
7:30 pm - Men’s Club
FRIDAY - 8:00 - 11:00 am - Secretary’s Office Hours
SUNDAY - 9:00 am - Combined Sunday School Breakfast
10:00 am - Worship with Holy Communion
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - “Through Locked Doors” (John 20:19). When Jesus shows up, it’s no longer “us vs. them,” because Jesus is for everyone, even if everyone is not yet for Jesus. Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler.
SERVING ON ALTAR GUILD for the month of May will be Samantha Dutton, Marianne McGuire, and Samantha Houtwed.
BOOK OF PHILEMON BIBLE STUDY . . . The Word of the Lord Endures Forever is a daily 15-minute verse-by-verse Bible study produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Will Weedon. Pastor Weedon begins a study this week on the Book of Philemon. You can listen at your convenience at thewordendures.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.
About the Cover: Jesus stood among His disciples to show them His hands and side. The marks of the nails showed that the Jesus who was crucified is the very same Jesus who has been raised and lives. Thomas was not there the first time Jesus appeared among His followers, but he wanted to verify with his own eyes and hands that Jesus lives. Jesus’ hands still bear the marks of His love for us through His sacrifice upon the cross.
FIRST READING - Acts 5:12-20
EPISTLE - Revelation 1:4-18
HOLY GOSPEL - John 20:19-31
