A Weekly Devotion for Use in the Home
Easter 4
The following service order is for use in the home. It may be lead by a family member, or if you live alone, you may use it by yourself, in which case, simply say all the parts. Of course this is not intended to be a substitute for the Divine Service of the gathered church, but for household devotion and prayer. You may also use the daily prayer orders of Matins, Morning Prayer, Vespers, Evening Prayer, or Compline depending on the time of day. For a simple service order, see Daily Prayer (LSB p. 294ff) .
Leader: O Lord, open my lips.
Response: And my mouth will declare your praise.
L: Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
L: I am the good shepherd,
R: I know my own and my own know me, and I lay down my life for the sheep.
L: The Lord is my shepherd;
R: I shall not want.
L: He makes me lie down in green pastures,
R: He leads me beside still waters.
L: He restores my soul.
R: He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
L: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
R: your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
L: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
R: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
L: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
R: and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
L: I am the good shepherd,
R: I know my own and my own know me, and I lay down my life for the sheep.
L: Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.
READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
Acts 4:1-12
Psalm 23 (antiphon v 6)
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
L: Christ has risen from the dead.
R: God the Father has crowned him with glory and honor,
L: He has given him dominion over the works of his hands;
R: he has put all things under His feet.
HYMN #709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
SERMON – John 10:11-18 (Psalm 23)
The APOSTLES’ CREED (confessed all together)
THE PRAYERS
Gracious God our Father in heaven, Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to gather the world into His green pasture. Gathered in His Name, we pray:
For your holy church scattered throughout the world, for all who confess the name of Jesus and proclaim His resurrection in all the world; Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For our fellowship in the Missouri Synod, for those who watch over our teaching and life together, for Matthew, Michael, and Paul, and for all pastors and teachers in Christ,
For our congregations with whom we walk together in fellowship including Hope-Glendora;
For our missionaries including Julie Lutz in Papua New Guinea,
For our schools and seminaries, for our AfterSchool and for Vicki its director; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For the government and all public servants, for the president, the governor, legislators and judges, that guided by your will and wisdom, we may live in all peaceful godliness and uprightness; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For our armed forces, for our police, fire, and emergency workers, and all who work to preserve peace and life; Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For mercy and relief from the pandemic, for those who have lost jobs and businesses, for those who have lost loved ones, friends and family, bring comfort, hope, strength, and peace, Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For peace in our times, peace in our homes and neighborhoods, for an end to division and hostility and an increase in cooperation, understanding, and care in our communities; for an end to violence, prejudice, hatred, bigotry; Lord, in your mercy….
R: Hear our prayer
For those who call upon you in their time of need: (everyone may speak the names of those for who they wish to pray); Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For those yet to be born and for their mothers, that both mother and child would be kept in safety through childbirth; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For….(here people may insert their own petitions ending with) Lord, in your mercy….
R: Hear our prayer
Into your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
R: Amen.
The Our Father (prayed together)
(Morning) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
(Evening) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
L: Let us bless the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
L: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.
R: Amen.
HYMN #950 Splendor and Honor