Fifth Sunday of Easter

John 15:2 – “Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” 

God is interested in the fruit that we bear in good works, and He even prunes us so that we may bring forth more fruit. 

Trusting in our Lord’s work for us, being grafted by grace into His vine, we desire to be more like Him, to grow into His image. That’s growth in fruit bearing — and it always comes with some pruning.

LCMS Stewardship Bulletin Sentences

 

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Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:26–40; 1 John 4:1–11 (12–21); John 15:1–8

Jesus Christ Is the True Vine Who Bears Much Fruit in Us

“God is love,” and He has manifested Himself to us by sending “his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9, 16). By the ministry of the Gospel, “he has given us of his Spirit,” so that we also believe and confess “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” In this way, we “abide in him and he in us,” and we “love one another” (1 John 4:2, 7, 13). 

Such divine love is exemplified in Philip’s preaching of “the good news about Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch. And when “they came to some water,” the eunuch was baptized into the very Gospel that Philip had preached (Acts 8:35–38). That Ethiopian was thereby grafted into “the true vine,” Jesus Christ (John 15:1), just as we are. 

Already we are clean because of the Word that Christ has spoken to us and by the washing of water with His Word. We now abide in Him by faith in His forgiveness. As He abides in us, both body and soul, with His own body and His blood, He “bears much fruit” in us (John 15:3–5).

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Life Thoughts for the Week

Fifth Sunday of Easter – It is anxiety and fright that drive folks to pursue abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and other measures that view death as a solution. Fear likewise bullies the sanctity of life into silence. 

But the Lord’s perfect love puts all fear to flight (1 John 4:18). In surprise pregnancy and terminal diagnosis, we and our neighbors need not independence and empowerment but the presence, promises, and compassion of the Father Almighty

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Regular Service Schedule
Divine Service - 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. 
               Holy Communion is offered at both services.
Adult Discipleship Class / Children's Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays in Lent and Advent: 6:30 p.m. Vespers

 

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