3rd Sunday of Easter – April 26th Service

Third Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2020

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

To our first-time guests, “Welcome!
The Covid virus has certainly disrupted our planning for a while. The Christian Education Board is talking about doing VBS on the week of July 20-24. Of course all this is pending on the end of the pandemic so that we have time to work on the sets and programming. If you think you will be able to help us during that week, send me an email indication your support.

Another Covid casualty is our Church Directory. Life Touch has had to reschedule all their appointments and the earliest date we could get is in November. We will revisit the date again after summer when, hopefully, everything has settled down.

While we’re on the subject of the Corona virus, I heard a report from a doctor just the other day who saw in his patients another “sign” along with difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough, painful condition, sinusitis, chills and fever. He noticed that some patients who didn’t show any other symptoms had blue fingertips and toes tested positive. Just to remind you, if you think you are showing any symptoms of the virus, CALL your doctor to be evaluated.

Again, I would like to thank everyone for their support of the church. I hope you remember that we are here for you. So if you have an urgent need and no resources, please call us and we will try to help you out as best we can.

I am confident that the Lord will look mercifully upon us and bring an end to this disease. That’s not a prediction, but rather, a review of God’s dealing with mankind throughout history. What would really help is your continued prayers for those in need, those on our prayer list, and everyone affected by the virus. And where you’re able, give a word of support and encouragement.

Worship is the other component. So let’s now set our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, as we use this God-given grace of technology to virtually gather to worship Him for His steadfast mercy and love.

INVOCATION

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES

Romans 6:9; Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6, adapted
P: Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
C: death no longer has dominion over Him.

P: Christ has risen from the dead. Alleluia!
C: God the Father has crowned Him with glory and honor,

P: He has given Him dominion over the works of His hands;
C: He has put all things under His feet. Alleluia! Alleluia!

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P: Let us take a moment of silence to ask God to search our hearts and reveal to us our need of Christ and His forgiveness.

P: Almighty God,
C: Merciful Lord, we confess that with us there is an abundance of sin, but in you there is the fullness of righteousness and abundance of mercy. We are spiritually poor, but you are rich and in Jesus Christ came to be merciful to the poor. Strengthen our faith and trust in you. We are empty vessels that need to be filled; fill us. We are weak in faith; strengthen us. We are cold in love; warm us, and make our hearts fervent for you that our love may go out to one another and to our neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

P: Some Friends brought a paralyzed man before Jesus one day and in the process of healing him he declared, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2). We too are often paralyzed by our sin and we need to be set free of all that encumbers us. Having confessed your sin before God, it is my high honor to declare to you the Word of the Lord: In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, I declare to you, “Your sins are forgiven.” In the name of the Father, the  Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

SHARING THE PEACE

SONG OF PRAISE

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray.
O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

FIRST LESSON

Acts 2:14a, 36–41
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM

Psalm 116:1–14
P: I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
C: Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.

P: The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
C: Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

P: Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
C: The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me.

P: Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
C: For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

P: I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
C: I believed, even when I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”

P: What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?
C: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.

ALL: Glory be to the Father and to the X Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

EPISTLE

1 Peter 1:17–25
(Peter reminds us that we redeemed by the blood of Christ.)
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

HOLY GOSPEL

Luke 24:13–35
(The disciples are witnesses of the risen Lord.)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN No. 478

“The Day of Resurrection”
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad,
The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, From sin’s dominion free
Our Christ has brought us over With hymns of victory.

Let hearts be purged of evil That we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light
And, listening to His accents, May hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, May raise the victor strain.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful, Let earth its song begin,
Let all the world keep triumph And all that is therein.
Let all things, seen and unseen, Their notes of gladness blend;
For Christ the Lord has risen, Our joy that has no end!

Then praise to God the Father, And praise to God the Son,
All praise to God the Spirit, Eternal Three in One!
Let all the ransomed number Fall down before the throne
And honor, pow’r, and glory Ascribe to God alone!

CONFESSION OF FAITH

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

please stand
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

OFFERING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

We pray for the whole Church, that the message of salvation joyfully be told throughout all the world and the Easter victory of Jesus Christ be celebrated around the globe. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

P: We pray for the nations of the world, that the governments of all nations be a source of blessing to those who are governed and that oppression in all forms be hindered. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

P: We pray for ourselves in this season of our Lord’s great victory, that we truly be Easter people all year long, radiating the light of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

P: We pray for all who serve us through their callings, especially for those who deal with special challenges or dangers on a regular basis, including police, fire, and emergency personnel. Also, we remember at this time the military forces of our nation, those stationed both at home and abroad, whose efforts serve to defend our nation in challenging times such as we are experiencing today. Lord in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

P: We pray for those with special concerns and needs this day. O Lord God, You show Yourself to those who are vulnerable and make Your home with the poor and the weak of this world. Warm our hearts with the fire of Your Spirit. Help us to accept the challenges presented by the Corona virus by respecting the authorities over us and praying for their safety while they serve and protect.

Protect the healthy, calm the frightened, give courage to those in pain, comfort the dying and grant eternal life and the victory celebration to those who have passed.

Today we give You thanks for Your healing presence as You saw Daniel Kusch through his heart surgery. Now we ask You to be his strong arm as he recovers in the days ahead.

We thank you also for sustaining Randy Morton, Bob’s brother, who has survived and is recovering from a serious cancer surgery.

We ask, Lord, for Your protective graces upon Sara Griffin during her pregnancy, Thomas and their family as they prepare to move to New Orleans in June.

God and Father of All, give Your holy comfort to Ed and Kathy Markle as they grieve the passing of Kathy’s sister-in-law, Rose Fones. We thank God for her faith and trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and for her salvation and ask You, Father, to prepare us all with a strong faith as we wait for that day when You call us into Your eternal presence.
C: hear our prayer

P: Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, bless with peace and happiness those we remember today with birthdays this week. Grant Your divine peace and happiness to follow Diana Brandmeyer, Carie Boulanger, Chris Michael, Autumn Kesting, Oliver Sanchez for the rest of their individual lives. Grant them all the joy and happiness that their hearts can contain for You give gifts without measure especially the Gift of our Savior Jesus in whom we put our trust.

P: Lord, we thank you for Dennis & Donna Brockmeyer and for all of the years that they have had together. Today, as we celebrate their anniversary,
our prayer is that you will continue to bless them and their family as they continue to serve You, the One true God! Lord in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

P: Merciful God, we bless You for having placed into our lives faithful Christian people to guide us. On this day we remember those no longer among us on earth who have completed their earthly races and have won the final victory in Christ. Lead us to follow in their way, that we rejoice together eternally at Your Table and in Your mansions. Gracious God, hear our every prayer, those spoken and those that are hidden in the secret parts of our hearts, for we pray them in the Name of Jesus who invites us to pray as He has taught us saying:

LORD’S PRAYER

(Matthew 6:9-13)
All: 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.

BLESSING OF THE LORD

Numbers 6:24–26
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord smile upon you and give you peace.
C: Amen.

SENDING

P: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
C: Thanks be to God!

HYMN No. 477

“Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven”
Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts to heav’n and voices raise:
Sing to God a hymn of gladness, Sing to God a hymn of praise;
He who on the cross a victim For the world’s salvation bled—
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Now is risen from the dead.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Death at last has met defeat:
See the ancient pow’rs of evil In confusion and retreat;
Once He died, and once was buried: Now He lives forevermore,
Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer, Whom we worship and adore.

Alleluia, alleluia! Glory be to God on high:
Alleluia to the Savior Who has gained the victory;
Alleluia to the Spirit, Fount of love and sanctity!
Alleluia, alleluia
To the triune Majesty!