Easter Sunday – April 12th Service

April 11, 2020
Pastor Vern Lintvedt, Pastor Matthew Kusch
Easter
Job

The Resurrection of our Lord – Easter Day

WELCOME

Welcome, People of God, to our Easter Celebration Service. Unfortunately the Corona virus is still prohibiting us from meeting but it is not preventing us from celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord! So we will not be discouraged, for Christ who was crucified for our sins was raised from the dead to give us newness of life, now and in eternity. Alive in Christ with voices strong, let us sing the Charles Wesley’s inspired hymn: “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.”

HYMN No. 457

“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”
Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love; Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

INVOCATION

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

P: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

OPENING SENTENCES

Psalm 118:24; Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6, adapted
P: This is the day that the LORD has made;
C: let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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: Even on this festival day, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

(Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.)

P: Almighty God, heavenly Father,
C: we confess that we have not remained strong in faith. We have not always let the sure news of Your Son’s resurrection dispel the fear that wells up within us. We have thought, spoken, and acted in weakness. We have not loved You with our whole hearts, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We deserve Your judgment in time and eternity.

Forgive us and renew us in the sure and certain hope of our own resurrection day, when Job’s righteous yearning, “I know that my Redeemer Lives” will no longer be a declaration of faith, but a longing fulfilled!

P: By His suffering and death our Lord has paid for our sins, and by His rising has destroyed the power of death. As a called and ordained servant of our risen and triumphant Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

SHARING THE PEACE

As you share the peace with those who are with you today, as a bonus, call someone who is alone after the service and share the peace verbally. The Lord be with you!

HYMN OF PRAISE

No. 465 “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”
Now all the vault of heav’n resounds In praise of love that still abounds:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!
Repeat their song of glory here: “Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Eternal is the gift He brings, Therefore our heart with rapture sings:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” Now still He comes to give us life
And by His presence stills all strife. Christ has triumphed! He is living!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; Set heart and will on things above
That we conquer through Your triumph; Grant grace sufficient for life’s day
That by our lives we truly say: “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Adoring praises now we bring And with the heav’nly blessed sing:
“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!” Be to the Father and our Lord,
To Spirit blest, most holy God, All the glory, never ending!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray.
Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Job 19:23–26 – (My Redeemer lives!)
“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.

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

EPISTLE

1 Peter 1:3–9 – (Born Again to a Living Hope)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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

VERSE

2 Timothy 1:10b
P: Alleluia. Christ Jesus abolished death
C: and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL

Luke 24:1–8 – (Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words.

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

HYMN No. 461

“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever living head!

He lives triumphant from the grave; He lives eternally to save;
He lives all-glorious in the sky; He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend; He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!

He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence give: I know that my Redeemer lives!

SERMON

“Job: Blessed Be the Name of the Lord”
I Know that My Redeemer Lives! – (Job 19:23–26)
Pastor Vern

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

INTERCESSIONS

P: Christ is the Lord of life, raised up by the Father; in his turn he will raise us up by his power. Let us pray to him, saying:
C: Christ our life, save us.

P: Lord Jesus, light shining in the darkness, you lead your people into life, and give our mortal nature the gift of holiness,
C: May we spend this day in praise of Your glory.

P: Lord, you walked the way of suffering and crucifixion,
C: May we suffer and die with you, and rise again to share Your glory.

P: Son of the Father, our Master and our Brother, You have made us a kingdom of priests for our God,
C: May we offer You our joyful sacrifice of praise.

(A moment of Silence to remember those whom God has laid on our hearts)

P: King of glory, we look forward to the great day of Your coming in splendor,
C: that we may see You face to face, and be transformed in your likeness.

LORD’S PRAYER

(Matthew 6:9-13)
P: Certain of our Lord’s resurrection, and confident of His steadfast love for us,
we are bold to pray:
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

SENDING

P: Go in peace to love and serve the risen Lord
C: Thanks be to God! I know my Redeemer lives!

HYMN

“Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen” – (Tune: EARTH AND ALL STARS, LSB 817);
Alleluia! Jesus is risen!
Trumpets resounding in glorious light!
Splendor, the Lamb, Heaven forever!
Oh, what a miracle God has in sight!