Easter Sunday Online Church Service at Home from Pinnacle Lutheran Church in Rochester, NY.
THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD—EASTER DAY
HE IS RISEN!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!! Alleluia!!!
April 12, 2020
+ AS WE GATHER +
“Break down the wall that would divide Thy children, Lord, on ev’ry side” (LSB 844:2). The resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter morning was the greatest breaking down of walls ever experienced on this earth. In his Gospel account, Matthew tells that there was a great earthquake on that Easter Day. He also records that on the day that Jesus died, the earth shook and rocks were split. God was at work in shaking up the earth at the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of His Son, our Savior. And God is still breaking down walls—walls that divide and separate people. Today we celebrate the forgiveness won for us and all people by Jesus, our all-powerful and victorious Lord.
+ PREPARATION +
Press Play below to hear the Easter welcome message. He Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed! (adjust your volume as needed)HYMN: #457 – Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with hymn #457. ONLY Press the play button on the video 1 time. When the hymn is complete continue scrolling down through the rest of the service as usual. (adjust your volume as needed)
INVOCATION
Press Play below to hear the beginning of today’s audio service (adjust your volume as needed)Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 118:24; Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6, adapted
Pastor: This is the day that the Lord has made;
People: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Pastor: Christ has risen from the dead. Alleluia!
People: God the Father has crowned Him with glory and honor,
Pastor: He has given Him dominion over the works of His hands;
People: He has put all things under His feet. Alleluia! Alleluia!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Let us come before God in true repentance, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
O God our Father, we admit and confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You in thought and in word and in deed.
People: Have mercy on us and forgive us, O Lord.
Pastor: We confess that we have not lived as Your followers but have sought to go our own ways in directions that have not brought glory to You or blessing to others.
People: Have mercy on us and forgive us, O Lord.
Pastor: We confess that Your love has not reached others through us in every situation, that there have been times in which we have been loveless, thoughtless, and judgmental toward others, unwilling to help our neighbors as we ought.
People: Have mercy on us and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: We confess that Your will has not been our priority at all times and that we have not always been defenders of the weak and helpless in our circle of family, neighbors, and friends and beyond.
People: Have mercy on us and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: We confess that we have not used every opportunity given to us to witness to the resurrection faith that is ours and have at times been slow to speak of the hope that is ours in Christ.
People: Have mercy on us and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Upon this your confession and by the command of our Lord, I, a called and ordained servant of Christ, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Go in + peace.
People: Amen.
+ SERVICE OF THE WORD +
KYRIE
All:
Lord have mercy;
Christ have mercy;
Lord have mercy.
HYMN of PRAISE: This Is the Feast
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with the hymn of Praise. ONLY Press the play button on the video 1 time. The words for this hymn are posted directly under the video to read along. When the hymn is complete continue scrolling down through the rest of the service as usual. (adjust your volume as needed)
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
SALUTATION and PRAYER of the DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: 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.
People: Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 10:34–43
(The disciples are witnesses to the risen Lord.)
34Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 31:1–6
(The Lord has an everlasting love for His people.)
1“At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
2Thus says the LORD:
“The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
3the LORD appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
O virgin Israel!
Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines
and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant
and shall enjoy the fruit.
6For there shall be a day when watchmen will call
in the hill country of Ephraim:
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
to the LORD our God.’”
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 16 (spoken responsively by verse)
1Preserve me, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
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.
EPISTLE Colossians 3:1–4
(Our lives are hidden with Christ in God.)
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA and VERSE 2 Timothy 1:10b
All: Alleluia. Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 28:1–10
(Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.)
Pastor: In today’s Gospel, we hear the command of the angel to the women as they visited the empty tomb: “Go quickly and tell.” The powerful message of the resurrection is of first importance. The women responded, leaving the garden tomb with fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples! Today we share the experience of those first witnesses of the resurrection.
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-eighth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
1Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN: #467 – Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with hymn #467. ONLY Press the play button on the video 1 time. The words for this hymn are posted directly under the video to read along. When the hymn is complete continue scrolling down through the rest of the service as usual. (adjust your volume as needed)
HYMN: #467 – Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
1 Awake, my heart, with gladness,
See what today is done;
Now, after gloom and sadness,
Comes forth the glorious sun.
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.
2 The foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb;
But lo, he now is routed,
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o’er the grave.
3 This is a sight that gladdens—
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take
The hope which God’s own Son
In love for me has won.
4 Now hell, its prince, the devil,
Of all their pow’r are shorn;
Now I am safe from evil,
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim death with all its might
Cannot my soul affright;
It is a pow’rless form,
Howe’er it rave and storm.
5 The world against me rages,
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wages,
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me.
Misfortune now is play,
And night is bright as day.
6 Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate’er He passes through.
He rends death’s iron chain;
He breaks through sin and pain;
He shatters hell’s grim thrall;
I follow Him through all.
7 He brings me to the portal
That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal
Is found in script of gold:
“Who there My cross has shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with Me has died
Shall here be glorified.”
SERMON
Press Play below to see today’s sermon video. ONLY Press the play button on the video 1 time. When the video is complete continue scrolling down through the rest of the service as usual. (adjust your volume as needed)
Press Play below to hear the conclusion of today’s Easter service. (adjust your volume as needed)
APOSTLES’ CREED
Pastor: God has made us His people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
All: 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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs:
That the Church would live out its calling and that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ be joyfully celebrated in all places, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That the nations of the world find peace with justice in our time, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That the abiding blessing of God rest upon our families, our neighborhoods, our places of business, and our schools, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That those whose confession of the true faith leads to bodily peril or other sufferings know relief and deliverance from every danger, let us pray of the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That all whose labor adds meaning and beauty to the life of the Church—the musicians, artists, craft workers, flower arrangers, and others—find joy and blessing in all that they do to the glory of God, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That all those whose lives know specific challenges, including those who are ill including any who suffer physically, emotionally or economically from corona virus and for those who mourn, that they would receive heavenly healing and strength for each day, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: That the memory of the faithful departed be held in reverence and honor by all of us as we await a time of resurrection and reunion at the close of the age, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: These things and all else that we should have asked on this day of holy rejoicing, grant to us, Lord, for the sake of our risen Savior Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
OFFERING
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
CLOSING PRAYER
O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BENEDICAMUS
Pastor: Let us bless the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
BENEDICTION
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
People: Amen.
HYMN: #465 – Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with hymn #465. ONLY Press the play button on the video 1 time. When the hymn is complete the service is over. (adjust your volume as needed)
Happy Easter
