+ AS WE GATHER +
The word “peace” is central for God’s people to hear time and again as part of worship. The peace of the Lord is exchanged between pastor and congregation and often also spoken among the people of the congregation. It is the last word in the Benediction and is therefore the most frequently used word to close the service. In the era of the Reformation and the decades following, the hymn “Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord” was used immediately after the sermon as a reminder of how important the Lord’s peace was in a world that knew unrest and challenges. It is our blessing to hear that word of peace from our Lord once again today in our world—which also has unrest and challenges.
Press Play below to hear the welcome message.(adjust your volume as needed)HYMN: #474 – Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with hymn #474. 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)
1 Alleluia!
Jesus is risen!
Trumpets resounding in glorious light!
Splendor, the Lamb,
Heaven forever!
Oh, what a miracle God has in sight! Refrain
Refrain: Jesus is risen and we shall arise:
Give God the glory! Alleluia!
2 Walking the way,
Christ in the center
Telling the story to open our eyes;
Breaking our bread,
Giving us glory:
Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise. Refrain
3 Weeping, be gone;
Sorrow, be silent:
Death put asunder, and Easter is bright.
Cherubim sing:
“O grave, be open!”
Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light. Refrain
4 City of God,
Easter forever,
Golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,
River of life,
Saints and archangels,
Sing with creation to God the I AM! Refrain
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Romans 6:9; John 20:29b
Pastor: Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
People: death no longer has dominion over Him. Alleluia.
Pastor: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
People: Alleluia, alleluia.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Psalm 85:1–2, 7
Pastor: Lord, You were favorable to Your land;
People: You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Pastor: You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
People: You covered all their sin.
Pastor: Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord,
People: and grant us Your salvation.
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins unto our gracious Lord.
People: Almighty God, in humility and with repentant hearts we come before You. With shame and regret we admit and confess our sinfulness. We have not lived up to our calling as Your peaceable people. We have not done the good You demand and have not been the people You would have us be. We do repent and are truly sorry for our sins in thought, word, and deed. Have mercy on us, merciful Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Forgive us all that needs Your forgiving grace, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, direct us to serve You faithfully all our days through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Pastor: God has promised His merciful forgiveness to those who repent of their sins and turn to Him in confession. He will revive them and speak peace to His people. In His stead and by His command, therefore, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: God keep you in His grace by the Holy Spirit, lead you in ways of peace and joy, and finally bring you to live with Him forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
PSALM 148 (spoken responsively by verse)
1Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
6And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
11Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the 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.
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: This Is the Feast. (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, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
FIRST LESSON Acts 5:29–42
(The first Christians proclaim the Good News.)
29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Gradual adapt. from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6
All: Christ has risen from the dead.
[God the Father] has crowned him with glory and honor,
He has given him dominion over the works of his hands;
he has put all things under his feet.
EPISTLE 1 Peter 1:3–9
(We have new hope through the resurrection of Christ.)
3Blessed 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, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so 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. 8Though 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, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA and VERSE 2 Timothy 1:10b
All: Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL John 20:19–31
(Jesus appears to His disciples who are behind locked doors.)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN: #470 – O Sons and Daughters of the King
Press Play below to hear and/or sing along with hymn #470. 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)
1 O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 An angel clad in white they see,
Who sits and speaks unto the three,
“Your Lord will go to Galilee.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 That night the apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said, “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
5 When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
6 “My piercèd side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon My hands, My feet;
Not faithless but believing be.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
7 No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“You are my Lord and God!” he cried.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
8 How blest are they who have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
9 On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voices raise.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
SERMON – “Jesus brings peace where there is fear”
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Press Play below to hear closing of the 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.
We pray for the whole Christian Church, that the peace of God dwell upon it and that the Spirit of God work through it. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace.
Pastor: We pray for the nations of the world and for the men and women entrusted with their leadership, that they would use the gifts and abilities You have given them to find peace in our time and an end to the pandemic gripping our world. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace.
Pastor: We pray for Pinnacle and all other churches of our Synod, that all of its members dwell together in unity. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace.
Pastor: We pray for those who keep peace both locally and around the world, including the armed forces of our nation and our local police men and women, and all first responders. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace.
Pastor: We pray for those whose lives are in need of a special measure of peace and comfort: the sick and the hospitalized, all those on our prayer list, and those who are experiencing changes and challenges due to coronavirus, including the unemployed, those whose lives had been disrupted, as they face each new day. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace.
Pastor: For all the saints called now to Your eternal presence, Lord, we give You thanks. Grant that we be blessed by the heritage of faith they have left to us in our time. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer and grant us Your peace. 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
Almighty and merciful God, we have again worshiped in Your presence and received both forgiveness for our many sins and the assurance of Your love in Jesus Christ. We thank You for this undeserved grace and ask You to keep us in faith until we inherit eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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: #464 – The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done
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Refrain: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun.
Alleluia!
2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!
3 The three sad days have quickly sped,
He rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!
4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise His triumph tell.
Alleluia!
5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free
That we may live and sing to Thee.
Alleluia! Refrain
