Please find the order of worship below.
EVENING
PRAYER for EASTER
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142).
Jesus
Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
We
are illumined by the brightness of his rising.
Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
Death
has no more dominion over us.
Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
Joyous
light of glory:
of
the immortal Father;
heavenly, holy, blessed
Jesus Christ.
We have come to the setting of the
sun,
and we look to the
evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit:
You are worthy of being praised
with pure voices
forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life:
The universe proclaims
your glory.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
him thanks and praise.
Blessed
are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led your people Israel by a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Enlighten our darkness by
the light of your Christ; may his Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our
path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and we, your
creatures, glorify you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to
you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before
my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart
incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness
with evildoers.
But my eyes are
turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge. Strip me not
of my life.
Glory 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.
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
Silence
for meditation.
Let
the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your
lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your
praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify
you forever and ever.
Amen
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the
Lord, for | he is good;*
his mercy en- | dures forever.
2 Let Israel | now
proclaim,*
"His mercy en- | dures
forever."
3 Let the house of
Aaron | now proclaim,*
"His mercy en- | dures
forever."
4. Let those who
fear the Lord | now proclaim,*
"His mercy en- | dures
forever."
5 I called to the Lord in | my distress;*
the Lord answered by set- | ting me free.
6 The Lord is at my side, therefore I | will
not fear;*
what can anyone | do to me?
7 The Lord is at my | side to help me;*
I will triumph over | those who hate
me.
8 It is better to
rely | on the Lord*
than to put any | trust in flesh.
9 It is better to
rely | on the Lord*
than to put any | trust in
rulers.
10 All the ungodly
en- | compass me;*
in the name of the Lord I | will repel them.
11 They hem me in,
they hem me in on | every side;*
in the name of the Lord I | will repel them.
12 They swarm about me
like bees; they blaze like a | fire of thorns;*
in the name of the Lord I | will repel them.
13 I was pressed so
hard that I | almost fell,*
but the Lord came | to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength | and my song,*
and he has become | my salvation.
15 There is a sound
of exulta- | tion and victory*
in the tents | of the righteous:
16 "The right
hand of the | Lord has triumphed!*
The right hand of the Lord is exalted!
The right hand of the | Lord has triumphed!"
17 I shall not | die,
but live,*
and declare the works | of the Lord.
18 The Lord has pun- | ished me sorely,*
but he did not hand me o- | ver
to death.
19 Open for me the |
gates of righteousness;*
I will enter them; I will offer
thanks | to the Lord.
20 "This is the
gate | of the Lord;*
he who is right- | eous may
enter."
21 I will give thanks
to you, for you | answered me*
and have become | my salvation.
22 The same stone
which the build- | ers rejected*
has become the chief |
cornerstone.
23 This is | the Lord's doing,*
and it is marvelous | in our eyes.
24 On this day the | Lord has acted;*
we will rejoice and be | glad in it.
25 Hosanna, | Lord, hosanna!*
Lord, send us | now
success.
26 Blessed is he who
comes in the name | of the Lord;*
we bless you from the house | of
the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has | shined upon us;*
form a procession with branches up
to the horns | of the altar.
28 "You are my
God, and | I will thank you;*
you are my God, and I | will exalt
you."
29 Give thanks to the
Lord, for | he is good;*
his mercy en- | dures forever.
Hymn Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won!
Lutheran Book of Worship 133
1 Jesus
lives! The vict’ry’s won!
Death
no longer can appall me;
Jesus
lives! Death’s reign is done!
From
the grave will Christ recall me.
Brighter
scenes will then commence;
this
shall be my confidence.
2 Jesus
lives! To him the throne
there
above all things is given.
I
shall go where he is gone,
live
and reign with him in heaven.
God
is faithful; doubtings, hence!
This
shall be my confidence.
3 Jesus
lives! For me he died,
hence
will I, to Jesus living,
pure
in heart and act abide,
praise
to him and glory giving.
All
I need God will dispense;
this
shall be my confidence.
4 Jesus
lives! And I am sure,
neither
life nor death shall sever
me
from him. I shall endure
in
his love, through death, forever.
God
will be my sure defense;
this
shall be my confidence.
5 Jesus
lives! And now is death
but
the gate of life immortal;
this
shall calm my trembling breath
when
I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith
shall cry, as fails each sense:
Jesus
is my confidence!
Text: Christian F. Gellert, 1715-1769; tr. Frances E. Cox,
1812-1897, alt.
Lesson 1 Peter 1:3-9
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By
his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for
a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have
had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious
than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in
praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though
you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable
and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the
salvation of your souls.
Response
In
many and various ways
God
spoke to his people of old by the prophets.
But
now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
The
GOSPEL CANTICLE is sung.
My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his
lowly servant.
From this day all generations will
call me blessed.
The Almighty has done
great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those
who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his
arm;
he has scattered the proud in their
conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from
their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good
things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his
servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of
mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory 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
The
LITANY is sung.
In
peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for
the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
all who offer today their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
Dan, our bishop; for your unworthy servant; for all pastors in Christ, for all
servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
our public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may
be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and
every place, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those
who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the
Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for
peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to
the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the faithful who have gone before us and are at rest, let us give thanks to the
Lord.
To
you, O Lord.
Help,
save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Silence
for meditation.
Rejoicing
in the fellowship of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and
our whole life to Christ, our Lord.
To
you, O Lord.
The
Prayer of the Day is said. Other prayers are said concluding with this prayer:
O
God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works:
Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our
hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended
from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the
merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, God forever.
Amen
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
Let
us bless the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Hymn God,
Who Made the Earth and Heaven
Lutheran Book of
Worship
281
1 God, who made the
earth and heaven,
darkness and light:
you the day for work
have given,
for rest the night.
May your angel guards
defend us,
slumber sweet your
mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes
attend us
all through the
night.
2 And when morn again
shall call us
to run life's way,
may we still,
whate'er befall us,
your will obey.
From the pow'r of
evil hide us,
in the narrow pathway
guide us,
never be your smile
denied us
all through the day.
3 Guard us waking, guard
us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in your mighty
keeping
all peaceful lie.
When the last dread
call shall wake us,
then, O Lord, do not
forsake us,
but to reign in glory
take us
with you on high.
4 Holy Father, throned in
heaven,
all-holy Son,
Holy Spirit, freely
given,
blest Three in One:
grant us grace, we
now implore you,
till we lay our
crowns before you
and in worthier
strains adore you
while ages run.
Text: Reginald Heber, 1783-1826, st. 1,
alt.; William Mercer, 1811-1873, sts. 2, 4, alt.; Richard Whately, 1787-1863,
st. 3, alt.
Sermon
Prayer
and Benediction
Lord
God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the
ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go
out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is
leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The
almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless
and preserve you.
Amen
