Easter blessings!
SERVICE OF THE WORD – St. Stephen Lutheran
Church
April 12, 2020 –
The Resurrection of Our Lord – Easter Day
OPENING MUSIC
Two Settings of The
Strife is O’er
1.
Alec
Wyton 2. Alfred E. Fedak
Two Settings of Jesus
Christ is Risen Today
1.
Gerhard
Knapf 2. Paul Manz
HYMN Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Lutheran Book
of Worship 151
1 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!
2 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!
3 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!
4 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!
Text: Latin carol, 14th cent., sts. 1-3;
tr. J. Walsh, Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt.; Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, st.
4
DIALOG
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Holy is the Lord, the Almighty,
He was, he is, and he is to
come.
He is worthy of glory and honor and
power.
He created all things. By his will they came to be.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was
slain;
worthy to take the scroll and
break its seals.
By his blood he purchased for God
people of every race and tongue,
of every folk and nation.
Christ made of them a kingdom
and priests to serve our God.
And they shall reign on earth
forever.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
APOSTLES’ CREED
God has made us his people through
our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our
faith.
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of
heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit
and
born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended
into hell.
On the third day
he rose again.
He ascended into
heaven,
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come
again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the
Holy Spirit,
the holy
catholic Church,
the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness
of sins,
the resurrection
of the body,
and the life
everlasting. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on
the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us
from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, so that we may live with
him forever in the joy of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
FIRST LESSON Acts 10:34-43
34Then Peter
began to speak to [the people]: "I truly understand that God shows no
partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what
is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the
people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. 37That
message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to
all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by
hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and
allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were
chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from
the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that
he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All
the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM
118:1-2; 15-24
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."
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.
SECOND LESSON Colossians 3:1-4
1If 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 is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL Matthew 28:1-10
1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was
dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And
suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending
from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His
appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For
fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the
angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for
Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as
he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell
his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead
of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8So
they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his
disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they
came to him, 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;
there they will see me.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON
HYMN The Strife is O’er, The Battle
Done
Lutheran Book of Worship 135
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 has 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 you,
from
death’s sting free your servants too,
that
we may live and sing to you. Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Text: Symphonia Sirenum, Köln,
1695; tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909
PRAYERS
OF THE CHURCH
Rejoicing in the
resurrection of our Lord, let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ
Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Silence is kept.
God our Father,
your Son rose triumphant from death and made this the day of new creation, of
victory over sin, death, and the devil. We thank you for the new life given to
us in Christ. Continually renew in us the joy of resurrection. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son rose
triumphant from death, and the women ran to bear the tidings to his chosen
apostles. Grant that your Church may proclaim the good news in word and deed to
all the people of the world, and empower us as witnesses to the resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son rose
triumphant from death, and all rulers, authorities, and powers are now made
subject to him. Bless our elected leaders and all who work for the public good,
and help them to seek your will and serve faithfully in their offices. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son rose
triumphant from death and made sure the promise of the new world, free from
war, pestilence, and want. Give us signs of that new world in our troubled
times. Fill us with your Spirit, and make us living signs of the peace of
Jesus. Come to the aid of the poor and the ill in body, mind, and spirit.
Restrain the violent, lift up the lowly, give peace in our world, in our homes,
and in our hearts. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son rose
triumphant from death and commanded us to pray in his name for our needs and
the needs of others. We pray in faithful confidence for the forgiveness of our
sins, for strength in suffering, and in thanksgiving for all your mercies. We
bring before you the godly desires of our hearts and the needs of those who
have asked for our prayers.
The congregation
may offer spoken or silent petitions.
Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son rose
triumphant from death, and in him we put our hope, not only for this life but
also for the life to come. We give thanks for all the faithful ones who have
trusted in him; for Mary his Mother; for Mary Magdalene, the first to bear
witness to the resurrection; for the apostles and all the saints, together with
all those most dear to us who now rest in you. Draw our hearts upward, and
bring us to the day when we will celebrate the resurrection with them in glory.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands,
Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
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
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR
THE FAITH FAMILY
BENEDICTION
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 us peace.
Amen
HYMN A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Lutheran
Book of Worship 229
1 A
mighty fortress is our God,
a
sword and shield victorious;
he
breaks the cruel oppressor's rod
and wins salvation glorious.
The
old satanic foe
has
sworn to work us woe!
With
craft and dreadful might
he
arms himself to fight.
On
earth he has no equal.
2 No
strength of ours can match his might!
We
would be lost, rejected.
But
now a champion comes to fight,
whom
God himself elected.
You
ask who this may be?
The
Lord of hosts is he!
Christ
Jesus, mighty Lord,
God's
only Son, adored.
He
holds the field victorious.
3 Though
hordes of devils fill the land
all
threat'ning to devour us,
we
tremble not, unmoved we stand;
they
cannot overpow'r us.
Let
this world's tyrant rage;
in
battle we'll engage!
His
might is doomed to fail;
God's
judgment must prevail!
One
little word subdues him.
4 God's
Word forever shall abide,
no
thanks to foes, who fear it;
for
God himself fights by our side
with
weapons of the Spirit.
Were
they to take our house,
goods,
honor, child, or spouse,
though
life be wrenched away,
they
cannot win the day.
The kingdom's ours forever!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE Risen Is The Holy Christ J.S.
Bach
