SERVICE OF THE WORD – St. Stephen Lutheran
Church
April 19, 2020 –
The Second Sunday of Easter
The livestream will begin shortly before 10:30 a.m. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view it.
OPENING MUSIC
O Sons and
Daughters of the King – Flor Peeters
Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain – Robert Buckley
Farlee
HYMN Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain
Lutheran Book
of Worship 132
1 Come, you faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel
into joy from sadness,
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters,
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.
2 ’Tis the spring of souls today:
Christ has burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death
as a sun has risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom is giv’n
laud and praise undying.
3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts
comes its joy to render;
comes to gladden faithful hearts
which with true affection
welcome in unwearied strain
Jesus’ resurrection!
4 For today among the twelve
Christ appeared, bestowing
his deep peace, which evermore
passes human knowing.
Neither could the gates of death,
nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal,
hold him as a mortal.
5 Alleluia! Now we cry
to our King immortal,
who, triumphant, burst the bars
of the tomb’s dark portal.
Come, you faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel
into joy from sadness!
Text:
John of Damascus, c. 696-c. 754; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
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.
Almighty God, we have celebrated with joy the
festival of our Lord’s resurrection. Graciously help us to show the power of
the Resurrection in all that we say and do; through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
Amen
First Lesson Acts 2:14a, 22-32
14aPeter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
addressed [the crowd], 22“You that are Israelites, listen to what I
have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power,
wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—23this
man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of
God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But
God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for
him to be held in its power. 25For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that
he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Since
he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would
put one of his descendants on his throne.
31Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
32This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
32This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM
16
1 Protect me, O
God, for I take ref- | uge in you;*
I
have said to the Lord, "You
are my Lord,
my good a- |
bove all other."
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are | in the land,*
upon those who are
noble a- | mong the people.
3 But those who
run after | other gods*
shall
have their troubles | multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I | will not offer,*
nor take the names of
their gods up- | on my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion | and my cup;*
it
is you who up- | hold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;*
indeed, I have a |
goodly heritage.
7 I will bless
the Lord who | gives me counsel;*
my
heart teaches me night | after night.
8 I have set the Lord al- |
ways before me;*
because he is at my
right hand, I | shall not fall.
9 My heart,
therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;*
my
body also shall | rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me | to the grave,*
nor let your holy one |
see the pit.
11 You will show
me the | path of life;*
in
your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures
for- | evermore.
SECOND Lesson 1 Peter 1:3-9
A A reading from First
Peter.
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.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL John 20:19-31
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of
the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked
for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with
you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to
them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When
he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy
Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who
was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark
of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON
HYMN O Sons and Daughters of the
King
Stanzas
1, 4-9
Lutheran Book of Worship 139
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1 O
sons and daughters of the King,
whom
heav’nly hosts in glory sing,
today
the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia!
4 That
night the apostles met in fear;
among
them came their master dear,
and
said, “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia!
5 When
Thomas first the tidings heard,
that
they had seen the risen Lord,
he
doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia!
6 “My
pierced side, O Thomas, see,
and
look upon my hands, my feet;
not
faithless, but believing be.”
Alleluia!
7 No
longer Thomas then denied;
he
saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“You
are my Lord and God!” he cried.
Alleluia!
8 How
blest are they who have not seen,
and
yet whose faith has constant been,
for
they eternal life shall win.
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, Alleluia!
Text: attr. Jean Tisserand, d. 1494; tr.
John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
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.
Father, your Son
revealed himself to his disciples in the Upper Room, and reveals himself to
this day in the Word and in the Sacraments. By your Spirit, open the eyes of
our hearts to behold him in faith and acknowledge him as Lord and God. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The Church bears
witness to your Son’s resurrection and is empowered by the Spirit to forgive
sins in his name. Make us part of the Spirit’s activity in the Church, and help
us to build your Church and make our confession of Jesus before others. Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son blessed Thomas with the knowledge of the resurrection, and had
mercy upon his doubt. Bless us when we doubt your existence or his Resurrection.
Give us your peace, so that we who do not see yet may come to believe and be
strengthened in that belief. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We make our
prayer for the peoples of the world, especially those afflicted by violence,
hunger, pollution, and disease. Come to their assistance, and bless governments
and rulers, that they may truly serve the people to whom they are entrusted.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray to you, almighty God, in this time of pandemic. You
are our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Do not
let us fail in the face of these events. Uphold us with your love, and give us
the strength we need. Help us in our confusion, and guide our actions. Heal the
sick, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless,
and deliver all who are in peril; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We ask you to
show your mercy upon those we name before you, for whom we have been called to
pray…
The People may offer spoken or silent petition.
Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give you
thanks, O God, for after his Resurrection you exalted Jesus at your right hand,
and we look for the day when he is revealed to all people. May we stand in that
day to greet him with shouts of joy, and take our places with those who have
gone before us confessing him as Lord and God. 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!
Be at peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
