SERVICE OF THE WORD – St. Stephen Lutheran
Church
April 26, 2020 –
The Third Sunday of Easter
OPENING MUSIC
Abide With Us, O
Savior F.W. Marpurg
That
Easter Day With Joy Was Bright
(PUER NOBIS
NASCITUR) Paul
Manz
HYMN That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
Lutheran Book
of Worship 154
1 That
Easter day with joy was bright;
the
sun shone out with fairer light,
when,
to their longing eyes restored,
the
apostles saw their risen Lord!
2 O
Jesus, king of gentleness,
with
constant love our hearts possess;
to
you our lips will ever raise
the
tribute of our grateful praise.
3 O
Christ, you are the Lord of all
in
this our Easter festival,
for
you will be our strength and shield
from
ev’ry weapon death can wield.
4 All
praise, O risen Lord, we give
to
you, once dead, but now alive!
To
God the Father equal praise,
and
God the Holy Ghost, we raise!
Text: Latin hymn, 4th or 5th cent.; 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.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
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, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up
this fallen world, rescuing us from the hopelessness of death. Grant your
faithful people a share in the joys that are eternal; 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, 36-41
14aPeter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
addressed [the crowd], 36“Therefore let the entire house of Israel
know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus
whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 116:1-3, 10-17
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of
my | supplication,*
because
he has inclined his ear
to me whenever I
| called upon him.
2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took | hold of me;*
I came to | grief and
sorrow.
3 Then I called
upon the name | of the Lord:*
"O
Lord, I pray you, | save my
life."
10 How shall I re- | pay the Lord*
for all the good things
he has | done for me?
11 I will lift up
the cup | of salvation*
and
call upon the name | of the Lord.
12 I will fulfill my vows | to the Lord*
in the presence of |
all his people.
13 Precious in the
sight | of the Lord*
is
the death | of his servants.
14 O Lord, I | am your servant;*
I am your servant and
the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me |
from my bonds.
15 I will offer
you the sacrifice | of thanksgiving*
and
call upon the name | of the Lord.
16 I will fulfill my vows | to the Lord*
in the presence of |
all his people,
17 in the courts
of | the Lord's house,*
in
the midst of you, O Jerusalem. | Hallelujah!
SECOND Lesson 1 Peter 1:17-23
17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according
to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You
know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the
precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He
was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of
the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God,
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope
are set on God.
22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Luke 24:13-35
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
13Now on that same day [when Jesus had appeared to
Mary Magdalene,] two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about
seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all
these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and
discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their
eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What
are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still,
looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered
him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that
have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What
things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet
mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our
chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and
crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem
Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things
took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They
were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find
his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision
of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with
us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not
see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was
it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter
into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON
HYMN Abide With Us, O Savior
Lutheran Book of Worship 263
1 Abide
with us, our Savior,
nor
let your mercy cease;
from
Satan’s might defend us,
and
grant our souls release.
2 Abide
with us, our Savior,
sustain
us by your word;
that
we with all your people
to
life may be restored.
3 Abide
among us always,
Lord,
with your faithfulness;
O
Jesus, leave us never,
but
help us in distress.
4 Abide
with us, our Savior,
O
Light of endless light,
bestow
on us your blessings,
and
save us by your might.
Text: Josua Stegmann, 1588-1632; tr.
unknown, sts. 1-2, 4; F. W. Detterer, st. 3; 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.
Silence is kept.
We pray that, as your people, we may always return
to their baptism in water and Spirit, recognizing the Lord Jesus present and
active in the Word and the Holy Supper; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray that your ministers may be bold in
preaching the Gospel of Jesus, and call young and old alike to live in the
covenant of baptism; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray that we, as members of our faith family,
having been born through the living and enduring word of God, may love each
other deeply from the heart; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray that nations may be moved to embrace the
spirit of peace and justice; that leaders may act wisely for the good of all;
that those who must maintain peace, order and health may be given both strength
for their tasks and protection in danger; 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 pray that the sick may be healed, the poor be
sustained, the imprisoned given hope, and that you would hear all prayers,
especially those we make before you here and now:
The people may offer petition and thanksgiving.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray that, remembering our blessed dead and the
holy ones of your Church, we may be stirred up to holy lives in this world and
live in your glory in the world to come;
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!
