The livestream may be found here.
April 11, 2021, 10:30
a.m.
The Second
Sunday of Easter
THE
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
The color
white, which is used in the season of Easter, represents
the light of Christ’s resurrection, as well as the light in which those in
Christ are to walk.
The
season of Easter is 50 days long, as our joy in the resurrection will last far
longer than our season of penitence in Lent. The paschal candle, sign
among us of the resurrection of Christ, is lighted each Sunday in Eastertide. As
we have fasted from the Alleluia in Lent, we feast upon it in Easter.
FIRST
READING: The good news of Christ was proclaimed by the apostles who were
witnesses to the resurrection. This message spread from Jerusalem to the rest
of the world. Acts 4 shows the response to the apostolic message: the first
Christian community no longer holds exclusive possessions, but supports each
member of the body in their need.
SECOND
READING: In his first letter, John testifies that he was an eyewitness to the
resurrection and thus can be trusted, so that his readers who believe in the
testimony may have fellowship with Christ and the apostles. Since God is light,
one who is walking in darkness can have no fellowship with him. Those who do
not confess their sin are walking in darkness, but to those who confess their
sins, God will forgive them and cleanse them.
GOSPEL: We hear
of the first resurrection appearance to the apostles on the evening of the
first day of the week, and this is followed by another resurrection appearance
seven days later. Even now, on each first day of the week the Church gathers
for Christ to make himself present in Word and Sacrament. Thomas may have no innate
tendency to doubt, but he was separated from the community on Easter Sunday
evening, which prevented him from seeing the risen Christ; it is not incidental
that he is ‘in church’ the next week when he finally believes.
OPENING MUSIC
Please
meditate on the text of the hymns as they are played:
Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain
Robert Buckley Farlee
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.
Thine
is the Glory
Donald Johns
1 Thine is the glory,
risen, conqu'ring
Son;
endless is the
vict'ry
thou o'er death hast
won!
Angels in bright
raiment
rolled the stone
away,
kept the folded
grave-clothes
where thy body lay.
Refrain
Thine is the glory,
risen, conqu'ring
Son;
endless is the
vict'ry
thou o'er death hast
won!
2 Lo, Jesus meets thee,
risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets
thee,
scatters fear and
gloom;
let his church with
gladness
hymns of triumph
sing,
for the Lord now
liveth;
death hath lost its
sting! Refrain
3 No more we doubt thee,
glorious Prince of
life;
life is naught without
thee;
aid us in our strife;
make us more than
conqu'rors,
through thy deathless
love;
bring us safe through
Jordan
to thy home
above. Refrain
Text: Edmond Budry, 1854-1932; tr. R.
Birch Hoyle, 1875-1939
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC
GREETING
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen
indeed! Alleluia!
The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE
ELEISON
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 this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and
praise,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE
This is the feast of victory for
our God.
Alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the
Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
and honor and blessing and glory
are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people
of God
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor and glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of
victory for our God,
for the Lamb who was slain has begun his
reign. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
God of life, source of all faith,
through the waters of baptism
you have raised us up in Jesus
and given us life that endures.
Day by day refine our faith,
that we who have not seen the Christ
may truly confess him as our Lord and God,
and share the blessedness of those who
believe.
Grant this through Jesus Christ,
the Resurrection and the Life,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
With
great power the apostles gave their testimony
to
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Acts 4:33a
Let us hear the Word of the
Lord.
Sit
First READING Acts 4:32-35
32Now the whole
group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed
private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in
common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There
was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold
them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at
the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
The Word
of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
PSALM
133
Read responsively between
pastor and congregation.
How good
and pleasant it is to live together in unity. (vs. 1)
How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity.
1 Oh, how good and pleas- | ant it
is,*
when brethren live togeth- | er
in unity!
2 It is like fine oil up- | on the head*
that
runs down up- | on the beard,
3 upon the | beard of Aaron,*
and runs down upon the collar |
of his robe.
4 It is like the | dew of Hermon*
that
falls upon the | hills of Zion.
5 For there the Lord has or- | dained the blessing:*
life for- | evermore.
How good and pleasant it is to live
together in unity.
SECOND READING 1 John 1:1—2:2
1We declare to
you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our
eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of
life—2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it,
and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed
to us—3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you
also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that
our joy may be complete.
5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,
that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say
that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and
do not do what is true; 7but if we walk in the light as he himself
is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our
sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make
him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you
may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous; 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Word
of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE Romans 6:9, John 20:29 Setting by Carl Schalk
Sung by the Cantor
Alleluia. Christ being raised from the dead will die
no more; death has no more dominion over him. Alleluia. Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet believe. Alleluia.
Gospel John 20:19-31
The Holy Gospel according
to St. John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
Stand
HYMN OF THE DAY
Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain
Cantor:
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.
Pastor:
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.
Cantor:
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!
Pastor:
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.
ALL:
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.
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
The pastor
and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.
X At the words
‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’ a
solemn bow is appropriate to praise the incarnation of our Lord.
We believe in one God,
the
Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven
and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We
believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the
Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were
made.
X For us and for our salvation
he came down
from heaven;
by the power of
the Holy Spirit
he became
incarnate from the virgin Mary, and
was made man. X
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered
death and was buried.
On
the third day he rose again
in
accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into
heaven
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom
will have no end.
We
believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and
the Son.
With the Father and the Son he
is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the
prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for
the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of
the dead,
and the life of
the world to come. Amen
PRAYERS
OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ
Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Silence is
kept.
For
the Church, that our united witness may give you glory; Lord, in your mercy,
hear
our prayer.
For
those called to preach the Gospel, that they may be strengthened in knowledge
and faith; Lord, in your mercy,
hear
our prayer.
For our St. Stephen faith
family, that our care for others and for one another may be manifest in word
and deed; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For
the leaders of our nation and of
all nations, that they might yield to your great power and mercy that offers
the blessing of life. Lord,
in your mercy,
hear
our prayer.
For all who are in need; for the sick; for the dying; for the
grieving; and for these who need our prayers:
The
pastor reads the names and situations submitted for prayer.
The
people offer spoken or silent intercessions and thanksgivings.
Lord,
in your mercy,
hear
our prayer.
In thanksgiving for Thomas the
apostle and for all who have died in faith, especially those most dear to us
who rest in you, that with them we may celebrate the eternal Easter; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love; through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Peace
On
the first day of the week,
Jesus
came to the apostles
and
said to them: ‘Peace be with you.’
Then they were glad when they saw the
Lord. Alleluia. John 20:19, 20
The
peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The people exchange a sign of peace
with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERTORY 1 Peter 2:1-3 Setting by Carl Schalk
Sung by the Cantor
Alleluia. Put away all malice and all guile and
insincerity and envy and all slander. Like newborn babes, long for the pure
spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted
the kindness of the Lord. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Father, creator of all things,
you wash away our sins,
you give us new birth by the
Spirit,
and you redeem us in the blood of
Christ.
As we celebrate the Resurrection,
renew your gift of life within us.
We ask this through Christ our
Lord.
Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to
the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
It is indeed
right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks
and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.
But chiefly
are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Lord; for he is
the true Passover lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who by his death
has destroyed death, and by his rising has brought us to eternal life.
And so,
with John the Evangelist and Thomas, and all the witnesses of the resurrection;
with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim
and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna
in the highest!
Blessed is
he who comes in the name of the LORD!
Hosanna
in the highest!
Holy God, mighty
Lord, gracious Father:
Endless is your mercy and
eternal your reign.
You have filled
all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of
your glory.
Through Abraham
you promised to bless all nations.
You rescued Israel, your chosen
people.
Through the
prophets you renewed your promise;
and, at this end of all the
ages, you sent your Son,
who in words and deeds
proclaimed your kingdom
and was obedient to your will,
even to giving his life.
In the night in
which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and
gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his
disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body,
given for you.
Do this for the
remembrance of me.
Again, after supper,
he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink,
saying:
This cup is the new covenant in
my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the
remembrance of me.
For as often as
we eat of this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ
will come again.
Therefore,
gracious Father, with this bread and cup
we remember the life our Lord
offered for us.
And, believing the witness of his resurrection,
we await his coming in power
to share with us the great and
promised feast.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we
pray, your Holy Spirit,
the spirit of our Lord and of
his resurrection,
that we who receive the Lord's
body and blood
may live to the praise of your
glory
and receive our inheritance with
all your saints in light.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Join our prayers
with those of your servants
of every time
and every place,
and unite them
with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as
victorious Lord of all.
Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours,
almighty Father, now and forever. Amen
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the
Spirit,
we pray to his Father,
saying:
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
Although the doors are shut,
Jesus comes and stands among us.
In Easter joy we cry out:
‘Our Lord and our God!’ (John 20:26b, 28b)
AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God) Sung by the cantor.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace.
Sit
DISTRIBUTION
Admission to the Sacrament is by
invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who
are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread
and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The
communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not
come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all
the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove
your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.
When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ,
given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed
for you,’ drink the wine. Please take
the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.
Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.
Please
meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.
That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
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! Alleluia!
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. Alleluia!
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. Alleluia!
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! Alleluia!
Text: Latin hymn, 4th or 5th cent.; tr.
John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
After all have returned to their places, the congregation stands at the
direction of the pastor.
The body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant
go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the
salvation
which you have prepared in the
sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the
nations
and the glory of your people
Israel.
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 Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
We give you thanks, almighty God,
that
you have refreshed us
through
the healing power of this gift of life;
and
we pray that in your mercy
you
would strengthen us through this gift,
in
faith toward you and fervent love toward one another;
for
the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
SENDING
Acclamation
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen
indeed. Alleluia.
Blessed 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.
Though we do not see him, we love him;
We
believe in him
and rejoice
with an indescribable and glorious joy.
1 Peter 1:3, 8
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is
risen indeed. Alleluia.
Dismissal Gospel: John 11:25, 26
The Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Glory to
you, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who
lives and believes in me will never die.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise
to you, O Christ.
Benediction
The God of peace – who brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant – make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Amen Hebrews 13:20-21
Almighty God, Father, X Son, and
Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
CLOSING MUSIC The Day of Resurrection
THIS WEEK
FOR THE FAITH FAMILY Sun/ Apr 11 WORSHIP 10:30 AM Prayer
at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM Wed/ Apr 14 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM ZOOM
Bible Study 7:30 PM Sat/ Apr 17 NA Meeting 11 AM SATURDAY
EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 PM Sun/ Apr 18 WORSHIP 10:30 AM Council
Meeting 7:00 PM Prayer
at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg
Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies
Annual License #20540.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division
of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is
included in this
service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the
Church of England, 2006.
Prayer of the Day from Opening Prayers: Collects in
Contemporary Language,
copyright 1997 International Commission on English in the
Liturgy. All rights reserved.
Rossakiewicz, Jacek Andrzej. Jesus Appears to Thomas,
from Art in the
Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity
Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56121 [retrieved
April 6, 2021]. Original source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rossakiewicz_Appear.jpg.
Agnus Day appears with the
permission of www.agnusday.org
