Second Sunday of Easter 4/7/24
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 7, 2024
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain Setting: Robert Buckley Farlee
WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain LSB 487
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 His own
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!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE LSB 152
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” LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty God,
grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Acts 4:32-35
The full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 148 (Sung responsively)
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!
SECOND LESSON 1 John 1:1-2:2
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My 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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(10:30) CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20:19–31
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 20th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I also.” But common wisdom says: “Two is company, three is a crowd.” As we know, fellowship is wonderful… but also has its challenges.
In the Gospel lesson just read, Thomas doesn’t believe his fellow disciples when they tell him they have seen Jesus alive. Eventually this changes when Jesus appears to Thomas too. But what if Jesus hadn’t appeared to Thomas, and Thomas had never believed? Would he and the rest of the disciples have kept up their fellowship?
In today’s reading from First John we are given a message meant to move us toward true fellowship. John invites his readers to have fellowship with him and with other believers in Christ. By doing this, he explains, they will enjoy fellowship with God, live in the light, and achieve eternal life.
In giving this invitation, John lifts up Christ’s vision for fellowship. This is a vision rooted in the God who said at the very beginning: “it is not good for the man to be alone.” Jesus pursued this fellowship by calling together disciples, instituting a shared meal of communion, praying for the unity of His people, and promising his sacred presence when people gathered in his name. Jesus continues to pursue fellowship among people today through these same means.
But even when this vision of Christ is trusted and believed, people still have trouble getting along. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and followed it up by playing the blame game, their scene has been played out over and over again throughout history. Followers of Christ, too, have failed at the challenge of living, working and praying together as Christ would have us do.
To achieve such fellowship, John, in today’s reading, points toward three things. He teaches that Christian fellowship is 1) sustained through moral renewal, 2) nurtured by love, and 3) typified by joy. These three characteristics of fellowship will form the outline of today’s sermon.
Good fellowship, as we’ve observed, can come about rather easily at first. Think of the love that brings a man and woman together in marriage or the good relationships that are enjoyed by a group of believers forming a new congregation. All people desire companionship. And the benefits of working together move people in this direction too.
But despite initial joy, sustaining fellowship over time is always difficult. Knowing this, John teaches us to sustain our fellowship through moral renewal.
John recognized that groups must have rules and that when those rules are broken there must be repentance. John’s emphasis on the confession of sins comes about very clearly in today’s reading.
And this is not just John’s way, but God’s way. God has always given His people rules so that they know how to treat each other and how to respect Him.
John calls the obeying of rules “walking in the light.” Those who obey God are walking in the light; while those who disobey God are walking in darkness.
God’s people are called to live by his rules. And we are called to hold up these rules to our society too. We do so knowing that not everyone will accept them. And we don’t force them on people either. We simply proclaim them and do our best to live them – then let the Spirit work in people’s hearts.
Because of this calling of ours, some people will see us as their nosy neighbors. For in a culture that loves its privacy, those who are concerned about others are often seen as “sticking their noses where they don’t belong.”
There once was a woman who moved from a small town to a big-city suburb. She tried hard to be a caring and friendly neighbor, but her efforts were often resented. “She’s so nosy” said neighbor A, “she knows what you bought at the store before you bring it home.” Neighbor B agreed. “If someone sneezes three houses away, she’ll say ‘bless you.’”
One bright Sunday afternoon, while neighbor A had friends gathered together intimately behind a privacy fence, and neighbor B was watching TV with the shades drawn to keep out any glances from nosy neighbors, two small boys, both 3 years old, were playing with boats at neighbor C’s swimming pool.
“Donald,” said the so-called nosy neighbor to her husband, “I just don’t feel right about those boys playing at that pool.” “Uh-huh” muttered her husband, absorbed in the Sunday news.
“Donald,” said the nosy neighbor, “those boys are leaning over the side of the pool.” “I’m sure their parents know what is going on,” Donald replied.
“Donald!” cried out the nosy neighbor, “one of the boys has fallen in the pool! Get over there quickly.”
Donald rose immediately and ran to the back fence. He gracefully leaped it, jumped across a drainage ditch and climbed up the hill to the pool. When he reached the edge of the pool, fear seized him. For face down, a small boy lay still on top of the water.
Quickly he leaped into the water and pulled the boy out. He then began to push on the boy’s back, awkwardly remembering words from long ago: “Out goes the bad air, in comes the good air.” Soon there were sirens, squealing tires, shouts, and a pair of strong hands that took the
boy and began to breathe into his mouth. As the ambulance sped away with the boy, heading toward the hospital, Donald heard the words, “He’s breathing, he’s going to be okay.”
In all, just a few minutes had passed. Trembling, Donald and his wife embraced and then looked tenderly at their own children, seeing each of them as for the first time. Across the street the shades were still pulled at the home of neighbor B, while loud laughter broke the silence behind the well-designed fence of neighbor A.
True fellowship requires moral renewal to sustain it. And such renewal will only happen when both individual responsibility and group accountability are in place. God’s purposes are accomplished when people walk in the light.
Secondly, and in the same way, true fellowship is nurtured by love. Today’s reading from First John does not yet mention love by name. This will come a few verses later and remain as a great theme for the book. But the spirit of the word is definitely present. We see this as John calls his audience “my dear children” and tells of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. These are expressions of great love for sure.
Our first reading today gives a remarkable example of the love the early Christians had for one another. Acts chapter four tells us that the believers in Christ were one in heart and mind. They were so dedicated to each other’s care that they claimed no possessions for themselves but shared everything they had. Those joining their number who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales to put at the apostles’ feet. From there it could be distributed to anyone as needed.
Today, some Christians still continue to live this way. But most of us have determined that owning personal property is necessary to survive in the world. And here we shouldn’t get bogged down with an examination of each system’s merits. The text from Acts is simply meant to hold up an example of love and give us important principles for living together.
One of these principles is that Christians are to be generous. Another is that material goods, including land, are to mean little to us, since everything belongs to God. A third is a call to care for our fellow believers when they need help.
The picture here in the early church is one of love. The people loved each other. And they knew that God loved them and would provide for them.
Yes, true fellowship us nurtured by love and sustained by moral renewal. John’s third point is that true fellowship is also typified by joy.
A true fellowship of believers, in which people are united in their beliefs and efforts, will be joyful at its core. And this may sound surprising since we know that moral renewal and loving one another are both hard work and that these don’t always make everyone happy. Let’s face it, rules aren’t necessarily fun. And love often needs to be tough.
Still, a spirit of joy will always prevail in a fellowship which is walking in the light. And this joy will cause us to seek good things for our families, communities, and the whole world.
Sara was an active, likable child of seven– full of wonder and questions. And Sara was always busy. Sara’s teacher, who liked her very much, said to her, “Sara, sit down. Sara, don’t talk. Sara, do your work.”
When Sara would come home, she would tell her mother about her day at school. She would tell her the things she learned, the songs they sang, and the things people said. And she would tell her parents stories of her friends. She would say, “Today Mary got the Good Child Award,” or, “Todd got the Good Child Award.” And one day her Father asked her if she ever got the Good Child Award. “No,” said Sara, “not yet.”
One day Sara came home excited. “Guess what? I got the Good Child Award!” “Wonderful,” exclaimed her mother, who liked to know that her children were good. “Tell me all about it.” Sara said: “Well, today I didn’t feel well and I was very sleepy in school. So I laid my head down on my desk and I didn’t say a single word all afternoon. And then, before I left school, the teacher told me how nice I had been and she gave me the Good Child Award.”
Beware of the awards given to us by others. Neighbors and co-workers are all too happy to give Christians the Good Citizen and Good Worker awards for being quiet, falling in line, never causing any ripples, never offending, never questioning.
And certainly Christians should be careful and understanding of others with our actions and speech. But we must also tell the reason for our joy. And live from that joy.
Christ is risen from the dead! We must share this Good News. Christ has paid the price for sin and made our salvation possible! We can’t keep this to ourselves. Our joy overflows!
In his epistle, John tells of something which he says will “make his joy complete.” This is a strong statement – and one that causes us to wonder what could possibly accomplish such a feat.
As we see, complete joy for John comes from sharing the Gospel. He says: “We write this to make our joy complete.”
The same can be true for us. Communicating the Good News of Christ – whether writing, speaking or showing – can give us the greatest joy.
Our fellowship as Christians, John explains, is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a true fellowship with the Almighty God that comes when we are made holy by the blood of Christ.
There is no darkness in God. So only those who are holy can enter into fellowship with him. Through Christ Jesus we have been declared holy and can enjoy that fellowship.
The Easter message tells us that God is not the God of the dead but of the living. Our fellowship is a living fellowship – one that consists in moral renewal through repentance, love shown us in Christ, and joy which finds its fullest expression in sharing the Good News of what Christ has done for us.
Through Christ Jesus God has brought us true fellowship. And this means that we are not alone but rather joined together with God and with his redeemed people.
May God then bless our fellowship with him through Christ Jesus our Lord. And may God bless our fellowship with one another as we live and serve together in his name. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) These Things Did Thomas Count as Real LSB 472
1 These things did Thomas count as real:
The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
The grain of wood, the heft of stone,
The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.
2 The vision of his skeptic mind
Was keen enough to make him blind
To any unexpected act
Too large for his small world of fact.
3 His reasoned certainties denied
That one could live when one had died,
Until his fingers read like braille
The markings of the spear and nail.
4 May we, O God, by grace believe
And thus the risen Christ receive,
Whose raw imprinted palms reached out
And beckoned Thomas from his doubt.
APOSTLES’ CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life ✠ everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, Your Son is the firstborn from the dead. In Him, we have been reborn into a new and living hope. Nurture us with the pure milk of Your Word, that we may grow to maturity of faith and have everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless our fellowship together as members of your church family. And grant to all who serve in the church the gift of the Holy Spirit, that with the wisdom that comes down from above they may faithfully fulfill their callings. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, as Your people are united in the common life and love of our Savior, grant that we would generously and thoughtfully share that life and love with those in need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Build up the households of Your people, O Lord, that Your holy children, begotten in Baptism, may grow in Your grace and share together in Your forgiveness and life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You have instituted authorities among us to carry out Your justice. Bless all who make, administer and judge laws in this and every land. Give them wisdom, integrity and honor to serve according to Your good will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
As Your Son’s wounds brought gladness and peace to the troubled disciples, give Your presence and comfort also to those who are troubled today. We ask this especially for those on our prayer list and those whom we name in our hearts… And we ask that you extend also your comforting care to those who weep, especially the family and friends of Ann. Lift up before each of these your children the blessed joy of Easter morning. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of the risen Christ, in his Holy Supper You give us the crucified and risen body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Let us taste again today that the Lord is good, and continually grow up into his salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You that out of Your indescribable grace, and for the sake of Your Son, You have given us the Holy Gospel. Grant us Your Holy Spirit as well, that we may heartily believe Your Word and serve you each day by faith until at last we obtain the fullness of our salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY LSB 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE LSB 160
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 truly good, right, and salutary …evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
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.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia LSB 466
1 Christ has arisen, alleluia.
Rejoice and praise Him, alleluia.
For our Redeemer burst from the tomb,
Even from death, dispelling its gloom. Refrain
Refrain
Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;
Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.
Our sin forgiving, alleluia!
Jesus is living, alleluia!
2 For three long days the grave did its worst
Until its strength by God was dispersed.
He who gives life did death undergo;
And in its conquest His might did show. Refrain
3 The angel said to them, “Do not fear!
You look for Jesus who is not here.
See for yourselves the tomb is all bare;
Only the grave cloths are lying there.” Refrain
4 “Go spread the news: He’s not in the grave;
He has arisen this world to save.
Jesus’ redeeming labors are done;
Even the battle with sin is won.” Refrain
5 Christ has arisen; He sets us free;
Alleluia, to Him praises be.
Jesus is living! Let us all sing;
He reigns triumphant, heavenly King. Refrain
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won LSB 490
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
High 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! I know full well
Nothing me from Him shall sever.
Neither death nor pow’rs of hell
Part me now from Christ 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!
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won Setting: David von Kampen
FELLOWSHIP – LWML
FLOWERS – The alter flowers are offered to the Glory of God and in honor of the marriage of Robbie Hecht and Lea Cox held on Friday, April 5 in Casey Key, Florida. by Jill and Tim Hecht
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Steve Janssen
Comm. assist: Dede Dixon
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Aaron Siebrass
Comm. assist: Holly Siebrass
Reader: Aaron Siebrass
Acolyte: Elise Yashar
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House.
487 Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain Text: John of Damascus, c. 696–c. 754; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt. Tune: Johann Horn, c. 1490–1547 Text and tune: Public domain
472 These Things Did Thomas Count as Real Text: Thomas H. Troeger, 1945
Tune: Stephen R. Johnson, 1966 Text: © 1984 Oxford University Press. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: © 2003 Stephen R. Johnson. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
466 Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia Text: Bernard Kyamanywa, 1938; tr. Howard S. Olson, 1922–2010 Tune: Tanzanian Text: © 1977 Howard S. Olson. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
490 Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won Text: Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, 1715–69; tr. Frances E. Cox, 1812–97, alt. Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662 Text and tune: Public domain
