Easter 2 4/24/22
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 24, 2022
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
11:00 a.m.
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Prelude & Fugue in C Major, BWV 553 J. S. Bach
WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN #482 This Joyful Eastertide
1 This joyful Eastertide
Away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the Crucified,
Has sprung to life this morrow: Refrain
Refrain
Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain:
But now has Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!
2 Death’s flood has lost its chill
Since Jesus crossed the river;
Lover of souls, from ill
My passing soul deliver: Refrain
3 My flesh in hope shall rest
And for a season slumber
Till trump from east to west
Shall wake the dead in number: Refrain
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION p. 151
In the name of the Father and of the T 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 our 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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE p. 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” p. 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 5:12–23
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 148 (Read responsively, by whole verse)
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!
Glory be 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.
SECOND LESSON Revelation 1:4–18
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(10:30) CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand)
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.
The Gospel lesson just read is the same text we always read on the Second Sunday of the Easter season. I’m not exactly sure why the church has us read it every year. But I imagine it has to do with the fact that there are enough teachings and ideas packed in it for many, many sermons. And this way we’re not tempted to cover them all each time the reading comes around.
Having preached on this text many times, I know that what tends to stand out in it is the part about Thomas. We are always intrigued about this person who didn’t believe until he saw with his own eyes. And we identify with his struggle – for we have had it ourselves.
This part of the text also gets highlighted in the hymn we sing just about every year on this day – O Sons and Daughters of the King. Yes, we’re singing it again this year. It just fits so well.
The call to believe without seeing definitely is important, for God and his ways are largely hidden from our eyes.
But beyond this call, the text also leads us to think about what it is, in particular, that we believe. And even more specifically, about what we believe regarding Jesus.
We are to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, yes. But what does his resurrection mean?
One of the primary things it means is that Jesus has power and position. He has much greater power than you, me or anyone. And his position is that of one exalted by God. Jesus’ resurrection reveals these things about him; and our texts today proclaim them.
Regarding his power, we see this already at the very beginning of the reading. The disciples were gathered together in a locked room when all of a sudden Jesus simply appeared in their midst. He didn’t have to use the secret knock, assuming there was one. He didn’t even need to use the door. He just appeared.
The rest of the Gospels report similar stories about Jesus after his resurrection. Jesus simply appears to people – like those on the road to Emmaus – and then disappears just as quickly, vanishing from their sight. Jesus shows up out of nowhere and moves from place to place as if there were no barriers.
This isn’t the way Jesus operated before. His new way of being all started after the resurrection. We recall that on that day Jesus left the tomb before the stone was even rolled away!
And here it seems that Jesus may be signaling something about the glorified life that is given after the resurrection. As scripture tells us, the body, for the believer, is “sown in dishonor; it is raised in honor… It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body… Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” These are all teachings from St. Paul, in First Corinthians 15 (v.42-49).
We can’t say for sure, or to what extent, these may be signals regarding our future life. What we can say is that Jesus’ new way of moving about with his disciples definitely tells more about his power. Jesus is not bound by time or space. Jesus’ presence is greater than that of a normal human body. Jesus exhibits characteristics of God himself.
Because of this power, those who follow him will recognize and acknowledge his position. He has been exalted by God through his resurrection. So, his position is one of honor, authority and respect.
In our Gospel reading, John emphasizes this through two titles he shares in his conclusion to the events. He says: “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.”
Jesus is the Christ – the Anointed One promised by God. Christ is the title in Greek; Messiah the title in Hebrew. As taught by the Prophets, people had been waiting for Messiah to come. Now their wait was over. In Jesus, the Messiah appeared – ushering in a new covenant in which all nations would be included.
Jesus is also the Son of God – a title reserved for the holiest of beings. Angels were sometimes called sons of God. People who were faithful and blessed could also be called God’s sons. But with Jesus the reference is to “the” son – a singular being with a singular relationship to God. Already in the days of his ministry Jesus was called by this title. The first to use it were the demons. After that, the disciples. Then others who saw his power, such as the soldier at the cross who said: “Surely, this was the Son of God.” This unique status as God’s Son is further highlighted by those scriptures which call him the “only” Son of God.
During this year’s Easter season our second readings will all come from the Book of Revelation. Our reading from that book today uses other titles of Jesus to indicate his power and position.
The first of these is “the Faithful Witness.” This is not a common title for Jesus, but it’s one that recalls something very specific about Jesus’ story and one that tells us something very specific about why he came into the world.
The event it recalls is Jesus’ standing before Pontius Pilate during his trial. When Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37). Recalling this event, St. Paul once began some instructions to Timothy by saying: “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all
things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession” (1 Timothy 6:13).
Jesus did indeed make the good confession. He was a witness to the truth of God in all he said and did. And even when he knew it was going to cost him his life, he stayed faithful to this truth.
In being a faithful witness, Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. God once said of the kingdom he first promised to David, and then brought about through Jesus: “Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies” (Psalm 89:37). And of the king of this kingdom, God once said through Isaiah: “Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples” (Isaiah 55:4).
A second title of Jesus in this Revelation text is “the Firstborn of the Dead.” Again, this is not a common title. But it’s one that says something very important. Here we are reminded that Jesus’ resurrection paves the way for ours.
St. Paul said this very clearly on a number of occasions. While making his own good confession before King Agrippa, he explained: “the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23). To the Corinthians, he said: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). And to the Colossians he proclaimed that “he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).
This title, too, has echoes in the Old Testament. Psalm 89, as just explained, tells us about the eternal kingdom promised to David and realized in Christ. God says of the king of that kingdom: “And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27).
And here in this verse we not only have a connection to that title “Firstborn of the Dead,” but also a connection to the third title given in our Revelation text: “the Ruler of Kings on Earth.”
This title, in addition to reflecting Christ’s power and position, is also quite provocative. It may sound pretty tame to us today, but in the day when this was written it was Caesar who was supposed to be the king whom no one else could rule. Claiming otherwise was illegal and considered to be treason.
The book of Revelation takes a very strong stance against that claim of Caesar, and against all who would make a similar claim. There is only one who can claim to be the ruler of kings on earth – and that is Jesus. Revelation 17, for instance, tells how the powers of the world “will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (v.14). Revelation 19, likewise, describes Jesus by saying: “On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (v.16).
In these titles of Jesus we see descriptions of Jesus’ power and position. They help us understand who he is and what he does. They lead us in our praise of him, and in our following of him too.
Jesus is risen from the dead – and he lives to help us through his rule and reign. As John said to us in concluding today’s Gospel reading, he has come so that we may have “life in his name.” That life is one of forgiveness, inspiration and connection. It is one of joy. It is one of peace.
When Jesus appeared out of nowhere to his disciples on that evening of his resurrection, the first thing he said to them was: “Peace be with you.” And the disciples were glad.
May we too live with the peace of Jesus in our hearts. And may we always be glad in knowing of his resurrection.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY #471 (Stand) sts. 1, 4-9 O Sons and Daughters of the King
Refrain
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 piercèd 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! Refrain
NICENE CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life ✠ of the world to come. 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
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strength and courage to praise our God aright, that our hearts and mouths would be filled with joy as we celebrate the full blessing of what Christ has done for us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church and its witness, that like our Lord Jesus it would be faithful in giving testimony to your truth. And in thanks for 175 years of blessings to our church body, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, especially its strong confession of knowing Jesus Christ alone as our salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our congregation and its ministers, leaders and servants, that we would be faithful in service, joyful in praise, loving in our fellowship, and together know the Gospel peace which Jesus pours out upon his disciples, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and its leaders, that we would live together honorably and justly; and for all the nations of the world, that war and hatred would end, peace and cooperation prevail, and that your word would have free course to turn hearts to your goodness and grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all those who are afflicted by illness, injury our trouble, especially those on our prayer list and those we name before you in our hearts at this time… And for those who mourn, including Arndt and his family as they grieve the death of his father, that God, the Great Physician, would grant them healing and care under the shadow of His wings, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For confidence in the mercy of Christ and glad hearts as He greets us with peace in his holy Supper, that we would be forgiven, renewed and strengthened by His coming to us in this way, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
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 and instituted the Holy Sacraments, that through them we may have comfort and the forgiveness of sin. Grant us Your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Your Word and be established in faith day by day, until at last we obtain eternal 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.
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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 LSB 161
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 LSB 161
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
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 LSB 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 163
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)
The Communion Assistant will come forward to receive first, then those from the pulpit side – by order of pew, front to back. Communicants will come up the center aisle and return via the side aisle. When all from the pulpit side have communed, the baptismal font side will commune in the same manner. We ask that the wine be consumed away from the tray table. Empty cups should be dropped into the receptacles.
DISTRIBUTION MUSIC Pastorale in F Major, BWV 590 J.S. Bach
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN #478 The Day of Resurrection
1 The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad,
The passover of gladness,
The passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
From sin’s dominion free,
Our Christ has brought us over
With hymns of victory.
2 Let hearts be purged of evil
That we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal
Of resurrection light
And, list’ning to His accents,
May hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing,
May raise the victor strain.
3 Now let the heav’ns be joyful,
Let earth its song begin,
Let all the world keep triumph
And all that is therein.
Let all things, seen and unseen,
Their notes of gladness blend;
For Christ the Lord has risen,
Our joy that has no end!
4 All praise to God the Father,
All praise to God the Son,
All praise to God the Spirit,
Eternal Three in One!
Let all the ransomed number
Fall down before the throne
And honor, pow’r, and glory
Ascribe to God alone!
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Prelude in C Minor, BWV 999 J.S. Bach
Those serving:
Sunday, April 24, 8:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Rich Kauzlarich
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Michael Chamberlain
Comm. assist: Dan Buuck
Reader: Dale Rogers
Acolyte: Noah Starck
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 © 2022 Concordia Publishing House.
This Joyful Eastertide Text: George R. Woodward, 1848–1934 Tune: Davids Psalmen, 1684, Amsterdam Text & Tune: Public domain
O Sons and Daughters of the King Text: attr. Jean Tisserand, d. 1494; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt. Tune: French, 15th cent. Text & Tune: Public domain
The Day of Resurrection Text: John of Damascus, c. 696–c. 754; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt. Tune: Henry T. Smart, 1813–79 Text &Tune: Public domain
