Third Sunday of Easter 3/14
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
APRIL 14, 2024
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
8:00 PRELUDE Lord of the Dance Setting: Wilber Held
10:30 PRELUDE Pauline Ringers Simple Gifts Setting: Valerie W. Stephenson
WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN Lord of the Dance Text: Sydney Carter Tune: Simple Gifts
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain:
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said he
I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John
They came with me and the Dance went on. Refrain
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
And they left me there on a Cross to die. Refrain
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the Dance, and I still go on. Refrain
They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me –
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. Refrain
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. O God,
through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, 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 3:11-21
While [the lame man who was now healed] clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 4 (Sung responsively)
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
SECOND LESSON 1 John 3:1-7
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
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 Luke 24:36-49
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 24th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
There is real fear in many parts of God’s Church these days, very different than the “fear” spoken of by the angels in the resurrection stories. Much of our current day fear reflects the loss of societal recognition and power, such that the world barely listens to us. And some of it grows out of our dwindling numbers, wondering if we are disappearing. Loss of influence frightens folks. Some try almost daily to get laws passed to protect the Church from what they see as the assaults of evil one; mostly they lash out at people who do or say things they don’t agree with. They have chosen politics as the means to right those wrongs. That was not how we were born as Christ’s Church. We are the movement of God’s Spirit, the Spirit who found voice in the Apostles’ preaching and in the Apostles’ deeds. It is a Spirit driven miracle that rang in Peter’s voice on Pentecost, and it is Spirit driven trust in the power of the Risen Christ that led Peter to say to a well known lame beggar: “I don’t have any silver or gold, but what I have I freely give. In the name of Jesus rise and walk.” That beggar literally danced through the colonnades of the Temple at the name of Jesus.. The power of such radical change is from the One Who summons our Alleluias. But all around Peter and the beggar state power aimed to annihilate the Church. The Apostles were led to move ahead.
There is a painting by Caravaggio of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas – our Gospel last Sunday – in which Thomas does what Jesus invited him to do that Sunday after Easter: “Thrust your hand into my side and be faithful, not faithless.” The artist pictures what myriads of Christians have wondered about – Thomas puts his finger into the wound created by the soldier’s spear after Jesus died. Physically real. Not a ghost. To them all Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “Touch me and see.”
Please hold on to those images as I ask you now to go with me to the part of the liturgy it is my privilege to lead today. As you sang Easter Alleluias, I climbed this pulpit and announced, “The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 24th chapter.” And you said, though the liturgy imagines that we sing it, “Glory be to you, O Lord.” And when I finished the Gospel I said, “This is the Gospel of the Lord.” And you responded, “Praise be to you, O Christ.” These are your very pointed confessions of Jesus, whom you greeted, standing as to our Sovereign. It is as if you have thrust your hand into His side and said, “It is you, Lord.”
It is easy to call Thomas a doubter, even imagining that His is a unique problem. It is harder to imagine him thrusting his fingers into the fold of skin in the real Jesus’ real wounded side. It is easy to stand for the Gospel because that’s what we do, and yet forget that we confess ourselves to meeting Christ as truly as Thomas did right here and right now. By the Spirit’s power Jesus is here, and we acclaim Him, true and real and risen from the dead. True and real and raising the lame to dance in the Temple.
I’ve heard Lutherans chuckle about Catholics genuflecting as they come into the Church, but what does it say of us who claim that Jesus is truly present here in His Gospel and here in His Supper, that we do not bend the knee before Him? You and I greet Jesus, risen from the dead and ruling the cosmos now as we stand to hear Him in His Gospel. Jesus is here. He is the Church’s power, hope, energy and mission. Even our body posture declares His glory.
I understand a fearful church. I grow more and more frustrated as the years pass that we lose members, seem to drift, that we daydream of yester years too much. But the hope of the Church is not our size, but our Lord. The life of the Church is not what is marketable but Jesus Himself. And the deeds we do, as St John says in our second lesson, the deeds we do in obedience to Him sprout righteousness as surely as spring grass. It will ever and always be our task to call sinners to repentance, and to breathe forgiveness into every repentant heart. When in obedience to Jesus we do those things, we are the Church, and the gates of hell will not undo her.
Across the next 6 or so months you will be tempted to stand and sing for men and women whose sides were not wounded for you and who can offer you nothing that will last into the life which is to come. Some will claim to be messengers of God Himself, which ought to warn you away right up front. Some will promise to restore the Church without preaching or sacraments. None of them are bearing a message from God because they do not call sinners to repentance and forgive them in the name of Jesus. Only one claims our standing and our acclamation. By His death He destroyed death. By His Spirit the winds of new life are in us. Stand and acclaim Him and live the life He yearns for us to live, so that the lame may dance and sing, the poor be fed and clothed and that forgiveness and hope be spread in this good land.
Napoleon once said that God was on the side with the bigger battalions. Modern Generals might say the “better battalions.” A lot of our world chases after the bigger crowds, the better slogans, and above all, they, chase the “more” that is in it for me. None of that befits us as Church. Not by laws or slogans or even numbers will we be what Jesus proclaimed us in this Gospel: “You are my witnesses.” Witnesses that the Christ had to suffer and die for us. Witnesses that forgiveness, not revenge, is our work. Witnesses that love for God and our neighbor is our DNA. Witnesses Who love as Christ loved and loves, until He comes on the clouds of heaven to bring us home.
Jesus is here. With us and for us. Let us witness this very real Jesus to a fearful church and a hurting world.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Church of God, Elect and Glorious LSB 646
1 Church of God, elect and glorious,
Holy nation, chosen race;
Called as God’s own special people,
Royal priests and heirs of grace:
Know the purpose of your calling,
Show to all His mighty deeds;
Tell of love that knows no limits,
Grace that meets all human needs.
2 God has called you out of darkness
Into His most marv’lous light;
Brought His truth to life within you,
Turned your blindness into sight.
Let your light so shine around you
That God’s name is glorified
And all find fresh hope and purpose
In Christ Jesus crucified.
3 Once you were an alien people,
Strangers to God’s heart of love;
But He brought you home in mercy,
Citizens of heav’n above.
Let His love flow out to others,
Let them feel a Father’s care;
That they too may know His welcome
And His countless blessings share.
4 Church of God, elect and holy,
Be the people He intends;
Strong in faith and swift to answer
Each command your Master sends:
Royal priests, fulfill your calling
Through your sacrifice and prayer;
Give your lives in joyful service—
Sing His praise, His love declare.
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
The response to each petition will be:
Lord in Your mercy:
hear our prayer.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
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.
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 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing LSB 633
1 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side.
Alleluia!
2 Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast—
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!
3 Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!
4 Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!
5 Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath You lie;
You have conquered in the fight,
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!
6 Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And Your saints in You shall rise.
Alleluia!
7 Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in You to be.
Alleluia!
8 Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days:
Three in One, Your name we praise.
Alleluia!
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done LSB 464
Refrain
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun.
Alleluia!
2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!
3 The three sad days have quickly sped,
He rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!
4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise His triumph tell.
Alleluia!
5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free
That we may live and sing to Thee.
Alleluia! Refrain
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done Setting: James Biery
FELLOWSHIP – Council Officers
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Melissa Hecht
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Charles Fisher
Comm. assist: Jill Hecht
Reader: Michael Chamberlain
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 © 2024 Concordia Publishing House.
Lord of the Dance Words: Sydney Carter (1915-2004), Copyright 1963, Stainer & Bell Ltd., London, England, (admin. Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL, 60188) Tune: Simple Gifts All rights reserved. Used by permission
646 Church of God, Elect and Glorious Text: James Edward Seddon, 1915–83 Tune: Cyril V. Taylor, 1907–92 Text: © 1982 The Jubilate Group, admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: © 1942, renewed 1970 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing Text: Latin, c. 5th–10th cent.; tr. Robert Campbell, 1814–68, alt. Tune: Kirchengeseng, 1566, Ivancice Text and tune: Public domain
464 The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done Text: Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 695, Köln; tr. Francis Pott, 1832–1909, alt. Tune: Giovanni P. da Palestrina, c. 1525–1594, adapt. Text and tune: Public domain
