THE INVOCATION
Pas tor: In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
THE CONFESSION OF SINS
Pastor: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: who made heaven and earth.
Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
People: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Pastor: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: O most merciful God, who has given Your only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by Your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THE DECLARATION OF GRACE
Pastor: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on His name He gives power to become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, unto us all.
People: Amen.
THE PSALM Psalm 148 (ESV)
Pastor: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!
People: Praise Him, all His angels praise Him, all His hosts!
Pastor: Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars!
People: Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Pastor: Let them praise the name of the Lord! For He commanded and they were created. People: And He established them forever and ever; He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Pastor: Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
People: fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word!
Pastor: Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
People: Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
Pastor: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
People: Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
Pastor: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.
People: 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!
THE GLORIA PATRI All: 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.
COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: 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.
People: Amen.
THE FIRST READING Acts 5:29–42 (ESV) But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 1:3–9 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 20:19–31 (ESV) 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.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
All: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. d 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 X everlasting. Amen.
THE CHILDREN'S SERMON
THE HYMN (Lutheran Service Book #490) All: Jesus lives! The vic’try’s won! Death no longer can appall me; Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done! From the grave Christ will recall me. Brighter scenes will then commence; This shall be my confidence. 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. 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. 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. Jesus lives! And now is death But the gate of life immortal; This shall calm my troubled breath When I pass its gloomy portal. Faith shall cry, as fails each sense: Jesus is my Confidence!
THE SERMON “A Living Hope” (1 Peter 1:3, 4)
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (after each petition:)
Pastor: Lord, in Your mercy, People: hear our prayer. (at the end:) People: Amen.
P: Lord of glory, Your victory over death and the grave gives us comfort as we endure all the trials and tribulations of life. You have faced the things that we fear the most and have overcome them, and we know that we will also emerge victorious because we are Yours in Baptism. Grant that we, being strengthened by Your Holy Spirit, working through the means of grace, may remain faithful to You all our days and finally receive the crown of life as a gift of Your grace. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
P: O Holy Spirit, we give thanks for the Church--those who trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation--gathered in His name around the means of grace. Through those same means guide and strengthen the Church as it clings in faith to the Word of Law and Gospel and shares with the world the gifts of salvation, purchased with the precious blood of Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
P: God of peace, look with favor on all the people of the world, including in particular those in Venezuela, Hong Kong and Central Africa. We especially ask Your blessing on our own beloved land. Curb the forces that would destroy freedom and peace among us. Bless all who are in authority with the wisdom to know Your will and the courage to do it. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
P: God of peace and order, our prayers ascend to Your throne of grace on behalf of our nation and the whole world during this time of crisis. Keep the spirit of patriotism and national unity alive among us and bless our president, our governor, and those around them with the wisdom to know Your will and the courage to do it. Grant that the final outcome may be just and beneficial for all peace-loving people and nations throughout the world. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
P: Compassionate Lord, when You walked this earth You healed many who were afflicted with suffering of body, mind, and soul. Have mercy, we pray, on those who suffer in our day also, especially (Name-s), those who are homebound or confined to institutions, and those we remember in silence . . . We entrust them all to You, confident of Your power, love, and wisdom. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
P: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, humbly yet with boldness and confidence we raise our prayers to Your throne of grace, relying on Your power, love, and wisdom. Hear and answer us, we pray, according to Your good and gracious will, for we pray in the name of Jesus. C: Amen. ~
THE LORD’S PRAYER
All: 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.
THE BENEDICTION
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you. The lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
People: Amen.