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Welcome to Worship
Second Sunday of Easter
8 and 10:00 AM Service April 7, 2024
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
Thanksgiving for Baptism
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the wellspring of grace, our Easter and our joy.
Amen.
P: Look, here is water!
Here is our water of life! Alleluia!
L: Immersed in the promises of baptism, let us give thanks for what God has done for us.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your voice thundered over the deep and water became the essence of life.
P: Adam and Eve beheld Eden’s verdant rivers.
The ark carried your creation through the flood into a new day.
L: Miriam led the dancing as your people passed through the sea into
freedom’s land.
In a desert pool the Ethiopian official entered your boundless baptismal life.
P: Look, here is water!
Here is our water of life! Alleluia!
L: At the river your beloved Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By the baptism of Jesus’ death and resurrection you opened the floodgates of your reconciling love, freeing us to live as Easter people.
We rejoice with glad hearts, giving all honor and praise to you, through the risen Christ, our source of living water, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
P: Look, here is water!
Here is our water of life! Alleluia!
Hymn #384 “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright”
Greeting:
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Hymn of Praise
This is the Feast...
L: Let us pray.
C: Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection. By the grace of Christ among us, enable us to show the pow-er of the resurrection in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spir-it, one God, now and forever. Amen
WORD
First Reading: Acts 4: 32—35 Pg. 1697
R: Word of God, Word of life. C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 133 Pg. 970
Refrain:
PS 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
PS 133:2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
Refrain:
PS 133:3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there
the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Refrain:
Second Reading: 1 John 1 1—2:2 Pg. 1898
R: Word of God, Word of life. C: Thanks be to God.
Children’s Sermon Rev. Chris Steubing
Gospel Acclamation
The Gospel according to John, the twentieth chapter.
(After the Gospel is announced)
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel John 20: 19—31 Pg.1686
P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Rev. Chris Steubing
Hymn # 767 “Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me”
L: With the whole church, let us confess our faith:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down
from heaven; was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is wor-shiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Prayers
L: . . . God of grace,
C: Hear our prayer.
Sharing of the Peace
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you!
L: You may share the peace with one another.
The Offering
Offering Hymn #834 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
The offering is collected as the hymn is sung. Please stand on the last verse as the offering is brought forward.
L: Let us pray.
All: All: Risen One, you call us to believe and bear fruit. May the gifts that we offer here be signs of your abiding love. Form us to be your witnesses in the world, through Jesus Christ, our true vine. Amen.
MEAL
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their un-ending hymn:
Eucharistic Prayer
Blessed are you, O God of the universe. Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age.
Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood.
Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea.
Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey.
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one.
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ.
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine
Bless this feast.
Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread.
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world.
Breathe new life into us and send us forth, burning with justice, peace and love.
With your holy ones of all times and places,
With the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars,
We praise you O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever.
Amen.
P: Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
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.
Invitation to Communion
P: The risen Christ is made known to us in the breaking of the bread. Come and eat at God’s table.
Communion Distribution---All are welcome at the Lord’s table. The cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Those who do not normally receive communion, are free to come forward for a blessing.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #474 “Bread of Life from Heaven”
Hymn #814 “Take, O Take Me as I Am” (three times)
Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.
Prayer after Communion
P: Shepherding God, you have prepared a table before us and nourished us with your love. Send us forth from this banquet to proclaim your good-ness and share the abundant mercy of Jesus, our redeemer and friend.
Amen.
Benediction
P: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The God of resurrection power, the Christ of unending joy, and the Spirit of Easter hope bless you now and always.
Hymn #815 “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
L: Alleluia! Go in peace. Rejoice and be glad.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude
Our thanks to those who serve as our worship leaders::
Our Reader—Kimberlee Bear
Our Liturgist—Don Gillett
Organist—Angela Lau
Music Accompanist—Doris Menke
Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Transitional Pastor—Rev. Kristine Franke Hill