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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

RINGING OF THE BELL

HAND BELL CHOIR ANTHEM “ When Morning Gilds the Skies”

Arranged by Sharon Cheek

Please stand as you are able.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne

and to the Lamb! Amen.

Let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism.

Merciful God,

you are the one who was, who is, and who is to come.

You lead us beside still waters.

We thank you for the waters of creation:

morning dew, gentle rain, roaring waves.

We thank you for the waters that nourish us.

Blessed are you.

You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness

who accompanies us on our journeys.

We give you thanks for your life-giving death and resurrection.

We praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow.

Blessed are you.

You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Holy One, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism,

and for making us a new creation. We join with saints and angels,

giving you honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks” Insert

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the

communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

 

KYRIE

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those

who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who

have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of

Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy

Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

Please be seated.

WORD

FIRST READING Acts 2:14a, 22-32

After the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles on Pentecost, Peter

preaches the gospel to the gathered crowd. He tells them that

Jesus, who obediently went to his death according to God’s plan,

was raised from the dead by God. Finally, he appeals to scripture,

quoting Psalm 16:8-11, to show that Jesus is the Messiah: though

crucified, the risen Jesus is now enthroned.

14a Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed

[the crowd]: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say:

Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of

power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as

you yourselves know 23 this man, handed over to you according to

the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed

by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having

released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible

for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;

26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope.

27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades

or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David

that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30

Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to

him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31

Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,

‘He was not abandoned to Hades,

nor did his flesh experience corruption.’

32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

 

PSALM PSALM 16: 1-11

1Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; I have said to the

LORD, "You are my Lord, my good above all other."

2All my delight is in the godly that are in the land, upon those

who are noble among the people.

3But those who run after other gods shall have their troubles multiplied.

4I will not pour out drink offerings to such gods, never take their

names upon my lips.

Refrain

5O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; it is you who up hold my lot.

6My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; indeed, I have a rich

inheritance.

7I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me night after night.

8I have set the LORD always before me; because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Refrain

9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also

shall rest in hope.

10For you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy

one see the pit.

11You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness

of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Refrain

 

SECOND READING 1 Peter 1:3-9

This epistle was written to encourage Christians experiencing hardships

and suffering because of their faith in Christ. The letter opens

by blessing God for the living hope we have through Christ’s resurrection

even amid difficult circumstances and surroundings.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his

great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through

the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance

that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven

for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith

for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice,

even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,

7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious

than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to

result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even

though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with

an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome

of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing

Please stand as you are able for the gospel reading.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

GOSPEL John 20:19-31

The holy gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction,

a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of their

number is missing, and his unbelief prompts another visit from the Lord.

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the

doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with

you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has

sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on

them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the

sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was

not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him,

“We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the

mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the

nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas

was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood

among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to

Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your

hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas

answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have

you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who

have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples

that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you

may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,

and that through believing you may have life in his name.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing

HYMN OF THE DAY Hymn #384

“That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright”

Please stand as you are able.

 

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.*

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

 

THE PRAYERS

...Merciful God, receive our prayer.

SHARING THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace with one another.

OFFERING

OFFERING MUSIC “What A Beautiful Name”

Words and music by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood. © 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia. Used by permission. CCLI

License # 2561118

 

Please stand as you are able as the offering is brought forward.

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.

Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us

to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to

praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus

Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Sung)

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 debts, as we forgive

our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from

evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

BENEDICTION

God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the

firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace, bless you now and forever.

SENDING HYMN “Alleluia! Christ Is Arisen” Hymn #375

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

POSTLUDE

Announcements/Reminders

WELCA Bible Study, Wednesday, April 15th

Come join us on April 15th in the fellowship hall and participate in the

Bible study led by Pastor Chris.

This month's bible study session builds on

the theme of God’s abiding love as we

explore another dimension of I AM, God’s

holy name and promise: God’s guidance

and protection. Guidance and protection

are the major themes of the famous “Good

Shepherd” discourse in John 10, in which Jesus declares that he is

both the good shepherd and the gate for the sheep. Our God who

abides with us is also a God who moves with us—who knows us,

protects us and leads us through the ups and downs of life.

Our meeting begins at 9:30 AM with refreshments and a business

session. At 10 AM Pastor Chris leads us in our study. Come, join us!

 

Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:

Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing

Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller

Our Reader—Julie Champion

Our Liturgist—Ken Kleid

Organist/Pianist—Jimmy Cheung

Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann