MESSIAH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH A faithful, serving community, joyfully sharing Christ's love. : The Rev. Julie Haspel Ministers: The People of Messiah Organist: Bob Luderer Music Minister: Fred Monk

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

APRIL 12, 2020

BIBLE READINGS, HYMNS AND SONGS GREETING P ! Christ is risen! C Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! P 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.

PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer. O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen.

First Reading: Acts 10:34-43 Peter’s , delivered at the home of Cornelius, a Roman army officer, is a summary of the essential message of Christianity: Everyone who believes in Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the words of the prophets, “receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

34Peter began to speak to [the people]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1Give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good; God’s mercy endures forever. 2Let Israel now declare, “God’s mercy endures forever.” 14The LORD is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation. 15Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD acts valiantly! 16The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD acts valiantly!” 17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18The LORD indeed punished me sorely, but did not hand me over to death. 19Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. 20“This is the gate of the LORD; here the righteous may enter.” 21I give thanks to you, for you have answered me and you have become my salvation. 22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23By the LORD has this been done; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

Easter means new life for us as it first meant new life for Christ. His resurrection reshapes the entire focus and motivation for our lives since we are now hidden with the risen Christ in God.

1If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10 Sorrow gives way to “fear and great joy” when two women are sent by an angel to proclaim the good news: Jesus is risen!

1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

HYMNS FOR EASTER

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

1 Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia! 3 But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! our salvation have procured; Alleluia! who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! now above the sky he's king, Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

2 Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! 4 Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! unto Christ, our heav'nly king, Alleluia! praise eternal as his love; Alleluia! who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! praise him, all you heav'nly host, Alleluia! sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Text: Latin carol, 14th cent., sts. 1-3; tr. J. Walsh, Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt.; Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, st. 4

Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds

1 Now all the vault of heav'n resounds 3 Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; in praise of love that still abounds: set heart and will on things above "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" that we conquer through your triumph; Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! grant grace sufficient for life's day Repeat their song of glory here: that by our lives we truly say: "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2 Eternal is the gift he brings, 4 Adoring praises now we bring therefore our heart with rapture sings: and with the heav'nly blessed sing: "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" "Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!" Now still he comes to give us life Be to the Father, and our Lord, and by his presence stills all strife. to Spirit blest, most holy God, all the glory, never ending! "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Paul Z. Strodach, 1876-1947, alt. Text © 1958 Service Book and , admin. Augsburg Fortress.

SONGS FOR EASTER

This is the Day

This is the day, this is the day That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this the day, that the Lord has made.

Now the Green Blade Riseth

Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth, many days has lain, Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain, Love lives again, that with the dead has been: He that for three days, in the grave had lain, Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green. Quick from the dead, my risen Lord is seen: Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green. In the grave they laid him, Love whom men had slain, Thinking that never, he would wake again, Laid in the earth like grain, that sleeps unseen: Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

The River is Here

Down the mountain the river flows, The river of God is teeming with life, And brings refreshing wherever it goes; And all who touch it can be revived; Through the valleys and over the fields, And all who linger on this river’s shore, The river is rushing, and the river is here, Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord. Chorus: The river of God sets our feet to dancing, Up the mountain we love to go, The river of God fills our hearts with cheer. To find the presence of the Lord; The river of God fills our mouths with Along the banks of the river we run, laughter, We dance with laughter, And we rejoice for the river is here. Giving praise to the Son!

Above All

Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature Crucified, laid behind the stone; and all created things; You lived to die rejected and alone; Above all wisdom and all the ways of man, like a rose trampled on the ground, You were there before the world began. You took the fall and thought of me, above all. Above all kingdoms, above all thrones, above all wonders the world has ever known; Above all wealth and treasures of the earth, there’s no way to measure what You’re worth.

The Lion of Judah

You’re the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain. There’s a shield in our hand and a sword at our You’ve ascended to heaven and evermore you will side reign. There’s a fire in our spirits that cannot be denied At the end of the age when the earth You reclaim, ‘Cause the Father has told us for these you have You will gather the nations before you. died, For the nations who gather before You. And the eyes of all men will be fixed on the Lamb Who was crucified. And the ears of all men need to hear of the Lamb With wisdom and mercy and justice You’ll reign Who was crucified. At your Father’s side. Who descended to hell yet was raised up to reign,

Chorus: At His Father’s side. And the angels will cry Hail to the Lamb, who was slain for the world. Rule in power, and the earth will reply You shall reign as the King of all kings And the Lord of all lords.