3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER 05-04-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER
05-04-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
OPENING SONG: “Oh, How I Love Jesus” Brown #250
OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 3:
L Alleluia, Jesus is risen, Jesus is Lord!
C Death could not hold him, and this world cannot stop him!
L My sister, my brother, is it true what the song says, do you love Jesus?
C Yes, I love you, Lord, with all my heart and soul and mind and strength! You know that I do!
L My brother, my sister, are you sure of this, do you love Jesus more than Satan’s whispers and the world’s temptations?
C Yes, Lord, you know I love you! I’ll do anything you want me to – anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any way!
L My sisters and brothers, I ask one more time, do you really love Jesus?
C Yes, Lord, you know that nothing and nobody can come between me and you! O how I love Jesus!
L Brothers and sisters, if you really love Jesus, then seek to grow in the life of faith that does not waver and of servant love
that does not end. Oh, may the peace and power of the Risen Christ embrace, convince, and empower you this morning!
Today I proclaim to you that Jesus loves you (+) and frees you from your sins by his blood. Forgiven and reconciled to
God through Christ, we are called to feed his lambs, to tend his sheep, to show and tell that Jesus is alive and real.
C We are EASTER PEOPLE, always rising!
SONG OF PRAISE: “Lord, I lift your name on high, Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life, I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord, I lift your name on high!”
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
O God of unfailing love and life,
worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, to receive honor and glory and praise for ever and ever.
We rejoice that your Son Jesus is alive and victorious and has defeated death, despair, and the devil.
And we pray that we might dare to live faithfully and to love fervently in a suffering, sin-sick world. Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 9:1-20
[The account of the dramatic, humbling conversion of a self-righteous persecutor named Saul… who became Paul the missionary.]
SECOND READING: REVELATION 5:11-14
[A vision of the heavenly worship to spark earthly hope among troubled and tempted Christians.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more can He give?
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU; OH, HOW HE LOVES ME;
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!
Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for this world to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair…”
GOSPEL READING: JOHN 21:1-19
[The new Risen Christ returns to his disheartened disciples and offers them his peace, power, and promises.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil
RESPONSE SONG: “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” Brown #234
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH:
We believe that God created us and loves us and shows us mercy that we do not deserve.
We believe that Jesus shared our life, taught us how to love God and each other, and died on the cross for us.
We believe that Jesus, crucified and buried, was resurrected from the dead;
defeated death, despair, and the devil;
cancelled out the power of sin;
and gifted us the grace of new life and the promise of eternal life.
We believe that we are called and sent to show, to tell, and to share the good news of God’s love with the world.
THE PRAYERS… We pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter!
+ WE SHARE GOD’S NOURISHING MEAL +
OFFERING [Jesus sends convinced and converted disciples to feed his lambs and tend his sheep. Let’s do it!]
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their
generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money
order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the
instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “Get all excited, go tell ev’rybody that Jesus Christ is King!
Get all excited, go tell ev’rybody that Jesus Christ is King!
Get all excited, go tell ev’rybody that Jesus Christ is King!
Jesus Christ is still the King of kings, the King of kings!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
O God, it is only by your amazing grace that we are Easter-alive today! Now give us the bold confidence
and the passionate love to dry tears, to lift up broken hearts, and to testify with our gifts and our lives that
there is NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. Amen.
THE PREFACE… We prepare to celebrate the LORD’S SUPPER with humble joy!
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L The Lord delivers us from sin and death… C … and grants us salvation and eternal life!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous
distribution” with wafers and the option of wine or grape juice. TO GIVE US LIFE, HE WAS WILLING TO DIE!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #249 Brown #220
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.