2nd Sunday of Easter Season
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER
04-27-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
CLOSING SONG: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” Green #151 (1) Jesus Christ is risen today, Al — le – lu – ia! (2) Hymns of praise then let us sing, Al — le – lu – ia!
Our triumphant holy day, Al — le – lu –ia! Unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Al — le – lu – ia!
Who did once upon the cross, Al — le – lu ia! Who endured the cross and grave, Al — le – lu – ia
Suffer to redeem our loss, Al — le – lu – ia! Sinners to redeem and save, Al — le – lu – ia!
(3) But the pains which he endured, Al — le – lu – ia! (4) Sing we to our God above, Al — le – lu – ia!
Our salvation have procured, Al — le – lu – ia! Praise eternal as his love, Al — le – lu – ia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Al — le – lu – ia! Praise him, all you heav’nly host, Al — le – lu – ia! Where the angels ever sing, Al — le – lu – ia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Al — le – lu – ia!
OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 2:
L Alleluia, Christ is risen from the dead!
C Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
L But let us confess this morning that there are times when we aren’t so strong in believing this Easter message.
C Gracious God, we all have our graves of depression, desolation, and despair.
Sometimes we have shut our doors to hope and locked our hearts to new life out of fear.
Sometimes we doubt that Christ really did win a victory over sin, death, and hell.
Sometimes we want more visible proof in our lives and world that everything will be alright.
Please, God, break into our lives and bring us back to life. Amen.
L Brothers and sisters, we have a message to hear and a story to tell!
Christ comes through our barricades of doubt and fear and into our locked minds and shadowed hearts to resurrect our
spirits and to breathe into us new life. In the name of (+) Jesus Christ, know that – by the gift of grace – you are loved,
forgiven, and empowered. Glory to God! Death, despair, and the devil don’t have the last word!
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:
O God, we were not there to see the empty tomb, to hear the angel’s words, to touch those holed hands and that
pierced side, and to feel the warm breath of the One who was crucified. But we are here together – in person and
online. We pray that you might breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, open our minds, unlock our hearts, and use
our lips and our lives to share your love and to offer the new life of CHRIST ALIVE. Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 5:27-32
[In spite of arrest and threats, unwavering witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.]
SECOND READING: REVELATION 1:4-8
[An encouraging vision, in troubled times for Christians, of the risen Christ, firstborn of the dead.]
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 20:19-31
[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 Gwen
RESPONSE SONG: “Open Our Eyes, Lord” Brown #98
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH:
We believe that God graciously revealed himself in Jesus Christ – the Light of the world, the Word of life made flesh, God’s own Son living among us, and yet a human just like us.
We believe that Jesus Christ willingly shared our life, its joys and sorrows; taught us how to love God and each other; allowed himself to be broken at the hands of humanity; and met his death on a cross.
We believe that Jesus, even beyond our understanding, was resurrected from the dead; disarmed and conquered death; cancelled out the power of sin; and wiped the smile forever off of Satan’s face.
We believe that Jesus Christ is alive and well in the Church that proclaims him; in our lives that serve him;
in our world that needs him; and everywhere that God’s love reaches, now and forever. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter!
+ WE SHARE GOD’S NOURISHING MEAL +
OFFERING [May the Risen Christ unlock our closed hearts, minds, and hands for generous giving!]
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.
+ WE ARE SENT TO SHOW AND TELL +
THE BENEDICTION:
L Leave with a message upon your heart, on your lips, revealed through your daily living: I have seen the Lord!
Go in the faith-filled power of the Risen Lord (+) to love God and to serve your neighbor in all that you do!
C (singing…) “A-MEN! A-MEN! A—MEN!”
CLOSING SONG: “I Love to Tell the Story” Brown #228