3rd Sunday of Easter 4-19-26
3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER
04-19-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
THE OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 3:
L Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! Death could not hold him!
The tomb is open, the grave is empty, and there is an astounding message of hope and joy in the air!
C But dejected disciples trudge bleary eyed and dreary hearted along a dusty road.
L Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! Jesus is both real and right here with us!
C But hearts have been broken, dreams were shattered, and lives are left empty and lonely.
L Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! Jesus is our Messiah and the Lord of our life!
C Lord, help us to stop living as if we are the dead ones!
Meet us on that dusty road of lost causes and transform us with your resurrection power!
L May our hearts burn! May the scriptures inspire us! May the broken bread sustain us!
C Risen Lord, the good news cannot wait!
Send us up the road and down the street in a hurry to share the life-changing news with others.
Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! Jesus is Lord! ALLELUIA!
OPENING SONG: “This Is the Day” Brown #262
(1) This is the day, this is the day… that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice… and be glad in it, 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 is the day… that the Lord has made.
(2) He is alive, He is alive… and now so am I, and now so am I.
Sing praise to Him, sing praise to Him… He forgives my sin, He forgives my sin.
He is alive and now so am I… Sing praise to Him, He forgives my sin.
He is alive, He is alive… and now so am I.
CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE IN CHRIST:
L Followers of Jesus, we have a message to hear and a story to tell.
Let sorrow turn to joy and let shadows turn to light,
let fear turn to faith and let doubt turn to assurance,
let cowardice turn to courage and let hesitation turn to proclamation,
let death turn to life, and let there be hope when hope is gone!
I invite you to celebrate the presence, the peace, the power, and the promises of Jesus Christ with a neighbor by making
the sign of the cross on their forehead, and saying –
“Receive [+] the sign of the cross. Because HE died, YOU are alive!”
THE PEACE GREETING… We share the peace, love, and forgiveness of the RISEN CHRIST!
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, by the cross of your Son we are redeemed from the futility of sin… by his rising we are free from the
fear of death… and by his love we are made new in the living and enduring Word of God.
Open our eyes and our hearts in faith and joy. Free our tongues and our hands in witness and in love. Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 2:14a, 36-41
[Peter concludes his sermon on Pentecost Day to the crowd outside: “GOOD NEWS! The One you killed offers you life!”]
SECOND READING: 1 PETER 1:17-23
[The author tells those in the Christian community to live like someone who knows she or he is loved: “GOOD NEWS! Through
Christ you are reborn to a living hope!”]
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…”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: LUKE 24:13-35
[Can it be true? GOOD NEWS: “The Lord has risen indeed!”]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil + Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE: “Because He Lives” Brown #93
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH (The Apostles’ Creed):
L Living in the joy and the power of the Risen Lord, let us boldly confess our faith…
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father. He will come again 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… We pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter!
+ WE SHARE GOD’S NOURISHING MEAL +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS
May our hearts burn within us as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection victory and dedicate ourselves to share the
love of God in the places where we live and go! Be and become a living message of Jesus Christ! Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate. Those farther away can: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia,
PA 19138… or contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for 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! [sing this line 3 times]
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! We dedicate our gifts and our lives
to drying tears and sharing good news of peace. Make us bold and eager witnesses to others of 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! This morning we will come up by
the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice;
we will also have a tray of poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. TO GIVE US LIFE, HE WAS WILLING TO DIE! WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, WE REMEMBER HIS DEATH… PROCLAIM HIS RESURRECTION… AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN.
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… Leave with a message upon your heart, on your lips, and revealed through your daily living!
Go in the faith-filled power of the Risen Lord (+) to love God and to serve your neighbor in all that you do.
CLOSING SONG: “They Crucified My Savior” Brown #90