Easter Sunday Worship Service:| 4-9-23

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD / EASTER DAY

04-09-2023     10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship

Jesus may have appeared a failure – beaten, abandoned, broken on a cross – but God had other plans. Evil considered itself a victor – but its chain was shattered. Death felt it had the final word – but its hold was denied. The tomb thought it was “the end” – but its door was burst open. JESUS GOT UP! The surprise of Easter has not ended, for God’s life-giving miracle continues in the hearts, minds, and lives of all who believe. Let us keep getting up and beginning again in the name, spirit, and mission of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord!

+   WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY   +

EASTER SUNDAY OPENING RITE:   

L   Easter is an early dawn…

C the red sun glowing,

the dark sky turning blue,

sleepy people rising to life.

L   Easter is an early dawn…

of one or two or three broken women

bearing spices and tears

dragging themselves to a tomb.

L   Easter is an early dawn…

C of news too good to be true,

of a tomb that ought to be filled,

of hope when hope is gone.

L   Easter is an early dawn…

C of happy women,

confused disciples,

and a new day for the whole world.

L   Easter is an early dawn that cries out aloud…

C HE IS NOT DEAD!

HE IS RISEN!

ALLELUIA!  

OPENING SONG: “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”                                                   Green #143 

  • Now all the vault of heaven resounds in praise of love that still abounds:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! Repeat their song of glory here:

“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!” AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU — IA !

  • Eternal is the gift he brings, therefore our heart with rapture sings:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Now still he comes to give us life and by his presence stills all strife.

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU — IA !

  • Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; set heart and will on things above

that we conquer through your triumph;

Grant grace sufficient for life’s day that by our lives we truly say:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU — IA !

  • Adoring praises now we bring and with the heav’nly blessed sing:

“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”

Be to the Father, and our Lord, to Spirit blest, most holy God,

all the glory, never ending! AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU-IA,     AL-LE-LU — IA ! 

 

+   WE ARE EASTER PEOPLE   +

CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE IN CHRIST:

L   Sisters, brothers, today we are celebrating astounding good news – Christ is not dead; he is risen from the tomb! What difference does it make to believe this? How does your faith in the resurrection of Jesus change the way you think about sin and death? How does it change the way you live? How does it answer the deepest questions in your heart? This morning I want to ask each of you to consider and respond to these four important questions: 

     Do you believe that God loves you?     

C Yes, I do believe.

L   Do you believe that you are a sinner?

C Yes, I do believe.

L   Do you believe that Jesus died for your sin?

C Yes, I do believe. 

L   Will you now trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and follow him as your Lord?

C Yes, today I repent – turn back – from everything that leads me away from Christ. 

Today I reject Satan and renounce evil.

Today I claim Christ’s love and choose to be made whole.

O Lord, I do want to live the life of faith! O Lord, I do want to be yours now and forever!   Amen.

L   Brothers and sisters, in raising Christ from the tomb God destroyed the power of sin and death. Only by God’s grace and in obedience to our Lord’s command, I proclaim to you the good news that you are forgiven and born anew:

     Receive [+] the sign of the cross. Because HE died, YOU are alive!”

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 who loves us so dearly, the cross is vacant, the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive!

May we trust that he is our Lord in life, in death, and in life beyond death.

May we find in Jesus our peace, our purpose, our power, and our promise now and forever, Amen.

+   WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD   +

FIRST READINGACTS 10:34-43 [GOOD NEWS: God shows no partiality…Jesus Christ is for all people… and everybody who believes, receives!]  

10:34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,

10:35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

10:36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ–he is Lord of all.

10:37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:

10:38 how 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.

10:39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;

10:40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,

10:41 not 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.

10:42 He 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.

10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir   

SECOND READING:  COLOSSIANS 3:1-4     [GOOD NEWS: The old you has died… so live the new you!  Keep both your mind and your life “out of the gutter”.]

3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,

3:3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

3:4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

DANCE SELECTION: St. Peter’s Praise Dancers     

         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 GOSPELMatthew 28:1-10   [GOOD NEWS: He’s no longer dead! This is both a message to believe and a story to tell.] 

28:1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

28:2 And 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.

28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

28:4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

28:6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

28:7 Then 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.”

28:8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

 

THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen

SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir

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, even beyond our understanding, that Jesus

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 PRAYERSWe pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter! 

+   WE SHARE GOD’S NOURISHING MEAL   +

OFFERING   [If we are willing, we are the hands and feet of Jesus… his voice and his heart… carrying God’s love and forgiveness to others. With courage and conviction, let us commit who we are, how we act, and what we have to go, to show and tell!]  

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… or give online bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up one-time donation or recurring weekly gift to categories…or text to Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution.

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 BLESSINGSAll 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! 

          WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, WE REMEMBER HIS DEATH… PROCLAIM HIS RESURRECTION… AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN. 

 

COMMUNION SONG: “Revive Us Again”                             Tan #569

  1. We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love, for Jesus who died and is now gone above.

HALLELUJAH, THINE THE GLORY! HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

HALLELUJAH, THINE THE GLORY! REVIVE US AGAIN!

  1. We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light, who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.
  2. All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, who has borne all our sins and has cleansed ev’ry stain.
  3. Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above!

COMMUNION SONG: “Blessed Assurance”           Tan #508

  • Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!   [repeat]

  • Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

  1. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest;

Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

COMMUNION SONG “To God Be the Glory”       Brown #264                   

  • To God be the glory, great things He has done; so loved He the world that He gave us his Son,

Who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory – great things He has done!

  • Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to ev’ry believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender by grace may believe, that moment from Jesus a pardon receive.

  • Great things He has taught us, great things He has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our vict’ry when Jesus we see.

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   Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

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: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”       Green #151

  • Jesus Christ is risen today,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Our triumphant holy day,     Al — le – lu –ia!

Who did once upon the cross,     Al — le – lu  ia!

Suffer to redeem our loss,     Al — le – lu – ia!

  • Hymns of praise then let us sing,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Unto Christ, our heav’nly king,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Who endured the cross and grave,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Sinners to redeem and save,     Al — le – lu – ia! 

  • But the pains which he endured,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Our salvation have procured,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Now above the sky he’s king,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Where the angels ever sing,     Al — le – lu – ia!

  • Sing we to our God above,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Praise eternal as his love,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Praise him, all you heav’nly host,     Al — le – lu – ia!

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,     Al — le – lu – ia!