RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD/EASTER DAY | 3-31-24
Women’s History Month
03-31-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
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 !
EASTER SUNDAY OPENING RITE: Pastor Gwen
L Why are we so surprised? We were told it would happen this way.
Sisters and brothers, Jesus is risen!
C Death could not hold him!
L Jesus is risen and alive!
C Death could not kill him!
L Jesus is risen and alive and victorious!
C Death could not hold him or kill him, keep him or stop him!
L Let there be hope when hope is gone!
C The stone has been rolled away!
L Let there be hope when hope is gone!
C The tomb is empty!
L Let there be hope when hope is gone!
C Christ is RISEN, Christ is ALIVE!
God has done it again, ALLELUIA!
L My brothers, my sisters, this is the Good News for this morning, for a lifetime, and forever and ever —
The grave is empty, Jesus is victorious, and now there is new life!
Because HE died, you are alive!
C Once we were no people.
But now we are God’s people, AMEN AND ALLELUIA!
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 that is beyond death.
May we find in him our peace, our purpose, our power, and our promise now and forever, Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 10:34-43 Riana Mathis
[Peter narrates the story of Christ’s death and resurrection that is the basis of the Christian faith. The additional surprise even to Peter is this: God shows no partiality… Jesus is for all people… and everybody who believes, receives! The conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48), a Roman army officer, is the longest single story in the New Testament except for the passion of Jesus. Why did the writer – probably the same author who penned the gospel of Luke – give this story such prominence that he would take the time and the space of parchment to record its events all over again in Acts 11? Peter was granted a vision from God that prepared him for a breakthrough in his faith and a breaking down of barriers of race and creed and culture. There is GOOD NEWS here – Jesus is for all people! Christianity that is centered on the love of Jesus Christ can still break barriers down.]
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,
40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11 Pastor John Gottschall
[Paul reminds his readers that the core of the Christian faith, and of his own preaching, is this: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once a persecutor of Christians, he has no doubt that Christ’s victory is a gift of unearned grace that brings new life in the midst of our own sin There is GOOD NEWS here – For anyone who receives and believes this reality, life is never the same again!]
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
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…”
GOSPEL READING: MARK 16:1-8 Diana Hillsman
[Although the women came to the cemetery early in the morning expecting to find the decaying body of Jesus entombed there,a young man greets them with a message to hear and a story to tell: Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has been raised! But fear and amazement lead to deadening silence in the original ending of Mark’s Gospel. Mark the author seems to be wondering if you and I might be willing to consider the story… might go and tell. There is GOOD NEWS here to believe and to share – Jesus is risen!]
16:1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
16:2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
16:3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
16:4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.
16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.
16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
16:8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir
TESTIMONY: “What baptism means to me…” Karl Davis
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil
VACANT CROSS, EMPTY TOMB, RISEN LORD.
THE SURPRISE OF EASTER HAS NOT ENDED…
RESPONSE SONG: “Revive Us Again” Tan #569
- 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!
- We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light, who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.
- All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, who has borne all our sins and has cleansed every stain.
- Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above.
THE PRAYERS… We pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter! Carol Chatman
+ WE CELEBRATE THE WATERS OF NEW BIRTH +
[This morning Najé Rainier Thomas, Jr., Noah Rasoul Thomas, Harleaux Easton Mathis, and Joan Alston each receive the new beginning and new life that God has given in Jesus Christ. HOLY BAPTISM IS MORE THAN A SOLITARY MOMENT… THIS IS A LIFE’S JOURNEY IN RESPONSE TO THE FREE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST!]
- Introduction:
L Hear the testimony of the Holy Scriptures concerning baptism. In Matthew 28:19 we listen as the resurrected Jesus, about to ascend into heaven, commands his followers:
C Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
L In Acts 2:38-39, immediately after the Pentecost event that gave birth to the Church, Peter proclaimed to the crowd:
C Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away.
L And in Acts 8:36, 38-39 we read the account of an unexpected baptism by Philip, a Christian disciple:
C The Ethiopian said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized? … Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the Ethiopian saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
L Finally, Jesus tells us in John 3:5-6:
C Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
L My brothers and sisters, the testimony of the New Testament is that it is through HOLY BAPTISM – ordinary waters and the presence and promises of God – that persons have joined the Church. In this sacrament God washes away our sin and delivers us from the forces of evil and the power of death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this sacrament God gives us new birth, adopts us as children, as brothers and sisters to Christ and united in one body of Christ with all the faithful throughout the ages. In this sacrament God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit and calls us to a life of obedient faith and love. In this sacrament God promises us eternal life.
- Presentation of Candidates:
L Today God calls _______________ , _______________ , _______________ , and _______________ by name to
receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism and to enter God’s family.
- Commitment and Promise:
L __________________, do you desire to be baptized? I do.
L Parents, family, godparents, sponsors, as you bring your children to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with responsibilities: to live with them among God’s faithful people… to bring them to the Word of God and to the Lord’s Supper… to teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments…to place in their hands the Holy Scriptures… to nurture them with faith and prayer… and to do your faithful best to show and teach and guide them how to trust in God, how to proclaim Christ through word and deed, how to care for others and the world God created, and how to work for justice and peace. Will you make this commitment to act in this way, will you promise to do your best for the sake of your children and for the sake of Jesus Christ? We do.
L Congregation / Assembly / People of God, we as witnesses to this baptism, as members of Christ’s Church, and as brothers and sisters to these children and our sister in faith also have concern and responsibility for them. Do we promise to support names in their new life in Christ, to love them and to pray for them? We do.
- Profession of Faith:
L I ask you to profess your faith in Jesus Christ, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in which we baptize. Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? I renounce them.
Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? I renounce them.
Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? I renounce them.
Remembering the words of the Apostles’ Creed that our church uses for Holy Baptism, I ask you to confess your faith in the Triune God – the eternal Creator, the risen Savior, and the dynamic Spirit. Do you believe in God, the Father?
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
L Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C 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 into hell. 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.
L Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C 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.
- Thanksgiving for God’s Life-giving Waters:
L Let us pray.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your voice thundered and your Spirit moved over the waters and – by your Word – you created the world. You water the mountains and send springs into the valleys to refresh us and satisfy us and all living things. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family, preserving humanity. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery to freedom; and in the wilderness you nourished them with water from the rock; and you brought them across the River Jordan to the land you had promised. At the river your Son Jesus was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By the baptism of his death and resurrection, your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and to freedom. The floods will not overwhelm us, the deep shall not swallow us up, for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise. Gracious, merciful, loving God, pour out your Holy Spirit, the power of your living Word, that those who are washed in the waters of baptism may receive new life. Wash away their sin, take away the sting of death, and claim them as your own redeemed children. We praise you and pray to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Baptism:
L Name, I baptize you in the name of the Father <> and of the Son <> and of the Holy Spirit <>. Amen.
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for freeing your sons and daughters from the power of sin and for raising them up to a new life though this holy sacrament. Pour your Holy Spirit upon name: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence. Amen.
Name, child of God, receive the sign of the holy cross upon your [+] forehead and upon your [+] heart to mark you as one who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit and redeemed by Christ forever. Amen. Jesus said, I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life. Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to God
- Welcome:
L On behalf of this St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation and the one Church of Jesus Christ here on earth, let those who are present say to the newly baptized:
C We welcome you into the Lord’s family. We receive you with great joy to belong with us in the body of Christ, to share with us in God’s new creation, and to work with us by the power of the Holy Spirit as we bear witness to Jesus Christ, seeking to live faithfully and to love fervently.
+ 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… 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: Lisa Tillison
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!
WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, WE REMEMBER HIS DEATH… PROCLAIM HIS RESURRECTION…AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN.
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.
- 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: “Down at the Cross” Tan #248
- Down at the cross where my Savior died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried;
there to my heart was the blood applied: glory to his name.
Glory to his name, glory to his name!
There to my heart was the blood applied, glory to his name!
- I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within;
there at the cross where he took me in: glory to his name.
- O precious fountain that saves from sin, I am so glad I have entered in;
there Jess saves me and keeps me clean: glory to his name.
- Come to this fountain so rich and sweet; cast your poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
plunge in today and be made complete: glory to his name.
COMMUNION SONG: “I’ll Fly Away” Tan #601
- Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away.
to a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away;
When I die, Hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away!
- When the shadows of this life have grown, I’ll fly away;
like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away.
- Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away;
to a land where joy shall never end, I’ll fly away.
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant. Roland Thompson
+ 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!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EASTER PLANTS:
Lily…
Given in honor of Solveig Holum by Rev. Robert Holum.
Given in memory of Binnie Ritchie Holum by Rev. Robert Holum.
Given in honor of her sister, Carol Blair, by Ida Swindle.
Given in memory of Nicole Draper, my daughter, by Brenda Draper.
Given in memory of Janie Wilson, my mother, by Brenda Draper.
Given in memory of Yuvonne Samuels by Shelvia Samuel.
Given in memory of Anthony Love Sr. by Tyesha Love-Blackshear.
Given in memory of Travist and Emma Johnson by Pastors Gwen and Neil.
Given in memory of Donald and Edith Bond by Pastors Neil and Gwen.
Tulip…
Given in memory of Ruth Britto by Veronica Britto.
Given in memory of Ella and John Nash by Veronica Britto.
Given in memory of Johnsie Sippio by Janice Henderson.
Given in memory of Jacqueline Henderson by Janice Henderson.
Given in memory of Brenda Jones by Diane Hughes.
Hyacinth…
Given in memory of her mother, Karen Brown, by Veronica Britto.
Given in memory of Fannie and William Thompson by Veronica Britto.
Given in memory of Kenneth Johnson by Pastors Gwen and Neil.
Daffodil…
Given in honor of Tomika Washington, a gracious mother and my daughter, by Beverly E. Morris.
Given in memory of Linda Richardson, my sister, by Beverly E. Morris.