Prelude

Thanksgiving for Baptism:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, by whose hands we are given new birth, by whose speaking we are given new life.
Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are welcomed, restored, and supported as citizens of the new creation. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and mighty, you are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring.

In mercy and might you have freed us from death and raised us with Jesus, the firstborn of the dead.  In baptismal waters our life is washed away, and in them we are born anew.

Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers and streams. Honor to you for waters that wash us clean, quench our thirst, and nurture both crops and creatures. Praise to you for the life-giving water of baptism, the outpouring of the Spirit of the new creation.

Wash away our sin and all that separates us from you. Empower our witness to your resurrection. Strengthen our resolve in seeking justice for all.

Satisfy the world’s need through this living water.  Where drought dries the earth, bring refreshment. Where despair prevails, grant hope.  Where chaos reigns, bring peace.  We ask this through Christ, who with you and the Spirit reigns forever.
Amen.

Opening Hymn:  ELW 382 “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”
Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead!
Gratefully our hearts adore him as his light once more appears,
bowing down in joy before him, rising up from griefs and tears.

Refrain:
Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead!

Christ is risen! All the sadness of our Lenten fast is o’er;
through the open gates of gladness he returns to life once more;
death and hell before him bending see him rise, the victor now,
angels on his steps attending, glory round his wounded brow. [Refrain]

Christ is risen! All the sorrow that last evening round him lay
now hath found a glorious morrow in the rising of today.
See the grave its first-fruits giving, springing up from holy ground;
Christ was dead, but now is living; he was lost, but he is found. [Refrain]

Christ is risen! Henceforth never death or hell shall us enthrall.
We are Christ’s, in him forever we have triumphed over all.
All the doubting and dejection of our trembling hearts have ceased;
hail the day of resurrection! Let us rise and keep the feast. [Refrain]

Apostolic Greeting:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

Hymn of Praise:
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father.  Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.  for you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, withh thhe Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

First Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, ⁷so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.

Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-31
This is the Holy Gospel according to John, the 20^th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ²⁴But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” ³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Message

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: ELW 363 “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain”
Come, you faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!
God has brought forth Israel into joy from sadness,
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters;
led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today: Christ has burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death as a sun has risen.
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
from the Light to whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strain Jesus’ resurrection!

Neither could the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal, hold you as a mortal:
but today, among your own, you appear, bestowing
your deep peace, which evermore passes human knowing.

Alleluia! now we cry to our Lord immortal,
who triumphant burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
Alleluia! with the Son God the Father praising;
Alleluia! yet again to the Spirit raising.

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.

Prayers of Intercession:
United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace:
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

Offering:
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Offertory Hymn:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and up-hold me with your free spirit.

Offering Prayer:
Let us pray.
Generous God, in this meal you offer your very self.  We give thanks for these gifts of the earth. In the breaking of this bread reveal to us the Risen One.  In the pouring of this wine pour us out in service to the world; through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Salvation belings to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe;
just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations.
Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?
Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God.
All praise and thanks to you, holy God!  Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

Thanksgiving for the Word:
Let us pray.
Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God,
we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God,
we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God,
we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.    Amen.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction:
The God of all,  who raised + Jesus from the dead, bless you by the power of the Holy Spirit to live in the new creation.
Amen.

Sending Hymn:  ELW 376 “Thine Is the Glory”
Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain:
Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

Lo, Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom;
let his church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting! [Refrain]

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu’rors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. [Refrain]

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Serve the Risen One.
Thanks be to God!

Postlude

 

Prayer Requests:
Robert Becker, family and friends of Alice Snyder, Rodney Neilson, family and friends of Nancy Danowsky, Bob Keifer, family and friends of Joanne Stahl, Tiffany, Gaye Stahl, Dale Strassner, Scott Clewell, Marie Tanner, Cindy Reedy, Denise Clark, Karen Aikey, Loren, Ken Criswell, Martha Ketchem, Annette Baker, Rusty, Shirley Russell, Russ Wynn, Viv Marsh, Peg Swinehart.

 

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.   Used by permission.