St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Holy Communion on Easter Day, 10:30 a.m.

The livestream may be found here.

April 4, 2021, 10:30 a.m.

The Resurrection of Our Lord

Easter Day

He has been raised; he is not here. (Mark 16:6)

OPENING MUSIC I Know that My Redeemer Lives

Charles Ore

Please meditate on the text of the hymns as they are played:

1 I know that my Redeemer lives!

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead;

he lives, my ever-living head!

2 He lives triumphant from the grave;

he lives eternally to save;

he lives exalted, throned above;

he lives to rule his church in love.

3 He lives to grant me rich supply;

he lives to guide me with his eye;

he lives to comfort me when faint;

he lives to hear my soul's complaint.

4 He lives to silence all my fears;

he lives to wipe away my tears;

he lives to calm my troubled heart;

he lives all blessings to impart.

5 He lives to bless me with his love;

he lives to plead for me above;

he lives my hungry soul to feed;

he lives to help in time of need.

6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly friend;

he lives and loves me to the end;

he lives, and while he lives, I'll sing;

he lives, my prophet, priest, and king!

7 He lives and grants me daily breath;

he lives, and I shall conquer death;

he lives my mansion to prepare;

he lives to bring me safely there.

8 He lives, all glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same;

what joy this blest assurance gives:

I know that my Redeemer lives!

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738-1799, alt.

The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done

Wilbur Held

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;

now is the victor’s triumph won!

Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia!

2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,

but Christ their legions has dispersed.

Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!

3 The three sad days have quickly sped,

he rises glorious from the dead.

All glory to our risen head! Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;

the bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.

Let hymns of praise his triumph tell. Alleluia!

5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded you,

from death’s sting free your servants too,

that we may live and sing to you. Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Symphonia Sirenum, Köln, 1695; tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stand

APOSTOLIC GREETING

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

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

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,

whose blood set us free to be people of God.

Power and riches and wisdom and strength,

and honor and blessing and glory are his.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God

and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing and honor and glory and might

be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God,

for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death.

Make us die every day to sin, so that we may live with him forever

in the joy of the resurrection;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

CALL TO THE WORD

Jesus is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42

Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

Sit

First Reading Acts 10:34–43

³⁴Peter began to speak to [the people:] "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. ³⁷That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸how 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. ³⁹We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹not 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. ⁴²He 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. ⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 118:1-2, 14-24

The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.

On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (vs. 24)

On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for | he is good;*

his mercy en- | dures forever.

² Let Israel | now proclaim,*

"His mercy en- | dures forever."

¹⁴ The Lord is my strength | and my song,*

and he has become | my salvation.

¹⁵ There is a sound of exulta- | tion and victory*

in the tents | of the righteous:

¹⁶ "The right hand of the | Lord has triumphed!*

The right hand of the Lord is exalted!

The right hand of the | Lord has triumphed!"

¹⁷ I shall not | die, but live,*

and declare the works | of the Lord.

¹⁸ The Lord has pun- | ished me sorely,*

but he did not hand me o- | ver to death.

¹⁹ Open for me the | gates of righteousness;*

I will enter them; I will offer thanks | to the Lord.

²⁰ "This is the gate | of the Lord;*

he who is right- | eous may enter."

²¹ I will give thanks to you, for you | answered me*

and have become | my salvation.

²² The same stone which the build- | ers rejected*

has become the chief | cornerstone.

²³ This is | the Lord's doing,*

and it is marvelous | in our eyes.

²⁴ On this day the | Lord has acted;*

we will rejoice and be | glad in it.

On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

¹Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, ²through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
³For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, ⁴and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

VERSE Romans 6:9; Psalm 118:24 Setting by Carl Schalk

Sung by the Cantor

Alleluia. Christ being raised from the dead will die no more; death has no more dominion over him. This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia.

Gospel Mark 16:1-8

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

Glory to you, O Lord.

¹When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. ²And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” ⁴When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. ⁶But 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. ⁷But 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.” ⁸So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

Sermon

Stand

HYMN OF THE DAY The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done

Cantor:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;

now is the victor’s triumph won!

Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia!

Pastor:

2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,

but Christ their legions has dispersed.

Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!

Cantor:

3 The three sad days have quickly sped,

he rises glorious from the dead.

All glory to our risen head! Alleluia!

Pastor:

4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;

the bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.

Let hymns of praise his triumph tell. Alleluia!

ALL:

5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded you,

from death’s sting free your servants too,

that we may live and sing to you. Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Symphonia Sirenum, Köln, 1695; tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.

X At the words ‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’ a solemn bow is appropriate to praise the incarnation of our Lord.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

X For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. X

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

PRAYERS

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Silence is kept.

For the Church throughout the world and especially for those newly baptized on this feast, that we may rejoice always in the Resurrection; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For our bishop and pastors, that, like Peter, they may fearlessly proclaim the good news of Resurrection; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For our faith family, that we may be renewed in the Spirit of Resurrection and called forward into new paths of faithfulness and service; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For all those who suffer in any way for the name of the Risen One, that the good news of the Resurrection may strengthen them in faith and hope; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For our communities, the nation, and the world; for all who must work on this day, especially those who work for the healing and protection of others; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

For those in any need of body, mind, or spirit, and for those who have asked us for our prayers:

The pastor reads the names on the prayer list.

The people are invited to offer intercessions and thanksgivings.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving for all the saints. and for those most dear to us with whom in past years we joyfully celebrated this great feast, that with them we may rejoice when the risen Christ is revealed to all people; Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

‘Peace be with you.’

Then they were glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia. John 20:19, 20

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

Stand

OFFERTORY 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Setting by Carl Schalk

Sung by the Cantor

Alleluia. Cleanse out the old yeast to make yourselves fresh dough, new unleavened bread! For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Father, creator of all things,

you wash away our sins,

you give us new birth by the Spirit,

and you redeem us in the blood of Christ.

As we celebrate the Resurrection,

renew your gift of life within us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Lord; for he is the true Passover lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising has brought us to eternal life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter, and all the witnesses of the resurrection; with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!

You are indeed holy, O God, the fountain of all holiness;

you bring light from darkness, life from death,

speech from silence.

We worship you for our lives and for the world you give us.

We thank you for the new world to come

and for the love that will rule all in all.

We praise you for the grace shown to Israel, your chosen,

the people of your promise:

the rescue from Egypt, the gift of the promised land,

the memory of the fathers, the homecoming from exile,

and the prophets' words that will not be in vain.

In all this we bless you for your only-begotten Son,

who fulfilled, and will fulfill, all your promises.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,

we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup

we remember the incarnation of your Son:

his human birth and the covenant he made with us.

We remember the sacrifice of his life:

his eating with outcasts and sinners,

and his acceptance of death.

But chiefly on this day we remember his rising from the tomb,

his ascension to the seat of power,

and his sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit.

We cry out for the resurrection of our lives,

when Christ will come again in beauty and power

to share with us the great and promised feast.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,

that we and all who share in this bread and cup

may be united in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

may enter the fullness of the kingdom of heaven,

and may receive our inheritance

with all your saints in light.

Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Join our prayers with those of your servants

of every time and every place,

and unite them with the ceaseless petitions

of our great high priest

until he comes as victorious Lord of all.

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, 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

Alleluia! Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God) Sung by the cantor.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.

When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine. Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated. Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing

1 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing

praise to our victorious king,

who has washed us in the tide

flowing from his pierced side.

Alleluia!

2 Praise we him, whose love divine

gives his sacred blood for wine,

gives his body for the feast-

Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

Alleluia!

3 Where the paschal blood is poured

death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;

Israel’s hosts triumphant go

through the wave that drowns the foe.

Alleluia!

4 Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,

paschal victim, paschal bread;

with sincerity and love

eat we manna from above.

Alleluia!

5 Mighty victim from the sky,

hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath you lie;

you have conquered in the fight,

you have brought us life and light.

Alleluia!

6 Now no more can death appall,

now no more the grave enthrall;

you have opened paradise,

and your saints in you shall rise.

Alleluia!

7 Easter triumph, Easter joy!

This alone can sin destroy;

from sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,

newborn souls in you to be.

Alleluia!

8 Father, who the crown shall give,

Savior, by whose death we live,

Spirit, guide through all our days:

Three in One, your name we praise.

Alleluia!

Text: office hymn, 17th cent.; tr. Robert Campbell, 1814-1868, alt.

When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

We give you thanks, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us

through the healing power of this gift of life;

and we pray that in your mercy

you would strengthen us through this gift,

in faith toward you and fervent love toward one another;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

SENDING

Acclamation

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Blessed 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.

Though we do not see him, we love him;

We believe in him

and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:3, 8

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Dismissal Gospel: John 11:25, 26

The Holy Gospel according to St. John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said:] ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Benediction

The God of peace – who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant – make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen Hebrews 13:20-21

Almighty God, Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever.

Amen

Dismissal

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

CLOSING MUSIC Jesus Christ is Risen Today Paul Manz

THIS WEEK FOR THE FAITH FAMILY

Sun/ Apr4 WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Food Bank Sunday

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM

Wed/ Apr 7 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM

ZOOM Bible Study 7:30 PM

Sat/ Apr 10 NA Meeting 11 AM

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 PM

Sun/ Apr 11 WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

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. All rights reserved.

Additional liturgical material from Common Worship: Times and Seasons,

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org