The livestream may be found here.
Adoration of the Lamb from the Ghent Altarpiece
The season of Easter is 50 days long, as the season of rejoicing will
last far longer than our season of penitence. The paschal candle, sign among us
of the presence of the risen Christ, is lit during all services in Eastertide.
The ‘Alleluia’ is used abundantly in our worship. We stand to receive Holy
Communion as an expression of resurrection joy.
FIRST READING: Saul was a persecutor of the infant Church,
for he believed that the followers of Jesus were turning people away from the
right practice of faith. The appearance of Jesus to Saul on the road to
Damascus is a death and resurrection experience for Saul. He would come to
write in the sixth chapter of Romans:
‘Do you not know
that all those who are baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him by baptism into death; so that as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new
life…So you too must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ
Jesus.’ (Romans 6:3-5)
SECOND READING: According to Church tradition, both
Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome. They join the great throng of those
who, freed from sin, death and evil, praise God in heaven. Our hymn of praise
in Easter, This Is the Feast, is a
combination of many of the songs of the saints described in the book of
Revelation.
GOSPEL: Though Peter was one of the first
followers of Jesus and the first to confess him as Messiah, on Good Friday
morning he is unable to confess that he is Jesus’ disciple. But the risen Jesus
renews Peter’s discipleship, and will empower him to witness before others, despite
persecution, imprisonment and eventual martyrdom. The command to ‘feed Jesus’
sheep’ is the call to proclaim the Gospel so that many may be gathered into the
fold. Last week we heard this preaching as the book of Acts, chapter 5,
describes it:
‘Peter and the
apostles said: ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of
our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give
repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these
things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’’
(Acts 5:29-32)
OPENING
MUSIC With High Delight – Gerhard Krapf
Stand
WHymn With
High Delight Let Us Unite
Green LBW 140
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.
KYRIE
A In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A For the peace from above, and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Amen
CALL TO
THE WORD
Saul began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’
Let us hear the Word of the Lord. Acts 9:20
Sit
FIRST READING Acts 9:1-20
1Saul, still breathing threats and
murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and
asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any
who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now
as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying
to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He asked, “Who are
you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But
get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7The
men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice
but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes
were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him
into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate
nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord
said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The
Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the
house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is
praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in
and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But
Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil
he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15But the
Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my
name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I
myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So
Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent
me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And
immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was
restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some
food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20and
immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the
Son of God.”
The
Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 30
1 I will exalt you, O Lord,
because you have lift- | ed me up*
and
have not let my enemies triumph | over me.
2 O Lord my
God, I cried | out to you,*
and
you restored | me to health.
3 You brought me up, O Lord,
| from the dead;*
you
restored my life as I was going down | to the grave.
4 Sing to the Lord,
you ser- | vants of his;*
give
thanks for the remembrance | of his holiness.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling | of an eye,*
his
favor | for a lifetime.
6 Weeping may | spend the night,*
but
joy comes | in the morning.
7 While I felt secure, I said, "I shall never | be
disturbed.*
You,
Lord, with your favor,
made
me as strong | as the mountains."
8 Then you | hid your face,*
and
I was | filled with fear.
9 I cried to | you, O Lord;*
I
pleaded with | the Lord, saying,
10 "What profit is there in my blood, if I go down |
to the pit?*
Will
the dust praise you or de- | clare your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O Lord,
and have mer- | cy upon me;*
O
Lord, | be my helper."
12 You have turned my wailing | into dancing;*
you
have put off my sackcloth and clothed | me with joy.
13 Therefore my heart sings to you | without ceasing;*
O
Lord my God, I will give you |
thanks forever. R
SECOND READING Revelation 5:11-14
11Then I looked, and I heard the
voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the
elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing
with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the
earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell
down and worshiped.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Stand
VERSE
Romans 6:9, Luke 24:32 Setting by Walter L. Pelz
Alleluia. Christ being raised from
the dead will die no more; death has no more dominion over him. Alleluia. Our
hearts burn within us while he opens to us the Scriptures. Alleluia.
Gospel John 21:1-19
The Holy Gospel according to St. John.
1After [he appeared to his followers in Jerusalem,] Jesus
showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed
himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter,
Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and
two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going
fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into
the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples
did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you
have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them,
“Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they
cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many
fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the
Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for
he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came
in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the
land, only about a hundred yards off.
9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with
fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish
that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled
the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though
there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them,
“Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are
you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the
bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This
was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised
from the dead.
15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes,
Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A
second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to
him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love
me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And
he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus
said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were
younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But
when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will
fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He
said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After
this he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
SERMON Pastor Frontz
Stand
W Hymn of the DaY
The Easter Day with Joy Was Bright Green LBW 154
Tune/ PUER NOBIS
Stanza 3: Choir
1 That Easter day with joy was bright;
the
sun shone out with fairer light,
when,
to their longing eyes restored,
the
apostles saw their risen Lord! Alleluia!
2 O
Jesus, king of gentleness,
with
constant love our hearts possess;
to
you our lips will ever raise
the
tribute of our grateful praise. Alleluia!
3 O
Christ, you are the Lord of all
in
this our Easter festival,
for
you will be our strength and shield
from
ev’ry weapon death can wield. Alleluia!
4 All
praise, O risen Lord, we give
to
you, once dead, but now alive!
To
God the Father equal praise,
and
God the Holy Ghost, we raise! Alleluia!
Text: Latin hymn, 4th or 5th cent.; tr.
John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
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
Rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord, let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Silence is kept.
Father, your risen Son called
Peter to feed the sheep of his pasture and chose Paul for ministry to the
nations. Call your Church today to witness to the Gospel of Christ. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Father, your risen Son called
Peter and Paul to suffer for the sake of his name. Call us to suffer the loss
of attachments to the world and to bear the sins and weaknesses of others.
Strengthen and bless all those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus
Christ. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Father,
your risen Son forgave Peter his denial and Paul his persecution, and restored
them to life from death. Raise from the darkness of error all those who deny
our Lord and persecute his followers. Forgive us our sins, and bring us all to
praise and serve you. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the peoples of the
world, especially those afflicted by violence, hunger, pollution, and disease.
Come to their assistance, and bless governments and rulers, that they may serve
the people with wisdom and integrity. Hear now our prayers for nations and
peoples in turmoil or distress.
The pastor names the countries and
situations brought for prayer.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray
for all those whose days are taken up with the labor of obtaining water, and
for those who have no access to clean water. We ask your blessing upon the
ministry of Water Mission, as we look forward to our Water Sunday on May 15.
Help us all to offer service in your name to others, as your Son has served us
in his passion and resurrection. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We ask you to show your mercy upon
those we name before you, for whom we have been called to pray.
The pastor reads the names brought
for prayer.
The people may offer spoken or
silent petitions and prayers.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give you thanks, O God, for
your risen Son, the Lamb who was slain, is worthy to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, honor, glory and blessing. Receive the worship we offer
today, and bring us to that day when we will praise you in heaven with the
saints and with all creation. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we commend
all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love; through your Son, our
Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen
On the first day of the week,
Jesus came and stood among the disciples
and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’
The peace of the Lord be with you always. John 20:19, 20
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 Peter 2:1-3 Setting by Walter L. Pelz
Alleluia. He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation; for in him all things were created. He is the head
of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. For in
him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile
to all things on earth and in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Alleluia.
Merciful Father,
we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—
our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious
love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
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 Peter, Paul, and all the apostles, with 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:
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon.
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 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.
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
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 Matthew 6:9-15
Just
as the risen Jesus fed the disciples by the lakeshore,
so now he comes and feeds us with his body and blood.
Thanks be to
God.
We adore Christ, present in bread and wine.
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.
Please come forward, take a communion cup from the tray, and kneel at the altar rail on your ‘side’ of the worship space. Please make an effort to leave some distance between your family unit and the next family unit. When your side has finished communing, please place your empty cup in the tray provided.
During the Easter season, the people stand to receive the Holy Communion as a sign of resurrection rejoicing.
WDISTRIBUTION HYMN
Choir:
At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
Text/17th
cent; tr. Robert Campbell
Music/ Bohemian
Brethren, Kirchengeseng, 1566
Please
follow the text as the choir sings.
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!
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
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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
WCLOSING HYMN
Come Away to the Skies Blue WOV 669
1 Come away to the skies,
my beloved, arise,
and rejoice in the day you were born:
on this festival day,
come exulting away,
and with singing to Zion return.
2 For thy glory we were
first created to share
both the nature and kingdom divine;
now created again,
that our lives may remain
throughout time and eternity thine.
3 We with thanks do approve
the design of that love
which has joined us to Jesus’ name;
so united in heart,
let us nevermore part,
till we meet at the feast of the Lamb.
4 Hallelujah we sing
to our Father and King,
and our rapturous praises repeat:
to the Lamb that was slain,
hallelujah again;
sing, all heaven, and fall at his feet.
Text:
Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Thanks be to God!
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
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,
© 2006 The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England.
Eyck,
Jan van, 1390-1440. Adoration of the Lamb detail, Ghent Altarpiece, from Art
in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library,
Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58707 [retrieved
April 26, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ghent_Altarpiece_D_-_Adoration_of_the_Lamb_2.jpg.
Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org.
