2nd Sunday of Easter '24

CALL TO WORSHIP

Christ is Risen!

   He is Risen Indeed!

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

   He gave us new life and hope by raising Jesus from the dead.

He has claimed us as his own.

   He called us from our darkness into the light of his new day.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

   He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

GATHERING SONG    “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”      #367

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Rejoicing in the resurrection, let us seek God's forgiveness, that dying to sin,

  we may walk in newness of life.

    Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Faithful God,

we confess that we have tried to live by our own poor strength,

  shunning the earth-shaking power of the resurrection.

We have doubted your promises. We have failed to recognize you in the poor and needy.

Have mercy on us, forgive us our sin,

  and restore to us the joy of your salvation

   through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Christ died to sin once for all, and now, victorious, lives to God. Our Savior has delivered you from the power of darkness and welcomed you into the realm of light. For his sake God grants you pardon and peace, the remission of all your sins. Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord's resurrection.  By the grace of Christ among us, enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

THE FIRST LESSON:  Acts 4:32-35                                            

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Word of God, word of life.  Thanks be to God.

PSALM 133

How good and how pleasant it is,

   when kindred live together in unity!

It is like fine oil upon the head, flowing down upon the beard,

   upon the beard of Aaron, flowing down upon the collar of his robe.  

It is like the dew of Hermon flowing down upon the hills of Zion.

   For there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.  

THE SECOND LESSON:  1 John 1:1—2:2

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL HYMN          “Let All Things Now Living”      #881

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: John 20:19-31

The holy gospel according to Saint John.  Glory to you, O Lord.

When 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." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So 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." A 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." Then 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But 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.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON            “Quite a Picture”                            Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY      “Thine Is the Glory”              #376

THE NICENE CREED                    

In infinite mercy God watched over the people of Israel. In unending love God sent his Son to be our Savior. God delivered us from sin through the waters of Baptism. With joy we proclaim in words and action the faith which makes us God’s own people. . .

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.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

       was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human.

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,

       who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

       who 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 OF INTERCESSION

THE SIGN PEACE IS SHARED

 The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER 

Let us pray. Everlasting God, the whole universe sings a new song of praise:

the rivers clap their hands, the hills ring out for joy. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us voices ready to cry out for justice and proclaim resurrection joy wherever your Spirit leads us. In Jesus' name we boldly pray. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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

BLESSING

SENDING SONG        “Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen!”   #377

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2024 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26385. 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.