Second Sunday of Easter— April 19, 2020

Today’s Theme for Worship: Today is often called “the Sunday of St. Thomas.” With Thomas, we hear our Lord’s word of assurance: “Look at my hands and side! Stop doubting and believe!” With him we exclaim, “My Lord and my God!”

Opening Hymn: 149 — Christ the Lord is Risen Today

1 “Christ the Lord is ris’n today!”

Saints on earth and angels say;

Raise your joys and triumphs high;

Sing, O heav’ns, and earth, reply.

2 Love’s redeeming work is done,

Fought the fight, the battle won;

Lo, our sun’s eclipse is o’er;

Lo, he sets in blood no more.

3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;

Christ has burst the gates of hell.

Death in vain forbids his rise;

Christ has opened paradise.

4 Lives again our glorious King!

Where, O death, is now your sting?

Once he died our souls to save;

Where your victory, O grave?

5 Soar we now where Christ has led,

Foll’wing our exalted head.

Made like him, like him we rise;

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!

6 Hail the Lord of earth and heav’n!

Praise to you by both be giv’n!

God has now fulfilled his Word;

Praise the resurrected Lord!

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-88, abr., alt.

M: The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: (spoken) And also with you.

Confession of Sins

M: God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

C: (spoken) Amen.

Prayer and Praise

Lord, Have Mercy

M: For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C: ♬ Lord, have mer-cy.

M: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.

C: ♬ Christ, have mer-cy.

M: For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C: ♬ Lord, have mer-cy.

M: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your power and keep us in your tender care:

C: ♬ A-men.

M: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; his name is worthy of praise.

♬ O Lord, Our Lord

O Lord, our Lord, how glo-rious is your name in all the earth.

Al-might-y God, mer-ci-ful Father,

you crown our life with your love.

You take a-way our sin; you com-fort our spir-it;

you make us pure and ho-ly in your sight.

You did not spare your on-ly Son, but gave him up for us all.

O Lord, our Lord, how glo-rious is your name in all the earth.

O Son of God, e-ter-nal Word of the Fa-ther,

you came to live with us;

you made your Fa-ther known;

you washed us from our sins in your own blood.

You are the King of glo-ry; you are the Lord!

O Lord, our Lord, how glo-rious is your name in all the earth.

Prayer of the Day

M: Let us Pray.

The minister says the Prayer of the Day.

O risen Lord, you came to your disciples and took away their fears with your word of peace. Come to us also by Word and sacrament and banish our fears with the comforting assurance of your abiding presence; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: ♬ Amen.

First Lesson — Acts 2:14a, 22-32

Peter reminds his fellow Jews that Jesus’ resurrection was God’s proof that Jesus came from God.

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and clearly to them:

²²“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene was a man recommended to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know. ²³This man, who was handed over by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, you killed by having lawless men nail him to a cross. ²⁴He is the one God raised up by freeing him from the agony of death, because death was not able to hold him in its grip.

²⁵“Indeed, David says concerning him:

I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

²⁶Therefore my heart was glad,

and my tongue rejoiced.

My flesh also will rest in hope,

²⁷because you will not abandon my life to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life.

You will fill me with joy in your presence.

²⁹“Gentlemen, brothers, I can speak confidently to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰Since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹he saw what was coming and spoke about the resurrection of Christ, saying that he was neither abandoned to the grave nor did his flesh see decay.

³²“This Jesus is the one God has raised up. We are all witnesses of that.

Psalm of the Day (Special Music) Psalm 16

“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

Refrain

Keep me safe, my God; for in you I take refuge.

You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.

I fix my eyes on you; with you I will not be shaken.

You alone my cup; you make my portion and lot secure.

I will praise you, LORD; you counsel and delight me.

Refrain

Keep me safe, my God; for in you I take refuge.

Those who pursue other gods will suffer more and more;

I will not take up their names upon my lips.

Refrain

Keep me safe, my God; for in you I take refuge.

Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices.

My body rests secure, for you will not leave me to the grave.

I will not see decay; you make known the path of life.

You fill me with joy always; at your right hand for all my days.

Refrain

Keep me safe, my God; for in you I take refuge.

Refrain

Keep me safe, my God; for in you I take refuge.

Second Lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Even though we have not seen Christ or heaven, we have a “living hope” in the Savior. Our hope keeps our faith alive though we suffer “grief in all kinds of trails.”

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. ⁵Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

⁶Because of this you rejoice very much, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of trials ⁷so that the proven character of your faith—which is more valuable than gold, which passes away even though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Verse

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel — John 20:19-31
Jesus appears to ten of his disciples on Easter day, and then to the Eleven a week later. He greeted them with the word, “Shalom!” “Peace” is our gift from God in the hope of the resurrection.

¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.” ²²After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

²⁴But Thomas, one of the Twelve, the one called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶After eight days, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt, but believe.”

²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, did many other miraculous signs that are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

C: ♬ Praise be to you, O Christ!

Hymn of the Day: 165 O Sons and Daughters of the King

1 O sons and daughters of the King,

Whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing,

Today the grave has lost its sting!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 That night th’ apostles met in fear;

Among them came their Lord most dear

And said, “Peace be unto you here.”

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

8 Blessèd are they that have not seen

And yet whose faith has constant been;

In life eternal they shall reign.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

9 On this most holy day of days

To God your hearts and voices raise

In laud and jubilee and praise.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Text: attr. Jean Tisserand, d. 1494, abr.; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-66, alt.

Sermon: Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Nicene Creed

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 fully 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian 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.

Offering Prayer

Prayer of the Church

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

The Sacrament

Communion Liturgy

M: The Lord be with you.

C: ♬ And also with you.

M: Lift up your hearts.

C: ♬ We lift them up to the Lord.

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: ♬ It is right to give him thanks and praise.

M: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms and placed all things under his feet for the benefit of the Church.

Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.

♬ Holy, Holy, Holy

Ho-ly, ho-ly, ho-ly is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of your glo-ry.

You are my God, and I will ex-alt you.

I will give you thanks, for you have be-come my sal-va-tion.

Ho-ly, ho-ly, ho-ly is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of your glo-ry.

Words of Institution

M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: ♬ A-men.

♬ O Christ, Lamb Of God

O Christ, Lamb of God,

you take a-way the sin of the world;

have mer-cy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God,

you take a-way the sin of the world;

have mer-cy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God,

you take a-way the sin of the world;

grant us your peace.

A-men.

Distribution Hymn: 341 — Crown Him with Many Crowns

1 Crown him with many crowns, The Lamb upon his throne;

Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns All music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing Of him who died for thee,

And hail him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

2 Crown him the Lord of love-Behold his hands and side,

Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.

No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his wond’ring eye At mysteries so bright.

3 Crown him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave

And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save.

His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die.

4 Crown him the Lord of heav’n, Enthroned in worlds above;

Crown him the King to whom is giv’n The wondrous name of Love.

Crown him with many crowns As thrones before him fall;

Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns For he is King of all.

Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800-94, st. 1-2, 4, abr., alt.; Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903, st. 3.

Thank the Lord Hymnal, p. 36

Thank the Lord and sing his praise.

Tell ev-'ry-one what he has done.

Let all who seek the Lord re-joice

and proud-ly bear his name.

He re-news his prom-is-es and leads his peo-ple forth

in joy with shouts of thanks-giv-ing.

Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!

Prayer and Blessing

M: Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praise you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: A-men.

M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.

C: ♬ A-men. A-men. A-men.

Special Music — Be Thou My Vision

1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;

Thou my best thought, by day or by night;

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2.Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3.Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart;

High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.

4 High King of heaven, my victory won;

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall;

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Traditional Irish Melody, Arranged by David A. Sttertzbach, II, Translated by Mary E. Byrne, Versified by Eleanor H. Hull

Copyright 1995 by SoundForth, the music division of BJU press, Greenville, SC 29614, All rights reserved. Printed in USA . Duplication in any form prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

Today’s Organist: Miss Allegra Scott