The Resurrection of Our Lord                                              
Easter Day                                                                                    April 4, 2021                                              

 

Today’s Theme for Worship: Our Lord’s Resurrection is the end of the struggles and suffer­ing of Christ, and the beginning of new life for all believers.

 

Opening Hymn: 157 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

1  Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!

Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

 

2  Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

Unto Christ, our heav’nly King, Alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

 

3  But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!

Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!

Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!

Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

 

4  Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!

Praise eternal as his love, Alleluia!

Praise him, all you heav’nly host, Alleluia!

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

 

Text: Latin hymn, 14th century, st. 1-3; Charles Wesley, 1707-88, st. 4;

tr. Lyra Davidica, London, 1708, st. 1-3, alt.

 

 

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

C: And also with you.

 

Confession of Sins

P: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.

P: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.

C: Amen.

 

P: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

 

Song of Praise: 166 The Day of Resurrection

1  The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad,

The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God.

From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky,

Our Christ has brought us over With hymns of victory.

 

2  Our hearts be pure from evil That we may see aright

The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light

And, list’ning to his accents, May hear, so calm and plain,

His own “All hail!” and, hearing, May raise the victor strain.

 

3  Now let the heav’ns be joyful; Let earth her song begin.

Let all the world keep triumph And all that is therein.

Let all things, seen and unseen, Their notes of gladness blend;

For Christ the Lord has risen; Our joy shall have no end.

 

Text: John of Damascus, c. 696-c. 754; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-66, alt.

 

Prayer of the Day

P: Let us Pray.

Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him through baptism, may walk in newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be dominion and praise now and forever.  C: ♬ Amen.

 

First Lesson: Isaiah 25:6-9
God has taken everything away that would ruin the joy of his people - the veil of death, tears and disgrace.

6On this mountain

the Lord of Armies will prepare for all peoples

a banquet of rich food,

a banquet of aged wines,

with the best cuts of meat,

and the finest wines.

7On this mountain

he will destroy the shroud that covers all peoples,

the burial cloth stretched over all nations.

8He has swallowed up death forever!

The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face.

He will take away the shame of his people throughout the earth.

For the Lord has spoken.

9On that day it will be said,

“Look, here is our God!

We waited for him, and he saved us!

This is the Lord!

We waited for him.

Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”

 

Children’s Choir: Hymn 149 Christ the Lord is Risen Today

 

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Our hope in Christ is not just for this life. He lives, and so will we!

19If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.

20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a man. 22For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ as the firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming. 24Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has done away with every other ruler and every other authority and power. 25For he must reign “until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” 26Death is the last enemy to be done away with.

 

Hymn: 162 He Is Arisen! Glorious Word

He is arisen! Glorious Word!

Now reconciled is God, my Lord;

The gates of heav’n are open.

My Jesus did triumphant die,

And Satan’s arrows broken lie,

Destroyed hell’s fiercest weapon.

Oh, hear What cheer!

Christ victorious, Rising glorious,

Life is giving.

He was dead, but now is living!

 

Text: Birgitte K. Boye, 1742-1824; tr. George A. T. Rygh, 1860-1942, alt.


Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
The angel has a wonderful message, “He is not here, he is risen!” Instead of death claiming another victim, death has been swallowed up in victory!
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint Jesus. 2Very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3They were saying to each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

8They went out and hurried away from the tomb, trembling and perplexed. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
C:  ♬ Praise be to you, O Christ!

 

 

Hymn of the Day: 156 Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

 

1  Awake, my heart, with gladness!

See what today is done;

Now, after gloom and sadness,

Comes forth the glorious sun.

My Savior there was laid

Where our bed must be made

When to the realms of light

Our spirit wings its flight.

 

2  The foe in triumph shouted

When Christ lay in the tomb.

But lo, he now is routed;

His boast is turned to gloom.

For Christ again is free;

In glorious victory

He who is strong to save

Has triumphed o’er the grave.

 

3  This is a sight that gladdens-

What peace it does impart!

Now nothing ever saddens

The joy within my heart.

No gloom shall ever shake,

No foe shall ever take

The hope which God’s own Son

In love for me has won.

 

 

4  Now I will cling forever

To Christ, my Savior true;

My Lord will leave me never,

Whate’er he passes through.

He rends death’s iron chain;

He breaks through sin and pain.

He shatters hell’s dark thrall;

I follow him through all.

 

5  He brings me to the portal

That leads to bliss untold,

Whereon this rhyme immortal

Is found in script of gold:

“Who there my cross has shared

Finds here a crown prepared;

Who there with me has died

Shall here be glorified.”

 

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76, abr.; tr. John Kelly, 1833-90, alt.

 

Sermon                                                                        

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Hymn: 153 Alleluia! Jesus Lives

 

1  Alleluia! Jesus lives! He is now the living one;

From the gloomy house of death Forth the conqueror has gone,

Bright foreruner to the skies

Of his people, yet to rise.

 

2  Jesus lives! Let all rejoice; Praise him, ransomed ones of earth.

Praise him in a nobler song, Cherubim of heav’nly birth.

Praise the Victor-King, whose sway

Sin and death and hell obey.

 

3  Jesus lives! Why do you weep? Why that sad and frequent sigh?

He who died our brother here Lives our brother still on high,

Lives forever to bestow

Blessings on his Church below.

4  Jesus lives! And thus, my soul, Life is yours eternally;

Joined to him, your living head, Where he is, you too shall be;

You with him at his right hand

Victor over death shall stand.

 

Text: Karl B. Garve, 1763-1841, abr.; tr. Jane L. Borthwick, 1813-97, alt.

 

 

Offering Prayer

Electronic Giving! You can give your offerings from your smartphone with the GivePlusChurch app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play or the App Store. You can also give at holytrinitylutheranwyoming.com by clicking the Offerings link at the top of the page or scan the QR code below. If you have any questions about any of these options, please contact Dave Conrad at dconrad765@gmail.com or 616-406-7172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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.

 

Hymn: 143 He’s Risen, He’s Risen

 

1  He’s risen, he’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord;

He opened death’s prison, the incarnate Word.

Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song

And earth, sea, and mountain the praises prolong.

 

2  The foe was triumphant when on Calvary

The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.

In Satan’s domain did the hosts shout and jeer,

For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones fear.

 

3  But short was their triumph; The Savior arose,

And death, hell, and Satan he vanquished, his foes.

The conquering Lord lifts his banner on high;

He lives, yes, he lives, and will nevermore die.

 

 

4  Oh, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more;

Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door.

For all our transgressions his blood does atone;

Redeemed and forgiven, we now are his own.

 

5  Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice;

Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice.

Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain,

Who now sits in glory and ever shall reign.

 

Text: C. F. W. Walther, 1811-87, abr.; tr. Anna M. Meyer, 1867-1941, alt.

 

Prayer and Blessing

 

P: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

or

 

P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  ♬ A-men.

 

P: 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

 

Closing Hymn: 152 I Know that My Redeemer Lives

 

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 all-glorious in the sky;

He lives exalted there on high.

 

3  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.

 

4  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.

 

5  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.

 

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 my safely there.

 

8  He lives, all glory to his name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

 

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738-99, abr.