Easter 2026
THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD
EASTER DAY
APRIL 5, 2026
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE Awake, My Heart, With Gladness Setting: Raymond H Hahn
INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 118)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His steadfast love endures forever!
I shall not die, but I shall live;
And recount the deeds of the Lord.
The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the cornerstone.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Let us pray. O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
EASTER PROCLAMATION
The angel said: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
“He is not here. He has risen.”
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN Jesus Christ is Risen Today LSB 457
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 ye heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
As the Cross passes you, turn and face the front.
KYRIE LSB 152
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
THIS IS THE FEAST LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us.
Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be
raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON Acts 10:33-43
Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM Jubilation Choir Make Song of Joy Setting: Carl Schalk
1 Make songs of joy to Christ, our head;
Alleluia!
He lives again who once was dead!
Alleluia!
2 Our life was purchased by His loss;
Alleluia!
He died our death upon the cross.
Alleluia!
3 O death, where is your deadly sting?
Alleluia!
Assumed by our triumphant King!
Alleluia!
4 And where your victory, O grave,
Alleluia!
When one like Christ has come to save?
Alleluia!
5 Behold, the tyrants, one and all,
Alleluia!
Before our mighty Savior fall!
Alleluia!
6 For this be praised the Son who rose,
Alleluia!
The Father, and the Holy Ghost!
Alleluia!
SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (ESV)
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not 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. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL VERSE (Stand) O Love, How Deep Sts. 1, 3, 5 LSB 544
1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!
3 For us baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore;
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
5 For us by wickedness betrayed,
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us He gave His dying breath.
THE EASTER GOSPEL Matthew 28:1-10 The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 28th chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord!
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (ESV)
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ!
GOSPEL VERSE (Stand) O Love, How Deep Sts. 6-7 LSB 544
6 For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
7 All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.
SERMON
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
Easter is the church’s most joyful and glorious celebration. And the reason for this, of course, is that Easter celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. His resurrection means everything – including life eternal for all who trust in him. In the resurrection of Jesus, we believers have true and lasting victory.
There is also, however, a secondary reason for our joy on this day – one that also contributes to its glory in a small but certain way. And this is the joy we feel because of finishing our Lenten fast.
During the forty-day season of Lent, the church deprived itself of alleluias, and our songs, though lovely, were much more somber. What’s more, many of us deprived ourselves of certain foods or other joys. I know there was one group of young men among us who were very intentional about this. And others of us, especially we pastors and church workers, added things to our schedules, which amounted to fasting from time off, if you will. Together in this season we all focused on life’s more serious subjects, including sin, suffering, and death.
The discipline of Lent always proves to be helpful. But it’s also heavy. And that’s why it feels good to be done with it for a time. Our normal posture as Christians includes joy – lots of it. And that’s because Christ’s death and resurrection have brought us a freedom in which we do not live by discipline alone, but by grace and faith as well.
At our Lenten midweek services this year, we focused on how God helps us through life’s difficult and serious moments by showing us his great love. And to help us understand and appreciate this love, we sang a hymn which recounts many of the good things Christ did for us as recorded in the scriptures. The hymn’s seven stanzas keep repeating the line “for us… for us…” as the many good things of Christ are extolled. And today we just sang the one stanza we had not yet sung – the one about the resurrection. We saved it for today and sang it just moments ago during our Gospel Procession.
In the sermons during those midweek Lenten services, I often elaborated on the messages given in the stanzas of that great hymn. And I thought about doing that again today. But the resurrection itself just gets one simple line of mention… telling, again, how it was accomplished “for us.” The rest of that stanza leads us into Christ’s Ascension and his giving of the Spirit at Pentecost. And it’s the Pentecost line which gets expanded – telling how the Spirit was sent to “guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.”
Ascension and Pentecost are also a part of the Easter story in that they show how its message is glorified by God and spread throughout the world. Both festivals are part of the Easter cycle in the church’s calendar.
But rather than elaborating on this, I thought I would instead point out something else about the hymn which we have not yet explored. And that is the tune (or melody) which normally accompanies it. The tune is powerful and moving. And it has quite a story.
You may know that all the tunes of the church have been given names. This one is Deo Gracias – a Latin phrase meaning “thanks to God.” The name was given to reflect the central thought of a hymn text which was paired with it in the early 15th century.
That hymn to which our tune is paired is known to us as the Agincourt Carol. Agincourt is a place in northern France that was the site of a very famous battle in the year 1415. At that battle, a force of 6000 or so Englishmen thoroughly defeated a much larger French army. It was a very surprising victory, and one that assured English dominance in the region for years to come.
This battle – which featured the triumph of the English longbow over the armor of the French knights – was greatly celebrated by the English as a sign of their dominance and of God’s merciful hand. The two nations had been fighting for decades at this point, and the English believed that this victory would finally settle things in their favor.
The English king who led this victory was Henry the 5th. The story of his leadership at Agincourt has been immortalized in the great work by Shakespeare that bears his name. If you haven’t seen the play, perhaps you’ve seen a film version. Many of these films have been made and almost all of them prominently feature the Agincourt Carol.
The melody in this carol probably came from an English folk song. But that doesn’t mean it’s simple and easy. To the contrary, this is a very strong melody which hits hard right from its first notes, and especially when set to an accompaniment that accents its syncopation. Like most melodies that seek to highlight power and glory and underscore the importance of a message, this one is in a minor mode.
You may be aware that there are other prominent Easter hymns that are found in minor keys too. Martin Luther’s great Easter hymn “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands” is one of them.
Such hymns often highlight the fact that the resurrection of Christ is a victory in battle. And this way of describing the resurrection comes from the language of scripture itself, for the Easter message is often explained by using military language.
Our reading today from First Corinthians chapter 15 – “the great resurrection chapter” as we call it – did not contain any of this language, but later in the chapter there is plenty of it. Starting in verse 55, we hear Paul describe the resurrected life by saying: “Death is swallowed up in victory!” Paul then composes a poetic verse to highlight this, saying: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God (Deo gratias), who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (15:55-57).
The Book of Romans, likewise, uses similar language when it asks: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” And the reading answers this question by then giving an emphatic: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (8:35-37).
Even our Gospel reading today, which simply relates the events of the resurrection, also includes details which remind us that war and security are part of the story. The reading is from Matthew, since this is our year of reading his account. And Matthew includes the part about the soldiers at the tomb. He tells how these guards “trembled and became like dead men” when the angel appeared. In the section right before this, he tells how these guards were soldiers – Roman soldiers – placed there so that the tomb would be secured.
Such military and battle language is always appropriate for describing the triumph of life over the evils of sin. And as such, we don’t shy away from it at our church.
At the same time, we don’t make it the sum and substance of our message either. If anything, we’re very careful with it. For we know that people can fall in love with the glories of war. And this love can often lead to unnecessary and misplaced aggression.
At the church, we take our cue from the full language of the Apostles as they lead us in our proclamation of Christ’s victory. In our time remaining here, let me point out messages from two of them, Peter and Paul, and explain how the greater language they use is that of peace.
In today’s first reading, from Acts chapter ten, Peter is speaking to Cornelius, a Roman Centurian who feared God and had received a vision from him that brought the two men together. Cornelius had gathered his friends and relatives with him to meet Peter and hear from him. When it was time for Peter to explain what he knew and believed about God, Peter, right away, labels the message God has given him as the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ,” adding that Jesus is “Lord of all.”
In calling Jesus “Lord,” Peter could have been seen as promoting a new political leader. “Lord” was a title vehemently claimed by the Caesars and by other leaders too.
But in the rest of his speech, Peter makes clear that the message of Jesus is not about promoting a new government. Rather, Jesus is “the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” His gift to the world is that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (10:42-43).
Here we see clearly that the message of Jesus is a message of peace. And yes, this peace is first and foremost the one we experience personally when we know our sins are forgiven. But it is also a peace that brings people together. We see this in Peter’s very first words where he says: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
And then there is the Apostle Paul. While Paul doesn’t mention peace in his great resurrection chapter, he does mention it to the Corinthians many other times, including his opening statements in both letters. One of the most direct messages he gives about peace comes in his second letter, where he says: “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (13:11).
You may know that St. Paul is normally depicted in Christian art as carrying a sword. As such, we at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church use a sword as an image of our identity. But Paul’s sword is the “sword of the Spirit” – his name for the word of God. It is this sword – and this sword only – that followers of Christ are to use.
The battle Christ’s followers are urged to join is the one against our own personal sin. We are to battle against life’s temptations, especially apostasy, which is unbelief. These battles are the good fight of faith to which Paul and all of scripture calls us.
Yes, we can fight against assaults on the church. And yes, we can fight against the moral decay we see around us. But we need to be careful in such fights. Again, our only weapon in them is to be the word of God, not swords of steel.
We may think that the church needs such swords. But we don’t. And that’s because God is fighting for us.
As I said that, did you notice our phrase again? Yes, God is fighting “for us.”
We hear this clearly in the scriptures too. It’s there in that section of Romans eight we referenced earlier, where Paul says: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (8:31).
And we hear it in Psalm 46, which says: “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (46:6-7). This is the Psalm which inspired Luther’s great hymn “A Mighty Fortress,” where Luther has us sing: “But for us fights the valiant one, whom God himself elected.”
We hear it also in Luther’s version of a 6th century hymn which he made into a short prayer and had set to music. Our hymnal has this setting and one set later too by Mendelssohn – a work of great beauty and power. That prayer says: “Grant peace, we pray, in mercy Lord: Peace in our time, O send us! For there is none on earth but you, none other to defend us. You only, Lord, can fight for us.”
When the English longbows defeated the French knights at Agincourt, the English did indeed enjoy some new peace and prominence… for a time. But not for long. Within a few years, the French re-grouped and pushed England back. And then the English attacked and won again. And then the French attacked and won again. And so it went… on and on as part of the so-called Hundred Years War.
What was accomplished? Not much. Borders may have changed for a while, but people still needed to work, eat, raise their kids and find meaning in their lives.
Too often, people find meaning in fighting wars. They fight wars to build their perfect home, their perfect neighborhood, their perfect country, their perfect world.
The Lord Jesus teaches us a better way.
Victory for a Christian is turning an enemy into a friend. Conquest for a Christian is conquering our own sins and fears.
Christ Jesus has won our victory and made us more than conquerors through his death and resurrection. That’s the Easter message.
With our victory assured, we can find meaning in work that pursues health, growth and peace for all. Working toward the common good should be our goal.
And although these ends of health, growth and peace will never be perfectly achieved this side of heaven, we can make better strides towards them than we think. And this is especially the case when people have faith in a God who both judges and saves.
As people of such faith, let us do our part with joy and with peace, trusting that God will lead us as he knows best.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia LSB 463
1 Christ the Lord is ris’n today; Alleluia!
Christians, hasten on your way; Alleluia!
Offer praise with love replete, Alleluia!
At the paschal victim’s feet. Alleluia!
2 For the sheep the Lamb has bled, Alleluia!
Sinless in the sinner’s stead. Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris’n on high; Alleluia!
Now He lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
3 Hail, the victim undefiled, Alleluia!
God and sinners reconciled, Alleluia!
When contending death and life, Alleluia!
Met in strange and awesome strife. Alleluia!
4 Christians, on this holy day, Alleluia!
All your grateful homage pay; Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris’n on high; Alleluia!
Now He lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
NICENE CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, on this day of glory, fill Your people with a holy fear at the resurrection of Your Son, that we would tremble no longer before the grave but rejoice and live in the truth of Your power to save. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, as You once chose the women at the tomb and the first disciples of Jesus to proclaim the good news of the resurrection, so open the mouths of Your people today to declare His praises to all who will hear. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, lead Your people in Your steadfast love and guide them in strength to Your holy abode. Sanctify our homes, be the companion of those who live alone, and make our households places where Your wisdom and grace are found. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power. Grant that all in authority among us would govern according to Your will, maintain order, and curb that which is evil, that we may live in peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, have mercy on the sick and those in any need, especially those on our prayer list and those we name in our hearts at this time… Let the dawning light of the new creation in Christ sustain them in faith. And in accord with Your will, grant them renewed health as a foretaste of their eternal healing in Him. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, give us joy in Your Son’s great victory feast as He shares it with us from this altar. In the eating of His true body and the drinking of His precious blood in faith, overcome our sin by His forgiveness and swallow up our death in His life, that we may be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We praise Your holy name, O Lord, for all Your servants who have departed this life in faith. And we give thanks for your promise that You will not abandon your servants to the grave but rather awaken us to glory in the resurrection of all flesh. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, heavenly Father, You did not let Your Holy One see corruption, but raised Him in triumph from the dead, never to die again. Our hearts are now glad and we rejoice, for our flesh also dwells secure. As You have set Him at Your right hand, lead us to set His resurrection before our eyes at all times so that His path of life and the fullness of joy in His presence may be known to us until we come also to your place of glory; for You live and reign, O Father, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
OFFERTORY through AGNUS DEI (Stand) LSB 159 – 163
OFFERTORY LSB 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
PREFACE LSB 160
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 truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING LSB 161
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My ✠ body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My ✠ blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
PAX DOMINI LSB 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 163
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; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Christ the Lord Is Risen Today LSB 469
1 “Christ the Lord is ris’n today!”
Saints on earth and angels say;
Raise your joys and triumphs high;
Sing, ye 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 hath 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 thy sting?
Once He died our souls to save;
Where thy 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 Thee by both be giv’n!
Thee we greet triumphant now:
Hail, the resurrection, Thou!
Now All the Vault of Heaven LSB 465
1 Now all the vault of heav’n resounds
In praise of love that still abounds:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!
Repeat their song of glory here:
“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 Eternal is the gift He brings,
Therefore our heart with rapture sings:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Now still He comes to give us life
And by His presence stills all strife.
Christ has triumphed! He is living!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love;
Set heart and will on things above
That we conquer through Your triumph;
Grant grace sufficient for life’s day
That by our lives we truly say:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 Adoring praises now we bring
And with the heav’nly blessèd sing:
“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”
Be to the Father and our Lord,
To Spirit blest, most holy God,
All the glory, never ending!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing LSB 475
1 Good Christian friends, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 The Lord of life is ris’n this day;
Bring flow’rs of song to strew His way;
Let all the world rejoice and say:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Praise we in songs of victory
That love, that life which cannot die,
And sing with hearts uplifted high:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 Your name we bless, O risen Lord,
And sing today with one accord
The life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing Setting: Healey Willan
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Kim Follin
Acolyte: Josslyn Godbee
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Charles Fisher
Comm. assist: Dan Buuck
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acolyte: Miriam Buuck
8:00/ 10:30 Trumpet – Amelia Jansen
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House
457 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Text: tr. Lyra Davidica, 1708, London, alt.; (sts. 1–3): Latin, 14th cent.; (st. 4): Charles Wesley, 1707–88 Tune: Lyra Davidica, 1708, London Text and tune: Public domain
544 O Love, How Deep Text: attr. Thomas à Kempis, 1380–1471; tr. Benjamin Webb, 1819–85, alt. Tune: English, 15th cent. Text: Public domain
463 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia Text: attr. Wipo of Burgundy, d. c. 1050; tr. Jane E. Leeson, 1809–81, alt. Tune: Robert Williams, c. 1781–1821 Text and tune: Public domain
469 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–88, alt. Tune: French, 13th cent. Text and tune: Public domain
465 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds Text: Paul Z. Strodach, 1876–1947, alt. Tune: Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1623, Köln Text: © 1958 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
475 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing Text: Cyril A. Alington, 1872–1955, alt. Tune: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570–1615 Text: © 1958, renewed 1986 Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd., admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
