Second Sunday of Easter 4.27.25
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
APRIL 27, 2025
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
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THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE
WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ENTRANCE HYMN Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven LSB 477
1 Alleluia, alleluia!
Hearts to heav’n and voices raise:
Sing to God a hymn of gladness,
Sing to God a hymn of praise;
He who on the cross a victim
For the world’s salvation bled—
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
Now is risen from the dead.
2 Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Death at last has met defeat:
See the ancient pow’rs of evil
In confusion and retreat;
Once He died, and once was buried:
Now He lives forevermore,
Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer,
Whom we worship and adore.
3 Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to God on high:
Alleluia to the Savior
Who has gained the victory;
Alleluia to the Spirit,
Fount of love and sanctity!
Alleluia, alleluia
To the triune Majesty!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have
sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what
we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not
loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal
punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,
renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to
the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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.
HYMN OF PRAISE – “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,
grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace
confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same
Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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 (Be seated) Acts 5:12-20
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 148 (Spoken responsively)
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Revelation 1:4-18
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
10:30 CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20:19–31
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 20th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, 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; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, 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 believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
We have a guest preacher today… although he’s not here with us. Rev. Dr. Glenn Nielsen teaches at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and published a sermon for today that I have permission to use and will read. After a busy season of Lent and an even busier Holy Week, I decided I needed a Sunday off. And I thought you might like a Sunday off from me too!
But before we begin, let me explain that Dr. Nielsen wrote this sermon with the idea that you would not hear his voice nor that of any other pastor delivering it but rather that of someone else – the Apostle John. The sermon is written from John’s perspective as a witness to the events of today’s Gospel reading and as one who was a close follower of Jesus.
With that being understood, let’s start again.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
I am the Apostle John. Many of you know me as one of the writers of the New Testament—the Gospel of John or the book of Revelation or the three little letters that I wrote.
But this morning I’m not here to talk about myself. I’m here to talk about one of the other disciples. You know him as Thomas, who was a twin. Now, most of the time you only hear about Thomas this week after Easter, and then you call him by a certain name. You call him Doubting Thomas. Well, this morning I want to let you know that’s not how you should remember him. So much more went on with Thomas than just that one week where he had trouble believing Jesus had risen from the dead, that he would not believe unless he saw and touched Jesus for himself. So this morning, I’m going to go back and tell you a few things that I know about Thomas, things I wrote about in my Gospel.
To begin, all of us who wrote the Gospels list him as one of the disciples. Thomas is there, with us, from the very beginning. So he saw Jesus touch a leper and watched the sores disappear. He saw Jesus cast out a demon and silence that demonic spirit with a commanding word. He saw a paralytic lowered down through a roof and Jesus forgive the man.
Then, so we’d know he could do that, Jesus healed him. We all saw it. We were amazed when the man jumped up and ran around. Thomas was there when Jesus fed five thousand men, plus women and children. He helped to hand out the bread and the fish. He gathered up some of the leftovers into a basket. Yes, Thomas was there with us throughout Jesus’ ministry.
But Thomas has his moments where he stands out, where he says something that gives a glimpse of who he is. For example, when Jesus’ good friend Lazarus became sick, we weren’t in Judea where Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, lived. The religious leaders back there wanted to kill Jesus, so we were off beyond the Jordan where it was safer. When we got the word that Lazarus was sick, that Jesus was to come and help, Jesus didn’t go right away. He waited for a couple days, and then he told us we were going back to Judea because Lazarus had died.
Well, it was dangerous to go back. Those in power were looking to kill Jesus. We wondered, why go back now if Lazarus is already dead? But when Jesus makes up his mind, you don’t change it. And Thomas—not Peter, not James, not me—Thomas speaks up. He says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” At that moment, Thomas showed his loyalty, his devotion—that he was willing to die for Jesus. The words he spoke showed that he’d walk into danger, with courage, to stay with Jesus.
You know, in a way, Thomas showed us what a disciple looks like. You see, a disciple is someone who is loyal, devoted to Jesus. A disciple will die to himself, to herself, to be with Jesus. Thomas did just that. He followed Je-sus, even when it meant going somewhere you usually don’t want to go.
So we went with Jesus. When we arrived, we saw Jesus bring Lazarus out of the tomb, out of a grave where he had been dead for four days. Each of us saw something amazing. We saw that Jesus was God himself, the very Son of God. Only God could bring the dead back to life again like that.
Part of the reason we went with Jesus to Judea was because of Thomas. I always admired Thomas for his loyalty and devotion.
Then there was that night in the Upper Room when we were having our Last Supper with Jesus. It was a Thursday. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He gave us words of comfort for what would be a horrific few days for us. He told us that his Father in heaven had a place with many rooms and that he was going to prepare a place for us. He warned us that he would be gone for a little while, but when he came back, he would take us there. Then he told us something we just didn’t understand. He said that we knew the way to where he was going. We’re all kind of looking at one another. Know the way? Where was he going? What was going on? Guess who was the one who was honest enough to admit he didn’t have a clue about this way. Thomas.
Thomas asked him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” That was Thomas. Honest. Humble. Willing to let everyone know he was confused and needed help understanding where Jesus was headed and why.
Jesus’ response to Thomas was not one of accusation, getting down on him for not understanding something. No; instead, Jesus, says one of the most amazing, concise, revealing sentences I ever heard him speak. Jesus simply declared exactly what he had come to do. Listen to his words: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you were to take all that I wrote—my Gospel, the book of Revelation, my three letters—and summarize it into a couple sentences, those words would do it. The only way we would be welcomed into those many rooms in the Father’s house would be through Jesus. He spoke the simple truth that when we look to Jesus in faith, eternal life would be ours.
We heard those words because honest, humble Thomas asked Jesus that question about where he was going and the way there. With Thomas, what you saw is what you got. I always admired his honesty and his humility, but never more than on that day.
Of course, what happened next filled in the details of where Jesus was going. Later that same Thursday night, when we all ran away, Jesus would be arrested. His way would lead to suffering and being beaten, bruised, and bloodied. Finally, he would be raised up on a cross. On that Friday, Jesus became the way for us disciples, for all of you, to the Father’s house. On that cross, he took all our doubts, all our fears, all the things we may have done wrong, anything that would have kept us from eternal life.
That Thursday night, that Friday and Saturday, we were in hiding. But Jesus showed he was preparing a place for us in his Father’s house.
Then on Easter day, we found out that Jesus truly was the life. We had heard from the women who’d gone to the tomb that he had risen from the dead, or, at least, that the tomb was empty. Peter and I ran there and investigated. But we hadn’t seen Jesus yet. Later that evening, we were up in a room, huddled together, still afraid. Jesus appeared and showed us he was alive. He spoke a word of peace to us, quieting our fears. We saw his hands and side. We knew at that moment where true life was found. Jesus was the way to true life for all eternity. No one else could take us to the Father and the home that was waiting for us.
But you know who was missing. Thomas wasn’t there. Well, throughout that next week, we kept telling him that we saw Jesus, that he was alive. But Thomas kept insisting that unless he could see it for himself and touch Jesus’ wounds, he would not believe. Can you blame him? He saw Jesus crucified, disfigured beyond recognition, dead, and buried.
I don’t know if I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
But you know what Thomas didn’t do? He didn’t walk away. He hung with us. The following Sunday evening, he was right there in the room. We all watched as Jesus appeared. He walked right up to Thomas and invited him to touch his hands, to put his hand into his side. Thomas saw and made one of the boldest, clearest confessions of belief ever. We all heard him say, “My Lord and my God!”
If you want to remember Thomas, remember that. Don’t focus on those times of doubt. He is not Doubting Thomas. He is Believing Thomas. He truly believed in Jesus as his Lord and his God. He believed that Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life. He believed that Jesus would bring him to the Father and the room prepared for him. I always admired Thomas for that bold confession of belief.
After Thomas made that good confession, Jesus looked at him and said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I want you to imagine that Jesus is giving you a quick glance because you have believed even though you haven’t seen and touched him like we did. At that moment, Jesus is including you with Thomas, with all of us in that Upper Room, giving you life, showing you the true way to the rooms the Father has prepared for you.
I have one more word in my Gospel about Thomas. It happened a little later. We were waiting for Jesus to ascend into heaven and for the Holy Spirit to come and form the church. Well, one day, Peter decides to go fishing. I went along with him, with my brother James, Nathanael, a couple other disciples, and Thomas. Thomas is with us again. Good old Thomas, faithful Thomas. We don’t catch anything until Jesus appears on the shore. He tells us to cast our nets on the right side of the boat. We catch 153 fish. We know it’s Jesus, and Peter dashes to the shore, leaving the rest of us to pull in the fish. Soon, Thomas is with us, around the campfire, listening to Jesus, having breakfast with him. Thomas listens as Jesus sends out Peter to tend his people, his sheep. Then we realize that Je-sus was sending us out too. Thomas, along with the rest of us, was to tend Jesus’ sheep, to find others who could know him as the way, the truth, and the life.
What happened to us disciples? I was exiled to an island and lived to an older age. We didn’t have all sorts of instant communication like you do, but I heard that the other disciples were each martyred for telling others about Jesus. I heard that Thomas might have made it all the way to India where he was killed. The story I heard was that a spear was thrust through him. That would be fitting, since he was the one who was invited to touch Jesus’ side where the spear had pierced our Lord.
Put all these times together, and you realize you should not call him Doubting Thomas. No, admire him like I do. He was loyal, devoted, courageous, honest, humble—one who makes a bold confession and backs up what he says, perhaps all the way to India. I would call him Believing Thomas. For that is what Jesus called him to do.
So what can you learn from Thomas during this Easter season? Well, one thing you get to see is what it means to be a disciple. The disciple dies to himself, lives for Jesus. To follow Jesus, the one who was crucified for you, the one who has risen from the dead to be your way to the Father, means you look inside. You find what needs to die. You see what needs to come to life.
You know, when we were with Jesus, he taught us much about money and possessions. He told us you can’t serve God and money both. One of the original disciples, Judas, was like the treasurer of the group. But he got too attached to the money. It led him astray. Look inside yourself. What kind of hold do you have on money or does it have on you? That hold needs to die. Maybe with you it’s something else.
What needs to come alive? How you use money to care for others? Jesus calls on you to feed the hungry. Clothe those who don’t have enough to wear. Find a way to help those who may be in prison, and help their families. Comfort those who are grieving. When you show that kind of generosity, you’re dying to those selfish things that hold on to you, and you’re living as a disciple. In fact, Jesus said when you do these things for the least of all people, you’ve done them to him. Like Thomas, be loyal and devoted to Jesus, and you can do that by taking care of those in need.
Another thing Thomas teaches you is to back up your words by what you do. Now, you aren’t expected to go all the way to India. But you can do something closer to home. Thomas left that breakfast on the beach to go out and tend to those whom he met along the way.
Let’s say you go out to eat for breakfast, perhaps after church where you’ve just heard Jesus speak to you from the Bible in the sermon and in Sunday School. The food arrives. You say a prayer, and people see you bow your head and fold your hands. You’ve done a good thing, letting others see you give thanks for the food you’re eating.
But now you need to back up that quiet confession of Jesus as Lord and God in your life. You do that by treating the server with respect, even if the service isn’t up to your standards. You clean up all the napkins and food scraps and pick up anything from the floor to make it easy for your table to be bused. The bill comes, and you leave a generous tip that will make your server smile.
Do you see how that works? Thomas had a huge opportunity to back up his words; you have so many everyday, common ways to do the same.
One other thing Thomas can teach you today. Thomas stuck with us; he worked alongside of us. He gave a strong
confession for us to see and hear. He was good old, faithful Thomas, and that made a huge difference for the rest of us.
In other words, you can do just what you’re doing right now—gathering together to be with other believers. To be there for someone else.
Well, time for me to go. This morning, remember Thomas not as doubting, but as loyal, brave, devoted, living as a disciple for Jesus, humble, honest, and someone who backs up his words by what he does. Remember Thomas this day as the one who did just what Jesus called him to do. He is Believing Thomas! Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) O Sons and Daughters of the King LSB 470
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!
2 That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 An angel clad in white they see,
Who sits and speaks unto the three,
“Your Lord will go to Galilee.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 That night the_apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said, “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
5 When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
6 “My piercèd side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon My hands, My feet;
Not faithless but believing be.”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
7 No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“You are my Lord and God!” he cried.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
8 How blest are they who have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
9 On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voices raise.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
APOSTLES’ CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence 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.
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
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strength to praise our God aright, that our hearts and mouths would be filled with joy at the death and resurrection of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of our sins and the blessing of those who proclaim this forgiveness to us in Christ’s name, that together we would be built up as the church, in our time and in the ages to come, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who doubt, that God would work in their lives to show clearly his steadfast love and care; and that they would confidently rejoice in the faith and delight in Christ crucified and raised for them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church in its work of mission, especially our District as we prepare to gather in convention, that God would lead us and empower us through His Holy Spirit and embolden us in our witness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation, president and congress; for our governor, the legislature of this commonwealth and for all who make, administer and judge our laws; and for those who respond in emergency and guard our liberty, that the Lord would guide and protect them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the servants of the Lord who are afflicted, especially those on our prayer list and those we name in our hearts at this time… that God, the Great Physician, would grant them healing under the shadow of His wings, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For confidence in the mercy of Christ and glad hearts as He greets us with peace, that we would be forgiven, renewed and strengthened by His body and blood, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Almighty God, the Alpha and the Omega, who was and is and is to come, with You all the souls of the faithful rest in safety and in the assurance of the resurrection of all flesh. Make safe our way to join them and bring us with John and Thomas and all the saints into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
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 …evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS
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
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
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
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI
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 HYMN These Things Did Thomas Count as Real LSB 472
1 These things did Thomas count as real:
The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
The grain of wood, the heft of stone,
The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.
2 The vision of his skeptic mind
Was keen enough to make him blind
To any unexpected act
Too large for his small world of fact.
3 His reasoned certainties denied
That one could live when one had died,
Until his fingers read like braille
The markings of the spear and nail.
4 May we, O God, by grace believe
And thus the risen Christ receive,
Whose raw imprinted palms reached out
And beckoned Thomas from his doubt.
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done LSB 464
Refrain
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1 The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun.
Alleluia!
2 The pow’rs of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!
3 The three sad days have quickly sped,
He rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!
4 He broke the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise His triumph tell.
Alleluia!
5 Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free
That we may live and sing to Thee.
Alleluia! Refrain
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
FELLOWSHIP – LWML
FLOWERS – In thanks to God for his steadfast love and faithfulness as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. Dan & Julia Buuck
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Cor. 3:11
In celebration of Dan and Julia Buuck’s 25th Anniversary and to God’s glory.
By Rev. David and Lorri Buuck, Hannes, Andreas, and Miriam Buuck
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Steve Janssen
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Norm Williams
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Aaron Siebrass
Comm. assist: Holly Siebrass
Reader: Aaron Siebrass
Acolyte: Ian Lynch
Organist: Shaw-Hwa Yang
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 © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.
477 Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven Text (sts. 1, 3): Christopher Wordsworth, 1807–85; (st. 2): rev. The Jubilate Group Tune: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770–1827; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1796–1867 Text (st. 2): © 1982 The Jubilate Group, admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Text (sts. 1, 3) and tune: Public domain
470 O Sons and Daughters of the King Text: attr. Jean Tisserand, d. 1494; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt. Tune: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1570–1615 Text and tune: Public domain
472 These Things Did Thomas Count as Real Text: Thomas H. Troeger, 1945–2022
Tune: Stephen R. Johnson, 1966 Text: © 1984 Oxford University Press. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: © 2003 Stephen R. Johnson. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
464 The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done Text: Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 1695, Köln; tr. Francis Pott, 1832–1909, alt. Tune: Giovanni P. da Palestrina, c. 1525–1594, adapt. Text and tune: Public domain
