SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2020 – 8:30 AM

GATHERING TOGETHER
Welcome to God’s grace – where the world’s labels don’t apply.

Step into God’s time and presence. Hear God’s gentle whisper: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Let your body and mind rest, and open your heart to God in worship and prayer. Welcome each
other in the love of Christ. Extend hospitality to those new in our midst. “This is the day the Lord has
made. Let us rejoice in it!”

GATHERING MUSIC & RINGING OF THE BELL

TODAY’S WORSHIP THEME
In today’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples and offers them
the gift of peace. Even amid doubts and questions, we experience the
resurrection in our Sunday gathering around word and meal, and in our
everyday lives. Throughout the coming Sundays of Easter the first two
readings will be from the Acts of the Apostles and the first letter of Peter.
Even as the early Christians proclaimed the resurrection, we rejoice in the
new birth and living hope we receive in baptism.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, +one God, who is present, who gives life, who
calls into existence the things that do not exist. Amen
If you were to keep watch over sins, O Lord, who could stand? Yet with you
is forgiveness, and so we confess.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Gracious God,
Have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you,
knowingly and unknowingly. We have wandered from your
resurrection life. We have strayed from your love for all people. Turn
us back to you, O God. Give us new hearts and right spirits, that we
may find what is pleasing to you and dwell in your house forever.
Amen
Receive good news: God turns to you in love. “I will put my spirit in you,
and you shall live,” says our God. All your sin is forgiven in the name of
+Jesus Christ, who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you.
Amen
STAND

GATHERING HYMN ELW #385 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing!” vs 1,4
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
 2
KYRIE pg. 138
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
(Sung response) 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
Glory to God in
the highest, and
peace to God’s
people on earth.
 3
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the
hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you
and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
SIT

HEARING THE WORD

God speaks to us in scriptures sung, read, and proclaimed.

SPECIAL MUSIC
FIRST READING Acts 2:14a, 22-32
A reading from Acts
After the reading:
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING 1 Peter 1:3-9
A reading from First Peter
After the reading:
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
STAND

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

HOLY GOSPEL John 20:19-31

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twenthieth
chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the reading:
The gospel of our Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
 4
SIT

SERMON Pr. Randy Rasmussen

STAND

HYMN OF THE DAY ELW #392 “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” vs. 1,3
APOSTLES’ CREED
There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. United in Christ, let us
confess the faith we hold in common.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to
the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he
is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting. Amen

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the
people of God in all times and places in prayer for the church, the world,
and all who are in need.
A brief silence
Open the doors we close, O God, when we fear those who worship you in
different ways. Guide us to unity and harmony so that we may come to
respect and cherish our commonalities. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
Open the paths we ignore, O God, when we prioritize financial gain and
convenience over listening to the groaning of the earth. Inspire all to care
for the world you have made so that living things might thrive. Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.
Open the rooms we lock, O God, to those who live without a homeland or
place of safety. We pray that generous nations offer refuge and peace for
all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Open the hearts we close, O God, to the cries of those in pain. We pray for
those isolated physically or emotionally through incarceration, addiction,
mental illness, chronic suffering, grief, and all in need. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Open the ways of love, O God, in the pursuit of peace throughout the world,
and bless the efforts of missionaries, healthcare professionals, activists for
women and children, and relief workers, especially those who find
themselves in harm’s way. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
 5
With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we
pray into your eternal care; through Crist our Lord. Amen

OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God,
Our ordinary gifts seem small for such a celebration, but you make of
them an abundance, just as you do with our lives. Feed us again at
this table for service in your name, in the strength of the risen Christ.
Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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
SIT

SENT FORTH TO SERVE

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
STAND

BLESSING
May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise you to new life, fill
you with hope, and turn your mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father,
+Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen

SENDING HYMN ELW #376 “Thine Is the Glory”

SENDING
Christ is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God.