Easter Sunday 2021
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Easter Sunday
April 4, 2021
May you be blessed as you join us in Worship!
PRELUDE Ruth Gordon
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FIRST READING John 20: 1-9
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
SECOND READING Isaiah 65:17-18a, 19b-25
17For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
20No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD — and their descendants as well. 24Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent — its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.
EASTER GREETING
Pastor: He is risen
All: He is risen indeed!
HYMN Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
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!
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 carol, 14th cent., sts. 1-3; tr. J. Walsh, Lyra Davidica, 1708; Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, st. 4; © Public Domain
WORDS OF PRAISE: Psalm 100
Pastor: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
All: Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Men: Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Women: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
All: For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures
forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF THE DAY: God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia
Christ has arisen, alleluia.
Rejoice and praise him, alleluia.
For our redeemer burst from the tomb,
even from death, dispelling its gloom.
Let us sing praise to him with endless joy.
Death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy.
Our sin forgiving, alleluia!
Jesus is living, alleluia!
English text © 1977 Howard S. Olson, admin. Augsburg Fortress; OneLicense #A-725698
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds
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! He is living!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Text: Paul Z. Strodach, 1876-1947, alt.© 1958 Service Book and Hymnal, admin. Augsburg Fortress; OneLicense #A725698
GOSPEL John 20:10-18
10Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
SERMON
THE PRAYERS
Pastor: … Lord in your mercy,
Congregation: Hear our prayer.
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.
OFFERING
(As a spiritual discipline, ask the Holy Spirit to nudge you in offering yourself and a portion of God’s many blessings God has given you for God’s use in the church and world. An offering box is available at the side door for your convenience. To support the ministries during this pandemic time and as a response to God’s love for you, consider using electronic giving at https://www.trchurch.org/electronic-giving/.)
BENEDICTION
HYMN Hallelujah! Jesus Lives!
Hallelujah! Jesus lives!
He is now the Living One;
from the gloomy halls of death
Christ, the conqueror, has gone,
bright forerunner to the skies
of his people, yet to rise.
Jesus lives! Why do you weep?
Why that sad and mournful sigh?
Christ who died our brother here
lives our brother still on high,
lives forever to bestow
blessings on his church below.
Hallelujah! Angels, sing!
Join with us in hymns of praise.
Let your chorus swell the strain
which our feebler voices raise:
Glory to our God above
and on earth his peace and love!
Carl B. Garve, 1763-1841; tr. Jane L. Borthwick, 1813-1897, alt.; © Public Domain
POSTLUDE Ruth Gordon
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