SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER April 11, 2021
ORDER OF SERVICE: LSB DS1 with Holy Communion, p. 151
THE HYMNS: 649, 470, 633,763
THE SERMON TEXT: John 20:19-31
OPENING HYMN: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (LSB 649)
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When here our pathways part,
We suffer bitter pain;
Yet, one in Christ and one in heart,
We hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
[Stand]
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
[The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.]
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: 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.]
P: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
C: 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.
P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all yours 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.
C: Amen.
THE INTROIT (all): Psalm 105:1-5, 8; Antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2-3
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations. 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. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
KYRIE ~ Lord Have Mercy (Sung)
P: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: 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.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: 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.
SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: 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.
C: Amen
[Sit]
BOOK OF CONCORD: Apology Article V: Love and Fulfilling the Law
The Church Fathers have clearly handed down the doctrine that we need mercy even in good works.
Scripture teaches the same. "Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You" (Psalm 143:2). This passage denies absolutely—even to all saints and servants of God—the glory of righteousness, if God does not forgive, but judges and convicts their hearts. For when David boasts about his righteousness, he speaks about his own cause against the persecutors of God's Word. He does not speak of his personal purity. He asks that God's cause and glory be defended, "Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me" (Psalm 7:8) Likewise, in Psalm 130:3, he says that no one can endure God's judgment:
"If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?"
If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, yet You will plunge me into a pit. (Job 9:30-31)
Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"? (Proverbs 20:9)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
In the Lord's Prayer the saints ask for the forgiveness of sins. Even the saints have sins.
FIRST READING: Acts 4:32-35
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE: 1 John 1:1-2:2
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.
[Stand]
ALLELUIA AND VERSE (Sung)
C: Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-31
19 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.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.”
26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 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.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
[Sit]
HYMN OF THE DAY: “O Sons and Daughters of the King” (LSB 470)
O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heav'nly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave hath lost its sting!
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
An angel clad in white they see,
Who sits and speaks unto the three,
"Your Lord will go to Galilee."
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
That night the Apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said: "My peace be with you here."
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples' word.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
"My pierced side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon My hands, My feet;
Not faithless but believing be."
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"You are my Lord and God!" he cried.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
How blest are they that have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voices raise.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
SERMON
[Stand]
NICENE CREED
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 on 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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
[After each petition:]
P: Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
THE SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE (Sung)
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
P: It is truly good, right, and salutary…evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS (Sung)
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
P: 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.
C: Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
P: Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
C: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed by 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.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
P: 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."
PAX DOMINI (Sung)
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
AGNUS DEI (Sung)
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.
[Sit]
THE DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION HYMN: “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing" (LSB 633)
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from His pierced side. Alleluia!
Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast
Christ the victim, Christ the priest. Alleluia!
Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia!
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above. Alleluia!
Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath You lie;
You have conquered in the fight,
You have brought us life and light. Alleluia!
Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And Your saints in You shall rise. Alleluia!
Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in You to be. Alleluia!
[Stand]
Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days:
Three in One, Your name we praise. Alleluia!
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE Thank the Lord (DSB 164)
C: Thank the Lord and sing His praise;
Tell ev’ryone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
P: Let us pray.
We give thanks to you, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen
BENEDICTION (Sung)
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “When Peace, Like a River” (LSB 763)
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed his own blood for my soul. [Refrain]
He lives—-Oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Refrain]
And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend;
Even so it is well with my soul. [Refrain]