31
March
2024
The
Resurrection
of Our Lord
(Easter
Day)
Ringing
of the Bell
–
The
bell rings as the call to worship, reminding us
to discontinue
conversation and reverently prepare for worship.
Prelude
Welcome
and Announcements
Lutheran
Service Book Divine Service Setting One
Stand
Easter
Proclamation
457
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!
D
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!
Text:
tr.
Lyra Davidica, 1708, London, alt.; (sts. 1–3):
Latin, 14th cent.; (st. 4): Charles Wesley, 1707–88
Text:
Public domain
CONFESSION
AND ABSOLUTION
The
sign of the cross may be made by all in
remembrance of their Baptism.
Invocation
P
In
the name of the Father and of the TSon
and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.
Exhortation
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.
Confession
of Sins
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.
Absolution
P
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 TSon
and
of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.
SERVICE
OF THE WORD
Kyrie
A
In
peace let us pray to the Lord.
C
Lord,
have mercy.
A
For
the peace from above and for our salvation let us
pray to the Lord.
C
Lord,
have mercy.
A
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.
A
For
this holy house and for all who offer here their
worship and praise
let us pray to the Lord.
C
Lord,
have mercy.
A
Help,
save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C
Amen.
This
Is the Feast
C
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 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.
C
Amen.
Sit
Psalm
Psalm
16;
antiphon: v. 10
Preserve
me, O God,
for
in you I take refuge.
I
say to the Lord,
“You
are my Lord;
I
have no good apart from you.”
As
for the saints in the land,
they
are the excellent ones,
in
whom is all my delight.
The
sorrows of those who run after another god shall
multiply;
their
drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or
take their names on my lips.
The
Lord
is my chosen portion and my cup;
you
hold my lot.
The
lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed,
I have a beautiful inheritance.
I
bless the Lord
who gives me counsel;
in
the night also my heart instructs me.
I
have set the Lord
always before me;
because
he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore
my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my
flesh also dwells secure.
For
you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or
let your holy one see corruption.
You
make known to me the path of life;
in
your presence there is fullness of joy;
at
your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
First
Reading
Isaiah
25:6–9
On
this mountain the Lord
of hosts will make for all peoples
a
feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of
rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well
refined.
And
he will swallow up on this mountain
the
covering that is cast over all peoples,
the
veil that is spread over all nations.
He
will swallow up death forever;
and
the Lord God
will wipe away tears from all faces,
and
the reproach of his people he will take away
from all the earth,
for
the Lord
has spoken.
It
will be said on that day,
“Behold,
this is our God; we have waited for him, that he
might save us.
This
is the Lord;
we have waited for him;
let
us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
A
This
is the Word of the Lord.
C
Thanks
be to God.
Epistle
1
Corinthians 15:1–11
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.
A
This
is the Word of the Lord.
C
Thanks
be to God.
Stand
Common
Alleluia and Verse
C
Alleluia.
Lord,
to whom shall we go?
You
have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia,
alleluia.
Holy
Gospel
Mark
16:1–8
P
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixteenth
chapter.
C
Glory
to You, O Lord.
When
the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary
the mother of James and
Salome bought spices, so that they might go and
anoint him. And very
early on the first day of the week, when the sun
had risen, they went
to the tomb. And they were saying to one
another, “Who
will roll away the stone for us from the
entrance of the tomb?”
And
looking up, they saw
that the stone had been rolled back—it was very
large. And entering
the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the
right side, dressed in
a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said
to them, “Do
not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who
was crucified. He has
risen; he is not here. See the place where they
laid him. But go,
tell his disciples and Peter that he is going
before you to Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.”
And
they went out and
fled from the tomb, for trembling and
astonishment had seized them,
and they said nothing to anyone, for they were
afraid.
P
This
is the Gospel of the Lord.
C
Praise
to You, O Christ.
Sit
465
Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds 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!
D
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!
Text:
Paul Z. Strodach, 1876–1947,
alt.
Text: ©
1958
Augsburg
Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no.
110004199
Sermon Pastor
Eric Ash
Easter
1
B March 31, 2024 Mark 16:1-8
Who
Is
Jesus? Who Are You?
Who
is
Jesus? Really. Do you ever ask yourself that
question? All of
us here today probably have some idea of who
Jesus is. There are
many different opinions. Some say Jesus was
a great teacher. Some
call him a prophet. We here say he is the
Son of God who was
crucified and was raised from the dead.
There are many opinions, but
there can only be one truth.
Even
the
most skeptical of people must admit that
there was a man named
Jesus, who was called the Christ. He came
from the town of Nazareth,
and he lived about 2,000 years ago. It is
not just the Bible, the
Christian holy book, that witnesses to the
existence of Jesus.
Ancient historians, who were not Christians,
also testified that
Jesus was not a myth, he was an actual
living person. For the
record, their names are Josephus, Tacitus,
and Pliny the Younger.
Our
Christian
faith is not a “Once
upon
a time…”
fairy
tale. It is not “A
long time ago in a galaxy far away…”
science
fiction story. Not only beyond a reasonable
doubt, but beyond the
slightest shadow of a doubt, it has been
proven that Jesus is an
actual historical person. Want more proof?
Each
week
we confess in our Creed that Jesus was
executed during the
administration of the Roman Governor Pontius
Pilate. The mention of
Pilate’s
name may not seem significant, but it has
been called the most
important line in our Creed. That is because
Pilate can be proven to
have lived and served in first century
Israel just as the Bible says. Pilate ties
the story of Jesus to objective documented
history.
But
it’s
a long way from saying that Jesus was a real
person and proving that
he is the Son of God. The proof we have for
that can be found in the
Bible. But can the Bible be trusted? Yes, it
can. The Four
Gospels, the biographies of Jesus, were
written by eyewitnesses or by
close associates of eyewitnesses. They knew
details about places and
customs that someone writing long after the
actual events could not. Archaeological
research, time and again, shows these
details to be
incredibly accurate. They didn’t
make things up.
The
gospels
all tell a consistent story about Jesus’
words
and actions. There are some minor
differences in some of the
details, as you would expect in four reports
of an event given by
four different witnesses. If the story was
exactly the same, we
would suspect some sort of collusion. As it
is, the minor differences
in details have no significant bearing on
what the gospels say and
teach about Jesus. They all witness to the
crucified and risen
Christ as God’s
Son and our Savior.
So,
what
do the gospels say about Jesus? For one
thing, they say he
performed miracles. You would expect someone
who is said to be both
100% God and 100% man at the same time to
have some supernatural
powers. The eyewitness reports say he healed
people and even
controlled nature. Could he do that? We
might imagine that the
people of Jesus’
time
were backward and gullible. Not so. They
were just as suspicious of
alleged miracle workers then as we are
today. They knew that there
were many fakers and charlatans out there.
That
Jesus’
followers
said he performed miracles must mean their
claims could be backed up
with actual facts because they would not
want Jesus lumped in with
all the other pretenders and con men. It
might be possible to create
a credible illusion of someone being healed.
But it would be just
about impossible to fake stilling a storm or
miraculously multiplying
bread and fish as Jesus did. That Jesus did
miracles is good
evidence, but certainly not all the evidence
there is for who he is.
Another
compelling
piece of evidence that Jesus is God is how
Jesus fulfilled
prophecy. Everything in the Old Testament
points to a Messiah, an
Anointed One, the Christ, who would save his
people. The Old
Testament prophets predicted that the
Messiah would do certain things
and certain things would happen to him.
Sometimes these are divided
into 48 major prophecies and hundreds of
smaller prophecies. It is
estimated that the chances of Jesus
fulfilling just the 48 major
prophecies are in 1 in 10 to the 156th
power. That is a 1 with 156
zeroes behind it. That means it would be
virtually statistically
impossible to fulfill all those prophecies
unless Jesus was the
Messiah, the Christ.
Skeptics,
of
course, could say that Jesus went out of his
way to purposefully
fulfill those predictions. That may be
possible for some things. But many of the
prophecies Jesus would have had no control
over, for
instance, where he was born and how his
betrayer got paid 30 pieces
of silver. It could also be floated that the
gospel authors could
have made up these prediction fulfillments.
We already said how
painstakingly accurate and honest the
Evangelists were. Not only
that, but they didn’t
have access to the scriptures like we do.
They didn’t
have a copy of what we call the Old
Testament in front of them. They
were working from their memories of the bits
and pieces of scripture
they heard in the temple and synagogues over
the years. They just
wrote what they knew to be true, and it fit
the prophecies perfectly.
There
are
many more pieces of evidence we could
present, but the ultimate
evidence is Jesus rising from the dead. That’s
what this Easter Sunday is all about. How do
we know Jesus rose from
the dead? First, we have the empty tomb. The
women went to anoint
Jesus body and found he wasn’t
there.
Some
people
say that maybe Jesus just swooned on the
cross. He recovered
and escaped from the tomb. He was nearly
dead when they nailed him
to the cross. No way, even if he wasn’t
dead when he was buried, was he strong
enough to roll the stone away.
And there was no way the soldiers would be
derelict in their duty and
not be sure he was dead. Also, there’s
no way Jesus’
followers,
a ragtag bunch of fishermen, could have
overpowered or tricked the
hardened guards and stole Jesus’
body. It’s
just not feasible.
Secondly,
we
have the eyewitnesses that saw Jesus alive.
Could this have been
a hallucination? Several people don’t
all have the same exact hallucination all at
the same time. Not only
that, Jesus also appeared to more than 500
people over a period of 40
days. That’s
a long time and a lot of people. All the
Roman and Jewish
authorities had to do to disprove Jesus’
resurrection
was to produce his body. They didn’t
because they couldn’t!
Everyone knew Jesus was alive. And anyone
taking an objective view
of the factual evidence today should
conclude that Jesus is the
crucified and risen Son of God, our Savior
and Lord.
So
that’s
who Jesus is. Now, who are you? You are
probably a good person. You love your
family, you pay your taxes, you’re
nice
to animals, you don’t
litter. You know you’re
not
perfect, but you wouldn’t
describe yourself as a sinner. There’s
a story about a young man who told his
pastor he wasn’t
a sinner. The pastor asked him if he would
like his mother to see a
video of everything the young man had ever
said and done. “Of
course
not,”
he
said. “Well,”
said
the pastor, “then
you
are a sinner after all.” That
applies
to us all. We really are all sinners.
Left
alone
in our sin we would be lost. But God loves
us too much to
allow that to happen. Jesus’
death
settled our account, it paid our ransom, it
was for our forgiveness. Jesus’
resurrection
shows us our ultimate destiny. We will be
free from our all the
physical, emotional, and spiritual baggage
that holds us down. We
have a future ahead of us of eternal peace
and happiness. It’s
even greater than the greatest thing we can
imagine.
We
Lutherans
put it this way: We are justified by God’s
grace through faith. That means that we are
put right with God and
our sins are forgiven because God loves us.
He showed that love by
sending His only begotten Son to save us.
That love was demonstrated
by Jesus on the cross as he took the
punishment we deserved and died
in our place. But death is not the last
Word. Jesus really, truly
rose from the dead. And we who believe,
trust and cling to Christ
will rise too. Death could not hold him, and
it cannot hold us
either. God gives us life, abundant life in
this world, and eternal
life in the world to come. Praise his Holy
Name. Amen.
Stand
Nicene
Creed
C
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 T
everlasting. Amen.
Prayers
Let
us
pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus
and for all
people according to their needs.
Almighty
God,
You kept Your promise and delivered up
Your own Son to be our
Savior. By His sacrificial death, our
sins are forgiven, and by His
rising again, we have the hope of
everlasting life. Keep us in this
holy joy throughout the Easter season
and all our daily lives, Lord,
in Your mercy, hear
our
prayer.
Be
with
Matthew, our Synod president; _____________,
our district president; and all our
pastors. Keep them faithful to
deliver to Your people the apostolic
Gospel of Your Son’s death,
burial and resurrection. Lord, in Your
mercy, hear
our prayer.
Let
us
hold fast to the Word preached to us,
that receiving it with joy
we may take our stand in it and be saved
by it. Hinder all who would
sow doubt into our hearts, and grant us
courage to confess its truth
in our life and conversation. Lord, in
Your mercy, hear
our prayer.
Have
mercy
on the sick and those in any need [especially
_______].
Let the dawning light of the new
creation in Christ sustain them in
faith. In accord with Your will, grant
them renewed health — a
foretaste of their eternal healing in
Him. 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. We pray
that You will not abandon us to
Sheol but that, when we awake in the
resurrection of all flesh, Your
presence will give us joy. Lord, in Your
mercy, hear
our
prayer.
We
bring
these petitions before You, dear Father,
trusting in Your
mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
our Lord, who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
Sit
Offertory
Invitation
Remembering
the words of our Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed
to give than to
receive." Let us give now with joy and
thanksgiving our gifts,
tithes and offerings to the Lord.
The
Choir sings the Offertory as the offerings are
collected.
Stand
Offertory LSB
159
C
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.
Offertory
Prayer
God
our Father, on this holy day [in this holy
season] you give us the
joy of recalling the rising of Christ to new
life. Accept the
offerings of your people and by these Easter
mysteries, bring us to
the glory of the Resurrection. We ask this
through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
SERVICE
OF THE SACRAMENT
Preface
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.
Proper
Preface
P
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. And most especially are we bound
to praise You on
this day for the glorious resurrection of Your
Son, Jesus Christ, the
very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and
bore the sins of the
world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by
His rising again
He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore
with Mary
Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the
witnesses of the
resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with
all the company of
heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name,
evermore praising You
and saying:
Sanctus
C
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.
The
Words of Our Lord
P
On
the night, in which he was betrayed, our Lord
Jesus took bread, gave
thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples
saying, take, eat;
this is my body which is given for you. Do this in
remembrance of
me. In the same also, after supper, he took the
cup, gave thanks,
and gave it to them saying, this cup is the New
Testament in my
blood, shed for you and for many, for the
forgiveness of sins. Do
this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
me.
Lord's
Prayer Invitation
By
our Lord's command we are bold to pray. . .
Lord's
Prayer
C
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.
Fraction
P: When we eat
this bread, we share the body of Christ. When we
drink
from this cup, we share the blood of Christ.
C: Reveal yourself to us, O Lord,
in the breaking of bread as once you
revealed yourself to your Apostles. Amen.
Agnus
Dei
C
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
pastor and those who assist him receive the
body and blood of Christ
first and then distribute them to those who
come to receive, saying:
Distribution 164
The
body of Christ, given for you.
Amen.
The
blood of Christ, shed for you.
Amen.
Stand
In
dismissing the communicants, the following is
said:
The
Dismissal
P
The
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen
and preserve you
in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart Tin
peace.
C
Amen.
Thank
the Lord
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 Prayer
P
Gracious
God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a
foretaste of the feast
to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son’s
body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith
throughout our days of
pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may,
together with all
Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the
Lamb in His kingdom
which has no end; 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
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 Tgive
you peace.
C
Amen.
803
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee LSB
803
1
Joyful,
joyful we adore Thee,
God
of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts
unfold like flow’rs
before Thee,
Praising
Thee,
their sun above.
Melt
the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive
the gloom of
doubt away.
Giver
of immortal gladness,
Fill
us with the light of day.
2
All
Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth
and heav’n
reflect Thy rays,
Stars
and angels sing around Thee,
Center
of unbroken
praise.
Field
and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry
meadow,
flashing sea,
Chanting
bird,
and flowing fountain
Call us
to rejoice in
Thee.
D
3
Thou
art giving and forgiving,
Ever
blessing, ever
blest,
Wellspring
of
the joy of living,
Ocean-depth
of happy
rest!
Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit,
Fountainhead
of love
divine:
Joyful,
we Thy heav’n
inherit!
Joyful,
we by grace are Thine!
Text:
Henry Van Dyke, 1852–1933,
alt.
Text:
Public domain
CLOSING
RESPONSE
P
Go
in Peace! Serve the Lord!
C
Praise
be to God!
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 ©
2024
Concordia
Publishing House.
31 March 2024
The Resurrection of Our Lord
(Easter Day)
Ringing of the Bell
– The bell rings as the call to worship, reminding us to discontinue conversation and reverently prepare for worship.
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Lutheran Service Book Divine Service Setting One
Stand
Easter Proclamation
457 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!
D
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!
Text:
tr.
Lyra Davidica, 1708, London, alt.; (sts. 1–3):
Latin, 14th cent.; (st. 4): Charles Wesley, 1707–88
Text:
Public domain
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
Invocation
P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Exhortation
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.
Confession of Sins
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.
Absolution
P 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 TSon and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Kyrie
A In peace let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A 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.
A For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
A Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.
This Is the Feast
C 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 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.
C Amen.
Sit
Psalm Psalm 16; antiphon: v. 10
Preserve
me, O God,
for
in you I take refuge.
I
say to the Lord,
“You
are my Lord;
I
have no good apart from you.”
As
for the saints in the land,
they
are the excellent ones,
in
whom is all my delight.
The
sorrows of those who run after another god shall
multiply;
their
drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or
take their names on my lips.
The
Lord
is my chosen portion and my cup;
you
hold my lot.
The
lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed,
I have a beautiful inheritance.
I
bless the Lord
who gives me counsel;
in
the night also my heart instructs me.
I
have set the Lord
always before me;
because
he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore
my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my
flesh also dwells secure.
For
you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or
let your holy one see corruption.
You
make known to me the path of life;
in
your presence there is fullness of joy;
at
your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
First Reading Isaiah 25:6–9
On
this mountain the Lord
of hosts will make for all peoples
a
feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of
rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well
refined.
And
he will swallow up on this mountain
the
covering that is cast over all peoples,
the
veil that is spread over all nations.
He
will swallow up death forever;
and
the Lord God
will wipe away tears from all faces,
and
the reproach of his people he will take away
from all the earth,
for
the Lord
has spoken.
It
will be said on that day,
“Behold,
this is our God; we have waited for him, that he
might save us.
This
is the Lord;
we have waited for him;
let
us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1–11
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.
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Common Alleluia and Verse
C Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Holy Gospel Mark 16:1–8
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixteenth chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.
Sit
465 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds 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!
D
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!
Text:
Paul Z. Strodach, 1876–1947,
alt.
Text: ©
1958
Augsburg
Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no.
110004199
Sermon Pastor Eric Ash
Easter 1 B March 31, 2024 Mark 16:1-8
Who Is Jesus? Who Are You?
Who is Jesus? Really. Do you ever ask yourself that question? All of us here today probably have some idea of who Jesus is. There are many different opinions. Some say Jesus was a great teacher. Some call him a prophet. We here say he is the Son of God who was crucified and was raised from the dead. There are many opinions, but there can only be one truth.
Even the most skeptical of people must admit that there was a man named Jesus, who was called the Christ. He came from the town of Nazareth, and he lived about 2,000 years ago. It is not just the Bible, the Christian holy book, that witnesses to the existence of Jesus. Ancient historians, who were not Christians, also testified that Jesus was not a myth, he was an actual living person. For the record, their names are Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger.
Our Christian faith is not a “Once upon a time…” fairy tale. It is not “A long time ago in a galaxy far away…” science fiction story. Not only beyond a reasonable doubt, but beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt, it has been proven that Jesus is an actual historical person. Want more proof?
Each week we confess in our Creed that Jesus was executed during the administration of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. The mention of Pilate’s name may not seem significant, but it has been called the most important line in our Creed. That is because Pilate can be proven to have lived and served in first century Israel just as the Bible says. Pilate ties the story of Jesus to objective documented history.
But it’s a long way from saying that Jesus was a real person and proving that he is the Son of God. The proof we have for that can be found in the Bible. But can the Bible be trusted? Yes, it can. The Four Gospels, the biographies of Jesus, were written by eyewitnesses or by close associates of eyewitnesses. They knew details about places and customs that someone writing long after the actual events could not. Archaeological research, time and again, shows these details to be incredibly accurate. They didn’t make things up.
The gospels all tell a consistent story about Jesus’ words and actions. There are some minor differences in some of the details, as you would expect in four reports of an event given by four different witnesses. If the story was exactly the same, we would suspect some sort of collusion. As it is, the minor differences in details have no significant bearing on what the gospels say and teach about Jesus. They all witness to the crucified and risen Christ as God’s Son and our Savior.
So, what do the gospels say about Jesus? For one thing, they say he performed miracles. You would expect someone who is said to be both 100% God and 100% man at the same time to have some supernatural powers. The eyewitness reports say he healed people and even controlled nature. Could he do that? We might imagine that the people of Jesus’ time were backward and gullible. Not so. They were just as suspicious of alleged miracle workers then as we are today. They knew that there were many fakers and charlatans out there.
That Jesus’ followers said he performed miracles must mean their claims could be backed up with actual facts because they would not want Jesus lumped in with all the other pretenders and con men. It might be possible to create a credible illusion of someone being healed. But it would be just about impossible to fake stilling a storm or miraculously multiplying bread and fish as Jesus did. That Jesus did miracles is good evidence, but certainly not all the evidence there is for who he is.
Another compelling piece of evidence that Jesus is God is how Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Everything in the Old Testament points to a Messiah, an Anointed One, the Christ, who would save his people. The Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would do certain things and certain things would happen to him. Sometimes these are divided into 48 major prophecies and hundreds of smaller prophecies. It is estimated that the chances of Jesus fulfilling just the 48 major prophecies are in 1 in 10 to the 156th power. That is a 1 with 156 zeroes behind it. That means it would be virtually statistically impossible to fulfill all those prophecies unless Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ.
Skeptics, of course, could say that Jesus went out of his way to purposefully fulfill those predictions. That may be possible for some things. But many of the prophecies Jesus would have had no control over, for instance, where he was born and how his betrayer got paid 30 pieces of silver. It could also be floated that the gospel authors could have made up these prediction fulfillments. We already said how painstakingly accurate and honest the Evangelists were. Not only that, but they didn’t have access to the scriptures like we do. They didn’t have a copy of what we call the Old Testament in front of them. They were working from their memories of the bits and pieces of scripture they heard in the temple and synagogues over the years. They just wrote what they knew to be true, and it fit the prophecies perfectly.
There are many more pieces of evidence we could present, but the ultimate evidence is Jesus rising from the dead. That’s what this Easter Sunday is all about. How do we know Jesus rose from the dead? First, we have the empty tomb. The women went to anoint Jesus body and found he wasn’t there.
Some people say that maybe Jesus just swooned on the cross. He recovered and escaped from the tomb. He was nearly dead when they nailed him to the cross. No way, even if he wasn’t dead when he was buried, was he strong enough to roll the stone away. And there was no way the soldiers would be derelict in their duty and not be sure he was dead. Also, there’s no way Jesus’ followers, a ragtag bunch of fishermen, could have overpowered or tricked the hardened guards and stole Jesus’ body. It’s just not feasible.
Secondly, we have the eyewitnesses that saw Jesus alive. Could this have been a hallucination? Several people don’t all have the same exact hallucination all at the same time. Not only that, Jesus also appeared to more than 500 people over a period of 40 days. That’s a long time and a lot of people. All the Roman and Jewish authorities had to do to disprove Jesus’ resurrection was to produce his body. They didn’t because they couldn’t! Everyone knew Jesus was alive. And anyone taking an objective view of the factual evidence today should conclude that Jesus is the crucified and risen Son of God, our Savior and Lord.
So that’s who Jesus is. Now, who are you? You are probably a good person. You love your family, you pay your taxes, you’re nice to animals, you don’t litter. You know you’re not perfect, but you wouldn’t describe yourself as a sinner. There’s a story about a young man who told his pastor he wasn’t a sinner. The pastor asked him if he would like his mother to see a video of everything the young man had ever said and done. “Of course not,” he said. “Well,” said the pastor, “then you are a sinner after all.” That applies to us all. We really are all sinners.
Left alone in our sin we would be lost. But God loves us too much to allow that to happen. Jesus’ death settled our account, it paid our ransom, it was for our forgiveness. Jesus’ resurrection shows us our ultimate destiny. We will be free from our all the physical, emotional, and spiritual baggage that holds us down. We have a future ahead of us of eternal peace and happiness. It’s even greater than the greatest thing we can imagine.
We Lutherans put it this way: We are justified by God’s grace through faith. That means that we are put right with God and our sins are forgiven because God loves us. He showed that love by sending His only begotten Son to save us. That love was demonstrated by Jesus on the cross as he took the punishment we deserved and died in our place. But death is not the last Word. Jesus really, truly rose from the dead. And we who believe, trust and cling to Christ will rise too. Death could not hold him, and it cannot hold us either. God gives us life, abundant life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. Praise his Holy Name. Amen.
Stand
Nicene Creed
C 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 T everlasting. Amen.
Prayers
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, You kept Your promise and delivered up Your own Son to be our Savior. By His sacrificial death, our sins are forgiven, and by His rising again, we have the hope of everlasting life. Keep us in this holy joy throughout the Easter season and all our daily lives, Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Be with Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and all our pastors. Keep them faithful to deliver to Your people the apostolic Gospel of Your Son’s death, burial and resurrection. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us hold fast to the Word preached to us, that receiving it with joy we may take our stand in it and be saved by it. Hinder all who would sow doubt into our hearts, and grant us courage to confess its truth in our life and conversation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on the sick and those in any need [especially _______]. Let the dawning light of the new creation in Christ sustain them in faith. In accord with Your will, grant them renewed health — a foretaste of their eternal healing in Him. 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. We pray that You will not abandon us to Sheol but that, when we awake in the resurrection of all flesh, Your presence will give us joy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We bring these petitions before You, dear Father, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Sit
Offertory Invitation
Remembering the words of our Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Let us give now with joy and thanksgiving our gifts, tithes and offerings to the Lord.
The Choir sings the Offertory as the offerings are collected.
Stand
Offertory LSB 159
C 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.
Offertory Prayer
God our Father, on this holy day [in this holy season] you give us the joy of recalling the rising of Christ to new life. Accept the offerings of your people and by these Easter mysteries, bring us to the glory of the Resurrection. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
Preface
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.
Proper Preface
P 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. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
Sanctus
C 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.
The Words of Our Lord
P On the night, in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same also, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Lord's Prayer Invitation
By our Lord's command we are bold to pray. . .
Lord's Prayer
C
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.
Fraction
P: When we eat this bread, we share the body of Christ. When we drink from this cup, we share the blood of Christ.
C: Reveal yourself to us, O Lord, in the breaking of bread as once you revealed yourself to your Apostles. Amen.
Agnus Dei
C 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 pastor and those who assist him receive the body and blood of Christ first and then distribute them to those who come to receive, saying:
Distribution 164
The body of Christ, given for you.
Amen.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Amen.
Stand
In dismissing the communicants, the following is said:
The Dismissal
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart Tin peace.
C Amen.
Thank the Lord
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 Prayer
P Gracious God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son’s body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end; 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
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 Tgive you peace.
C Amen.
803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee LSB 803
1
Joyful,
joyful we adore Thee,
God
of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts
unfold like flow’rs
before Thee,
Praising
Thee,
their sun above.
Melt
the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive
the gloom of
doubt away.
Giver
of immortal gladness,
Fill
us with the light of day.
2
All
Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth
and heav’n
reflect Thy rays,
Stars
and angels sing around Thee,
Center
of unbroken
praise.
Field
and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry
meadow,
flashing sea,
Chanting
bird,
and flowing fountain
Call us
to rejoice in
Thee.
D
3
Thou
art giving and forgiving,
Ever
blessing, ever
blest,
Wellspring
of
the joy of living,
Ocean-depth
of happy
rest!
Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit,
Fountainhead
of love
divine:
Joyful,
we Thy heav’n
inherit!
Joyful,
we by grace are Thine!
Text:
Henry Van Dyke, 1852–1933,
alt.
Text:
Public domain
CLOSING RESPONSE
P Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
C Praise be to God!
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.
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