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Second Sunday of Easter, April 16th, 2023 - Sermon: "Believing is Seeing" by: The Reverand James A. Kabel, Pastor Emeritus

SECOND SUNDAY of EASTER

April 16, 2023

The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor

The Rev. James A. Kabel, Pastor Emeritus

WELCOME

Jesus’ Resurrection is the single greatest event in all history. It is the turning point of history and the birthplace of all hope, peace, and true joy. We are glad that you have come to worship The Risen Christ and that you have chosen to worship with the people of God gathered in this place around Word and Sacrament. Guests and visitors, please introduce yourself, be welcome, and come again. If you have not already done so, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave. If you have no church home of your own in the area, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. Join us for a cup of coffee after this morning’s worship and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!

AS WE GATHER 

The Resurrection Amidst Doubts and Questions

It’s a week after Easter. Like Thomas, we sometimes wonder if the story of the resurrection can really be true. The excitement we felt last weekend may seem to have faded and perhaps doubts about the reality of the new life we have in Christ have crept back into our lives. Our Lord comes to us today in his Word to refresh our faith and to restore hope to us again. As we experience the presence of The Risen Christ in our midst, we are moved to exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” And we hear Jesus’ hope filled response: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP

Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death and opened for us the gates of eternal life. Give us your continual hope; put good things into our minds and bring them to full effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

INVOCATION & CONFESSION

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ.

We were baptized so that we might have a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of the Father.

Therefore, let us confess our sins to God our Father, so that we may receive the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

+ A Brief Silence for Reflection +

Almighty God, we are dead in trespasses and sin; we have no power to rise. We have offended your majesty and denied your divinity; we have brought death and darkness where you once said: “Let there be light.” We deserve the doom you have decreed.

But Christ is risen!

Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Since we have been united with him in a death like his,

We will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. For his sake, our Father, we implore you: forgive our sins and free us from all doubt and disbelief. Let us be raised with Christ.

Thus, it is written, that the Messiah had to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed in his Name. That word is now joyfully proclaimed to you. Your sins are forgiven in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of our Lord as we greet one another.

PASSING of PEACE

[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with the words: “The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]

APOSTOLIC GREETING

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

                Risen indeed. Alleluia!

The grace of our risen Savior, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

                  And also, with you.

PRAYER of THE DAY

Almighty 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 received the fullness of Christ’s blessings, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

FIRST LESSON Acts 2:14a, 22-32

[After the holy Spirit came to the apostles on Pentecost, Peter preaches the gospel to the gathered crowd. He tells them that Jesus, who obediently went to his death according to God’s plan, was

raised from the dead by God. Finally, he appeals to scripture, quoting Psalm 16:8-11, to show that Jesus is the Messiah: though crucified, the risen Jesus is now enthroned.]

Then Peter stood with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:” Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will

not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my

body will also live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me

the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”

Brothers (and sisters), I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on this throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

SECOND LESSON              1 Peter 1:3-9

[This epistle was written to encourage Christians who are suffering for their faith. It begins by praising God for the resurrection of Jesus, which produces hope, then and now.]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious that gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

               Thanks be to God!          

GOSPEL John 20:19-31

ALLELUIA  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!

The gospel according to John, the twentieth chapter.

[The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of

the Holy Spirit. But one of their number, Thomas, is missing, and his unbelief prompts another visit

from the Lord.]

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the

house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came

and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he

showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw

the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent

me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to

them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven

them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 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 the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the

mark of the nails in his hands and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said,

“Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put you finger here and see my

hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other sings in the presence of his disciples, which are not

written in this book. Bu these are written so that you may come to believe that

Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have

life in his name.

The Gospel of our Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.

HOMILY Believing is Seeing Text: The Gospel Lesson Pr. Jim

APOSTOLIC CREED

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 catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen

PRAYERS of THE CHURCH

OFFERINGS are brought forward

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need. Amen

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also, with you

Lift up your hearts

We will lift them up to Him

Let us give thanks always to the Lord our God.

It is right, it is just, it is well

Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord

For our sake He opened His arms on the cross, He put an end to death and revealed the resurrection.

               Holy, holy, holy, Lord

In this He fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And so, we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming your glory as we sing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power 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, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!

WORDS of INSTITUTION

PAX DOMINI

The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also, with you.

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

AGNUS DEI

DISTRIBUTION of THE LORD’S SUPPER

DISMISSAL

May the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you steadfast in the true faith to life everlasting. Amen

PRAYER of THANKSGIVING

We have tasted your goodness, O God, in your gifts of Word and Sacrament. May our hearts burn within u, that we may proclaim your mighty acts and joyfully live as your chosen people; through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen

BLESSING

+ The Worship is Over. Let the Service Begin! +

Grace Notes

THE PRESENCE of CHRIST is celebrated in The Lord’s Supper. He comes to us in a real and present way with his life-giving body and blood in the bread and wine of The Sacrament to assure us of our forgiveness and to strengthen us in faith and service. All who trust and believe the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” are welcome. Come, receive Christ’s presence in the meal prepared for you. Enjoy his presence. Children are encouraged to come forward with their parents and/or grandparents and receive a blessing.

CUB SCOUT VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED — Cub Scouts Volunteers are still needed each Thursday afternoon from 2:45-4:30 to unlock and then lock the Fireside Room for the Cub Scouts. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Volunteers are needed for April and May. Please consider signing up.

This Week at Grace

April 17th – April 23rd, 2023

Monday, April 17th - Mariner's Baseball @ Ashland Little League Field 2 - 5:30 PM

 

Tuesday, April 18th - Women's Bible Study - 10:00 AM

                                  Council Meeting - 12:30 PM

 

Wednesday, April 19th - Choir - 7:00 PM

 

Thursday, April 20th - Cub Scouts - 3:00 PM

 

Friday, April 21st - Mariners Baseball @ Ashland Little League Field 2 - 5:30 PM

 

Sunday, April 23rd - Bible Study & Sunday School - 9:00AM

                                 Worship Service - 10:00 AM

                                 Coffee Hour - 11:00 AM 

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