| Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn of Invocation – Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven (LSB 477)
Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts to heav’n and voices raise: Sing to God a hymn of gladness, Sing to God a hymn of praise; He who on the cross a victim For the world’s salvation bled— Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Now is risen from the dead.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! Death at last has met defeat: See the ancient pow’rs of evil In confusion and retreat; Once He died, and once was buried: Now He lives forevermore, Jesus Christ, the world’s Redeemer, Whom we worship and adore.
Alleluia, alleluia! Glory be to God on high: Alleluia to the Savior Who has gained the victory; Alleluia to the Spirit, Fount of love and sanctity! Alleluia, alleluia To the triune Majesty!
+ Preparation +
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. P: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. P: Our help is in the name of the Lord, C: who made heaven and earth. P: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, C: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.
P: O almighty God, merciful Father, C: I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being. P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
+ Word +
Introit P: 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. C: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! P: Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! C: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! P: Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! C: Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, P: He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, All: 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 P: 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 upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Gloria in Excelsis Glory be to God on high; and on earth peace goodwill toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord. Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Salutation and Collect of the Day P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. 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.
First Reading – Ezra 7:1-10 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord the God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Epistle – Revelation 1:4-18 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Alleluia Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Holy Gospel – John 20:19-31 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter. C: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
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.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 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.” 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.” 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.” 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 believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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 be to Thee, O Christ.
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 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 at 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.
Children’s Hymn – Jesus Loves Me (LSB 588)
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Refrain
Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gates to open wide. He has washed away my sin, Lets His little child come in. Refrain
Children’s Message – Janet Leet
Hymn of the Day – All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (LSB 549)
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God, Who from His altar call; Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod And crown Him Lord of all. Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod And crown Him Lord of all.
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace And crown Him Lord of all. Hail Him who saves you by His grace And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, Whom David Lord did call, The God incarnate, man divine, And crown Him Lord of all. The God incarnate, man divine, And crown Him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall, Go, spread your trophies at His feet And crown Him Lord of all. Go, spread your trophies at His feet And crown Him Lord of all.
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball To Him all majesty ascribe And crown Him Lord of all. To Him all majesty ascribe And crown Him Lord of all.
Sermon
Offertory Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen. Offering
Prayers + Celebrating birthdays this week: 28 – Pastor Albers; 29 – Kelly Schultz; 2 – John Ladd, Jennifer Grimm; 3 – Rod Nobis + Wedding anniversaries: 30 – Paul & Glee Schultz
Special Celebrations and Needs: + Church family members: Sharon Gaal, recovering from shoulder surgery; Sue DeFosset, undergoing treatment for ongoing back issues; Sylvia Bach, suffering from vertigo; Jack Bentzinger, recovering from a fall; Cathie Albers, recovering from hip surgery; Paul Schultz, in hospice + Friends of our congregation: Linda, friend of Roger Lubben, upon the death of her mother; Karen, extended family member of the Wehmuellers, with cancer; Larry Duncan, extended family of the Wehmuellers, in the hospital with heart issues + Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Jules Bush, Frank & Sharon Gaal, Mary Guion, Jane Keathley, Vicki Lucas, Cindy Smith, Shirley Williams
+ Sacrament +
Preface P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up unto the Lord. P: Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. C: It is meet and right so to do. P: It is truly meet, 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 Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
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.
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 P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.
Agnus Dei O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen. Distribution
Distribution Hymn – Amazing Grace (LSB 744)
Amazing grace—how sweet the sound— That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!
The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; His grace has brought me safe thus far, His grace will lead me home.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease, Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven’s joy and peace.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.
Blessing
Nunc Dimittis Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou has prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Thanksgiving P: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, C: And his mercy endureth forever. 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 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.
Salutation and Benedicamus P: The Lord be with you. C: And with thy spirit. P: Bless we the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Benediction P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace. C: Amen, amen, amen.
Closing Hymn – Lift High the Cross (LSB 837)
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim Till all the world adore His sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod, Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Refrain
Led on their way by this triumphant sign, The hosts of God in conqu’ring ranks combine. Refrain
All newborn soldiers of the Crucified Bear on their brows the seal of Him who died. Refrain
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee. Refrain
Let ev’ry race and ev’ry language tell Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell. Refrain
So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory! Refrain
Postlude
+ WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Celebrant/Liturgist – Pastor Scott Organist/Pianist – Seth Carruthers Lector – Greg Frimel Communion – Tony Petzoldt & Seminary Student Sound/Video – Mike Toney Ushers – Jeanne Lipinski, Becci Sasser, Gerry Lucas, Mike Toney Greeters – Jack & Norma Bentzinger
Altar flowers are giving this morning with the following dedication: “O Lord God, behold You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” – Jeremiah 32:17 | 
