Welcome to this house of worship this Easter morning! The Easter celebration begins as we celebrate the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection. The Christian community gathers each Sunday so it may see and hear the resurrected Lord and find peace and life in His Word. We share and celebrate the mystery of His resurrection with all who are baptized and we pray that we may grow and our lives bear fruit. We are an Easter people!!
Call to Worship: Handbells
Deacon’s Prayer
Prelude
Opening Hymn: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” (LBW # 151)
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!Hymns of praise then let sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!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!Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heav’nly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Invocation:
P: In the name of God the Father, who has loved us with an everlasting Love, who sent His Son Jesus as the Author and Perfector of our Faith:
C: Father, we praise and worship you!
P: In the name of Jesus Christ the Son, who came to be our Peace, to reconcile us to the Father by His death and resurrection:
C: Lord Jesus, we praise and worship you!
P: Christ is Risen !
C: He is risen indeed !
Confession & Forgiveness:
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.)
P: Most merciful God,
C: We come before You in prayer today, asking for forgiveness. We have not loved you as we ought to love, we have not given as we ought to give, and we have fallen short of the mark of truly being your obedient sons and daughters. We recognize our sin and in this moment of silence, we privately remember our shortcomings in love and life.
P: God, our heavenly Father, hears the prayers of His children and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person of Jesus Christ, His Son, who died for our sin that we might have new life in Him. The distance between God and ourselves has been brought together by His love made perfect in the sacrifice of His Son. To those who believe His word of truth He gives the power to be the people of God. Praise God for His gift of love to us.
C: Amen!
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Kyrie
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:
C: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.C: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
II: Power, riches, wisdom and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.C: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I: 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.C: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
II: For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.C: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you
P: Let us pray… Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death and opened for us the gate of everlasting life. Give us your continual help; put good desires into our minds and bring them to full effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen
First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ (Taken from: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm)
Jewish Reading: Dr. Sheryl Kenner
The Full Text of the Presentation on the Role of Matzah in the Passover is available.
Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
The Gospel according to: John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (Taken from: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm)
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Receiving of new members:
We welcome Ingeborg & Johannes to St. Angar's Parish
We take this occasion to welcome Ingeborg and Johannes into the fellowship of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church. It is with great joy to have you as fellow workers in the kingdom of God. May God use your talents, and your spiritual gifts to bring healing and wholeness to our broken world. You can make a difference WELCOME!!!!
Special Music: St. Ansgar Choir
Message of the Day (Sermon):
The Full Text of the Pastor's Sermon is available: Jesus Christ Is Alive, Rejoice!
Hymn: “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds” (LBW 143)
Now all the vault of heaven 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!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!Oh, 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!Adoring praises now we bring And with the heavenly blessed 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!
The Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate
from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen
Prayers of the People:
Each petition end with: God hear our prayer
To which we respond: Give your people joy.
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
Sharing of Peace:
We greet each other with: Christ is Risen !
To which each responds: He is risen indeed !
Offering
Offertory:
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all; unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with your presence, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
Offertory Prayer:
L; Merciful Father,
C: we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving:
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 indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join in your unending hymn:
C: 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 in the highest.
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,
And gave thanks; and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink,
saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all
people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this in remembrance of me.
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
Lamb of God:
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.
Distribution of Communion
Thank the Lord:
Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell everyone 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:
L: Let us pray…Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 give you peace.
C: Amen
Closing Hymn: “Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia” (WOV #678)
Christ has arisen, alleluia. Rejoice and praise him, alleluia.
For our redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death, dispelling its gloom.
Refrain: Let us sing praise to him with endless joy,
Death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy. Our sin forgiving, alleluia!
Jesus is living, alleluia!For three long days the grave did its worst until its strength by God was dispersed.
He who gives life did death undergo, and in its conquest his might did show.
RefrainThe angel said to them, “Do not fear. You look for Jesus who is not here.
See for yourselves the tomb is all bare. Only the grave cloths are lying there.”
Refrain“Go spread the news: he’s not in the grave. He has arisen this world to save.
Jesus’ redeeming labors are done. Even the battle with sin is won.”
RefrainChrist has arisen to set us free. Alleluia, to him praises be.
Jesus is living! Let us all sing; he reigns triumphant, heavenly king.
Refrain
Deacon’s Prayer
?Dismissal
P: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
C: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Worship Bell : Handbells
Postlude
May this year be a year dedicated to prayer, the authenticity of the Gospel, spiritual maturity and vision for our mutual growth.
“Go and make disciples of all nations.”
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lilies, to decorate the sanctuary for Easter Sunday, were ordered by various parishioners in memory of family and friends. Doners names have been removed from the following public list, in order to preserve confidential information which would be released by matching doners with deceased family members.
| In Memory of.... |
|---|
| The family and friends of the Bourgeois family |
| Paul Andresen |
| James and Eudora Campbell |
| Bergljot & Jorgen Sorensen |
| Anne-Marie and Niels Christoffersen |
| Karen Damgaard Jensen & Herman Jensen |
| Pastor Alfred Lucht |
| Frederikke Smith |
| Tage Christensen |
| Lorraine and Robert Kinnu |
| Dorothy Francis |
| The two brothers and brother-in-law of Kris Kristensen |
| Synnøve Klingenberg |
| Hans Jørgen Berg |