Service of the Wordstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2020-04-12.easter_sun… · Web view2020/04/12 · God simply speaks a word, and God’s Word becomes the new reality of the universe

SERVICE OF THE WORD – COVID-19 Suspension

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipService of the Word and Holy Communion Setting 4

April 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic

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This SUNDAY: April 12, 2020- Happy Easter!7:30am Virtual Worship10:30am Drive-Thru Communion CANCELLED

CANCELLED through April 30: please pay attention to church website, facebook page,

and/or word-of-mouth network for updates!Quilting, Bible StudyPreschool, ChoirSunday School, ConfirmationWednesday WorshipsSunday Worships (in-person)Pub Theology

Upcoming: The following may be cancelled at a later date.Sat, June 13 – Relay for Life

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St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

April 12, 2020 7:30amResurrection of Our Lord/Easter Day

We are called to glorify God,

grow in faith, and build community.

Mission Statement


GatheringWelcome/Announcements

As we begin, please prepare by finding a bowl (small or large) and placing some water into the bowl; or you may pour water into the bowl at the same time as Pastor Luke.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISMAlleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are raised with him to new life.Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden.

In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock.

When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life.

We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere.

Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Take a moment to dip your hands in the water and make the sign of your cross on your family members’ or your own forehead, a sign that Christ is with us even in the midst of suffering, anxiety, and uncertainty. You may say “Remember your baptism into Christ’s life, death, and resurrection” if you are marking others who have been baptized with the sign of the cross; or “rejoice in God’s grace, poured out for all people in Jesus” if you are marking those who

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have not been baptized.GATHERING SONG “The Day of Resurrection!” ELW #361

(public domain)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad,the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.

From death to life eternal, from sin’s dominion free,our Christ has brought us over with hymns of victory.

Let hearts be purged of evil that we may see arightthe Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light,

and list’ning to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain,his own “All hail!” and hearing, may raise the glad refrain.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful, let earth its song begin,the round world keep high triumph and all that is therein.

Let all things, seen and unseen, their notes of gladness blend;for Christ the Lord has risen, our joy that has no end!

All praise to God the Father, all praise to Christ the Son,all praise to God the Spirit, eternal Three in One.

Let all the ransomed number fall down before the throne,and honor, pow’r, and glory ascribe to God alone!

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GREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

KYRIE (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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SONG OF PRAISE (Holy Communion Setting 4) p.149

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PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer.O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORDFirst Reading: Acts 10:34-43

34Peter began to speak to [the people]: “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.” ...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

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Psalm 118:1-2, 14-241Give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good; God’s mercy endures forever.

2Let Israel now declare, “God’s mercy endures forever.”14The LORD is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation.

15Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD acts valiantly!

16The right hand of the LORD is exalted. The right hand of the LORD acts valiantly!”17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

18The LORD indeed punished me sorely, but did not hand me over to death.19Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.

20“This is the gate of the LORD; here the righteous may enter.”21I give thanks to you, for you have answered me and you have become my salvation.

22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.23By the LORD has this been done; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-41If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. ...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

Gospel Acclamation (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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Announcement of the Gospel The holy gospel according to Matthew 28:1-10. Glory to You, O Lord!

The Gospel is Proclaimed1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

…the gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!

SERMON Pastor Luke KuenzliSilence for reflection follows the sermon.

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What is today? Yes, of course… it is Easter Sunday, but what does that

really mean? It’s that day that Jesus rose from the dead! Right… and? The day that

Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God were proven? Well, sure… but… The day when

we have chocolate and jelly beans and lots of hard-boiled eggs, when we were

pastels and the ladies wear nice hats and we get family pictures taken… Yes.

Easter is all of that, and more.

Easter is, indeed, the day when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead. But it is not only that Jesus was raised that gives us reason for

celebration, though this is in itself cause for praise and worship. It is also – maybe

even more-so – what happens because of Jesus’ resurrection that we are

celebrating today. It is because of what Jesus’ resurrection means for us that we

rejoice.

So… what does happen because Jesus was raised from the dead? Our first

clue comes in the Psalm for today, specifically in Psalm 118, verse 24. That verse

says “This is the day that the Lord has made!” The Psalmist points us to the gift of

this day (indeed every day) as a creation of the Creator of all things, the Lord God.

Our second clue is in the first sentence of today’s Gospel lesson. What day was it?

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning…”

You may know that Genesis chapter 1 describes the creation of the world. In

this version of the Creation Story, God speaks all things into being over the course

of six days – whether those days be literal or metaphorical. First light and then

form, from the chaotic swirling waters as a wind from God hovered over the face

of the deep darkness of pre-creation. God simply speaks a word, and God’s Word

becomes the new reality of the universe. Throughout the six days of creation, God

speaks, and things come into being, and God declares all things to be good, and on

the sixth day, God creates humankind in the image of God, and says that indeed,

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everything is very good. And then, on the seventh day, God rests.

What is today? Today, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, is the eighth day; after

the Sabbath; the first day of a new week. But today is more than that. Today we

celebrate the first day of a new Kingdom, a world in which Christ has been raised,

victorious over his enemy and ours, Death. Today we celebrate the first day of a

new Creation, a world in which God has spoken the Word by which all things are

made new. Today we celebrate the first day (to co-opt an oft-used phrase) of the

rest of our lives – lives that are lived both here and now, and for eternity.

In the Hebrew system of numeric symbolism, gematria, the number 7 is the

number of completion and perfection – thus God’s rest from work on the seventh

day. The number 8, however, symbolizes rebirth and new creation. On the seventh

day of the world’s creation, God rested. And it was on the seventh day of the week

that Jesus laid in the tomb. But today, we celebrate the eighth day and all that

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead means.

Yes, we do celebrate, with the two Mary’s who went down to the tomb, the

good news that Jesus himself is raised from the dead. And as we hear that news

and are filled with joy and fear, Jesus himself meets us, speaking a Word of

welcome, a Word of love, a Word that calls us into a new place, a new day, a new

life. “Go, and don’t go in fear, because I will go ahead of you!”

But what makes Jesus’ resurrection from the dead so meaningful is the

promise of Life that is given to us through his final defeat of Death. On that first

day of the new week and of the new creation, the earth shook and light shone and

life broke forth from the darkness of the tomb, and that light and life and earth-

shaking love speak to us with the Word through which all things were created and

all things are made new, the Word who is Jesus Christ. We rejoice and are glad in

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this day that the Lord has made, because today the promise of Life with God finds

its fulfillment. On day 6, things were good. On day 7, they were very good. And

now, on day 8, everything that has broken and fallen is being made right again.

That is the promise of Easter.

Not even Death can hold down the God’s ongoing work of creation. Not

even Sin can prevent God’s love from saving God’s beloved. Not even Fear can

overcome the Joy that God brings. Not even the Devil and all his oppression can

thwart the merciful healing of God. Jesus is alive! Alleluia! Because He lives, we

live! Alleluia! Alleluia!

But in our joy and celebration, even as we are filled with peace and hope by

this promise, we also must acknowledge that resurrection cannot happen without

death; new creation cannot occur unless the old creation is re-purposed and re-

formed. Today is Easter, the day of resurrection, the eighth day of the old and the

first day of the new… but today is also a day in which we continue to be isolated,

distanced, quarantined, separated from our friends and families.

Today doesn’t feel much like Easter Sunday, not just because we can’t have

our regular Easter festivities, but also because we are not in an Easter state of

mind. We are experiencing, still, the loss of our ways of life, and for many people

around the country and world, there is loss of life itself. We are now, today, in a

time of anguish and confusion like that of Good Friday, a time of grief and waiting

like that of Holy Saturday. Maybe we have not yet discovered the eighth day of

renewal and salvation that will follow this current day of struggle and fear.

It feels, today, more like we’re on the way to see the tomb where our friend

and teacher and king is laid in death, and less like we are on our way from seeing

that the tomb lies empty, from hearing the Word that Jesus is alive, from meeting

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Jesus, or put more rightly, from Jesus meeting us. We are not yet filled with fear

and great joy… but instead with fear and great sadness at our continued isolation.

But maybe that is exactly where we need to be today. We cannot truly

experience the joy of salvation unless we are first confronted with the reality of our

condition of helplessness. We cannot be brought back to life unless we have first

been brought through some form of death. We cannot be made new unless the old

passes away.

But the good news, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is that Jesus does meet

us and speak to us and go ahead of us through life and death and into the

resurrection. That is the entire message of Easter, of the incarnation – that God

takes on the whole human condition of sin and suffering and death, precisely in

order to save us from that very condition. God, through Jesus Christ, is still at work

to create and to heal, to save and to help, to bring us into the promise of Life

Eternal.

This current crisis is of this world, but God’s love is of the Kingdom. Jesus

has been raised victorious over death, the first day of the Kingdom has come into

being, and his touch brings us back to life again. Because of Easter, we have been

raised with Christ…

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Life will break out of this tomb of COVID-19, indeed it is already doing so,

as churches and schools and businesses innovate new ways of being in community.

And thanks be to God, Life is always breaking out of every tomb, because God is

still speaking, still creating, still working to make all things new and right and

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perfect. Today, Easter Sunday, we are given a sign of God’s promise that this is

true, for us and for the world. Jesus is risen! Alleluia! This is the day that the Lord

has made; let us rejoice, and be glad in it. Love comes again. Amen.

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HYMN OF THE DAY “Now the Green Blade Rises”text © 1928 Oxford University PressPermission to stream/reprint this music from One License # A-731513.

Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;love lives again, that with the dead has been,love has come again like wheat arising green.

In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,thinking that he would never wake again,

laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen; love has come again like wheat arising green.

Forth he came at Easter like the risen grain,he that for three days in the grave had lain;

raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen; love has come again like wheat arising green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,your touch can call us back to life again,

fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; love has come again like wheat arising green.

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NICENE CREEDWe 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,was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Maryand became truly human.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,who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,who 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 INTERCESSIONEach portion of the prayers ends with these or similar words.Lord, you hear and save us! Alleluia!

The presiding minister concludes the prayers with these or similar words.Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray,trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.Please take a moment to greet your family members who are with you, or to send a greeting via text message to someone you are thinking of today.

ThanksgivingOFFERING

While we cannot take up a physical offering through our virtual worship, I would encourage you to continue the practice of giving. Even though we cannot meet in person and our church building is closed to the public, we do have continued commitments to ministries beyond our congregation’s walls, such as the MCMA food pantry, the Mills County Storehouse, Bethany Lutheran Home, the Western Iowa Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as commitments to our congregation’s employees and expenses such as utilities.

OFFERTORY SONG “Now Thank We All Our God” public domain

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;

who, from our mothers’ arms, has blest us on our waywith countless gifts of love. And still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,

and keep us all in grace, and guide us when perplexed,and free us from all harm in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,the Son, and Spirit blest, who reigns in highest heaven,

the one eternal God, whom earth and heav’n adore;for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

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THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORDThe presiding minister leads one of the following or another appropriate prayer.Let us pray.

Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things:you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos,and brought life into being.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts:freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey,a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness:forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death,the way of your self-giving love.For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us:renew our faith, increase our hope,and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need.Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you;through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,be honor and glory forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYEROur 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,

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forever and ever. Amen.

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SendingBLESSING

May the One who brought forth Jesus from the deadraise you to new life, fill you with hope,and turn your mourning into dancing.

Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” ELW#365public domain

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 us 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!

DISMISSALChrist is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

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Service of the Wordstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2020-04-12.easter_sun… · Web view2020/04/12 · God simply speaks a word, and God’s Word becomes the new reality of the universe