Friends in Christ Lutheran Church April 1, 2018
Prayer for Meditation Before Worship: This is your resurrection day, O God; a day to proclaim victory over all that would destroy our joy and dash our hopes. A day to rejoice and wipe away the tears of our failures. A day to bury the past and embrace the future. A day to celebrate Christ s triumph over death and the grave. As the lives of Jesus first followers were transformed by his resurrection, so resurrect our faith that we might be enthusiastic witnesses for all that he has done. Make us your Resurrection people! Amen PRELUDE WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS * CALL TO WORSHIP P: Christ is risen! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! P: Let us begin this celebration in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen! P: Darkness, grief, and fear creeped into our souls. C: Suddenly, we see life! P: Christ is risen! C: He is risen indeed! P: Denials and betrayals have weakened our confidence and plagued our memories. C: Suddenly, forgiveness is real. P: Doubts and confusion fog up the future and affect the present. C: Suddenly, we realize that Christ is on life s journey with us as the story continues. P: We can proclaim with great confidence that Christ is risen! All: He is Risen indeed!! Hallelujah! Amen * PRAYER God of new life, how magnificent this place is today. Mighty and Wonderful God, by Your power and through Your love, You raised Your Son, Jesus Christ, from death and gave Him life. By His resurrection, we have proof that there is victory over death. You assured all of us that we do not need to fear death because we too, who believe, have been promised resurrection. It is with exceedingly great joy and gratitude that we usher in another Resurrection celebration repeating the ancient Christian greeting: Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! We praise You and thank You for the forgiveness and newness of life we have because of your amazing grace. Fear is overcome with the joy of the resurrection. And together we respond saying: Amen * OPENING HYMN LBW # 151 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
* RESPONSIVE SENTENCES FOR RESURRECTION P: On this glorious Resurrection Day, we have come to celebrate the greatness of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. On this great day, we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. My sisters and brothers, let us rejoice: Alleluia! C: Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the King of creation. P: On this most holy of days, the One whom men had thought to destroy has risen triumphant from the tomb! My sisters and brothers, let us rejoice: Alleluia! C: Alleluia, Alleluia, Jesus has died and has risen victorious over death. P: On this holy day, we celebrate our New Life in the Risen Christ; through the death of Jesus, the weight of our sin has been lifted from us; through His glorious resurrection, we have become sons and daughters of God. My sisters and brothers, let us rejoice: Alleluia! All: Alleluia, Alleluia, come, let us praise the living God and joyfully sing to our Savior. OFFERING FIRST LESSON Isaiah 25:6-9 SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 5:1-11 * GOSPEL READING John 20:1-18 MESSAGE * HYMN OF PRAISE Christ Arose * PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION P: It is appropriate as we come to the Lord s table that we should confess our sins. C: Dear Lord, I come before you as a sinner. It was my sin that was responsible for your death. I have often done the evil that you forbid and have failed to do the things that you have commanded. Forgive me Lord for the sake of Jesus, my Savior who died for me and rose again. P: It was indeed our sins that nailed our Savior to the cross. But those very sins also were conquered when he rose again on this Resurrection morning. He lives, triumphant over sin, death, and the devil. You are forgiven. Come now and accept the invitation and partake of the Lamb s high feast given for you and for me. Just come in the name of Christ. All: Praise the Lord! AMEN!
* WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYERS/LORD S PRAYER DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS * POST COMMUNION PRAYER Lord Jesus Christ, in this meal you have proclaimed your death for all people. May the whole world come to know also of your Resurrection as this Communion raises us to new lives of love through your glorious resurrection. We thank you for the meal, this healing gift you have shared with us. Help us to grow through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another. For the sake of Jesus Christ who rose for us that we might inherit eternal life, now and forevermore. AMEN * BENEDICTION Romans 15:5-7 * THREEFOLD AMEN * CLOSING HYMN LBW # 145 Thine is the Glory * DISMISSAL P: Christ our Lord has risen and has set us free! C: praise His name! P: Proclaim the Good News for all to hear! C: We will tell of God s love. P: Christ our Lord has risen! All: He is risen indeed! Praise the Lord! Amen! POSTLUDE GO NOW IN THE GRACE AND PEACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! * Please stand for these portions of the service if you are able. Receiving her first communion this morning is Faith Marie Olson, daughter of Mac & JoAnn Olson. FRIENDS IN CHRIST RESURRECTION SUNDAY FLOWERS ~ In Memory of our loved that have passed on from Tim & Sheila Puttonen (Asiatic Lily) ~ In Honor of Grandchildren from Ardis Olson (Azalea) ~ In Memory of Murlin & Lynne from Chris & Laicy Erickson (Azalea) ~ In Honor of our Great-Grandchildren from Reuben & Linda Raatikka (Azalea) ~ In Honor of our Children and Grandchildren from Mike & Chris Olson (Asiatic Lily) ~ In Honor of our Grandchildren from Gordy & Kelly Huttunen (Easter Lily)
Today s Announcements A BLESSED RESURRECTION MORNING TO YOU ALL! We joyously greet all worshipers in the name of the risen Lord. On this day we rejoice in Christ s victory over sin and death. Together we praise God with great enthusiasm. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! May the resurrected Jesus fill your heart today and forevermore. We welcome those who are visiting with us on this special occasion. We hope you were strengthened by your time here and please, come and worship with us again. We are grateful to all who donated lilies and other flowers to enhance our Resurrection celebration services this morning! Following the service you may take your plant home with you or donate it to a shutin or someone in a nursing home. Thanks to all for the generous donations! Coffee Servers: April 8 th Chris and Tracey Olson April 15 th Mac and JoAnn Olson April 22 nd Mike and Chris Olson April 29 th Sheldon and Shirley Olson May 6 th Matt and Becky Palmer This Week in Our Parish Tuesday, 4/3 9:15 Bible Study-FE Wednesday, 4/4 9:30 Men s Coffee- FE 4:00 Confirmation 6:00 LYO Friday, 4/6 1:30 Service at Serenity Living in Sebeka Sunday, 4/8 9:30 Worship Service Sunday School Fellowship RETREAT There will be a retreat on Saturday, April 14th at 9:00 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church for the council or board of each church and the United Parish Council. Also, anyone in the congregations that would like to learn more about leadership is welcome to attend. Potluck lunch will be served. Please bring a dish to share. Please join us as at the retreat as we learn how to advance as leaders in our church and community. Rolls, Juice & Coffee provided. Remember in Prayer Marlene Salo Art Hollerud Tammy Evans Dora Meyer s great-grandson Neva Shepersky Chuck Boyer Art Yliniemi Curt Oakland Michael Knapp Loretta Ehrmantraut Peggy Lake Paul Shepersky Tom Carlson Kathy Mickelson Lynette Hilden Linda Miller Brent Freeman Brie Schilling Dennis Anderson Tanya Porter Elaine Hollerud Naomi Butcher John Rader Thomas Merchlewicz Bruce Blanchard Elvin Yrjo Susan Gullekson Our Country & Military Jon Soppeland Hayden Paulson Braden Tjosaas Luke Hallaway Our Churches, Pastors, Leaders, and Staff Our Shut-ins