Description
John 20:19-31
The Apostle John writes of Jesus appearing to His disciples the first week after His resurrection. He meets them where they are, hiding behind locked doors, and blesses them. He gives them the Holy Spirit and sends them out. Thomas who is not present refuses to believe that Jesus has risen. Jesus appears a week later and allows Thomas to touch His wounds. Jesus blesses all those (Us!!) who would believe without seeing. Jesus performed many other signs in the disciple’s presence. John writes so that all may believe and have eternal life.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
This is Our God
Brandon Lake | Pat Barrett | Phil Wickham | Steven Furtick; Brandon Lake Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs
Death Was Arrested
Adam Kersh, Brandon Coker, Heath Balltzglier, Paul Taylor Smith, © 2015 Seems Like Music (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.]) Adam Kersh Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Bcoker Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Centricity Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Paul Taylor Smith Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Music At North Point (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
What He’s Done
Anna Golden, Jacob Sooter, Kristian Stanfil, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, © 2021 Capitol CMG Paragon; KPS 1.0; Meadowgreen Music Company; sixsteps Music; Tasha Cobbs Music Group; TeeLee Records Songs; worshiptogether.com songs; Just When Publishing; So Essential Tunes
[Traditional Options]
O Sons and Daughters of the King
EH 203/206; ELW 386/38; HLC 160; LBW 139; LSB 470/471; LW 130; NCH 244; PH 116; RS 579; WC 249; UMH 31; WAR 313
Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
CHH 215; EH 199,200; ELW 363; HLC 164; LBW 132; LSB 487; LW 141; NCH 230; PH 114,115; RS 575; UMH 315
Awake, My Heart, With Gladness
ELW 378; LBW 129; LSB 467; LW 128
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Worshipers
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We have not seen the risen Christ.
Worshipers
But we see him in the lives of those transformed by grace.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We have not seen Jesus face-to-face.
Worshipers
But we have seen him in the faces of everyone whose love encourages us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Blessed are you who have not seen him, yet you truly believe and trust him.
Worshipers
See how good and delightful it is when Christians gather as one. The Lord has commanded a great blessing: Life for evermore. Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Dear God, you are astounding! At the end of all your surprises you send among us the One who was crucified, dead and buried, and risen into glory. He comes now as a living Lord, defying our locked doors, banishing our fears, greeting us with peace, and overwhelming us with awe and wondering love. How paltry is our vaunted knowledge, how pathetic our doubts, when our souls are confronted with this risen Christ! How blessed are those who believe him, and how happy are those who receive him. Please receive our thanks, our praise, and our worship, and continue to bless us beyond our deserving, as we lift up our voices in celebration. In the name of Christ Jesus whose presence makes this occasion. Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we keep our faults and failures locked safely away, we have no need to confess. But God comes into our hearts when we least expect, so we can be filled with forgiveness, with hope, with peace. We now confess.
Worshipers
God, when we hesitate to speak of your hope, forgive us, and give us voice.
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we find it difficult to love another, forgive us, and give us new compassion.
Worshipers
When we want to stand with the high and mighty, forgive us, and put us next to the poor and oppressed.
Pastor / Worship Leader
When we stay locked behind our fears and doubts, forgive us, and send us out to share your grace.
Worshipers
When we cannot believe your Word of new life, forgive us, and fill us with your joy.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Christ comes into every shadowed corner of our lives with the light of Easter. Christ comes into the locked rooms of our faults and gifts us with grace and hope. Christ comes, to fill us with peace, that we may proclaim the good news of mercy and forgiveness.
Worshipers
Thanks be to God. Christ has come to us. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 4:32-35
In this description in the Book of Acts of the early Christian church, the believers are described as living in unity, with no one being in need of material possessions. God’s grace was on powerful display as the apostles testified to the resurrection of Jesus. They were all of one heart and one mind.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need
