Description
John 20:19-31
John recounts two appearances of Jesus to his apostles following the resurrection. He brings messages of peace and forgiveness. He reveals that he is sending them out. He breathes on them the Holy Spirit. Thomas, who is not at the first appearance, doubts and wants evidence. Jesus shows him and Thomas believes. Jesus blesses all those who have believed but not seen.
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
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
Wilbur Chapman, Mark Hall, & Michael Bleecker, © 2009 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) My Refuge Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
It Was Finished On The Cross
Jonny Robinson | Nigel Hendroff | Rich Thompson, © 2021 SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)
Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford, Gabriel Wilson, Jenn Johnson, Joel Taylor, & Kari Jobe, © 2013 KAJE Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Bethel Music Publishing
[Traditional Options]
Christ the Eternal Lord
LSB 829; WAR 339
O Savior, Precious Savior
ELW 820; HLC 98; LBW 514; LSB 527; LW 282
The Strife Is O’er
BH 91 172; CHH 221; EH 208; ELW 366; HLC 161; LBW 135; LSB 464; LW 143; NCH 242; PH 119; RS 587; WC 233; UMH 306; WAR 290
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
O Father, majestic is your name!
Worshipers
From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is to be praised Merciful God, Gracious Lord.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Hear us in the name of Your Son. For He has promised that where two or three of us are gathered in Your name He would be with us, and our prayer would be heard.
Worshipers
Hear us in the name of Your Son. For He is the revelation of your wisdom, the outpouring of your glory, the incarnation of your mercy toward us and the whole human race.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Light of Christ, awaken us this hour to the glory of your presence in our midst. Shine among us in such a way that the darkness without and within may be pushed back, such that we might truly see what is really real.
Worshipers
To you be the glory, All praise and honor, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God, now and evermore.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise the Lord! Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Resurrected God, though we have hidden ourselves in a locked room and huddled together as ones who build barriers, send your Living Word through our locked doors and into our guarded hearts that we might be witnesses of your grace and couriers of your goodness. By the power of your Holy Spirit, grant us the trust to believe the Gospel not because we see it but because we have been seen by it and transformed through it. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord we confess. In the risen Christ you broke the power of sin and evil. And yet we still live in the tombs of forgetfulness, anxiety and fear.
Worshipers
We have failed to love You as we should. We have neglected to love our neighbor. Indeed, we have even failed to love ourselves
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, I have betrayed you by following my own way. I have denied you by fearing to follow yours.
Worshipers
And I have mocked you by not taking your death and resurrection seriously. Lord, I am lost.
Let your forgiveness find me.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Almighty Father: we enter your presence confessing the things we try to conceal from you and the things we try to conceal from others.
Worshipers
We confess the heartbreak, worry, and sorrow we have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive us, the times we have made it easy for others to do wrong, the harm we have done that makes it hard for us to forgive ourselves.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord have mercy and forgive us through Christ. Amen
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Acts 5:29-42
In the book of Acts, Peter and the rest of the Apostles, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, encounter severe opposition from the Jews. Peter makes it clear that it is God they follow, and not man. Their lives are at stake. A teacher of the law calms everyone down, convincing them to leave the Apostles be- if this is from man it will fail, if it is from God, it will not. The Apostles are flogged but rejoice that they have been considered worthy of suffering for Christ.
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
