OPENING HYMN Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds LSB 465
(1) Now all the vault of heav’n 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!
(2) 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!
(3) O 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!
(4) Adoring praises now we bring
And with the heav’nly blessèd 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! Amen.
INVOCATION
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
EASTER ACCLAMATION
P Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM [LSB p. 268] [Baptism of JieMi Erica Hsu Broome’]
HYMN Dearest Jesus, We Are Here [v. 5] LSB 592
5. Now into Your heart we pour prayers that from our hearts proceeded.
Our petitions heav’nward soar; may our hearts’ desires be heeded!
Write the name we now have given; write it in the book of heaven!
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 and for self-examination.)
P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
HYMN Jesus Christ Is Risen Today LSB 457
1 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!
2 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!
3 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!
4 Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love; Alleluia!
Praise Him, all ye heav'nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
KYRIE
(Sung)
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 This Is the Feast
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
SALUTATION & COLLECT OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
All: Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 65:17–25
17“Behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
24Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
A This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
EPIST LESSON 1 Corinthians 15:19–26
19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA VERSE
Alleluia. Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 24:1–12
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.
C Glory to You O Lord.
1On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8And they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia LSB 466
1 Christ has arisen, alleluia.
Rejoice and praise him, alleluia.
For our redeemer burst from the tomb,
even from death, dispelling its gloom.
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!
2 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.
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!
3 The 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 graveclothes are lying there.”
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!
4 “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.”
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!
5 Christ has arisen to set us free.
Alleluia, to him praises be.
Jesus is living! Let us all sing;
he reigns triumphant, heavenly king.
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!
SERMON: He Is Not Here
NICENE CREED
C I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made Man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING / CHORAL SELECTION “Jesus, Victorious Lamb”
OFFERTORY Crown Him with Many Crowns LSB 525
4 Crown Him the Lord of Life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing,
Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.
5 Crown Him the Lord of heav'n,
Enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to whom is giv'n
The wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns
As thrones before him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns,
For He is King of all.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. With great joy and thanksgiving, we praise You, our Father in heaven, for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. By His life, death, and resurrection, He has granted us everlasting life with You. He has opened the way for us to know You forever and to live with confidence that You hear us when we pray, for: He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
C He lives, my ever-living head.
P In a world full of chaos and confusion, we find refuge in the fact that You are on Your throne as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Instead of foolishly looking to this world for our peace and purpose, help us, O Father, to look to Jesus, who is seated in power at Your right hand, for: He lives all-glorious in the sky;
C He lives exalted there on high.
P We bring to You, faithful Lord, the needs of our lives and the concerns of those we love. For those who are hungry and hurting, doubting and dismaying, grant that the message of Christ’s resurrection bring restoration and peace, for we know: He lives my hungry soul to feed;
C He lives to help in time of need.
P There are many among us who are in need, O Lord. For the sick, suffering, hurting, and ailing, we ask for Your healing touch, [especially . . .]. Help them to know that: He lives to comfort me when faint;
C He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
P When the troubles of life seem overwhelming, steady us with Your presence, gracious God. Be the rock on which Your Church is built and through whom we confidently share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection with the world He died to save. When we waver, help us to remember: He lives to calm my troubled heart;
C He lives all blessings to impart.
P Death was not the end for Jesus; neither is it the end for those who trust in You. Give peace, hope, and the certainty of the coming Day of resurrection to all those who mourn and grieve, We are confident that: He lives my mansion to prepare;
C He lives to bring me safely there.
P What a blessing it is to be in Your house today, Lord God, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior! His triumph over sin, death, and the devil is the reason we rejoice this day, and every day, knowing that: He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
C He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
P He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
C Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!
BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24-26
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you His peace.
C Amen.
EASTER ACCLAMATION
P Alleluia! Christ is risen! C He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
CLOSING HYMN I Know That My Redeemer Lives LSB 461
1 I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living head.
2 He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives all-glorious in the sky;
He lives exalted there on high.
3 He lives to bless me with His love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.
4 He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
5 He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.
6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly Friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
7 He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
8 He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives;
I know that my Redeemer lives!