Easter | ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL

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Sunrise Worship

In Preparation for the Lord’s Supper

The Bible tells us (1 Corinthians 11:23-29) that it is vitally important that we understand and believe that the Lord’s Supper is a participation in the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. To receive the blessings of this Sacrament to our benefit it is necessary that we examine our hearts and our lives. Please read and prayerfully consider the following:

✞ I believe that I am sinful by nature and in need of forgiveness.
✞ I confess that I have sinned in my thoughts, words, and deeds.
✞ I believe I am forgiven only through faith in Jesus Christ.
✞ I confess that in, with, and under the bread and wine I receive the very Body and Blood of Jesus.
✞ I promise with the help of the Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life and strive to live a God-pleasing life.
As members of Jesus’ family, we have a responsibility to teach and encourage one another so that we receive the blessing intended for us in this Sacrament. Out of sincere love, we respectfully ask that those who have not been instructed and confirmed in the Lutheran Church please speak with a pastor before attending the Lord’s Supper. St. Luke’s offers “Explorations” an adult information class for those of high school age and above desiring to be confirmed. Children are confirmed at the end of their eighth grade year after completing instruction. We are happy to meet with you and discuss any special circumstances or needs you may have.

Easter Sunrise Worship

Sunday, April 20, 6:30 am

St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery

“He is not here, He has risen!”

He is risen, indeed! This is cause for celebration! This is the reason we gather in the early hours at the cemetery.

We announce to the whole world that Jesus is risen and proclaims victory over sin’s most dreaded consequence — death. We are filled with renewed comfort and hope that as believers in Christ this resurrection life is ours to live eternally.

Preservice Music

Easter Greeting:

P: People of God, why have you come? It is very early in the morning, and light has not fully dawned. Whom do you seek?
C: We have come to find our Lord, Jesus of Nazareth.
P: You have come in darkness. Why have you come to this place of darkness?
C: Darkness surrounded us as we came. Our hearts are often surrounded in darkness and fear.
P: Why do you seek the living among the dead?
C: We know that Jesus brings life and immortality to light. In Him death no longer has victory over us.
P: Why do you gather in a cemetery?
C: This is the place of our resurrection. This is the place of our final victory. Here we will be raised, even as Christ has been raised.
P: Christ is risen!
C: He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
P: In the name of the Father, and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

Opening: “In Christ Alone”

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Morning Prayer:

P: Almighty God, our Father, we praise You for turning the despair of the disciples into joy by raising Christ from the dead. Grant that our despair over our sins might be turned into the certainty of forgiveness, and our lives might be turned into powerful witnesses. Remove the hopelessness of death and turn it into the bright hope of heaven, through our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
C: Amen

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25 (ESV)

¹⁷“For 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 enjoythe 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.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 (ESV)

¹⁹If in Christ we have hope in this life only, 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.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading: Luke 24 1-12 (ESV)

P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.
C: Glory be to You, O Lord.

¹ But on 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 be to You, O Christ.

Song of the Day: “God So Loved”

Come all you weary Come all you thirsty
Come to the well That never runs dry
Drink of the water Come and thirst no more

Come all you sinners Come find His mercy
Come to the table He will satisfy
Taste of His goodness Find what you’re looking for

For God so loved The world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him Will live forever

Bring all your failures Bring your addictions
Come lay them down At the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting there With open arms

For God so loved The world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him Will live forever
The power of hell Forever defeated
Now it is well I’m walking in freedom
For God so loved God so loved the world

Praise God Praise God From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him Praise Him For the wonders of His love (praise God)
Praise God Praise God From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him Praise Him For the wonders of His love His amazing love

For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save
For God so loved The world that He gave us His one and only Son to save us Whoever believes in Him Will live forever The power of hell Forever defeated
Now it is well I’m walking in freedom
For God so loved God so loved the world

Bring all your failures Bring your addictions
Come lay them down At the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting God so loved the world

Easter Message

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering Announcement/Time of Reflection

Prayer of the Church

Confession:

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 the 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.

Absolution

Lord’s Prayer: (Matthew 6:9-13)

Our 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 forever and ever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Peace of the Lord:

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.

Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.

O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away;
Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ, And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.

Distribution

Hymn: “Gone”

Verse 1

Why are you looking among the dead For something to build your life on
The tears are still falling The linen’s still red
But the Savior who wore them is gone
His friends all around Him somehow didn’t get The story He’d told all along
We’ve all seen it written We’ve all heard it said
You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone

Chorus
And the women came running out Changed forever by what they’d found
Love’s beating heart Had burst through the dark And left with the dawn
And the angels could finally sing All praise to our Risen King Hope has arrived
He is alive, Jesus is Gone Gone

Verse 2
We are forgiven we have been saved No longer condemned by our wrongs
Because of the One who was not in that grave The last time He’d ever be gone

Bridge
Gone
My my shame is all Gone My sins are all Gone
All the shadows are Gone My my shame is all Gone
My sins are all Gone
All the shadows are Gone
‘Cause Jesus is Gone Gone Gone

Verse 3
Why are you looking among the dead For something to build your life on?
Look to the one who was not in that grave The last time he’d ever be gone

Hymn: “Thine Is the Glory” Vs. 1-3

Thine is the glory, Risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won!
Angels in bright raiment Rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes Where thy body lay.
Thine is the glory, Risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won!

Lo, Jesus meets thee, Risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets thee, Scatters fear and gloom;
Let his Church with gladness, Hymns of triumph sing,
For the Lord now liveth; Death hath lost its sting!
Thine is the glory, Risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won!

No more we doubt thee, Glorious Prince of life;
Life is nought without thee; Aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conqu’rors, Through thy deathless love;
Bring us safe through Jordan To thy home above.
Thine is the glory, Risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won!

Hymn: “See, What a Morning”

“See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, “Christ is risen!”
See God’s salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, “Where is He laid?”
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow’r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Song: “God Who Bleeds”

Verse 1
Oh my soul Who could ever know How deep my sins go
Oh my soul All the gold
On the earth could never pay
For the debt that I have made On my soul

Chorus
Now I see just how great my need In His hands and in His feet
Lamb of God oh my soul shall sing Hallelujah to the God who bleeds

Verse 2
Oh what love Knew I’d never have enough
So He chose to pay in blood
Oh what love I’m in awe Every earthly gain is lost
At the wonder of the cross Oh what love

Chorus
Now I see just how great my need In His hands and in His feet
Lamb of God oh my soul shall sing Hallelujah to the God who bleeds

Bridge (Sung Twice)

See from His head His hands His feet Sorrow and love flow down for me
Forever all my praise will be
Glory to the God who bleeds

Chorus
Now I see just how great my need In His hands and in His feet
Lamb of God oh my soul shall sing Hallelujah to the God who bleeds

Hallelujah to the God who bleeds

Prayer of Thanksgiving
P: We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

Benediction:
P: Having been nourished at the Lord’s Table, God the Father, † Son and Holy Spirit fills your life with joy and celebration. Rejoice in His Victory over sin and death! To Him Who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!
C: Amen.

P: Christ is risen!
C: He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Closing Hymn: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”

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!

Post-Service Music

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“Gone” CCLI Song # 7246222 Adam Lamb | Kip Fox | Nyssa Lytikainen | Paul Duncan © 2024 The Center for Worship Leadership (CWL Publishing); Centricity Music Publishing; That’s So Metal Music; Kip Fox MusicFor use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1352627

“In Christ Alone” Keith Getty | Stuart Townend© 2001 Thankyou Music
(Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 1352627

“God So Loved” CCLI Song # 7169675 Andrew Bergthold | Ed Cash | Franni Cash | Martin Cash | Scott Cash © 2019 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Scott Mctyeire Cash Music; We The Kingdom Music For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1352627

“God Who Bleeds” CCLI Song # 7226510 Benji Cowart | Cara Berg | Jon Gruen | Matt Preston © 2023 The Center for Worship Leadership (CWL Publishing); GoBillsMusic; We Are TIM Music For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1352627