2

INTRODUCTION Welcome to worship on this special day. Our liturgy begins with the liturgy of light and the blessing of the Paschal Candle, which symbolizes Christ’s breaking of the darkness of sin and death to bring us all the Easter victory. The Paschal Candle will shine as our symbol of the resurrection throughout the Easter season, at all baptisms and at all funerals. After the blessing, the day is proclaimed with the ancient East-er shout, joyous songs, and the word of God that proclaims the victory of Christ for us all. Thank you for joining us. We hope the blessings of the Risen Lord are yours this day and always.

GATHERING C—Congregational responses WELCOME, WORSHIP NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” arr. G. Krapf LITURGY OF LIGHT

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

The inscription on the Paschal Candle is traced by the Presiding Minister, while saying:

P Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, the beginning and the ending, Alpha and Omega; all time belongs to him, and all ages; to him be glory and do-minion forever and ever.

C Amen.

Resurrection of Our Lord

April 12, 2020

9:30 AM Online Worship

Saint Michael Lutheran Church 9534 Belair Road • Perry Hall, MD 21236 • Office: 410.256.6441 • Fax: 410.256.7081

Lead Pastor: John A. Mohan • Assistant Pastor: Joe Skillman www.stmichaelperryhall.org

3

The Presiding Minister places the nails, representing the wounds of Christ, into the Paschal Candle, saying:

P By his holy and glorious wounds, may Christ our Lord guard and keep us.

C Amen.

The Paschal Candle is lighted.

P May the light of Christ, who rises this day in glory, scatter the darkness of our hearts and minds. Let us pray. Almighty God, pour out your abundant blessing on this lighted candle, so that all who share in your holy mysteries may be filled with your grace and spiritual blessings. Once we were in darkness, but now there is light. Help us to live as people who belong to the Light, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

As the Paschal is raised, the Presiding Minister proclaims the resurrection, shouting three times:

P (boldly) Christ is Risen!

C (boldly) He is risen indeed!

HYMN OF PRAISE “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”

C 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!

Text: Latin carol, 14th cent., sts. 1-3; tr. J. Walsh, Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt.; Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, st. 4.

4

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P Let us pray. O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

HEARING THE WORD FIRST READING Colossians 3:1–4 Easter means new life for us as it first meant new life for Christ. His resurrection reshapes the entire focus and motivation for our lives, since we are now hidden with the risen Christ in God.

P A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians.

P So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

P Word of God, Word of life.

C Thanks be to God. GOSPEL Matthew 28:1–10 Sorrow gives way to "fear and great joy" when two women are sent by an angel to proclaim the good news: Jesus is risen!

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 28th chapter.

C Glory to you, O Lord.

P After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Mag-dalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heav-en, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards

5

shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

P The Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to you, O Christ. MESSAGE “Go to Galilee” Pastor John A. Mohan HYMN OF THE DAY “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”

C 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! He is living!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

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!

Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; set heart and will on things above that we conquer through your triumph;

6

grant grace sufficient for life's day that by our lives we truly say: "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Adoring praises now we bring and with the heav'nly blessed 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!

Text: Paul Z. Strodach, 1876-1947, alt. Text © 1958 Service Book and Hymnal, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

NICENE CREED

P We are witnesses to all that God has done! (adapted from Acts 10:39)

C We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is wor-shiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

7

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

P Let us pray.

A brief silence is kept.

P Lord Jesus Christ, ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead, you are Lord of all. Resurrected Lord, fill us with your grace, for we are your people. Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P We give thanks to you, Lord God, for you are good, and your mercy endures forever. Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P Lord Jesus Christ, preacher, healer, first person raised from death forever, you are ordained by God, and from you we receive the forgiveness of sins. Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P Lord Jesus Christ, visit our tombs, remove our headstones that oppress us even now, and become our chief cornerstone, that we may proclaim by deed and voice with Mary Magdalene: “I have seen the Lord!” Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P All worlds know of your power, Lord God, and sing your praises, for you alone are the Holy One. Hear us, even now, as we join your heavenly chorus. Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P Unshakeable God, you are our ever-present help in times of trouble. Amidst all the isolation, grief, and fear caused by the coronavirus crisis, renew in us your peace, restore to us your perspective, and reveal to us your presence. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

8

P Resurrected Lord and Great Physician, we boldly bring before you those in need of your loving power: (prayer list is read). Set our minds on heavenly things:

C Fill us with your joy.

P Help us listen closely to your Word, even as you listen to our prayers.

C Amen. OFFERING

P Thank you for joining us for worship online.

The darkness of that first Easter day turned to light with the rising of the Son. We, too, hope in the coming day when Jesus will turn sadness into joy!

It has been five weeks since we last gathered together. With this separa-tion comes the loss of Holy Communion. Soon the day will come when we will be able to once again taste and see that the Lord is God.

Before concluding the service, we want you to have the opportunity to present your offerings to God. During this pandemic, many of you have faithfully offered your lives in love of God and in service to your neigh-bors. God bless you!

Your financial gifts to St. Michael will accomplish the same as we seek to praise and serve God, and make disciples for Jesus. Online giving is se-cure and available at our website (www.stmichaelperryhall.org—click the ‘Online Giving’ tab at the top of the page). Regular mail is also secure with a locking mailbox on our property.

We will do our very best to use your gifts to proclaim the mighty power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.

9

SENDING

BENEDICTION

P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor, and + give you peace.

C Amen. SENDING HYMN “Thine Is the Glory”

C 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.

Refrain

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! Refrain

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught 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. Refrain

Text: Edmond Budry, 1854-1932; tr. R. Birch Hoyle, 1875-1939

DISMISSAL

P Go in peace. Share the good news.

C Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE “Trumpet Voluntary” J. Stanley

10

BE NOT AFRAID Filled with great joy and fear? This is how Matthew’s gospel describes the disci-ples in the moments just after they learn that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. As churches across the world today fill with people, flowers, and music, an almost palpable sense of joy seems to fill the air . . . but fear? Where does fear fit into today’s celebration?

Below the surface of the festivities, we all harbor far more fear than our Sunday best might reveal. As you take your place among this Christian assembly, the community around you is full of other people who struggle with fear, worry, and anxiety. Today in this assembly, there is fear about money, fear about rela-tionships, fear about the larger changes taking place in our world, fear about belonging and being loved, fear about being good enough, smart enough, or tal-ented enough, fear about illness and death, fear of being judged, even fear of religion and the church. Today’s gospel shows us that we are not alone in our fear. Even as they rejoiced, the first disciples were afraid—afraid of the un-known, afraid of ways they had let Jesus down, afraid of what was coming next for them.

But to all of us, both the angels and Jesus himself say, “Do not be afraid!” In his human life, Jesus experienced the great fears we all live with every day. On the cross he faced the pain and suffering our greatest fears bring. But when he emp-tied that tomb on Easter morning, he also emptied death of its sting and our fears of their bite. Strengthened by each other, we are bold to proclaim that in Christ’s victory, every path of death has been opened to new life. In every ac-tion of today’s worship, we build up one another’s faith and confidence that be-cause Christ lives, our fears are coming to an end.

11

UPCOMING COMMEMORATIONS Olavus Petri, priest, died 1552; Laurentius Petri, Bishop of Uppsala, died 1573; renewers of the church—Sunday, April 19, 2020

These two brothers studied with Luther at the University of Wittenberg and then returned to their native Sweden to introduce the Lutheran re-forms. Olavus published a catechism and hymnal; Laurentius was a pro-fessor who defended the office of bishop and later became one.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Portions of the service are reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS004077, a comprehen-

sive license which covers all liturgical material copyrighted and administered by Augsburg Fortress. Prayers of the Church adapted from “Prayers of the People” by Richard Bansemer, and Lectio 365, used with permission. Songs reprinted with permission from OneLicense.net license #A-701453 and/or CCLI license #1399783.

12

Our Staff Welcomes You! Lead Pastor John A. Mohan

Assistant Pastor Joseph E. Skillman, Jr. Director of Music Wm. Jeffrey Bunn Office Manager Barbara A. SanBoeuf Communication Assistant Barbara L. Harant Custodian Joanne Myers Congregation Council President Judy Meusel

Director of Music Emerita Gail Jothen Choir Director Emeritus Michael Jothen

OUR MISSION: To praise and serve God and make disciples for Jesus.

OUR VISION: To be a Christ-centered, welcoming community of active, compassionate, Spirit-filled disciples,

working in harmony to spread the Word of God.