Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church
www.mtolive-wels.net
1460 Almond Avenue
St. Paul,
Minnesota 55108
651.645.2575
A Praying Church
Carl R. Henkel, pastor
651.631.8625
carl.henkel@juno.com
EASTER
SUNDAY
March 23, 2008 9:00am
Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service! Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay!
Linda Henkel & Margaret Meier, organ and Clavinova
Alyssa Moline & April Ganske Pearson, trumpets
King David prophesied it! The disciples witnessed it! The apostle Paul proclaimed it! The resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of Christianity. It is why we gather together this Sunday and every Sunday. Countless generations in all times, and in all places, resonate with the proclamation, "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!"
EASTER GREETING (from Psalm 118)
Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor: This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor: Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
OPENING HYMN (sung
to the tune of hymn #247)
Alleluia! / Jesus is risen! / Trumpets resounding in glorious light!
Splendor, the Lamb, / Heaven forever! / Oh,
what a miracle God has in sight!
REFRAIN: Jesus is risen and we shall arise: / Give
God the glory! Alleluia!
Walking the way, / Christ in the center /
Telling the story to open our eyes;
Breaking our bread, / Giving us glory: /
Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise.
REFRAIN
Jesus the vine, / We are the branches; /
Life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree;
Heaven to earth, / Christ to the people, /
Gift of the future now flowing to me.
REFRAIN
Weeping, be gone; / Sorrow, be silent: /
Death put asunder, and Easter is bright.
Cherubim sing: / "O grave, be
open!" / Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light.
REFRAIN
City of God, / Easter forever, / Golden
Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,
River of life, / Saints and archangels, /
Sing with creation to God the I AM!
REFRAIN
Text: Herbert Brokering (c)
1995 Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission.
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Standing in the presence of our holy God, we begin to comprehend the depth of our sin. We have failed to be what He has called us to be. Sin separates us from God and leaves us deserving judgment and hell. Only by the grace and love of God shown to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are we saved from death, hell, and damnation. Before God and before one another we now make confession of our grievous sin, accepting the forgiveness Christ has won for us by His victorious resurrection.
People: Father, we confess before You and before one another that we are unworthy to stand before You. We have sinned against You and against each other. We deserve only Your wrath and punishment, but we earnestly seek forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We place our faith and trust in Him and the blood He shed for us on Calvary's cross. Forgive us our sins and empower us by Your Spirit to live the life You have called us to, in the name of Your risen Son. Amen.
Pastor: Rejoice, celebrate, children of God! The Father has promised to hear and answer your pleas for forgiveness. God in Christ Jesus has opened the tomb, destroyed death, and silenced the grave. God is faithful and willingly grants forgiveness to those who confess their sin. Thanks be to God, that our salvation is secure in the resurrection of Christ. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I announce the grace of God to all of you and by His command, I forgive you all your sin, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: The Lord is with you!
People: And He is also with you!
Pastor: Let us pray: We give thanks to You, Heavenly Father, for the grace You have shown us, through the salvation You have accomplished for us, through the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. We lift our voices in praise to You and seek this day to celebrate Your victory over our enemies, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Jonah 2:2-9
(“For as Jonah was three days and three
nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40)
Jonah said: "In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all Your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, 'I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God.
"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered You, Lord, and my prayer rose to You, to Your holy temple.
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord."
RESPONSE (sung to the tune of hymn #149)
Christ the Lord this day has risen,
The bright crown to Him is given.
He now rules o'er all the world,
All the earth bow down in praise.
EPISTLE LESSON Colossians 3:1-4
(We have been raised with Christ.)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
RESPONSE (sung to the tune of hymn #149)
Alleluia, Christ is king,
Over death does He now reign.
He has brought forth life from death.
By His Gospel now we live!
(c) Rev. Russell A. Nebhut, 2004. Used by permission.
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 28:1-10
(The tomb is empty.)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 28th chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped 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."
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHOIR
ANTHEM “Praise
the Risen Lord”
THE
CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH (spoken responsively)
Pastor: In Whom do you believe?
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth
Pastor: Lord God, we exalt You as our Maker,
Creator of the universe!
People: I believe in Jesus Christ, His only
Son, our Lord
Pastor: Lord Jesus, as Peter declared, so we
declare, "You are the Messiah, sent from God!"
People: He was conceived by the power of the
Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary
Pastor: Jesus, You are Son of Man and Son of
God, fully human and fully Divine.
People: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried.
Pastor: Precious Lord, even as You predicted
Your terrible death, so it came to pass. You are the Savior and Redeemer of the
world.
People: He descended into hell.
Pastor: You proclaimed Your victory over sin,
death and hell itself.
People: THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE
DEAD! He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty.
Pastor: Hallelujah! You are the Resurrection
and the Life!
People: He will come again to judge the living
and the dead.
Pastor: You are King of kings and Lord of
lords. We await the day of Your coming!
People: I believe in the Holy Spirit,
Pastor: You are our Comforter, Counselor, our
Helper and our Guide.
People: the holy Christian Church,
Pastor: We are the Church, O Lord, the Bride
being made ready for the Bridegroom!
People: the communion of saints,
Pastor: There are people all over the world who
believe in You and who are saved.
People: the forgiveness of sins,
Pastor: You have fulfilled our greatest need –
the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
People: the resurrection of the body,
Pastor: You are our Redeemer, O Lord. We know
that You live and that You will stand upon the earth at the last.
People: and the life everlasting.
Pastor: Thank you for the cross and the empty
tomb, Lord Jesus. By Your death and
resurrection we have eternal life.
All: He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen!
HYMN Hymn #166
"The
Day of Resurrection”
RESPONSE (sung to the tune of hymn #453)
Since
You are risen from the dead,
The
grave shall not confine me,
The
path You opened I shall tread.
No
chains of fear to bind me;
For
where You are I shall arrive,
And
all the way rejoicing.
Text:
Jaroslav Vajda, Copyright (c) 1989 Concordia Publishing House
Pastor: Lord Jesus, risen gloriously from the dead, we worship You as our living Savior, who has redeemed us to be Your own eternally; and we adore You as Conqueror of Satan, sin and death.
People: Accept us and our Easter hallelujahs, which we bring to You with all believers of all ages and races and nations.
Pastor: Joy fills our hearts as we come into Your presence; for Your resurrection proclaims to us and all believers forgiveness of all sins,
People: which brings peace to our hearts and songs of praise to our lips. We know that we are now reconciled to God, our heavenly Father.
Pastor: Joy fills our hearts as we worship You, the eternal, living Lord; for death cannot hold us in terror, and even the grave cannot keep our dust and ashes. We need not weep despairing tears;
People: for You will raise us and all believers to eternal life. Our loved ones fallen asleep in You are in Your safekeeping, eternally delivered from this world of suffering and pain.
Pastor: Joy fills our hearts as we today join with all Your people to praise You; for we know that the gates of hell will not prevail against Your Church,
People: which by Your power and strength goes on from victory to victory as we bear witness of You and confess Your name to the ends of the earth.
Pastor: Take full possession of our hearts today. Cleanse us from all sin. Keep us in Your grace. Let not the cares and worries of life rob us of the joy of Your Gospel.
People: Increase the number of Your faithful people from day to day. Gather from all nations of the earth Your own elect. Then Yours shall be the glory, Yours the honor, Yours the praise, throughout all eternity. Amen. Hallelujah! Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
HYMN Hymn #157
“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”
CLOSING PRAYER AND BENEDICTION
CLOSING HYMN Hymn #152
“I Know that My Redeemer Lives”
Sincerest Thanks to the following people for providing chancel flowers on this Easter Sunday. Your flowers may be picked up at the close of this morning's worship service or you may leave them and pick them up at a later date. Thanks also to our Altar Guild for all your work in arranging the flowers so beautifully. Your service of love does not go unnoticed!
To the Glory of
God from Bob & Lois Bentson
In Memory of
Loved Ones from Darryl & Pam Folkens
In Memory of
Herman & Helen Henkel from Pastor & Linda Henkel
In Memory of
Loved Ones from Jerry & Mary Holen
In Memory of
Loved Ones from George & Florence Juth
To the Glory of
God from Pastor & Margaret Meier
In Memory of
Grandparents from John & Jane Murray
In Honor of
Linda’s Parents’ 62nd Wedding Anniversary from Lee & Linda
Petersen
To the Glory of
God from Mae Schmidt
To the Glory of
God from the Greg Schuyler Family
In Memory of
Julie (Thompson) Nussbaum from the Tom Thompson Family
To the Glory of
God from Unsigned
To the Glory of
God from Mark & Karen Vizecky
To the Glory of
God from Ed & Marcella Voss
Next Sunday is Education Sunday at Mt. Olive. Our worship service and Education Hour will focus on Christian
Education. There will be a potluck
dinner beginning at 11:45am. Please
bring a dish or two to pass. The final
event of the day is our Mt Olive Pinewood Derby Race. This event is open to all
who would
like to participate. It’s always a fun time!
This Week At Mt. Olive
Today:
7:30am Easter
Breakfast
9:00am Festival
of the Resurrection Worship
10:00am Refreshments
and Social Time (No Education Hour)
2:00pm Mt.
Olive Chinese Church Worship Service
Monday:
7:00pm “Beautiful
Feet” Bible Study
Wednesday:
5:30pm Confirmation Class
6:30pm Work on Cars for the Mt. Olive Minute
Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of
the Word” Bible Study
7:00pm “Women in the Word” Bible Study
Next
Sunday:
9:00am Family
Worship (Christian Education Sunday)
10:30am Education
Hour
11:45am Potluck
Dinner
1:00pm Mt. Olive
Minute Pinewood Derby Race
3 & 7pm Lent/Easter Concert at St. Croix Lutheran High School