University Lutheran Church

WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHURCH during this Easter season as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and all of the ways that we are restored to new life in Jesus’ name. Our liturgy for the next two Sundays is “Now the Feast and Celebration” by Marty Haugen. At the conclusion of our worship service, we will include a Celebration of Our Community. Following the last hymn, the congregation will be seated, and people who are celebrating a birthday or anniversary during this month of April, or any other award or milestone in their lives, will be invited to come forward for recognition and a supportive song of blessing.

WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO HOLY COMMUNION to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and the powerful freedom of a new life in Christ. Please come down the center aisle, proceed to the communion rail, and kneel or stand at the first open space. Hold out your hand to receive the bread. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please indicate your desire at the time you are offered the bread. You may drink either from an individual glass, which will be served first, or from the chalice. The individual glasses in the center of the tray contain grape juice. An acolyte will pass by to pick up your individual glass. In the spirit of continuous communion, please return to your seat via the side aisles after you have drunk from the glass or chalice. After everyone has been served at the communion rail, the ministers will serve anyone in the pew that is unable to come forward. Please indicate your desire in this regard to the usher. Children who commune at their home congregation are welcome to receive the elements. Please hold out your hand to let the minister know that you wish to receive communion. Parents who desire their children not to receive communion may bring them up to receive a blessing.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR ATTENDANCE at worship today and your participation at Holy Communion by completing the enclosed Worship Registration form and placing it in the offering plate. Please join us for fellowship and refreshments in the lounge after the service. We will be honoring Doris Helle today as she celebrates her 100th birthday on this very day.

THERE ARE CHILDREN’S BAG with bulletins and books available in the lounge and the

narthex. They are hanging on the wall.

LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS are available for your use during the worship service. You may pick one up in the lounge.

CHILD CARE is available in the Nursery for children of any age. Ask the usher for directions.

OUR PRAYERS are for our homebound, and for those in need of healing in body, mind or spirit.

TEXTS FOR NEXT SUNDAY: Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19.

Second Sunday of Easter April 3, 2016

Prelude Improvisation on “Puer Nobis Nascitur”

Welcome & Announcements

Service of Holy Communion

(Please stand as you are able)

Processional Hymn “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” Green Hymnal #132

(Face the cross as it is carried forward)

Call to Worship (Psalm 73)

P: We praise you, O God, for you are favorable to your people.

C: You forgave our iniquity and pardoned our sin.

P: You withdrew all your wrath and turned from your hot anger.

C: Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us.

P: Show us your steadfast love and grant us your salvation.

C: Let us hear what you have to say, for you speak peace to your faithful people.

P: Surely your salvation is at hand for those who trust in you.

C: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

P: Faithfulness will rise from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

C: Righteousness will go before you and will make a path for you throughout our land.

All: We praise you, O God, for you are favorable to your people. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Kyrie

A: In peace, in peace,

A: For the reign of God, and for peace throughout the world, for the unity of all . . . (Refrain)

A: For your people here, who have come to give you praise, for the strength to live your Word

(Refrain)

Hymn of Praise “Now the Feast & CelebrationGather Us In”

Salutation

Prayer of the Day

A: Let us pray together:

C: God of love, you sent Jesus into the world to reveal your love for all creation. Grant to us your Spirit so that we may know your love in all of its fullness, and be set free from the fears that keep us from bearing the good fruit that you desire. As you have loved us, give us the faith and courage to love one another. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

(Please be seated)

First Lesson Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted Jesus at God’s right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey God."

Elijah Meets God at Horeb

L: Holy Wisdom. Holy Word.

C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm Hymn “Be Not Afraid”

Second Lesson Revelation 1:4-8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before God’s throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Jesus who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! Jesus Christ is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

L: Holy Wisdom. Holy Word.

C: Thanks be to God.

(Please stand)

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the religious authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As God has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

P: The Gospel of the risen Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

(Please be seated)

Sermon

(Please stand)

Hymn of the Day “Because You Live”

Prayers of the People

Exchange of Peace

P: The peace of God be with you always.

C: And also with you.

(Please be seated)

Children’s Sermon

Offering/Musical Offering

“Now Let the Heavens Be Joyful” French Carol

arr. Robert Chambers

Now let the heavens be joyful,

Let earth her song begin!

The round world keep high triumph,

And all that is therein.

Here is risen, He is risen,

Christ, the Lord , is risen.

Our joy, that hath no end.

From death to life eternal,

From earth on to the sky,

Our Christ hath brought us over,

With hymns of victory;

He is risen, He is risen,

Christ, the Lord, is risen,

Our joy, that hath no end.

Let all things seen and unseen

Their notes of gladness blend,

For Christ, the Lord, is risen,

Our joy that hath no end.

He is risen, He is risen,

Christ, the Lord, is risen.

Our joy, that hath no end.

(Please stand)

Offertory Hymn “As the Grains of Wheat”

Offertory Prayer

A: Let us pray together:

C: God of all creation, as the Alpha and Omega, you have provided us with all that we need to be sustained in this life. In gratitude, we offer to you these fruits of our labor for peace and good will within our congregation, within our neighborhood, in our state, and throughout our land. Bless this bread and fruit of the vine so that all who partake of this holy meal will be renewed by your Spirit, be filled with your peace, and be emboldened to be witnesses to your way of justice and peace. We pray in the name of our Prince of Peace. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

P: It is our duty and delight . . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn.

P: You are indeed holy. . . .even as we cry: Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

P: Send now, we pray. . . . make all things new. Amen. Come Holy Spirit. Amen. Come

Holy Spirit.

P: Gather our prayers . . . in whom we put our trust.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

(Please be seated)

Communion Distribution “Lamb of God”

2. You break the chains of hatred and fear:

3. You are the way of justice and peace:

4. You are the way of mercy and love:

(Please be seated)

Communion Distribution

“Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!”

“Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day”

“Peace I Leave With You”

(Please stand)

Communion Blessing

P: May the body and blood of Jesus, our Christ, liberate us from all the prevents us from being faithful and obedient to God’s will and fill us with the desire to bear witness to God’s love for one another.

C: Amen.

Post Communion Hymn “Thanks Be To You”

Post Communion Prayer

A: Let us pray together:

C: God of our salvation, we give you thanks for this gift of life and freedom, and pray that you will renew in us the peace that you promise through Jesus’ gift of forgiveness. Grant us the faith and courage to proclaim the good news of your love and call all people to repentance for the sake of your justice and peace in this world. We pray in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Benediction

P: May God bless us and keep us. May God’s face shine on us and be gracious to us. May

God look on us with favor and

Celebration of Community

Dismissal

A: Go in peace. Serve the risen Christ.

C: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Postlude “Toccata in F Major” Johann Pachelbel

Excerpts of “Now the Feast and Celebration” by Marty Haugen