A Service for the 3rd Sunday of Easter

While not intended to be a substitute for regular church attendance, I hope this service will be helpful for this unable to attend services or looking to enrich their personal devotions.

Opening Hymn: Praise Him, Praise Him! (Music)

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessèd Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long:

Refrain

Praise Him! Praise Him!
Tell of His excellent greatness.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Ever in joyful song!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessèd Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Refrain

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessèd Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

Refrain (public domain)

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia! (Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

Hymn of Praise: The Day of Resurrection (Music)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end. (public domain)

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer 1979)

Acts 3:12-19 (World English Bible) 3:12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?  3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.  3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,  3:15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.  3:16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

3:17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 3:18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord

Lord, may Your words call us to true repentance.

Psalm 4
1
Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2
“You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you worship dumb idols
and run after false gods?”

3
Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.

4
Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.

5
Offer the appointed sacrifices *
and put your trust in the LORD.

6
Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

7
You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.

8
I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Book of Common Prayer 1979)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

1 John 3:1-7 3:1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.  3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.  3:3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.  3:4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.  3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.  3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him.

3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (World English Bible)

Lord, may Your word continue to keep us in righteousness and love. Amen.

Hymn: That Eastertide with Joy Was Bright (Music)

That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord.

He bade them see His hands, His side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
The tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again.

Jesus, the King of gentleness,
Do Thou Thyself our hearts possess
That we may give Thee all our days
The tribute of our grateful praise.

O Lord of all, with us abide
In this our joyful Eastertide;
From every weapon death can wield
Thine own redeemed forever shield.

All praise be Thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally.

Luke 24:36-48  24:36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

24:37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

24:38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 24:41 While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

24:42 They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 24:43 He took them, and ate in front of them. 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”

24:45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 24:46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. (World English Bible)

Let Your word inspire us to be faithful witnesses always.

A Sermon

A Sermon for Kids

A Declaration of Faith by Pastor Peter Olson:

I believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth, whose name is to be hallowed and praised.
And in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, from where he will judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, in His power, in His ability to illuminate and direct the Christian Church and individuals here on earth. I believe in His ability to distribute the gifts of the Spirit for the Church’s edification and mission as He wills.
I believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the Body, and of life everlasting through the grace and finished work of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Intercessory Prayers:

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by al people.

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and
Sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations
of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
(Book of Common Prayer)

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 tresspasses,
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,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Numbers: 6:24 ‘The LORD bless you, and keep you.

cb(6,25); 6:25 The LORD make his face to shine on you,

and be gracious to you.

cb(6,26); 6:26 The LORD lift up his face toward you,

and give you peace.’  (World English Bible)

Closing Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Music)

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all! (public domain)