Service for April 20, 2025

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Welcome

Prelude – Agnus Dei

Call to Worship

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22

Hymn # 277 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

1 "Christ the Lord is ris'n today," Alleluia!

sons of men and angels say; Alleluia!

raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!

Sing ye heav'ns, and earth, reply. Alleluia!

2 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia!

Christ has burst the gates of hell: Alleluia!

death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

3 Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!

where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!

where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

4 Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

foll'wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!

made like him, like him we rise: Alleluia!

ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

5 Hail, the Lord of earth and heav'n! Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be giv'n; Alleluia!

thee we greet triumphant now; Alleluia!

hail, the Resurrection, thou! Alleluia!

Call To Confession

Our Lord Jesus says, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ And also, ‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Let us, therefore, confess ours sins to the Lord, saying together:

1 John 1:8 (NKJV)

Confession of Sins

Almighty and Gracious Father, we confess to you that we have sinned by not loving you with our whole heart and by not loving our neighbor as ourselves. Our faith is weak, and we easily give in to doubt. Forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness in thought, word and deed. For we ask this in the name of your Son, who is our sure Redeemer and our Savior. Amen.

Word of Assurance

Brothers and Sisters in Jesus, our Gracious Heavenly Father has forgiven us our sins according to His word that "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 1:13–14

Doxology # 731

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heav'nly host;

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Scripture Lesson:

Matthew 28:1-7

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Sermon

Children’s choir – Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

Hymn # 281 I Know That My Redeemer Lives – Glory, Hallelujah!

1 I know that my Redeemer lives–

glory, hallelujah!

What comfort this sweet sentence gives–

glory, hallelujah!

Refrain:

Shout on, pray on, we're gaining ground–

glory, hallelujah!

The dead's alive and the lost is found–

glory, hallelujah!

2 He lives, he lives, who once was dead–

glory, hallelujah!

He lives, my everlasting Head–

glory, hallelujah! [Refrain]

3 He lives, to bless me with his love–

glory, hallelujah!

He lives to plead for me above–

glory, hallelujah! [Refrain]

4 He lives, all glory to his name!-

glory, hallelujah!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same-

glory, hallelujah! [Refrain]

Prayer of the Church with the Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray together as Jesus taught us:

“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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Hymn # 287 Morning Sun

1 On the first day of the week

Mary came, the grave to seek;

Jesus met her by the way,

On that first resurrection Day!

Refrain:

Rising like the morning sun,

Bringing hope to everyone who sees Him,

Praise the Lord, His work was done,

Jesus is my morning sun!

2 Hiding in that secret room,

His disciples, full of gloom and sorrow,

Suddenly, the Lord appeared,

“Death is conquered! Dry your tears!” [Refrain]

3 Then at last on the mountaintop,

Angels told them,

“You should stop your crying,

Jesus Christ will come again;

What a glad reunion then!” [Refrain]

Benediction