Easter Sunday

April 20, 2025, 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel and on Facebook Live

Classic Communion Service

We honor the Kumeyaay Nation, on whose ancestral lands we have made our home.

Holy Communion will be part of this service. Here at Gethsemane we practice open communion, meaning all who believe in the power of Jesus Christ to bring salvation are welcome to join in. In our Lutheran understanding, both sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—are best conducted among the gathered assembly. If you are present on this live-stream, you are present in our assembly. The body of Christ is not limited by place or time, so even if you are on the replay of this service, you are part of our assembly. Any bread and any wine or grape juice will do. If you are celebrating as a family or group, please feel free to break the bread into the right number of portions or have a separate piece for each person. Same with the cup. You may have one cup for all or each member gathered uses a separate cup. We believe the Christ is fully present in both Word and Sacrament, in both the bread and the wine/grape juice so if you only have one or the other, or even if you refrain from communion, you are not missing out on the grace of God. We understand both the Word and Sacraments as the means of grace. Remember it is not the type of bread or wine, nor is it the quantity, but it is your faith in taking the elements that is the window for the Holy Spirit to enter your life.

In the interactive part of the liturgy, the leader’s part is in regular text. The people’s response is in bold. All people are welcome to sing along with the songs where the lyrics are printed.

GATHERING

WELCOME

“Morning Has Broken”

1    Morning has broken like the first morning;

      blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

      Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

      Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

2    Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven,

      like the first dewfall on the first grass.

      Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,

      sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

3    Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,

      born of the one light Eden saw play!

      Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning,

      God’s recreation of the new day!

Text: Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965

Text © Miss E. Farjeon Will Trust, by permission of David Higham Associates.

 

“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”              ELW #365 vss 1, 3, 4

 

1    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!

3    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!

4    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

 

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!

In the name of ☩ the One

who was, who is, and who is to come.

Amen.

Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection,

and called to live the baptized life,

we give thanks for the gifts of baptism.

Holy God,

we give you thanks for the waters of baptism,

waters that make a people your own,

that restore us to wholeness and empower us to be

witnesses in your name.

Baptized into you, O Living One,

make us one as you are one.

We give you thanks for the waters of baptism,

waters that strengthen believers

and give new life to beloved servants of your church;

waters that extend your boundless love

and cross barriers of our own making.

Baptized into you, O Living One,

make us one as you are one.

We give you thanks for the waters of baptism,

waters that open the hearts of believers

and give a voice in the night to those in captivity;

waters that set your people on a new path,

rejoicing in the Spirit’s power.

Baptized into you, O Living One,

make us one as you are one.

Grant us grace, love, and life, O Living One,

that our every day is shaped by these waters

that give us our very lives in you.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One.

Amen.

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase our yearning for depth in the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus, the Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

WORD

 

CHOIR ANTHEM                                                                     

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

“Sing Hallelujah”

Sing hallelujah to the Lord.

Sing Hallelujah to the Lord. Sing hallelujah,

Sing hallelujah, Sing hallelujah to the Lord.

Words: Linda Stassen-Benjamin – Music: Linda Stassen-Benjamin © 1974 by Linda – Stassen, Renewed 2002 Linda Benjamin, New Song Creations

 

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 24:1-12

Evidently expecting to find Jesus’ corpse, some of the women among his followers go to the tomb with embalming spices. After a perplexing encounter with the empty tomb and angelic visitors, the women become the first to proclaim the amazing news of resurrection.

 

SERMON                                                                                                       Pastor Karla

 

“In Christ Alone”

In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease;

My Comforter, my All in All; here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone who took on flesh; fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save;

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied;

For every sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay; light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;

For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death; this is the power of Christ in me.

From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand;

‘Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend; © 2002 Thankyou Music; used by permission CCLI #3225965

 

PRAYER QUILT DEDICATION

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Sung Response:      “Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying”                   ELW #752

 

      Lord, listen to your children praying,

      Lord, stir your Spirit in this place;

      Lord, listen to your children praying,

      send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.

Text: Ken Medema, b. 1943

Text © 1973 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

MEAL

OFFERING OUR GIFTS FOR THE MISSION AND MINISTRY OF GOD’S CHURCH

We have prayed. We have sung.  We have heard the Word. Now, being thankful for the ministry we are called to do, we are invited to offer ourselves; our time, talents and treasure in faithful witness of the good things God has done for us and in confidence that our worship extends beyond this place and time. Your financial contributions are gratefully accepted to further the life and ministry of Gethsemane Lutheran. Thank you.

 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER AND WORDS OF INSTITUTION

 

LORD’S PRAYER

One: And now, join me in praying as Jesus taught us…

All: 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 trespasses

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 forever and ever.

           Amen. 

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

POST COMMUNION BLESSING

 

SENDING

 

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BLESSING

 

“My Life Flows On in Endless Song”              ELW #763 vss 1, 2, 4

 

1    My life flows on in endless song;

      above earth’s lamentation,

      I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn

      that hails a new creation.

Refrain

      No storm can shake my inmost calm

      while to that Rock I’m clinging.

      Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

      how can I keep from singing?

2    Through all the tumult and the strife,

      I hear that music ringing.

      It finds an echo in my soul.

      How can I keep from singing?  Refrain

4    The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

      a fountain ever springing!

      All things are mine since I am his!

      How can I keep from singing?  Refrain

Text: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

 

OUR DECLARATION OF MISSION

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

You are the body of Christ.

We are the body of Christ in the world!

So go in peace

To explore the faith

Live in peace

To express our faith to others

Share the peace

By inviting others to join us on this journey.

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, MADE NEW, SO LET’S GO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! 

 

Thanksgiving for Baptism, Reading synopsis, Prayer of the Day (altered), and cover art from Sundays and Seasons. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Please visit our Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org. All music is used with permission under CCLI #3225965.

Acts 10:34-43

Peter’s sermon, delivered at the home of Cornelius, a Roman army officer, is a summary of the essential message of Christianity: Everyone who believes in Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the words of the prophets, receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

 

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)

 

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Paul describes the consequences of the resurrection, including the promise of new life in Christ to a world that has been in bondage to death. He celebrates the destruction of evil and the establishment of God’s victorious rule over all.