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Easter Sunday

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, April 5, 2026

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Prelude On this day of Joy and Gladness arr. James Kasen

On this day of joy and gladness, | Lord, we praise thy holy name;

In this sacred place of worship, | We thy glories loud proclaim!

Alleluia, Alleluia, | Bright and clear our voices ring,

Singing songs of exultation | To our Maker, Lord, and King!

Welcome & Announcements

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

*Resurrection Proclamation

Alleluia! Christ Is risen!

He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!

We stand here today as God’s forgiven people; freed by Friday’s death and this morning’s Easter promise. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!

By Jesus’ obedience, his trust, his grace, and his resurrection we are set free from all sin and granted the gift of eternal life. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!

We have wandered this past week through the mystery of faith. First we greeted him with palms and sang his praises. Then we received his very own life in the bread and the wine, only to turn on him because we were afraid. And still, past the crucifixion, past the denials, despite our taunts and faithless fear, God persists. God comes again in his power. God restores the garden with his presence. God comes again to us with the love of his life. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!

*Gathering Hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today

*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

O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading Acts 10:34-43

34 Peter began to speak to Cornelius and his household: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for the | Lord is good;

God’s mercy en- | dures forever.

2 Let Israel | now declare,

“God’s mercy en- | dures forever.”

14 The Lord is my strength | and my song,

and has become | my salvation.

15 Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents | of the righteous:

“The right hand of the | Lord acts valiantly!

16 The right hand of the Lord | is exalted!

The right hand of the | Lord acts valiantly!”

17 I shall not | die, but live,

and declare the works | of the Lord. R

18 The Lord indeed pun- | ished me sorely,

but did not hand me o- | ver to death.

19 Open for me the | gates of righteousness;

I will enter them and give thanks | to the Lord.

20 “This is the gate | of the Lord;

here the righ- | teous may enter.”

21 I give thanks to you, for you have | answered me

and you have become | my salvation. R

22 The stone that the build- | ers rejected

has become the chief | cornerstone.

23 By the Lord has | this been done;

it is marvelous | in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the | Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be | glad in it. R

The Epistle Lesson Colossians 3:1-4

1 If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation

Christ, our paschal lamb, | has been sacrificed.* Therefore, let us | keep the feast.

*Gospel Matthew 28:1-10 Glory to you O Lord

1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Homily Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day Thine Is the Glory

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive our prayer.

*Apostle’s Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

Offering

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Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Offering Music

Now All the vault of Heaven Resounds Diane Bish

*Offering Prayer

Merciful God, accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more. Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus, that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, …angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. … New Covenant in my blood shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,

we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Agnus Dei

Communion Distribution

Communion Hymns

Alleluia Round William Boyce 1710-1779 Choir

arr. Richard Proulx

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

Crown Him With Many Crowns v 1, 3, and 5

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

Holy One, through this meal you have made your home among us and are making all things new. Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts, to love our enemies, and to bring your healing to the nations. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

*Sending Hymn Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds

*Blessing & Dismissal

God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace, bless you now and forever. Amen.

Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Postlude

A Trumpet Fancy excerpts Leon Nelson

Christ Lag in Todesbanden J.S. Bach

Christ lay in death's bonds | handed over for our sins,

he is risen again | and has brought us life

For this we should be joyful, | praise God and be thankful to him

and sing allelluia, | Alleluia

Thus we celebrate the high feast | with joy in our hearts and delight

that the Lord lets shine for us, | He is himself the sun

who through the brilliance of his grace | enlightens our hearts completely, the night of sin has disappeared. | Alleluia!