First Lutheran Church

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2nd Sunday in Easter (Post-Resurrection Sunday)

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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Prelude Victoria Pearson & Earl Vaults

Welcome & Announcements

*Thanksgiving for Baptism

Blessed be the holy Trinity, 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, let us 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 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.

*Gathering Hymn Now the Green Blade Rises

1 Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; love lives again, that with the dead has been; love is come again like wheat arising green.

2 In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,

thinking that he would never wake again;

laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;

love is come again like wheat arising green.

3 Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,

he that for three days in the grave had lain;

raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;

love is come again like wheat arising green.

Text: John MacLeod Campbell Crum, 1872-1958

*Prayer of the Day

Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Shall We Gather at the River Mike Klingbeil, Piano

First Lesson Acts 2:14a, 22-32

14a Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd]: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope.

27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ 32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”

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

Psalm Poems from Bill Radatz

The Beautiful - But Not Yet by Carrie Newcomer

Long Afternoon at the Edge of Little Sister Pond by Mary Oliver

The Epistle Lesson 1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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

Acclamation “Easter Poem” by Naemi Fredrickson Cunningham

*Gospel John 20:19-31 Glory to you O Lord

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.”

26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 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.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

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

Message for the Day Brian Jensen, Bill Engel and Pastor Kurt Eugene Bozza Aria for Saxophone and Piano

*Hymn of the Day These Things Did Thomas Count as Real

by Randy Sensmeier

*Prayers of Intercession

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

*Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

Offering

Give online using the button at the top right

Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Offering Music Every Time I Feel the Spirit

Gary Muhlbach, Piano

arr. Melody Bober

*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 Hymn Peace to Soothe Our Bitter Woes Choir

Nikolai Grundtvig 1783 -1872

Tr. George T Rygh 1860-1943

Music - David Cherwien

Peace, to soothe our bitter woes, | God in Christ on us bestows;

Jesus bought our peace with God | with his holy, precious blood;

peace in him for sinners found, | is the gospel's joyful sound.

Peace within the church still dwells | in our welcomes and farewells;

and through God's baptismal pow'r | peace surrounds our dying hour.

Peace be with you, full and free, | now and through eternity.

*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 Crown Him With Many Crowns vs. 1,3,5