Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Divine Service I
(abbreviated/spoken)
Page 151 – hymnal

Order of Worship

worship-5-3-20

Organ Prelude: To Thee Alone, Lord Jesus Christ J. C. Oley

Confession / Absolution
Kyrie
Hymn: “The King of Love, My Shepherd Is” #709
Collect of the Day
Old Testament Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Gradual: Psalm 23
Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Holy Gospel: John 10:1-10
Apostles’ Creed
Sermon

Offertory: Unless The Lord Builds The House Johann Pachelbel

Prayer of the Church
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction

Organ Postlude: Christ Lay In The Bonds Of Death G. A. Homilius

Sermon
A – 4th Easter
Psalm 23
“The Lord Is My Shepherd”

Every year on the 4th Sunday of Easter, the focus of the church’s attention and worship is its Lord – which is no different than every other Sunday during the year – and every day for that matter. But on the 4th Sunday of Easter, the image of our Lord that occupies the ‘center stage’ of our mind – is that of the Good Shepherd.

Having now spent the first three Sundays of Easter focused on the Day of Resurrection… from the two Marys who find the stone rolled away from the tomb and hear the announcement of the angel and hold the nail pierced feet of the risen Lord…. to the visitation of the risen Jesus to His disciples where He gives them His peace… to the evening encounter with two disciples on the Emmaus Road and the breaking of the bread where their eyes were opened… the Church now steps back and reflects on the wonderful implications for the one who believes all of this in the rich imagery of The Good Shepherd.

This image of our Lord as The Good Shepherd runs through the Psalms and the Prophets of the Old Testament like a stream fed by tributaries that grows wider and runs deeper as it goes – until it comes to its destination and goal – our risen Lord – who declares, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

The text for our consideration on this Good Shepherd Sunday is the spring from which this wonderful image of our Lord begins in the Scriptures – the 23rd Psalm. Continue reading →

Please join me in a 30 minute bible study on “The Fruit of the Spirit” from Galatians 5.
Pastor Nielsen

THE FRUIT OF JOY

fruit3

Divine Service I
(abbreviated/spoken)
Page 151 – hymnal

worship-4-26-20

Order of Worship

Organ Prelude: Pastorale in G Hermann Schellenberg

Confession / Absolution
Kyrie
Hymn: “Who Are You Who Walk in Darkness” #470
Collect of the Day
Old Testament Reading: Acts 2:14,36-41
Gradual: Psalm 116:1-14
Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-25
Holy Gospel: Luke 24:13-25
Apostles’ Creed
Sermon
Offertory: Jesus, My Sure Defense Max Reger
Prayer of the Church
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Organ Postlude: Christ Is Arisen! Carl Piutti

Sermon:
Luke 24:13-35
“They Had Hoped”

“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem…”

“That very day…” is Easter Sunday. The women had ran into the house where the disciples were huddled behind locked doors and told their incredible story about the tomb being empty and the angels and they SAW JESUS and HE SPOKE TO THEM. And Peter and John ran out in and then came back more confused than ever. And no one knew what to think. Eventually, two of them said, ‘we’re going home.’ And they left the house and the city and headed to Emmaus.

“And they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.”

I sometimes wonder what you talk about on your way home from church. Do you “talk about the things that happened” in church, in the service?

It’s a proven fact that we internalize things that we hear and see when we talk about them with others, or write about them. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to remember something you hear, especially when you think, ‘I really want to remember that’? How long will you remember what this sermon is about? But if we discuss what we’ve seen or heard with others, it becomes much more deeply embedded in us.

You’ve got to wonder if at least part of the reason that the Christian faith is losing its hold on the culture in the U.S. isn’t because we’ve made our faith a PRIVATE thing, and not something that you TALK about let alone DISCUSS with others.

“While they talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’”

Try to picture it. You’re driving home from church, talking and discussing “all the things that had happened…” And suddenly you realize that there’s someone in the back seat of the car. And He says, “what are you talking about?” And you wonder ‘who is this guy?’ And ‘where did He come from? Never realizing that He’s the One whom you’ve been talking about.

“They’re eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” We’ll come back to that. Continue reading →

Please join me in a 30 minute bible study on “The Fruit of the Spirit” from Galatians 5.
Pastor Nielsen

THE FRUIT OF LOVE

fruit2

Divine Service I
Page 151 – hymnal

worship-4-19-20

Order of Worship

Organ Prelude: Cantilène in E Flat Gabriel Pierné
Confession / Absolution
Kyrie
Hymn: “O Sons and Daughters of the King” #470 st.1,5-8
Collect of the Day
Old Testament Reading: Acts 5:29-42
Gradual: Psalm 148
Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Holy Gospel: John 20:19-31
Apostles’ Creed
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Hymn: (Optional) “Come Your Faithful Raise The Strain” #487
Organ Postlude: Fugue on “O Filii” Jean Langlais

Sermon
A – Easter 2
John 20:19-31
His Presence, Our Peace

It was just one week ago that we, along with a good majority of the world, were all excited about… nothing. The women went to the tomb expecting to find the body of their Lord, and ours. But they found… nothing. And it is just this ‘nothing’ that they found that caused us to rejoice and say, “Christ is risen!” “He is risen indeed, alleluia.”

The emptiness of the tomb in which our Lord and theirs was laid is cause for great joy for all who have pinned their hopes on this Jesus. Our destiny is all bound up together with His – so that if He died on the cross for the sin of the world – then we have also died to sin. And if He is risen from the dead for the life of the world – the we also have risen from the dead and are fully alive in Christ.

Last Sunday, we followed Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. Matthew told us that it was “toward the dawn of the first day of the week.” (Mat.28:1) John tells us that it was “early” “on the first day of the week.”

They made their way to the tomb in that light before the sun rises, stretching out the stiffness in their joints, yawning, downcast, bracing themselves for the emotions that were sure to overtake them. Wondering out loud about that stone they had seen them roll over the entrance of the tomb. BUT THEN, they felt the ground move under their feet. Now running to the tomb, they jerk to a stop at the sight of an angel, as bright as lightning, and Temple guards, trembling like babies, face to the ground crying. And their fear and amazement and confusion all thoroughly mixed together with the words of the angel – “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen – as He said.” And then the invitation to “come see the place where He was laid.” And then the command to “go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead…”

And then running like they have never run. And then the gasping to catch their breath while telling those in the house what they had seen and heard. And then Peter and John sprinting to the tomb to see for themselves. And for the rest of that day, how many times had these two Mary’s told and retold their story? How many questions were being asked? How many different explanations were being proposed?

Could it be that they had gone to the wrong grave? Could it be that His body had been stolen? Could it be that He wasn’t actually dead when they laid Him in the tomb and that He revived and escaped? And to every rational explanation, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary would have replied – “BUT THE ANGEL SAID, “HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID.” And with each new question and new answer, they would repeat their refrain, each time a little louder than before. “BUT THE ANGEL SAID, “HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID.”

To every one of their objections and rationalizations and “it just can’t be’s!” the women would reply, “BUT WE SAW HIM. WE HELD HIS FEET.” (And we imagine just what they saw as they held His feet.) AND HE SPOKE TO US. HE SAID, ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID; GO AND TELL MY BROTHERS TO GO TO GALILEE, AND THERE THEY WILL SEE ME.” (Mat.28:10)

What a day it had been. But it’s not over. Because as we are learning, with Jesus, it’s never over. Continue reading →