NOW THE FEAST AND CELEBRATION
Easter, the resurrection of the crucified Jesus, is one single celebration which lasts for fifty days. Each Sunday of Easter—from the Resurrection to Pentecost—celebrates the resurrection, the appearances, acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord, the community’s experience of the risen Lord, Christ’s mission to the disciples, and the promise of the Spirit. This fifty-day long celebration testifies to the truth that the last word and the lasting word is not death, but God’s Word of life.
Hymn for The Easter Season:
“Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”
[click on the link below]
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Gratefully our hearts adore him
as his light once more appears,
bowing down in joy before him,
rising up from griefs and tears.
Refrain: Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Christ is risen! All the sadness
of our Lenten fast is o’er;
through the open gates of gladness
he returns to life once more;
death and hell before him
bending see him rise,
the victor now,
angels on his steps attending,
glory round his wounded brow. [Refrain]
Christ is risen! All the sorrow
that last evening round him lay
now hath found a glorious morrow
in the rising of today,
See the grave its first-fruits giving,
springing up from holy ground;
Christ was dead, but now is living;
he was lost, but he is found. [Refrain]
Christ is risen! Henceforth never
death or hell shall us enthrall.
We are Christ’s, in him forever
we have triumphed over all.
All the doubting and dejection
of our trembling hearts have ceased;
hail the day of resurrection!
Let us rise and keep the feast. [Refrain]
GATHERING
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL WITH PRAISE AND PRAYER,
AND PREPARE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD OF LIFE
GREETING
Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Pastor: The grace and peace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
People: And also with you
HYMN OF PRAISE
“Now the Feast and Celebration”
[click on the link below]
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy and righteous God, you are the author of life, and you adopt us to be your children. Fill us with your words of life, that we may live as witnesses to the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
WORD
THE CHURCH HEARS THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD ACTING
IN THIS AND EVERY TIME AND PLACE
FIRST READING
Acts 3:12-19
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
‘And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.’
SECOND READING
1 John 3:1-7
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
THE GOSPEL
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St.________, the _________ chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
(The Gospel is read.)
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL READING
Luke 24:36b-48
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
SERMON
[click on the link below]
HYMN OF THE DAY
“The Risen Christ”
[click on the link below]
The risen Christ, who walks on wounded feet
from garden tomb through darkened city street,
unlocks the door of grief, despair, and fear,
and speaks a word of peace to all who hear.
The risen Christ, who stands with wounded side,
breathes out his Spirit on them to abide
whose faith still wavers, who dare not believe;
new grace, new strength, new purpose they receive.
The risen Christ, who breaks with wounded hand
the bread for those who fail to understand,
reveals himself, despite their lingering tears,
enflames their hearts, then quickly disappears.
May we, Christ’s body, walk and serve and stand
with the oppressed in this and every land,
till all are blessed and can a blessing be,
restored in Christ to true humanity.
NICENE CREED (on festival Sundays)
Pastor: Let us confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed.
All: 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;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He 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.
TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS
Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Jody Giesbrecht, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, John Beaven, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Joan Schock, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Bryan Matschke, AnnE and Joel Zimmerman, Ursula Coakwell, Evelyn Robson, Audrey Hedlin, Liz Sand, Robin Stamm and baby Constantine, Mona Neher, Pat Sarich, Carl Rausch, the family of Lyle Sand, the family of Marguerite Sanders (Don Sander’s sister), the family of Norm Gregory, and the family of Sophie Kobrynsky (Paul Slusar’s sister), the family of Mary Anderson (Evelyn Robson’s mother), the family of Steve Slusar (Paul Slusar’s brother).
We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Somalia, Libya, Hong Kong, the Palestinians and Israelis, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim refugees and the ethnic Karen of Myanmar, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the people of Haiti suffering from natural and political disasters, the people of the Bahamas suffering from hurricanes, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, especially the victims and their families of the shootings in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Indianapolis, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community threatened by the coronavirus.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH
[The congregational response after each petition is: “LEAD US IN THE WAY OF TRUTH AND LIFE.”
Pastor: As we celebrate the joy of the resurrection, knowing that God has given us a new birth into a living hope, let us pray for the life of the Church, for the well-being of the world, and for the whole creation as it longs for the grace of God’s new life, saying, “Hear us, O God of life,” and responding, “Lead us in the way of truth and life.”
Petitioner: God of life, we are blessed by your continued love and presence among us and where the scriptures have been opened in our midst. Open our hearts and minds to receive your words of life, send us forth as witnesses to the resurrection, give us boldness of speech in proclaiming your new life, and daring in our actions of repentance and forgiveness, that your love for the whole world might be revealed. Hear us, O God of life…
Petitioner: God of all creation, renew areas of your creation where cold and dormancy are giving way to warmth and new life. Send us forth as stewards of creation and help us to understand that as your life has been broken for us that we might be healed, we now might go about healing your creation which we have broken through our greed, misuse, and carelessness. Hear us, O God of life…
Petitioner: God of promise, transform us from frightened individuals, communities, and nations, into a community of celebration and thanksgiving. Open our eyes to see the presence of Christ in our midst. Open our hearts to receive forgiveness, grace, and hope. Open our mouths to proclaim, “It is the Lord!” Open our doors to welcome all. Hear us, O God of life…
Pastor: God of healing, send us forth as practitioners of compassion to attend to all facing the loss of a loved one, a job, good health, sustaining relationships, or their own inner peace and wholeness. We remember especially before you …. Renew all with your promise of life. Hear us, O God of life…
Petitioner: God of hope, in spite of all we have heard and all that we have seen we forget where healing comes from, forget who binds all together as family, forget that life in Christ is completely different. Through touching the water of baptism, hearing the Word of forgiveness, tasting the goodness of your life-giving meal, help us remember that we have a God of truth and mercy whose gracious, steadfast love for us is certain and assured. Hear us, O God of life…
Petitioner: God of peace, send us forth as peacemakers in a world of conflict. Instill in government leaders, those organizations who work for cooperation and reconciliation, and us, the courage to usher in peace where lawlessness and disorder reign. Send your calming Spirit to ease tensions and conflict among nations, communities, and within families. Make us signs of hope for all in need. Hear us, O God of life…
Petitioner: God of mission, you have redeemed and anointed your people through baptism and united us in the death and resurrection of Jesus for a life-giving mission. Your resurrection creates new ways to live. When we are lost or empty, renew our ministries and our callings through this covenant of new life and graciously give us the resolve to faithfully worship, nurture and proclaim Christ’s love with one voice for all in our community and in our world. Hear us, O God of life…
Pastor: Sustaining God, as you bring life even out of death, hear our call for your abundant life, make our prayers part of your new creation, and guide us with the hope of joy in your presence for the sake of the crucified and risen one, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
THANKSGIVING
THE COMMUNITY PRAISES GOD FOR THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF CREATION
AND THE SAVING DEEDS OF JESUS CHRIST
THE GREETING AND SHARING OF PEACE
Pastor: Sisters and brothers, rejoice, encourage one another, live in peace.
God through Christ has given us the gift of reconciliation.
People: Therefore, let us be reconciled to God and to one another.
Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
(If with others greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: “Christ’s peace be with you.”)
THE OFFERING
(We worship God with the offering of our selves, our time, our talents, and our possessions.)
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray.
Blessed are you, O God,
People: ruler of heaven and earth.
Day by day you shower us with blessings.
As you have raised us to new life in Christ,
give us glad and generous hearts.
May these gifts be signs of our whole lives returned to you,
dedicated to the healing and unity of all creation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
People: 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.
SENDING
ALL RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF GOD, LEAVE IN PEACE,
AND ARE SENT OUT TO SERVE
BENEDICTION
Pastor: The God of life, who has called you to eternal life in Christ,
lift you up and restore you to wholeness.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Jesus Christ, the Living Word,
bless you and send you to be his witnesses.
People: Amen.
Pastor: God the Holy Spirit, who renews the whole earth,
refresh, restore, support, and strengthen you this day and always.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
“Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia”
[click on the link below]
Christ has arisen, alleluia.
Rejoice and praise Him, alleluia.
For our Redeemer burst from the tomb,
Even from death, dispelling its gloom.
Refrain: Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;
Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.
Our sin forgiving, alleluia!
Jesus is living, alleluia!
For three long days the grave did its worst
Until its strength by God was dispersed.
He who gives life did death undergo;
And in its conquest His might did show.
Refrain:
The angel said to them, “Do not fear!
You look for Jesus who is not here.
See for yourselves the tomb is all bare;
Only the grave cloths are lying there.”
Refrain:
“Go spread the news: He’s not in the grave;
He has arisen this world to save.
Jesus’ redeeming labors are done;
Even the battle with sin is won.”
Refrain:
Christ has arisen; He sets us free;
Alleluia, to Him praises be.
Jesus is living! Let us all sing;
He reigns triumphant, heavenly King.
Refrain:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Alleluia! Go and tell the news that Christ is risen.
People: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Because of the high level of COVID cases throughout Saskatoon and the province, at an online consultation involving all the church leaders and clergy in the Synod it was strongly recommended that congregations continue to suspend all in person worship services until a time when it is safe to gather together. King of Glory’s Church Council met to consider this recommendation and unanimously passed a motion that we suspend in person worship services and post online worship services on our website through April 2021. Of course, should there be any significant changes with regard to the pandemic situation the Church Council will revisit the issue.
COMING UP AT KOG
Sunday, April 18, King of Glory online Worship service.
Sunday, April 25, King of Glory online Worship service.
Wednesday, April 28, Church Council meets, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 2, King of Glory online Worship service.
February, March and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG
2020 Budget: $49,536 Monthly Budget: $4,180.50 Weekly Budget: $964.73
2021income/expenses: $1,975.33
February income/expenses: -$1,556.33
Contributions from February 15 through March 20: $1100
Offerings.
Even though we are not meeting together we still have expenses and need your offerings so that we can pay them. Church Council has decided that best way to receive your offerings is that you mail a cheque (Please no cash for mail security reasons) to the church and we can process them from there.
Send your contributions to: King of Glory Lutheran Church
3318 Merritt Street
Saskatoon, SK S7M 3P6
Thank you for your generosity.
The website for all seven ELCIC congregations in Saskatoon is now up and the address is https://saskatoonelcic.com/ It will be used now mainly for sharing information during the pandemic and posting services from the various churches.
Co-Treasurer position for King of Glory
King of Glory is looking for a co-treasurer primarily responsible for documenting and filling out the forms for the province, the Canada Revenue Agency and the ELCiC. They will work Pat Sarich whose primary responsibility is oversight of the budget and the bookkeeping with respect of receipts and expenditures. Please contact Pastor Michael about this position.
Additional Prayers
Petitioner: Generous God, fill us with compassion and concern for others, young and old, that we may look after one another in these challenging days. Bring healing to those who are sick with the virus and be with their families. Comfort the family and friends of those who have died. Strengthen and protect all medical professionals caring for the sick and all who work in our medical and health care facilities. Give wisdom to leaders in healthcare and governance that they may make the right decisions for the well-being of people. We pray in gratitude for all those in our country who will continue to work in the days ahead in so many fields of life for the sake of us all. Bless them and keep them safe. O God of creation and life, we place ourselves in your protection. May the mantle of your peace enfold us this day and tomorrow. Hear us, O God of life …
King of Glory Lutheran Church 