NOWTHE FEASTAND 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     

Eternal and all-merciful God, with all the angels and all the saints we laud your majesty and might.  By the resurrection of your Son, show yourself to us and inspire us to follow 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 9:1-20

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ 

SECOND READING  

Revelation 5:11-14

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honour and glory and blessing!’
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped. 

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 

THE GOSPEL

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twenty-first chapter.

People: Glory to you, O Lord.

(The Gospel is read.)

GOSPEL READING  

John 21:1-19                                                                                                                           After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ 

Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

[click on the link below]

HYMN OF THE DAY

“You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore”

You have come down to the lakeshore
Seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
But only asking for me to follow.

Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I’ve abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

You know full well what I have, Lord;
Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
Just these my fishnets and will for working.

Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I’ve abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

You need my hands, my exhaustion,
Working love for the rest of the weary,
A love that’s willing to go on loving.

Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I’ve abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.
You who have fished other waters;
You, the longing of souls that are yearning;
O loving Friend, you have come to call me.

Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I’ve abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.

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, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Bryan Matschke, Audrey Hedlin,  Mona Neher, Carl Rausch, Oma Ywo, Joan Schock, Owen Peterson, Lux Matschke, the family of Norm Gregory, the family of Mary Anderson (Evelyn Robson’s mother), the family of Joel Zimmerman, the family of baby Mavrick Gallant (Bev Gregory’s great-grandson), the family of Ray Johnson (the brother of Doris Turner), and the family of Katherine Meger (Joshua Bratvold’s great grandmother), the family of Lois Jenkins (Ann Salmon’s mother), the family of Dunja Yousif (former member of King of Glory), the family of Helen Neher (Carol Sarich’s mother), and the family of John Beaven (Bev Gregory’s brother).

We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the children and people buried in unmarked graves at residential schools and First Nation lands, and all those who have suffered the trauma of residential schools, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Darfur, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Hong Kong, the Palestinians and Israelis, the civil war in Ethiopia, Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim refugees and the ethnic Karen of Myanmar, Lebanon, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the people of Haiti suffering from earthquake, hurricane, and political disasters, those in northwestern Washington, and southern B.C., New South Wales and Queensland, Australia and South Africa devastated by torrential rains and flooding and the threat in Manitoba, the communities in the Philippines ravaged by typhoon Rai and tropical storm Nege, the people of Tonga whose communities are destroyed by volcano and tsunami, the people of Madagascar recovering from four cyclones and drought, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nebraska battling wildfires, the people of India caught in an oppressive heatwave, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community still threatened by the coronavirus and fearful of the omicron variant.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH

  [The congregational response after each petition is:  “COMPLETE YOUR NEW CREATION.”]

Pastor:  As we celebrate the joy of the resurrection, let us pray for God’s continuing work of new creation in the life of the Church, for the peace and well-being of the world, and wherever brokenness and death oppose God’s abundant life, saying, “Hear us, O God of life,” and responding, “Complete your new creation.”

Petitioner:  God of life, in spite of all we have heard and all that we have seen, it is often hard to believe. Strengthen our faith, send us forth as witnesses to the resurrection and give us boldness of speech in proclaiming your new life, and daring in our actions of forgiveness, that as visible signs of your presence in the world, your love for the whole world might be revealed.  Hear us, O God of life…

Petitioner:  God of all creation, you open our eyes and we marvel at the wonders of your spring-time of life.  Send us forth as good stewards of the waters, lands, and air, of the plants and animals of your creation.  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 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…

Pastor:   God of healing, you tend your lambs who are weak and in distress, 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 peace, send us forth as peacemakers in a world of conflict.  Widen our hearts to care for peoples and nations around the globe.  Instill in government leaders, those organizations who work for cooperation and reconciliation, and us, the courage to serve the way of justice and peace among nations, communities, and within families.  Make us signs of hope for all in need.  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…

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.  You call us to follow you, like Peter and the fishermen of Galilee.    Send us out to share our bread and to be bread for a hungry world that we might feed your sheep with the Word of life. Open new opportunities, renew our ministries and our callings through your promise 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 Is Alive! Let Christians Sing”

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

The cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and homes with praises ring.

Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound

to distant years in Palestine,

but saving, healing, here and now,

and touching every place and time.

In every insult, rift and war,

where color, scorn or wealth divide,

Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,

and lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,

can feel the Spirit, hear the call,

and find the way, the life, the truth,

revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring

good news to this and every age,

till earth and sky and ocean ring

with joy, with justice, love and praise.

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Alleluia!  Go and tell the news that Christ is risen.

People: Christ is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TODAY AT KOG

Annual General Meeting after the worship service.                                                                                         

THIS WEEK AT KOG

COMING UP AT KOG

Thank you from Canadian Lutheran World Relief for your contributions to their various aid programs in Canada and throughout the world.

March, April and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG

2022 Budget:  $48,854       Monthly Budget:  $4,071.17     Weekly Budget:  $939.50

2021 income/expenses: $5,566.93

March income/expenses: -$1,750.18

Weekly contributions for March:  March 6: $650  March 13 and 20: $837

March 27: $370

Weekly contributions for April:  April 3: $570   April 10: $390   April 17: $280

April 24: $125

Thank you to all involved in sewing the quilts and Comfort Quilts that have been made by members of King of Glory and their friends.   Over 60 quilts were made:  48 for long term care at LutherCare Communities, 15 to Bishop Klein School, and 2 Comfort Quilts were given to individuals suffering from sickness, significant change in life, loss or grief.  Prodigious thimbles full of thanks to the industrious sewers Bev Gregory, Karen McKenzie, Carol Sarich, Doreen Matschke, Sharon Morgan, Sherry Andrews , Bob Jean Byrhe for donating fabric, and an anonymous fabric donor in B.C.

Offerings.  

Even though we are not all 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.

Checklist and Guidelines for Re-opening Worship Services

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc before the service

One person preps worship materials [pastor]

Six feet distancing recommended

No sharing of pencils, pens, etc.

No serving of food or beverages

Try not to use the washrooms

Open doors and windows if possible

Use/wear face masks, but you may sing quietly recommended

Hand sanitizer available

No physical contact (e.g. sharing of the peace, no passing of offering plate)

Communion procedure: distribution in a way that maintains physical distancing

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc after the service