CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, April 19, 2020
The Second Sunday of Eastertide
OPENING WORDS
Blessed be the God of our Savior, Jesus Christ who has given us new hope through the resurrection. God has given us an inheritance that is imperishable and unfading.
In this we rejoice, even when we suffer trials, for the outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls
Redeemer by Nicole C. Mullen
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?
Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives Ye-e-eah
The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory
Now I know, my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I-I-I know
My Redeemer He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I'll proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
And now He's alive and
There's an empty
Grave!
And I know
My Redeemer lives
He lives
I know
My Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I-I-I know my Redeemer I know
My Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives *I know, That I know, that I know, that I know, that I know
He lives
*my redeemer lives*
*Because He lives I can face tomorrow
He lives
*I know, I know*
He lives
I spoke with Him this morning!
He lives
The tomb is empty
He lives
He Lives! I'm going to tell everybody!!
PSALM OF PRAISE: Psalm 16
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
HYMN OF CONTEMPLATION: I Love to Tell the Story Katherine Hankey
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song
‘twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
God of signs and wonders, you have revealed your abiding love to us in Jesus Christ, your son and our Savior. Send your Holy Spirit upon us in the reading of your Word that it may serve to show us the path of life where there is fullness of joy. Amen.
READING FROM THE GOSPEL: John 20: 19—31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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."
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."
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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe1 that Jesus is the Messiah,2 the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
LISTEN TO THE WORD FOR THE DAY
Innocent composed and sung by Keisha Prime
Mysterious You are a God who would defend
A breaker of your law.
Unexplainable You are a God of no pretense.
You opened up Your heart.
For a world of sinners gone astray,
And I am one among
The many who stand guilty,
But I am innocent by means of the blood.
Chief of sinners though I be
You sent Your only Son to die my death for me.
Ungrateful though I be
You grace me with each breath so I can sing for thee.
For the Lamb who died on Calvary and rose in victory.
Your honor I plead guilty,
But He says: “Child you’re innocent by means of my blood!”
Holy is the blood of the Almighty
Precious is the blood of the holy One
Cleansing is the blood of my Savior.
Jesus died on Calvary so I could sing this song
To tell you though you’re guilty
You are innocent by means of the blood.
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank you, God, for giving me your counsel today. In you I have a good heritage, and my heart, my soul, and my body rest in you. Amen.
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:
According to the gospel, Christ’s wounds were not erased by the resurrection. How might we in the church use our wounds to help others come to faith?