April 4, 2021 – Easter Sunday

You can follow the order of the service here or Download a PDF copy that you can print ahead of time.

Feel free to also check out the following:

Removal of the Crown of Thorns

Greeting and Announcements

Prayer of the Day

O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Lesson: A Reading from St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:16–21

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Second Lesson: A Reading from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians

Philippians 3:7–12

7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of St. Mark

Fra Angelico 019

Mark 16:1–8

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you. 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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

Sermon: Beginning Again

Music for Reflection

Nicene Creed

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,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who 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.

Prayers of the Church

P: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

Words of Institution

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Communion

Prayer After Communion

P: Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of heaven to nourish your people. Send us forth as witnesses to Jesus' resurrection that we may show your glory to all the world; through the same Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
C: Amen.

Blessing

P: May God who has brought us from death to life fill you with great joy. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.

Dismissal

P: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
C: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
P: You are the body of Christ raised up for the world. Go in peace. Share the good news.
C: Thanks be to God.

Musical Interlude

Those who do not wish to remain in the sanctuary during the recessional hymn are welcome to exit at this time.

Recessional Hymn

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (v. 1–3)

ELW #365
1Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
2Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav'nly king, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
3But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
now above the sky he's king, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Weekly Announcements

We remember in our prayers

Easter Lilies

Easter Lilies were donated by the following families and individuals:

Polling Place

Please keep in mind that this Tuesday, April 6, the fellowship hall is once again a polling place in the municipal elections. Please schedule any church-centered errands around this so we can provide this community service.

Altar Flowers

Last year we lost our florist. With the start of indoor services again, we have a new florist, and we will begin having real flowers at the altar starting in April after Easter. The new price will be $25 per vase. A new sign-up sheet is in the narthex ready to be filled. Thank you all for helping make the sanctuary complete again.

Last Call for Coat Checks

This is the last day to claim one of the coats left on the coat rack. Please check and see if any of these coats belong to you. If not, they will be donated after Easter.

Mission Opportunity at Safe Harbor

The Mission Committee will be preparing and serving dinner at Safe Harbor Today, Easter Sunday, April 4. They will be serving meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, fresh fruit, milk, and juice. If you have any questions or are interested in helping, please contact Rob Mahnke. Thank you for taking the time to care for our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Red Cross Blood Drive

The OSLC Mission Committee will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, April 17 from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. The blood drive will be located in the fellowship hall. More information can be found on the church website. Note: those recently vaccinated for COVID-19 are eligible to donate blood.

Mission Opportunity at Midwest Food Bank

The Mission Committee will be volunteering at Midwest Food Bank again on Monday, April 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We need a group of 20–25 volunteers. Children 10 years and older are able to help as long as they are accompanied by their parent. Everyone also needs to have closed-toe shoes. Midwest Food Bank now requires volunteers to sign up ahead of time using this link: https://x.gldn.io/DPrqzYnhLeb. If you have questions, please contact Rob or Shawna Mahnke.

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