WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

PRELUDE     Because He Lives

*P:  Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C:  Christ is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne

and to the Lamb! Amen.

Let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism.

Merciful God,

you are the one who was, who is, and who is to come. You lead us beside still waters. We thank you for the waters of creation: morning dew, gentle rain, roaring waves. We thank you for the waters that nourish us.

Blessed are you.

You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness who accompanies us on our journeys. We give you thanks for your life-giving death and resurrection.

We praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow. Blessed are you.

You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Holy Spirit, you anoint our head with oil and our cup overflows. Break down barriers that divide us. Fill us with the breath of peace. Blessed are you.

You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Holy One, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism, and for making us a new creation. We join with saints and angels, giving you honor and praise,

now and forever.

Amen.

+ GATHERING +

+ The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God +

*GATHERING SONG: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (ELW 365) VS 1, 3, 4 

EASTER GREETING

P:   The grace of our Risen Savior and Lord, the Love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C:  And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

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.

+ WORD +

+ God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song +

FIRST READING: Acts 10:34-43

34Peter began to speak to [the people]:  I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. 

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 118:1 2, 14 24

1Give thanks to the LORD, for the | LORD is good;

2Let Israel | now declare,

14The LORD is my strength | and my song,

15Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents | of the righteous:

16The right hand of the LORD | is exalted!

17I shall not | die, but live,

18The LORD indeed punished me sorely,

19Open for me the | gates of righteousness;

20"This is the gate | of the LORD;

21I give thanks to you, for you have | answered me

22The stone that the builders rejected

23By the LORD has | this been done;

24This is the day that the | LORD has made;

SECOND READING: Colossians 3:1-4

1 If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

* GOSPEL:  Matthew 28:1-10

The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women,  Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples,  He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.  This is my message for you.  8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said,  Greetings!  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them,  Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me. 

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Wende Bleam

*HYMN OF THE DAY Christ Is Risen! Alleluia! (ELW 382)

With the whole church, we profess our faith using the Nicene Creed  

We believe in one God,

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

OFFERING 

Offerings may be placed in the tray as you leave the sanctuary, or online using the donate button on our website, or mailed to the church. All gifts are welcomed and appreciated.  Thank you for supporting our ministry as we bring God s Word to people and help provide for their needs.

OFFERING PRAYER

Merciful God,

accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more. Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus, that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

* PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 

Trusting in the power of Christ s resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation.

Risen Savior, you have conquered death and opened the gates of everlasting life. Dispel our doubts and fears and renew our faith and hope in you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Life-giving God, the created world rejoices in Christ s victory over death. May all the earth be renewed by the light of Jesus  resurrection, and may we be faithful stewards of all you have made. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Sovereign God, let the nations acknowledge your reign of justice and truth. Where violence, oppression, and corruption hold sway, pour out your holy and life-giving Spirit to transform and redeem. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Gentle Shepherd, like the women at the empty tomb, many grieve or feel lost and afraid. Draw near to those who are ill or in pain.  We pray for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, Ceasar, Bill and Pam, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Derek, Chris, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts. Grant them healing and wholeness. Reveal yourself to them as the Risen One. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Faithful God, we thank you for the living hope you give us through Christ s resurrection. Bless this community, that we may boldly proclaim Christ s victory over death in word and deed. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Eternal One, we give thanks for all who have died and now share in the joy of your resurrection. Bring us, with them, to the unending feast of your victory. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.

Amen.

* PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

+ MEAL +

+ God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ +

* DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you.

And also with you

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ; the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who in dying has destroyed death and in rising has brought us to eternal life.  And so with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY  

* THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

Blessed are you, O God of the universe. Your mercy is everlasting

and your faithfulness endures from age to age.

Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.

Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood.

Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea.

Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness

to the land of milk and honey.

Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one.

Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ.

Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.

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.

With this bread and cup we remember our Lord's passover 

from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

O God of resurrection and new life:

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us

and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Bless this feast.

Grace our table with your presence.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread.

Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world.

Breathe new life into us.

Send us forth,

burning with justice, peace, and love.

Come, Holy Spirit.

With your holy ones of all times and places,

with the earth and all its creatures,

with sun and moon and stars,

we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity,

now and forever. Amen.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

and lead us not into temptation,

For thine is the kingdom,

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Come to the table of new life.

Receive the risen Lord.

COMMUNION SONG

COMMUNION

The body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.

*CONGREGATIONAL SONG Thine the Amen (ELW 826)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Holy One,

through this meal you have made your home among us and are making all things new. Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts, to love our enemies, and to bring your healing to the nations. In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

* BLESSING

God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace,   bless you now and forever. Amen.

*SENDING SONG Thine Is the Glory (ELW 376)

* DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of April by the Fisher family in memory of PopPop Fisher.

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

Our Financial Response  (March) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,305.04

Offering last month        $   6,123.84

Budget required to date (3 months) $.. 21,915.12

Total received to date        $  13,721.12

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (3 months) $   1,200.00

Total received to date        $   1,134.16

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.