INTRODUCTION

Today’s gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus, overcome with sadness, loss, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus, who was crucified, would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them and then opens their eyes in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our hearts burn within us as the scriptures are proclaimed and Christ appears to us as bread is broken and wine is poured. The story of Emmaus becomes the pattern of our worship each Lord’s day.

ANNOUNCEMENTS    

PRELUDE    Turn Your Eyes

* THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

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.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

* GATHERING SONG  Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen! (ELW 377)

FIRST READING: Acts 2:14a, 36-41

14aPeter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd]: 36“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do” 38Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

PSALM: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

1I love the LORD, who has | heard my voice, and listened to my | supplication,

2for the LORD has given | ear to me whenev- | er I called.

3The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave | came upon me; I came to | grief and sorrow.

4Then I called upon the name | of the LORD:

“O LORD, I pray you, | save my life.” 

12How shall I re- | pay the LORD

for all the good things God has | done for me

13I will lift the cup | of salvation

and call on the name | of the LORD.

14I will fulfill my vows | to the LORD

in the presence of | all God’s people.

15Precious in your | sight, O LORD,

is the death | of your servants.

16O LORD, truly I | am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me | from my bonds.

17I will offer you the sacrifice | of thanksgiving

and call upon the name | of the LORD. 

18I will fulfill my vows | to the LORD

in the presence of | all God’s people,

19in the courts of | the LORD’s house,

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. | Hallelujah! 

SECOND READING: 1 Peter 1:17-23

7If you invoke as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s work, live in fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.

 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35

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

13Now on that same day two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days” 19He asked them, “What things” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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

MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam

*HYMN OF THE DAY That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright (ELW 384)

* 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 OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. 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.

OFFERING PRAYER

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.

Living Savior, just as you journeyed with the disciples to Emmaus, accompany us on our journey of faith. Gather us at your table, that we recognize you in the breaking of the bread. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Almighty God, you provide for the needs of all creation. Bless the fields that are being prepared for planting, and send favorable weather so that the soil may yield an abundant harvest. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God of justice, where leaders abuse power, confront them and call them to repentance. Where there is corruption, bring integrity; where there is violence, sow peace. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Healing Savior, your resurrection brings hope to a hurting world. Heal those who are sick. Strengthen the weary, give courage to the despairing, and comfort the dying. 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.

Gracious One, you have made us your own through the gift of baptism. Unite us in genuine love for one another and uphold this community in your name. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Eternal Light, we give thanks for all who have nurtured your church’s life in ages past. Bring us at last with them to the brightness of your glorious presence. 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.

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

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.

* PEACE

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

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

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.

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,

through our Savior Jesus Christ.

You call your people to cleanse their hearts

and prepare with joy for the paschal feast,

that, renewed in the gift of baptism,

we may come to the fullness of your grace.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

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.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Come and be nourished by the gift of our Lord and know the God of life and love.

COMMUNION SONG

May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace.  Amen.

*CONGREGATION HYMN   Come, Let Us Eat (ELW 491)

*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

*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 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (ELW 367)

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 or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. 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.