First Service

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Easter Light—Glorious Light

April 12, 2026

AS WE GATHER

“Seeking dedicated worker. Suffering not optional.” If we were to read that simple line in a job posting, it certainly would give us pause. People generally want to avoid suffering at any cost. Scripture reminds us that there may be a dynamic of discomfort to faith-filled living that follows the call of the risen Savior. In his hymn text “‘Come, Follow Me,’ the Savior Spake” from the 1600s, Johann Scheffler concludes, “Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, and take the cross appointed and, firmly clinging to His Word, in suff’ring be undaunted. For those who bear the battle’s strain the crown of heav’nly life obtain” (LSB 688:5). The challenges of the twenty-first century may differ from those of the seventeenth, but they are just as real. Our Lord promises that He is always with us on our life’s journey. With Easter joy, we travel onward together toward His glorious heavenly kingdom!

+ PREPARATION +

HYMN He’s Risen, He’s Risen, TLH 198 vs 1, 4 & 5

He’s risen, He’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord; He opened death’s prison, the Incarnate Word.

Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song And earth, sea, and mountain the paean prolong.

Oh, where is thy sting, death? We fear thee no more; Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden's door.
For all our transgressions His blood does atone; Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own.

Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice; Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice.

Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain; Who sitteth in glory and ever shall reign.

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES

Pastor: Alleluia! We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

People: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Pastor: I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever.

People: On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate, and I will declare Your greatness.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Micah 6:6–8

Pastor: Let us come before God in true repentance, seeking forgiveness and amendment of our lives as we follow the Lord.

People: “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?

Women: “Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

Men:“Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

People: “Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

Pastor: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

People: Almighty God, we confess that we are indeed sinful. By our very nature we are sinful. We have done the evil You forbid and have not done the good You demand. We do repent and are truly sorry for these our sins. Have mercy on us because of Jesus, our Savior. Grant that, by the working of the Holy Spirit, we may live out our lives on earth faithfully until that time when we, by His grace, join the company of heaven forever.

Pastor: God has promised forgiveness to those who repent of their sins and turn to Him for grace. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and at His command, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. May our gracious God, lead you to greater faith and obedience, and bring you to live with Him eternally in His glory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

+ WORD +

PRAISE SONG I Sing Praises CH 5

I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, praises to Your name, O Lord,

For Your name is great and greatly to be praised!

I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, praises to Your name, O Lord,

For Your name is great and greatly to be praised!

I give glory to Your name, O Lord, glory to Your name, O Lord,

For Your name is great, and greatly to be praised!

I give glory to Your name, O Lord, glory to Your name, O Lord,

For Your name is great and greatly to be praised!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

FIRST READING Acts 5:29–42 (The apostles proclaim the Good News about Jesus, the Christ.)

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

EPISTLE 1 Peter 1:3–9 (We are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ.)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

HOLY GOSPEL John 20:19–31 (Jesus appears to His disciples gathered behind locked doors.)

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

HYMN In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.

This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when striving cease.

My comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone – who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.

‘Til on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.

For ev’ry sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave He rose again.

And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.

For I am His and He is mine – bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the pow’r of Christ in me.

From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.

‘Til He returns or calls me home, here in the pow’r of Christ I stand.

SERMON

CATECHISM The First Article

Pastor: In the First Reading, Luke records that Peter and the apostles spoke plainly of the action of God as they proclaimed the resurrection from the dead of Jesus. They plainly stated “The God of our fathers raised Jesus. . . . God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior” (Acts 5:30–31). The First Article of the Creed is focused on God, our Creator, from whom our divine Savior, Jesus Christ, was begotten before all worlds.

People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Pastor: What does this mean?

People: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.
He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
This is most certainly true.

GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Pastor: In peace let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

For the whole Christian Church, that the peace of God dwell within it and that the Spirit of God work through it, let us pray to the Lord: