Grace Lutheran Church
Proclaiming the grace of Christ in Word and Sacrament
Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord
✠ April 5th, 2026 ✠
3410 Community Church Road
Pfafftown, NC 27040
Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord
“Easter Sunday”
April 5th, 2026
Our service begins with the ringing of bells. Please stand, as you are able, as indicated by *
* Entrance Hymn: “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” LBW #132
* Confession & Forgiveness
P: In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit
C: Amen. Matthew 28:19
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord:
C: Amen
P: Beloved in the Lord: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P: Most merciful God,
C: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.
P: Almighty God, in His mercy, has given His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, and for His sake, He forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
C: Amen John 20:22
* Introit
P: He is risen, Alleluia.*
Why do you seek the Living among the dead? Alleluia.
Remember what He said to you, Alleluia:*
The Son of Man must be crucified, and the third day rise again. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Lord, You have searched me and known me,*
You know when I sit down and when I rise up.
C: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the | Holy Spirit,*
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore- | ver, Amen
P: He is risen, Alleluia.*
Why do you seek the Living among the dead? Alleluia.
Remember what He said to you, Alleluia:*
The Son of Man must be crucified, and the third day rise again. Alleluia, Alleluia. Luke 25:5-7; Psalm 139
*Kyrie (chanted)
P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy Mark 10:47
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
*Hymn of Praise
P: This is the feast of victory for our God, Alleluia!
C: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
And honor and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia!
Sing with all the people of God,
And join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor and glory and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia, alleluia. Revelation 5:12-14
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you. Ruth 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:22
* Collect of the Day
P: Almighty God, Who, through Your Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, have overcome death, and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly pray that, as You put into our minds good desires, so by Your continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever, Amen. John 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:10
After the Collect of the Day, you may be seated.
The First Reading: Isaiah 65:17 – 25
17“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for I take ref- | uge in you;*
I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good a- | bove all other.”
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are | in the land,*
upon those who are noble a- | mong the people.
3 But those who run after | other gods*
Shall have their troubles | multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I | will not offer,*
Nor take the names of their gods up- | on my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion | and my cup;*
It is you who up- | hold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;*
Indeed, I have a | goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who | gives me counsel;*
My heart teaches me, night | after night.
8 I have set the Lord al- | ways before me;*
Because he is at my right hand I | shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;*
My body also shall | rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me | to the grave,*
Nor let your holy one | see the Pit.
11 You will show me the | path of life;*
In your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are
pleasures for- | evermore.
All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the / Holy Spirit,* …….As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore-/ver, Amen
P: Lord Jesus, uphold those who hope in You, and give us Your counsel, so that we may know the joy of Your resurrection and share the pleasures of the saints at Your right hand, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
The Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Please stand as you are able for the Holy Gospel
*Gospel Acclamation
All: Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia John 6:68
* Gospel Hymn: “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” (verses 1-2) LBW #535
During the season of Easter, the Holy Gospel is brought to the center aisle. The Gospel hymn will be divided before and after the Holy Gospel.
A: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
* The Holy Gospel: Luke 24:1-12
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, {the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee} went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
A: This is the Gospel of our Lord
C: Praise to You, O Christ
* Gospel Hymn: “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” (verses 3-4) LBW # 535
Children’s Message
The Sermon Rev. Matt Knuppel
After the sermon, please stand for the Votum, the Post-Sermon benediction
*The Votum
P: May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
C: Amen Philippians 4:7
* Hymn: “Nearer, My God, to Thee” SBH #577
*The Nicene Creed Romans 10:9-10
All: 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;
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He 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
A: Lord, in your mercy
C: Hear our prayer
After the Prayers:
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your abundant mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
C: Amen
*The Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you. John 20:19
Members of the gathered assembly are invited to greet one another, saying: “Peace be with you.”
Offertory
After the gifts have been collected from the assembly, please stand.
All: Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather the harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all,
Unite them with our prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
And give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
*Holy Communion Liturgy
P: Let us pray: Merciful Father…
C: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us – ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
* The Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts
C: We lift them to the Lord
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise
P: It is indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Isaiah 6:3
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:9
*The Words of Institution
P: Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father…For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Matthew 26:26-28
P: Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup, we remember the life our Lord offered for us. And believing the witness of his resurrection, we await his coming in power to share with us the great and promised feast. Revelation 19:9
C: Amen. Come, Lord, Jesus.
P: Send now, we pray, Your Holy Spirit, the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection, that we who receive the Lord’s body and blood may live to the praise of your glory and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. Colossians 1:19
C: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit
P: Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place, and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all. Hebrews 4:14
* Doxology
P: Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, Almighty Father, now and forever,
C: Amen. John 14:6
* The Lord’s Prayer
C: 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. Matthew 6:9-13
Agnus Dei
C: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Grant us peace, grant us peace. John 1:29
All who are baptized and share in our confession that we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are invited to the altar with us. After receiving the bread, those who wish to dip the bread into the wine may proceed to the right chalice; those who wish to drink from the common cup may proceed to the left chalice.
Anyone is welcome to come forward with their arms folded to receive a blessing from the minister.
After the celebration of Holy Communion, the minister will ask the assembly to stand
P: May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen
*Post-Communion Canticle
C: Thank the Lord and sing His praise
Tell everyone what He has done
Let everyone who seeks the Lord
Rejoice and proudly bear His name
He recalls His promises
And leads His people forth in joy
With shouts of thanksgiving
Alleluia, Alleluia
P: Let us pray…through Jesus Christ our Lord:
C: Amen
The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen
*Exit Hymn: “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” LBW #151
*Dismissal
A: Go in peace, serve the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Welcome to our Visitors!
Grace Lutheran Church welcomes you this morning! We value families with children and encourage you to worship together; if you would like assistance with a small child during the service, an usher will be happy to direct you and your child to an area outside of the sanctuary. Please fill out a Visitor Connect card, these are found either on the entrance table or in the pew rack in front of you. Completed cards should be placed in the offering plate and will be collected with the offering today.
Sunday School
All are welcome to attend Sunday School before worship beginning at 8:45; classes are available for both children and adults.
Holy Communion
Those who are baptized and believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, are welcome to the Lord’s Table. Please let the Pastor know that you wish to receive this gift of life by holding out your open hands. If you desire to drink the wine from the common cup, please proceed to the left chalice after receiving the wafer. If you prefer to dip the wafer into the wine, please proceed to the right chalice after receiving the wafer. You are encouraged to bring young children forward for a blessing. The sign for a blessing is folded hands.
Disciples in Service today, April 5th
Worship Assistant: Deacon James Clapper
Ushers: Ashley Hurst, Richard Maxey
Pianist: John Trotta Lay Reader: Doro Clapper
Acolyte: James Clapper Crucifer: Rob Maxey
Servers: Nicole Hurst, Marsha Maxey
Altar Guild: Marsha Maxey
Disciples in Service next Sunday, April 12th
Ushers: Thierry Amar, John Kollmeyer
Pianist: John Trotta Lay Reader: Marc Voigt
Acolyte: William Roberts Crucifer: Art Peters
Servers: Dena Anderson, Sherry Hurst
Altar Guild: Greta Roberts