Sample Liturgy for the Third Sunday of Easter

• Rembrandt, Christ at Emmaus (1648), oil on canvas

The Liturgy

For prelude, selections from the Easter Playlist may be used.

THE PROCESSIONAL

• Rise My Soul, The Lord Is Risen

THE ACCLAMATION

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

CALL TO WORSHIP

The Pascha Nostrum is used below.

Good morning, brothers and sisters, and grace to you from God our Father and from the risen Lord, Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns forever and ever!

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us;
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all;
but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin,
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death,
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Almighty Father, you see our hearts, and you know our desires. No secrets are hidden from you. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord, our risen Savior. Amen.

THE GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE

• Come People of the Risen King

PRAYER BEFORE THE LESSONS

As we prepare to feed on God’s Word in Holy Scripture, let us pray.

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

Listen attentively as God speaks to us through his Word.

FIRST LESSON: ACTS 2:14a, 36–41

A reading from the Book of Acts, Chapter 2:

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: … 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL: PSALM 116:1–4, 12–19

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

The Lord has loosed my bonds!

12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

The Lord has loosed my bonds!

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

The Lord has loosed my bonds!

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

HYMN

• He Lives (257)

SECOND READING: 1 PETER 1:17–23

A reading from the First Epistle of Peter, Chapter 1, at the 17th verse:

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

HYMNS

• Because He Lives (265)

GOSPEL: LUKE 24:13–35

The Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to Saint Luke, Chapter 24, at the 13th verse:

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But 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 happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON

THE CREED

Let’s stand and confess our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried: He descended to the dead: On the third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father: From there he will come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in the Holy Spirit: the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

PREFACE AND INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER

On the Emmaus road, Jesus read and expounded the Scriptures to his disciples, and that’s what Jesus has been doing for us this morning through the ministry of his body, the Church. But it wasn’t until the disciples reached Emmaus that Jesus actually opened their eyes and revealed himself to them in the breaking of the bread. In their hymns for the Lord’s Supper, John and Charles Wesley write these beautiful words:

O Thou who this mysterious bread
didst in Emmaus break,
return, herewith our souls to feed,
and to thy followers speak.

Unseal the volume of thy grace,
apply the gospel word;
open our eyes to see thy face,
our hearts to know the Lord.

Of thee communing still, we mourn
till thou the veil remove;
talk with us, and our hearts shall burn
with flames of fervent love.

Enkindle now the heavenly zeal,
and make thy mercy known,
and give our pardoned souls to feel
that God and love are one.

If you have answered the call of Christ to repent and be baptized for your sins, and intend to follow Christ as Lord from this point forward, then the Lord invites you to take this sacrament to your comfort and make your humble confession unto Almighty God. Let’s pray.

THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and lament our many sins, which we have, from time to time, most grievously committed, by thought, word, and deed, against your divine majesty. We earnestly repent, and are sincerely sorry for our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous to us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. For the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and forgiveness of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

THE COMFORTING WORDS AND THE PEACE

Hear the good news: Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. In him we are forgiven and set free. Hallelujah!

Peace be with you.
And also with you.

THE OFFERTORY

THE SURSUM CORDA AND THE SANCTUS

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.

O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, it is very fitting, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto you. But chiefly we are bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, for he is the very Paschal Lamb which was offered for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death, he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again, he has restored to us everlasting life.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you, and saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord most high. Amen.

HYMN

• Praise to the Lord, the Almighty — “Now to his altar draw near, joining in glad adoration”

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

Almighty God, our heavenly Father; of your tender mercy, you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. By once offering himself there, he made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, offering, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.

So now, most merciful Father, we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine; and grant that we may receive them according to the holy institution of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of his death and passion, and be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

In the same night that he was betrayed, he took* bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake* it; and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this* is my Body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise after Supper he took* the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of this; for this* is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins: Do this as often as you shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

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

THE MYSTERY OF FAITH

The mystery of faith may also be sung.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Let us pray.

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your 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 yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.
Have mercy on us, and grant us your peace.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Ministers receive the Bread and Cup, and then invite the people to come forward to partake. When delivering the bread to each person, one of the following may be said:

• The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you.
• The body of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
• The body of Christ; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you.
• The body of Christ; feed on him in your heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
• The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

When delivering the cup to each person, one of the following may be said:

• The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you.
• The blood of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
• The blood of Christ; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
• The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.

During the distribution, a fitting song may be played.

• “In the Breaking of the Bread” (the lyrics of this song are drawn from the day’s Gospel reading)

CHORUS

• He is Lord (268)

THE DOXOLOGY

Then is sung,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, you heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BLESSING AND SENDING

May the God and Father who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead fill you with new and living hope through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us go forth and tell the world that Christ is risen!
Thanks be to God!