Sunday Worship - April 26, 2020

Dear people of God at Peace: TODAY we are the church at worship! – in our own homes – in this Easter season!
 Christ is risen:
He is risen indeed!
When you are ready to worship: 
Click to open the worship video for April 26, Third Sunday of Easter
 
FIND THESE RESOURCES ON PEACE’S WEBSITE NOW: 
All of This Week’s Announcements are at www.peacelutheranlz.com
For Families with Children Today: 
Get ready for worship by opening  “10 Spiritual Activities for Families at Home” from www.peacelutheranlz.com and help your child(ren) join in today’s worship along with activities for the day.
Here is a brief tutorial if you need some help on YouTube.
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Now is the Time to Worship 
Video: Prelude - Beautiful Savior, Handley Family & Holy City, Stan Sanderson
Video: Pastor Dale’s welcome and introduction       

JOIN IN: Confession and Forgiveness
You may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked on you at baptism, as we begin.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy is never ending.
Amen.  Seeking reconciliation with God and neighbor, let us remember the gift of baptism and confess our sin.
 
Silence is kept for reflection.
 
God of mercy: We confess that we have sinned against you and against one another. We are worried and distracted by many things, and we fail to love you above all else. We think mostly of ourselves, and turn away from our neighbors in need. Forgive us, that we may live in the freedom of your risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
When we were laid low by sin and guilt, God made us alive together with Christ, forgiving us + all our failures and shortcomings, by taking our sins to the cross. For freedom Christ has set us free: Rejoice in this good news!  Amen.

VIDEO AND SING ALONG: Now the Feast and Celebration

Refrain: Now the feast and celebration, all of creation sings for joy
               To the God of life and love and freedom: praise and glory    forevermore!
 
Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain, whose blood has freed and united us to be one great people of God.  Refrain
 
Power and riches, wisdom and might, all honor and glory to Christ forever. Refrain
 
For God has come to dwell with us, to make us people of God; to make all things new. Refrain

VIDEO AND SAY (Prayer of the day):
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.

Video: Children’s Word 

Video:  First Reading:  Acts 2:14a, 36-41
 
VIDEO AND READ ALONG RESPONSIVELY:  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 whenever 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 repay 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!
Video: Second Reading -  I Peter 1:17-23
Video: Gospel -  Luke 24:13-35
Video: Sermon - Deacon Tracy Katschke

VIDEO & SING ALONG – Hymn of the Day: “Children of the Heavenly Father”
 
Children of the heav’nly Father safely in his bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e’er was given.
 
God his own doth tend and nourish, in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them, in his mighty arms he bears them.
 
Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever;
Unto them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth.
 
Though he giveth or he taketh, God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.

VIDEO & JOIN IN:  THE APOSTLES’ CREED
 
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and 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.
 
Video: PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE   …Lord, in your mercy:  Hear our prayer
 
Video: THE LORD’S PRAYER    Our Father, who art in heaven…
Video: Musical offering
 
How to give your offering now
Your friends and fellow members are sharing their gifts and talents to help us all celebrate Easter! As we bring these moments of worship to you in this virtual setting, please consider your contributions to the virtual offering plate we pass.  Send your offering through one of these 4 convenient methods:
·       Mail your check to church
·       Use your bank website “send-payment” feature
·       Go to PLC website www.peacelutheranlz.com and click on “make a donation”
·       Download and use the app we recommend: https://www.vancopayments.com/egiving/church-app
Celebrate with us the good news!

VIDEO AND JOIN IN:  OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God, our ordinary gifts seem small, but you make of them an abundance,
just as you do with our lives. You have fed us with your Word for service in your name. In the strength of the risen Christ we pray.  Amen.
Video: Blessing
May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise you to new life, fill you with hope, and turn your mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.  Amen.

VIDEO AND SING ALONG:  “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
 
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story, here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
 
Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
 
VIDEO: DISMISSAL
Christ is risen, just as he said.  Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

 Video:  Announcements
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ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR APRIL 26
Thank You!  So much gratitude for everyone who has contributed to our worship today and in recent weeks.  The young and old, readers and musicians, and the technical help from a growing circle of Peace people is making this possible.  A special shout out to high school youth leading in worship today!
We are reaching out to every PLC household: How are you doing – you, your family or household?  Expect a phone, email or text.  A CONNECTIONS TEAM of volunteers and staff are checking in with all Peace households to help us all stay connected!  
The Labyrinth is open! Along with green spaces in Lake Zurich, the Peace Labyrinth is open!  You are welcome to come walk and pray, or take a moment for meditation in the fresh air.
Find all of this week’s announcements on PLC website: www.peacelutheranlz.com
LET US KNOW… Every week we are learning more about how to stay connected while physically distant from each other.  Please share any helpful feedback: 
Pastor Dale Ziemer: pastor@peacelutheranlz.com  Allison Hearst, Office Admin: office@peacelutheranlz.com  Deacon Tracy Katschke: tracy@peacelutheranlz.com 
We are saving lives by offering our worship to God in this format.   The only tool we all have right now to SLOW the spread of the coronavirus is distance – social distance.  For this reason, our church building is closed.  Pastor Dale, Tracy and Allison are all working out of our homes. We are following protocols that follow state and local guidelines.
 
 

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