SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER
CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH
PASTOR: Rev. Harry M. Krolus
CHURCH: 410-356-3400 CELL: 410-707-7663
Church email: ctklclcms@yahoo.com
Church Web Site: ctklchurch.org
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WELCOME to everyone who is worshiping with us today. We are glad that you are here! We pray that your worship experience here at Christ The King is spiritually uplifting and rewarding. If you are visiting, please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to Pastor Harry.
(Please turn off all electronic devices before worship begins; or, if you are using a Bible app to enhance your worship experience or to use PayPal, please enable the do not disturb function on your phone.)
AN ORDER OF MORNING SERVICE
WORDS OF GREETING
THE HANDSHAKE OF CHRISTIAN PEACE
OPENING HYMN: 464 “The Strife Is O’er, The Battle Done”
THE INVOCATION
L. We begin our worship this day in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C. Amen.
THE OPENING SENTENCES
L. Let us adore our heavenly Father, who created us, who sustains us, who loves us with an everlasting love and gives us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
C. We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
L. Let us glory in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, who in every respect was tempted as we are, yet without sinning; who went about doing good and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, who became obedient unto death, even death on a cross; who died and is alive forevermore; who has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers who is seated at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father who will come again, as Judge and King.
C. You are the King of glory, O Christ.
L. Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, by whom we are born into the family of God, and made members of the body of Christ whose wisdom confirms us, whose wisdom teaches us, whose power enables us to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
C. All praise to you, O Holy Spirit.
(Silence for reflection.)
THE CONFESSION OF SINS
L. Rejoicing in the knowledge that God seeks to save and not punish, we confess our sins together before God our merciful Father.
ALL: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
L. God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Because of this, we can know with certainty our sins are forgives because of what Jesus has done for us.
C. Amen.
THE FIRST LESSON: Acts 3:11-21
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is
Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
THE SECOND LESSON: 1 John 3:1-7
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 24:36-49
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood
among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
THE SERMON HYMN: 578 “Thy Strong Word” (1-3)
THE MESSAGE: “An Interview With A Marathon Runner”
THE APOSTOLIC CREED
I believe in God the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He died and was buried. He descended into hell, and the third day he rose again. He entered into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Almighty Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life eternal. Amen.
THE OFFERING
AN OFFERING SONG (783)
Take my life, that I may be consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use every pow’r as thou shalt choose.
THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
L. Almighty God, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to you, and for all your loving kindness we bless your holy name.
For life and health, for love and friendship, and for the goodness a mercy that have followed us all the days of our life
C. We praise you, O God.
L. For the wonder and beauty of the world; and for all things true and honorable, just and pure, lovely and gracious
C. We praise you, O God.
L. For the gift of Jesus Christ, your only-begotten Son; for the grace and truth which came by him; and for his obedience unto death, even death on a cross
C. We praise you, O God.
L. For his glorious resurrection and ascension to your right hand, and for his kingdom and glory and everlasting dominion
C. We praise you, O God.
L. For the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Lord and Giver of life; for your holy Church throughout the world; for all the means of grace; and for the fellowship of the redeemed in heaven and on earth
C. We praise you, O God.
L. For all those who are sick or sorrowing; for those whom we now name before you and for those we name in our hearts; that you would bring healing, strength, comfort, and peace in accordance with your good and gracious will.
(Personal prayers are now brought before the Lord.)
L. Heavenly Father ...
C. We trust in your abundant mercy, O God.
L. For all the blessings of this life, the small as well as the seemingly more significant
C. We thank you, O God.
ALL: Glory, thanksgiving, and praise be to you, O Father Almighty through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
THE BLESSING
L. May the God of peace be with you always. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Go in peace.
C. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: 578 “Thy Strong Word” (4-6)
