Readings, Devotion, Prayers and Announcements for Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2020, for both MLLC and Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church
As we are not able to meet due as usual to health and safety concerns, yet we are still finding ways to share and celebrate our faith together.
Below are the readings, prayers, and various announcements for this Sunday and this week. The Sunday devotion is at the end of the page.
Remember Your Regular Offerings
For both of our congregations, Waldeck and MLLC, please remember that our expenses continue even when we are unable to meet as usual. Please make a point to give your offerings as you would on a typical week. Here are some ideas of what to do:
For Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ledbetter:
– send your offering by mail to the church office – Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church; 6915 Waldeck Church Lane; Ledbetter, TX 78946
– set aside your offerings each week, and then bring these to church when you can be at worship again.
For MLLC in Carmine:
– send your offering by mail to the church office – MLLC, P O BOX 362, Carmine, TX 78932-0362
– set aside your offerings each week, and then bring these to church when you can be at worship again.
– give offerings through the church web site: mllccarmine.com/online-giving This page has a link to our secure giving page. Offerings can be made by bank draft, debit card, or credit card through this special web site.
YouTube video of the Sunday Service
APRIL 12, 2020
The Resurrection of our Lord
First Reading: Acts 10:34-43
A reading from Acts. Peter’s sermon, delivered at the home of Cornelius, a Roman army officer, is a summary of the essential message of Christianity: Everyone who believes in Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the words of the prophets, “receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
34Peter began to speak to [the people]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
God’s mercy endures forever.
2Let Israel now declare,
“God’s mercy endures forever.”
14The Lord is my strength and my song,
and has become my salvation.
15Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!
16The right hand of the Lord is exalted!
The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!”
17I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the Lord.
18The Lord indeed punished me sorely,
but did not hand me over to death.
19Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord.
20“This is the gate of the Lord;
here the righteous may enter.”
21I give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and you have become my salvation.
22The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23By the Lord has this been done;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4
A reading from Colossians. Easter means new life for us as it first meant new life for Christ. His resurrection reshapes the entire focus and motivation for our lives since we are now hidden with the risen Christ in God.
1If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10
The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
Sorrow gives way to “fear and great joy” when two women are sent by an angel to proclaim the good news: Jesus is risen!
1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Devotion
By Pastor David Tinker
Matthew 28:1-10 “Early Morning Surprise”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have gathered here in the morning to remember and to celebrate the greatest victory in the world. It reminds me of a day which some confuse with this day.
The story is told of a Sunday school teacher and her students. They had gathered at their regular class time. The teacher asked her class on the Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, if they know what happened on Easter and why it was important.
One little girl spoke up saying: “Easter is when the whole family gets together, and you eat turkey and sing about the pilgrims and all that.”
“No, that’s not it,” said the teacher.
“I know what Easter is,” a second student responded. “Easter is when you get a tree and decorate it and give gifts and everybody sings lots of songs.”
“Nope, that’s not it either,” replied the teacher.
Finally, a third student spoke up, “Easter is when Jesus was killed, and put in a tomb, and left for three days.”
“Ah, thank goodness somebody knows,” the teacher thought to herself.
But then the student went on: “Then everybody gathers at the tomb early in the morning and waits to see if Jesus comes out, and if he sees his shadow he has to go back inside, and we have six more weeks of winter.”
We are celebrating as the church has done on Resurrection Day since the first Century. Our reason for doing this is drastically more important than Ground Hog Day. Over the centuries Christians have gathered at the local cemetery on Resurrection Sunday morning. Our current situation does not permit that action, so we are here at the church and at our homes. Even so, ponder this with me. We gather in the place where we find the tombs of our neighbors and saints. We gather there early in the morning to remind ourselves of what this day is all about. We remember that it was in a graveyard of some sort where the women went to offer care for the body of their Lord and teacher, Jesus. They expected to find the tomb door closed, and the body of Jesus in the tomb. What they found was the stone rolled away and the body was gone. This was a big surprise. Then to their utter amazement, an angel appeared and told them something even more surprising, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
With this immensely surprising news they found that the promises of Jesus were true. He had endured the cross and death for the forgiveness of sin. He was now alive. He was raised from the dead. Over the next month or so over 500 different people were able to see and visit with Jesus, the Risen Savior. He then ascended to the Father and out of their sight and gave his followers the Holy Spirit, one another, and the Word of God so that they, and we, might know the Lord and live with him now and forever.
When we gather on this day, whether in our homes, at the church, or at the cemetery near dozens of full tombs, we do this to celebrate the one “Empty Tomb”. Even though the followers of Jesus were told in advance by Jesus himself that this would happen, it was still a surprise. It was beyond belief, yet it was true. The promise of God the Son, Jesus Christ, came true.
Today we gather in our various ways to celebrate the greatest truth that Jesus has died for us, and that he has defeated the powers of sin, death and evil for us. He is still fully alive today, never to die again. By the gift of faith, we know that His tomb is empty, for he was raised to life and walked out of the tomb. On this day of Resurrection, we celebrate the surprise of his empty tomb. We celebrate that we, by faith, will follow him through life, and through death, and on to eternal life.
Let us pray – God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
*Prayers of Intercession
A: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
A brief silence.
Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, on this day we celebrate the glory of the Resurrection. Draw us to yourself so that we might be freed from the power of sin, death and evil. Lead us to new life in you. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Your Spirit helps us to believe in you. May this same Holy Spirit enable us to bear witness to the greatest truth that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who need your touch of care and healing. On this day we lift in prayer…and also those whom we now name aloud or in quiet prayer… Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
You are the source of all mercy and consolation. We pray for all who mourn, especially the family and friends of… Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
LORD’S PRAYER
Announcements and Prayer Request list for Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ledbetter
Health and Well-being Prayer List: Phillip Procell, Brian Shaffer, Sandra Gest, James Smith, Barbara Spence, April Weyand, Fritz Schoenst, Alicia McQuaig, Diana Garik Poentisch, Sally Beettner, Carrie Oltmann, Robin Hardin, Beverly Drescher
REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Ruby Ivey (Nikki Pohl’s mother, on hospice); Ricky Eckert (brother of Ronnie Eckert, health concerns); Jeannie Johnson (grandmother of Matthew & Nick Colpetzer, Joshua Aranzolo, and Emily Ortiz, chronic pain); J. C. Pohl (health concerns); Kalisa Pomykal (Paula Barrick’s sister, medical concerns); Kenny Lorenz (former member Robert Hinze’s relative, serious burns); Nancy Pietsch (former RT-C teacher, health concerns); Johnny Dunham (health concerns); LaVerne Krumrey (friend from Brenham, cancer); Joyce Kelley (friend, health concerns); Jack Walsh (friend of Wade Eilers, recurring melanoma); Bill Clarke (friend of Daryl & Susan Ray, stage 4 cancer); Robert Vaughn (at Texas Neurology, thankful for extended stay for rehab); Carrie Bozarth (friend of Sedalia Ullrich, cancer); Edna Mae Krivacka (friend of Ed and Carol, back home, health concerns)
Sympathy to the families of Elisabeth McDaniel (mother of R.W. Crawford, friend of Alvis Mueller);
The Ongoing Prayer Concerns may be found in the monthly newsletter.
THIS WEEK at MLLC
Today 5:00 pm-AA Meeting (subject to change)
April 12 5:00 pm-AA Meeting (subject to change)
CONGRATULATIONS to Sierra & Alan Richard on the birth of their daughter, Brinley Adeline Richard, born March 10, 2020. She weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 7/8 inches in length. From MLLC grandparents are Ronda & Mark Kunkel and great grandparents are Dean & Joyce Ullrich. She was also welcomed by
CONFIRMATION is still being planned for Sunday, May 17, unless otherwise noted. It was changed since the MS150 Bike Ride was to come through Carmine on May 3, but that event has now been cancelled.
2020 FLOWER CHART: Three dates are open on the flower chart. They are September 20 and November 1 & 22. A correction to the April newsletter is that May 3 has been filled.
SPECIAL LENTEN ENVELOPES this year are designated for Lutheran Disaster Response of the ELCA. You may send contributions in the mail, or bring it by the office, with the check made out to MLLC and in the memo line, put Lutheran Disaster Response. You may also go to the website to donate.
http://mlllccarmine/online-giving/
See the line for: disaster relief-Lutheran disaster response
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be at MLLC June 14-18, 2020 with the theme Rocky Railway. See the codes on p. 2 of the March newsletter to register your child and volunteer.
Registration is also available at the church web site: https://mllccarmine.com/vacation-bible-school-2020/
Subject to being postponed to another date.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at Bethlehem Lutheran in Round Top will be June 1-4 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. with the theme “Anchored.” There are registration forms in the narthex and church office. For more information contact Stacy Eilers at 979-639-1897. Possibly to be postponed to a later date.
CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBER A person is needed to serve as chairperson of the Outreach/Care Committee. Please consider serving in this role.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Week ending 3/21/2020
Church Income $6,435.01
Church Expenses $1,262.67
Salaries & Benefits 108.00
Camping Ministry 520.00
Utilities 292.50
Envelopes 248.87
Miscellaneous 93.30
Net Income: $5,172.34
Week ending 3/28/2020
Church Income $2,260.00
Church Expenses $4,456.66
Salaries & Benefits 3,817.66
Printing 564.00
Miscellaneous 75.00
Net Loss: $2,196.66
Year to Date Net Income: $1,081.95
Martin Luther Lutheran Church 