Service for Easter Sunrise, the Resurrection of Our Lord

Rev. Gregory Mech, pastor | April 17, 2022 | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 6:30 am

---

---

Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, Altar Guild, Board of Elders, and all of our volunteers!

---

Easter Sunrise – April 17, 2022

We gather outside the church.

OLD TESTAMENT Job 19:23–27

“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!”

HOLY GOSPEL John 20:1–18

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness” 467: 1-2

Awake, my heart, with gladness, 
See what today is done.
Now, after gloom and sadness, 
Comes forth the glorious sun.
My Savior there was laid 
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light 
Our spirit wings its flight.

The foe in triumph shouted 
When Christ lay in the tomb;
But, lo, he now is routed. 
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free; 
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save 
Has triumphed o’er the grave.

PSALM Psalm 118:15-29, antiphon – v. 1

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
the right hand of the LORD exalts,
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
     and recount the deeds of the LORD.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
     that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
     the righteous shall enter through it.

The doors of the church are opened, and we enter.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

HYMN “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness” 467: 3-7

This is a sight that gladdens—
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens 
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake, 
No foe shall ever take 
The hope which God’s own Son 
In love for me has won.

Now hell, its prince, the devil, 
Of all their power are shorn;
Now I am safe from evil, 
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim death, with all its might, 
Cannot my soul affright;
It is a powerless form, 
However it rave and storm.

The world against me rages, 
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wages, 
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free, 
No trouble troubles me.
Misfortune now is play, 
And night is bright as day.

Now I will cling forever 
To Christ, my Savior true.
My Lord will leave me never, 
Whatever He passes through.
He rends death’s iron chains; 
He breaks through sin and pain;
He shatters hell’s grim thrall; 
I follow Him through all.

He brings me to the portal 
That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal 
Is found in script of gold:
“Who there my cross has shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with Me has died
Shall here be glorified.”

SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray. Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN OF THE DAY “This Joyful Eastertide” 482

This joyful Eastertide 
Away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the Crucified, 
Has sprung to life this morrow:
Had Christ, who once was slain, 
Not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain, 
But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!

Death’s flood has lost its chill 
Since Jesus crossed the river;
Lover of souls, from ill 
My passing soul deliver:
Had Christ, who once was slain, 
Not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain, 
But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!

My flesh in hope shall rest 
And for a season slumber
Till trump from east to west 
Shall wake the dead in number:
Had Christ, who once was slain, 
Not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain, 
But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!

SERMON 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

OFFERING

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.

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.

CREEDAL HYMN “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” 461

I know that my Redeemer lives; 
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives who once was dead; 
He lives, my ever-living head.

He triumphant from the grave; 
He eternally to save;
He lives all glorious in the sky;
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love; 
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives, my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears; 
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart; 
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

ANNOUNCEMENTS, THANKSGIVING and BLESSINGS

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

---

Learn More

• About Immanuel Lutheran Church
• What We Believe
• Sunday Worship Services
• Easter at Immanuel
• Lent 2022 Midweek Services
• Meet our Pastor, Rev. Gregory Mech
• Immanuel Responding to COVID-19
• Live Stream