Third Sunday of Easter - April 26, 2020

Today’s gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus, overcome with sadness, loss, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus, who was crucified, would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them and then opens their eyes in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our hearts burn within us as the scriptures are proclaimed and Christ appears to us as bread is broken and wine is poured. The story of Emmaus becomes the pattern of our worship each Lord’s day. 

Greeting
P:  Alleluia! Christ is risen.
C:  Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

We Give God Our Hearts

Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity,  one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
C: Amen.

P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.

P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Gracious God,
C: have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
P: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of V Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
C: Amen.
Hymn of Praise

"This is the Feast"
ELW Setting III

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom and strength,
and honor, blessing and glory are his. 
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor, glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Invocation
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
C: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day
P:  Let us pray. O God,
C: 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.

We Listen to the Word of God

GOSPEL - Luke 24:13-35
P: The holy gospel according to Luke.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.

¹³Now on that same day [when Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene,] two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” ¹⁹He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹But 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 took place. ²²Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” ²⁵Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
  ²⁸As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³²They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” ³³That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread

P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
 

Anthem

"14. The Road to Emmaus"
from Living Pictures 2012
words and music by Greg Prechel

Jesus;
Despair, yet you walk along
What things, bring such sadness on?
 
Men:
Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem?
How can you not know the things that have taken place?
Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word
 has been crucified now all is lost.
 
Jesus:
Despair, yet you walk along.
Although, you must look beyond.
 
Men:
Some that were with us to the tomb they were sent,
The body of Jesus was gone.
Angels said He’s risen we should celebrate and sing Hallelujah today.
We don’t know, don’t know.  Empty hopes, pro’bly so.
Our redemption dreams for Israel, no more.
 
Jesus:
Oh, dear and foolish souls
I see, your hearts are slow to know.
Let me reveal the Scripture’s truths.
This man, no myst’ry, here’s the proof.
 
Choir:
Prophets who spoke of the Messiah to come,
Said He would die in glory for all as God’s Son.
 
Narrator:
Night was falling soon, and the men urged him,
“Stay with us this night and eat.”
So together they went to a village Inn.
When He was at table with them, He took bread, blessed,
and broke it, and gave it to them.
Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.
As He vanished from their sight, their hearts burned bright,
and they knew Him as their risen Lord.
 
Choir:
Come, let us commune with the Lord
He is with us indeed
Hope, and promise of our resurrection
He fills our needs, fills our needs.
 
Lord, make mine eyes to see,
I pray, He’s revealed to me.
 
Copyright 2011 Garretess Publishing (ASCAP)

Sermon

“Seeing Jesus: Then and Now”  -  Pastor Brian Taylor

Hymn of the Day

“Open the Eyes of My Heart”
- Paul Baloche
Chorus
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
 
Verse
To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy holy holy
 
Bridge
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
I want to see You
  
© 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music [DC Cook]))   CCLI License # 120570

We Offer God Our Gifts

If you would like to give your offering and tithes-please mail it to the office or give online at www.orcgg.org

We Offer God Our Prayers

P: Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

P: For those whose hearts are fervent with love for your gospel, that they are empowered to tell the story of your love in their lives and to show hospitality in response to this love. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: For the diverse natural world: for jungles, prairies, forests, valleys, mountains, and for all the wild and endangered animals who call these spaces home, that they are nurtured and protected. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
 
P: For broken systems we have inherited and that we continue to perpetuate, forgive us. Restrain the nations from fighting over limited resources. Redeem us from the cycles of scarcity and violence. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
 
P: For all who call upon your healing name, give rest. Stay with us, and walk with all those who are hungry, friendless, despairing, and desiring healing in body and spirit (especially). Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
 
P: For the faith forming ministries of this church. For those preparing for baptism, first communion, confirmation, and membership (especially). For those who participate in Sunday school and adult education; guide and inspire learners of every age and ability. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
 
P: Create in our hearts a yearning to rest in your promise of eternal and resurrected life. Give us thankful hearts for those who have died, even as we look forward to the hope of new life with you. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
C: Hear our prayer.

P: With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
 
The Words of Institution

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.

Join together with the whole church taking communion-
follow Pastor's instructions

P: Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.

Sending Hymn

“Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing”
ELW 389
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD8pxDgTZZU

   Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
        The cross stands empty to the sky.
        Let streets and homes with praises ring.
        Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
 
   Christ is alive! No longer bound
        to distant years in Palestine,
        but saving, healing, here and now,
        and touching ev’ry place and time.
 
 In ev’ry insult, rift, and war,
        where color, scorn, or wealth divide,
        Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
        and lives, where even hope has died.
 
 Women and men, in age and youth,
        can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
        and find the way, the life, the truth,
        revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
 
  Christ is alive, and comes to bring
        good news to this and every age,
        till earth and sky and ocean ring
        with joy, with justice, love, and praise. 

Text: Brian A. Wren, b. 1936
Text © 1975, rev. 1995 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Dismissal
P: Go in peace. Remember the poor.
C: Thanks be to God.