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Worship Outline: April 12, 2026 - Second Sunday of Easter (Service of the Word)
Worship Outline: April 12, 2026 - Second Sunday of Easter (Service of the Word)
Introduction to the day
In today’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples and offers them the gift of peace. Even amid doubts and questions, we experience the resurrection in our Sunday gathering around word and meal, and in our everyday lives. Throughout the coming Sundays of Easter the first two readings will be from the Acts of the Apostles and the first letter of Peter. Even as the early Christians proclaimed the resurrection, we rejoice in the new birth and living hope we receive in baptism.
(*=stand, as able)
Time for Quiet Reflection and Prayer
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Opening Song I Know that My Redeemer Lives!
(# 619, st.1-4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAzl129zWY4
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 lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives exalted, throned above;
He lives to rule his church in love.
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 bear 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.
(Text: Samuel Medley, alt. Music: attr. John Hatton. Text and music: public domain.)
*Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
*Opening Canticle Be Not Afraid (# 388, sung 2x)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JZZDDq4Kd
Be not afraid, sing out for joy!
Christ is risen, alleluia!
Be not afraid, sing out for joy!
Christ is risen, alleluia!
(Text: Matthew 28:5; Taizé Community. Music: Jacques Berthier. Text and music: © 1998, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved.)
*Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32
After the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles on Pentecost, Peter preaches the gospel to the gathered crowd. He tells them that Jesus, who obediently went to his death according to God’s plan, was raised from the dead by God. Finally, he appeals to scripture, quoting Psalm 16:8-11, to show that Jesus is the Messiah: though crucified, the risen Jesus is now enthroned.
4a Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd]: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Hymn Word of God, Come Down on Earth (# 510)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNvBo6Dalcg
Word of God, come down on earth,
Living rain from heav’n descending;
Touch our hearts and bring to birth
Faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
Word eternal, throned on high,
Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heav’n to die,
Crucified for our salvation,
Saving Word, the world restoring,
Speak to us, your love outpouring.
Word that speaks God’s tender love,
One with God beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.
(Text James Quinn, © 1969, James Quinn, SJ. Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved. Music: Johann R. Ahle, public domain.)
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:3-9
This epistle was written to encourage Christians experiencing hardships and suffering because of their faith in Christ. The letter opens by blessing God for the living hope we have through Christ’s resurrection even amid difficult circumstances and surroundings.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation (said)
Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. Alleluia. (John 20:29)
*Gospel: John 20:19-31
The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.
The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of their number is missing, and his unbelief prompts another visit from the Lord.
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon – Pastor Matthew
*Hymn of the Day We Walk by Faith
(# 635; Tune: ‘Amazing Grace’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePlaXpUTo04
We walk by faith and not by sight;
With gracious words draw near.
O Christ, who spoke as none e’er spoke:
“My peace be with you here.”
We may not touch your hands and side,
Nor follow where you trod;
But in your promise we rejoice,
And cry, “My Lord and God!”
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound
To call on you when you are near
And seek where you are found:
For you, O resurrected Lord,
Are found in means divine;
Beneath the water and the word,
beneath the bread and wine.
And when our life of faith is done,
In realms of clearer light
May we behold you as you are,
With full and endless sight.
(Text: Henry Alford, alt. Music: W. Walker, ‘Southern Harmony,’ 1835; arr. Edwin O. Excell, alt. Text and music: public domain.)
Offering
As the gifts are collected and brought forward, please join in singing:
Offertory Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!
(# 373, st. 1 and 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNbK7pM3Wu4
“Christ the Lord is risen today!”
All on earth with angels say;
Raise your joys and triumphs high;
Sing, O heav’ns; and earth reply.
Hail the Lord of earth and heav’n!
Praise to thee by both be giv’n.
Thee we greet triumphant now;
Hail, the resurrection, thou!
(Text: Charles Wesley, alt., public domain. Music: Pierre de Corbeil, arr. ‘Lutheran Book of Worship’,” © 1978, Augsburg Fortress; reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved.}
Offering Prayer
Merciful God, accept the fruits of our labour, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more. Nourish us, that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. Amen.
*Prayers of Intercession
Trusting in the power of Christ’s resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation.
A brief silence.
Almighty God, you give life to the dead and call into existence things that do not exist. Breathe your Spirit upon us, that our faith may be renewed day by day. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Maker of heaven and earth, your mercies are new every morning. Open us to the wonders of creation, from the beauty of flowers to the complexity of space. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of peace, in every place where conflict rages, sow seeds of calm and openness to reconciliation. Strengthen the resolve of leaders and citizens to work for peace among nations. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Healing God, come alongside all who are doubting, fearful, or suffering in any way. Those we remember include ... Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Giver of joy, listen to our silent prayers … Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Eternal One, we give thanks for those who have joined the church triumphant. Inspire us by their witness and bring us with them into your glorious presence. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.
Amen.
*Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
*Blessing
God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace, ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen.
*Sending Song Go, My Children, with My Blessing ( # 543)
Vi Peternelj – piano; Artith Francis – flute; Shirley Barrow - voice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5an1z69GWmY
“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 still you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
(Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, alt., © 1983, Concordia Publishing House. Music: Welsh traditional; arr Ralph Vaughan William, from The English Hymnal, OUP. Text and music: reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved.)
*Dismissal
Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2026 Augsburg Fortress.
Sermon: April 12, 2026 - Second Sunday of Easter
Sermon: April 12, 2026 - Second Sunday of Easter
Text: John 21:24
One tradition related to the Second Sunday of Easter is the nickname, ‘Holy Humour Sunday’. While much of this observance centres on the past forty years, it has roots in the early church. For centuries, the week following Easter Sunday was observed as "days of joy and laughter,” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang and danced. The custom was rooted in the musings of early church theologians that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead - the Easter laugh," they called it. (‘Joyful Newsletter’)
One of the main groups behind the revival of this Sunday explains its reasoning in this way, “Holy Humor Sunday services not only give Christians an opportunity for ongoing celebrations of the greatest miracle in human history - Jesus' resurrection - it also gives each of us an opportunity to celebrate, and give thanks for, our own smaller resurrections in this world and this life. From time to time in our earthly lives, many of us have been dead - from illness, depression, physical injuries, emotional wounds, the loss of loved ones, financial losses - and yet have come alive and endured while looking forward to the Great Resurrection.” The idea is not, in any way, to make light of life. The idea is to find the Joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the midst of the difficulty.
Finding Jesus in the midst of difficulty possibly helps us understand yet another ancient church tradition for this Sunday. Its readings always include this story from John. Even though they’ve received the news of Jesus’ rising, out of fear the disciples have locked themselves in the upper room. Miraculously, the resurrected Christ appears personally to them, and offers them proof of who he is, along with the gifts of peace and the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls them to go out, but there they remain, locked up. One disciple not there, Thomas, declares that he won’t believe until he personally can see and touch him. Neither the joy, nor the holy humour, of Easter seem present.
An American Lutheran pastor, Tim Brown, points out another piece of information about Thomas in this passage that many of us, including me, likely gloss over every time we read it. That he, writes, is unfortunate, because when we do hear it, it can have the effect of drawing us personally into the story. It turns out that besides “Doubting”, ‘Thomas … had another nickname: The Twin’. We never ‘get confirmation on just who the twin of Thomas is’. Brown argues that by this the writer of John ‘perhaps [is implying that’ the twin of Thomas is you. And me’ (World Hunger). We are the twin of Thomas, because like him, we also ‘long for proof of the living Christ.’
We also hear the good news that ‘we are Thomas’s twin not just because we have doubts-which are totally normal-but also because, just like Thomas, Jesus shows up even in the midst of those doubts and fears. Doubts, fears, locked doors—none of that can stop a God who can’t be stopped even by death.’ Brown assures us, ‘Have no fear, disciple. The locked door of a hard heart, the shuttered window of doubt, and even the fire of indignation can’t stop Jesus from showing up in time with a word of peace for all the spiritual hunger, fears, doubts, and indignation we hold.’
Jesus then calls us, along with the other disciples, out of the locked doors into the world which God so loves. To follow Jesus is to walk in his footsteps, embody his love and truth, and live out his mission in the world. KAIROS, our national inter-church social justice coalition, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, says that through this Christ calls out to you and to me to see ‘Easter not as a moment, but as a movement’.
The Anglican Archbishop of this area’s Algoma Diocese, Ann Germond, independently builds on this image in her Easter message, “A new life was beginning. A new community was being born. And that community continues today. We are part of that story. We are witnesses to the resurrection. Not because we have seen it with our eyes, but because we see its signs all around us, in acts of compassion, in communities that gather in hope, in people who continue to trust that God is at work in the world. The risen Christ calls us into that same life of faith. Even when we cannot see everything clearly, even when the world feels uncertain, Easter reminds us that God is always doing something new and we are invited to be part of it.”
Reflecting on this same image in his own Easter message our synod Bishop, Jason, has written, “One of the most powerful parts of the Easter story is how quickly the disciples are drawn back together. They don’t all understand what has happened. They don’t all respond the same way. They don’t even seem to have a plan for what to do next. But the risen Christ meets them—scattered, confused, hopeful, doubtful—and gathers them into a new kind of community. A community shaped not by certainty, but by trust. Not by sameness, but by shared purpose. Not by fear, but by love.”
United Church of Christ pastors Susan Blain and Scott Ressman invite all the twins of Thomas, including you and me, to share this closing Benediction for Holy Humour Sunday: “May the God of surprises bring smiles and joys to the everyday and ordinary. May the God of love be seen in all we do and say. Go forth rejoicing, for the good work has just begun! Amen.”
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