Third Sunday of Easter April 26, 2020

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 25 W. Springettsbury Avenue, York, PA 17403

PRELUDE

VERSICLES O Lord, open my lips And my mouth shall declare your praise. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

HYMN With High Delight Let Us Unite (LBW 140)

PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. . . .O God, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world, rescuing us from the hopelessness of death. Grant your faithful people a share in the joys that are eternal: through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

PSALMODY Psalm 95 The Psalm is sung by all to a setting by Carolyn Jennings.

Continued on next page

PSALM PRAYER

Lord Jesus, the incarnate Word, when you consented to dwell with us, the heavens were glad and the earth rejoiced. In hope and love we await your return. Help us to proclaim your glory to those who do not know you, until the whole earth sings a new song to you and the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

PSALM 116 Psalm 116 is sung by the cantors to a setting by Mark Mummert.

1I love the Lord, who has | heard my voice, and listened to my | supplication,

2for the Lord has given | ear to me whenev- | er I called.

12How shall I re- | pay the Lord for all the good things God has | done for me?

13I will lift the cup | of salvation and call on the name | of the Lord.

14I will fulfill my vows | to the Lord in the presence of | all God’s people.

15Precious in your | sight, O Lord, is the death | of your servants.

16O Lord, truly I | am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your handmaid; you have freed me | from my

bonds. 17I will offer you the sacrifice | of thanksgiving

and call upon the name | of the Lord. 18I will fulfill my vows | to the Lord

in the presence of | all God’s people, 19in the courts of | the Lord’s house,

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. | Hallelujah!

PSALM PRAYER

God of power and mercy, through the Passion and resurrection of your Son you have freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be with us on our pilgrimage, and help us offer you a sacrifice of praise, fulfill our vows, and glorify you in the presence of all your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

READING 1 Peter 1:17-23 17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perisha-ble things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and endur-ing word of God.

A period of silence follows the reading READING Luke 24:13-35

3Now on that same day two of them 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 re-plied, "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 de-clared! 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 inter-preted 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.

A period of silence follows the reading SERMON Pastor Reep The text of the sermon is provided on the last pages of the bulletin.

In many and various ways God spoke to his people of old by the prophets. But now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

TRIO Lord You are Near Me Mark Patterson Trio Allen, Amelia, & Emily Reep PRAYERS

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.

A brief silence.

For those whose hearts are fervent with love for your gospel, that they are empow-ered to tell the story of your love in their lives and to show hospitality in response to this love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 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, hear our prayer. 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, hear our prayer. 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. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For the faith forming ministries of this church. For those preparing for baptism, first communion, confirmation, and membership. For those who participate in Sunday school and adult education; guide and inspire learners of every age and ability. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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. With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 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.

PASCHAL BLESSING

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

STAFF Pastor Reverend Stanley Reep prreep.stpaulsyork@comcast.net Youth Director Kelly Moore-Spencer kmoorespencer.stpaulsyork@comcast.net Organist, Choir Director Victor Fields vfields.stpaulsyork@comcast.net

Children, Youth, Handbell Choirs Director Emily Reep sea2reep@comcast.net

Bookkeeper Dale Zeiger dzeiger.stpaulsyork@comcast.net

Secretary Patee Pizzirusso st.paulsyork@comcast.net Sexton Ted Weikert st.paulsyork@comcast.net Preschool Director Deb Becker director@stpaulspreschoolyork.com

HYMN Christ the Lord is Risen Today

BLESSING Almighty God Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. Amen.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed. Alleluia! Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Pastor’s Sermon

Easter 3 A, 2020 1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35

I pulled the van into the parking area at Perry Dell Dairy to pick up our weekly

supply of milk. Getting out of the van with my face properly masked I realized that a

man parked directly beside me. He got out of his SUV and we both headed toward the

entrance. He waved at me as if he knew me. I confess, I didn’t know him, at least I did-

n’t think so. It is hard to recognize someone who is wearing a mask. But he seemed to

know me. I motioned for him to go in a head of me. As I made my way to the cooler,

selected my items, and took my place standing on the blue taped X marked on the floor,

I kept trying to place him, or at least where I might know him from. As a general rule

people don’t wave if they don’t know you, but I couldn’t place him, especially behind

the mask. He paid and started out the door. And he did it again; he waved at me like he

knew me.

Cleopas and his friend didn’t recognize Jesus that day on the Emmaus Road. He

more than waved at them. Jesus talked to them and opened the scriptures to them, and

discussed with them the events of the past days. And yet, he remained unrecognizable to

them. They shared with this stranger their hopes as they walked along. He listened to

them and accompanied them along the way until they reached their destination. They did

the hospitable thing and invited him to stay with them, to dine with them. He did. And as

the text states, their eyes were opened as he was made known to them in the breaking of

the bread. It was as if the mask was removed and his identity made known.

As we make our way these days, faces masked, hands gloved, sanitized, washed

clean, we make our way often fearing, hoping that things would be different. How quick-

ly our hopes have changed, our priorities rearranged, our deepest longings redirected.

What are the things we hope for now? We had hoped

We had hoped that the curve for COVID-19 was making a plunging descent.

We had hoped that the mortality rate would be vastly diminished.

We had hoped that shops would reopen.

We had hoped that schools would resume.

We had hoped that gathering for worship would once again crown our week.

We had hoped …We hope for lots of different things at different times in our

lives. This time of pandemic is no different. Most of the things that we hope for, like for

Cleopas and his friend, are time sensitive;

Cure and vaccine for the Coronavirus

Necessary medical supplies to treat patients

Shuttered businesses opening

Starting date for school year fall 2020 verified

Service schedule announced resuming Sunday worship at St. Paul’s

Cleopas and his friend, they had hopes too. Their hopes were time sensitive. Life

in Jerusalem during those days was not what they desired or longed for either. Oppres-

sive foreign rule dominated the political scene. The Roman Empire had sent military

troops and governmental leaders. The religious leaders were at odds with each other.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees had varying theologies that led to tension and frag-

mentation. Into such a diverse mix, Jesus of Nazareth appeared. He preached with sto-

ries. He challenged the religious and political authorities to think anew. He lifted up the

poor and the downtrodden. He welcomed sinners. He talked with women. He healed the

sick. He fed the hungry. Why even tax collectors were given a chance.

So you can easily understand why Cleopas and his friend had hoped that Jesus

was the one to redeem Israel. Redeem; release, liberate, free, emancipate, deliver, res-

cue, save! At least that is what they tell the stranger they encounter as they walk from

Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Their hopes of course on that Easter afternoon as they pressed toward the village of Em-

maus were completely, totally dashed. Jesus of Nazareth; preacher, teacher, healer, feed-

er, friend of rich and poor, young and old, man or woman or child, had been executed.

He had been wrongfully accused of insurrection. He was sentenced to death by crucifix-

ion. And there outside the city walls he was lifted up on a cross, to suffer and die. His

body had been taken down from the cross by a couple of friends, prepared for burial,

and placed in a tomb. And now three days later some women with whom they are close

went to the tomb early that very morning and they did not find his body, they went back

and told others that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some

others went to the tomb and they too found things just as the women had said.

So their hopes were crushed, their hopes for; redemption; release, liberation,

freedom, emancipation, deliverance, rescue, salvation from the current political and reli-

gious systems operative in Jerusalem. But then they encounter a stranger who walked

with them. He opened to them the scriptures and told them all about Moses and the

prophets and even shared things about himself. But Cleopas and his friend didn’t recog-

nize the stranger. It was as though he was wearing a mask.

They did however invite him in when they reached their destination. They

showed hospitality. It was there at table when he took bread, blessed it, broke it and

gave it to them. They realize who their companion is. It is like he took off a mask. Their

eyes were opened, they recognized Jesus; and he vanished from their sight.

We all have hopes. Most of them are time sensitive especially now during these

days of pandemic. For those who struggle with hopes at this time, remember who it is

that is staying near you, walking with you, opening the scriptures, proclaiming a realm

that is different than the one reflected by politicians and media. Jesus, the one walking

with you, the one near you now, truly understands how completely befuddled things are.

As he addressed the political and religious community of his time preaching, challeng-

ing religious institutions and political authorities to think anew especially about the poor

and the downtrodden, outcast, sojourner, and sinner, about care for the sick and food for

the hungry, he promises to be with you even now. That is your baptismal promise and

our Eucharistic assurance, and the content of encouraging words spoken in mutual con-

versation.

Later that evening I took a long walk through our neighborhood. I thought about

the day and about getting milk and the masked man at Perry Dell. Then it came to me as

I was singing one of our preschool chapel songs If the ground starts to shake and the

mountains break in pieces and fall into the sea. If the waves grow as big as giants, I’m

not scared, God is with me. Then as clear as the back of my hand, I realized it was a dad

of one of our preschool children. And then my mind was at ease. Had I only waved

back, had I only acknowledged his presence? That’s the way it was with Cleopas and

his friend. They ran to tell others the man walking with them, the man beside them, the

man they didn’t recognize, it was Jesus. And there was hope!