Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ + By His great mercy He gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1. Peter 1,3

Introit

I love the Lord because he heard my plea for mercy and listened to me.  As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.  The ropes of death tightened around me, the snares of Sheol confronted me. I was confronted with trouble and sorrow. I called on the name of the Lord, “Please, Lord, rescue my life!” The Lord is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate. The Lord protects the untrained; I was in serious trouble and he delivered me. Rest once more, my soul, for the Lord has vindicated you.  Yes, Lord, you rescued my life from death, kept my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. I will serve the Lord in the land of the living. I will celebrate my deliverance and call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:1-9.13

Collect for Quasimodogeniti

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord´s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversastion that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book, Pg. 893.

Old Testament lesson (Sermon text)

“To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One.  Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights?  He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me; My God is not concerned with my vindication”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.  

He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.   

Isaiah 40:25-31

Epistle

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1. Peter 1,3-9

The Holy Gospel

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:19-31

Confession of the church

I
believe
in
one
God,
the
Father
Almighty,
maker
of
heaven
and
earth
and
of
all
things
visible
and
invisible.
And
in
one
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
the
only‐begotten
Son
of
God,
begotten
of
His
Father
before
all
 worlds,
God
of
God,
Light
of
Light,
very
God
of
very
God,
begotten,
not
made,
being
of
one
substance
with
the
Father,
by
whom
all
things
were
made;
who
for
us
men
and
for
our
salvation
came
down
from
heaven
and
was
incarnate
by
the
Holy
Spirit
of
the
virgin
Mary
and
was
made
man;
and
was
crucified
also
for
us
under
Pontius
Pilate.
He
suffered
and
was
 buried.
And
the
third
day
He
rose
again
according
to
the
Scriptures
and
ascended
into
heaven
and
sits
at
the
right
hand
of
the
Father.
And
He
will
come
again
with
glory
to
judge
both
the
living
and
the
dead,
whose
kingdom
will
have
no
end.
And
I
believe
in
the
Holy
Spirit,
the
Lord
and
giver
of
life,
who
proceeds
from
the
Father
and
the
Son,
who
with
the
Father
and
the
Son
together
is
worshiped
and
glorified,
who
spoke
by
the
prophets.
And
I
believe
in
one
holy
Christian
and
apostolic
Church
I
acknowledge
one
Baptism
for
the
remission
of
sins,
and
I
look
for
the
resurrection
of
the
dead
and
the
life
of
the
world
to
come.
Amen.

Nicene Creed

Hymn of the week

Jesus Christ our blessed savior, overcame death and hell. He lives forever ruling in our favor.  Kyrie eleison.  

He was born without sin, yet bore God´s burning wrath. He reconciled us, granting all God´s favor. Kyrie eleison.

Death, sin, life and free salvation – all are his to dispense; he draws us to him to save us by God´s favor. Kyrie eleison.

Dr. Martin Luther 1524 (LKG 157) translated by WW 2025.

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee: The Lord make his face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon Thee and give Thee peace.

Numbers 6,24-26 (4th Book of Moses)