“Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” John 20:20

Kneel/Stand

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Kneel/Stand

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought,

word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Stand

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Entrance Hymn “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness” (LSB 467, stanzas 1, 3, 5-7)

Text and tune: Public domain

Kyrie

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This Is the Feast

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Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation 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.

C Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14

After the reading:

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

Epistle I John 5:4-10

After the reading:

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

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Kantor: Alleluia refrain; Congregation: Alleluia Refrain

He has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee. Eight days later Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Congregation: Alleluia Refrain

Holy Gospel Saint John 20:19-31

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twentieth chapter.

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After the reading: P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

(Please remain standing for the Hymn of the Day.)

Hymn of the Day “O Sons and Daughters of the King” (LSB 471, stanzas 1, 4-8)

6 “My piercèd side, O Thomas, see,

And look upon My hands, My feet;

Not faithless but believing be.”

Alleluia!

7 No longer Thomas then denied;

He saw the feet, the hands, the side;

“You are my Lord and God!” he cried.

Alleluia!

8 How blest are they who have not seen

And yet whose faith has constant been,

For they eternal life shall win.

Alleluia! Text and tune: Public domain

Sit

Sermon

Stand

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Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Concluding Collect

P Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

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Benediction

Hymn at the Retiring Procession “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain” (LSB 487, stanzas 1, 4, 5)

Tune and text: Public domain

T T

Strengthened by God’s grace… Pray, Commit, and then Act! We are fortified by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel given in Word and Sacrament to be God’s people and to produce fruits of faithfulness to Him. These fruits include the giving of tithes and offerings. If you are unable to give in the usual way, feel free to use your mobile device to scan the QR code provided here. It will take you directly to the church’s online giving page. Don’t have a QR scanning application? Visit the Android or Apple App Store to download a free application.

IN PREPARATION for the Divine Service next Sunday, 26 April A.D. 2020 Third Sunday of Easter, take time this week to read the lessons appointed for that day, Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 1 Peter 2:21-25, St. John 10:11-16, and the Hymn of the Day, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” LSB 709.

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T PRAYERS T THE SICK, THE SHUT-INS, THOSE IN ADVERSITY: Lucille Aldred & family, Adrian Atkinson, Leonard Badder, Dale Belmas, Jorden Bennet,

Dave Bosh, Susan Brandt, Mary Ann Brueggeman, Dan Bruzek, Joyce Griner, Luther Habitz, John Hangstefer, Marilyn Hatton, Donna Hay, Landon Martens, Ronald Masch, Charles McCloskey, Cathy Pawlowski, Kathy Pump, Cindy Pushman, Calvin Reinke, Randi Talsma, Susan Vogt, Kristy Sweet, Michael Whalen, Frances Wyckoff, and Matt Zavada MILITARY: Fletcher Armstrong, Jennifer Baca, Ramone Baca, Drew Barber, Brandy Bates, Robert Bell, Corry Brennan, Tom Buller, Brian Chapman, Mark Ciero, Kathleen Cottrell, Jonathan Cross, Kenneth Eyer, Kody Fletcher, Sgt. Paul Harrison, Drew Helmreich, Chad Libby, Neil Lipon, Richard McManamon, Meighan Mills, Matthew Niendorf, Chris Robosky, Steve Roeske, Samantha Russell, Jake Simkins, Cora Spangler, Sara Spangler, Logan Terao, Albie Therrien, Austin & Maria Wright, and Alex Young MISSIONARIES: Rev. Charles Ferry and family, Rev. Steven Mahlburg and family, and Rev. Todd Roeske and family.

Week of 20 April to 26 April

Birthdays Madeline Thoma 04/21 Karen Whiting 04/21 Christa Cottrell 04/22 Henry Kautz 04/22 Liz Appold 04/24

Callen Daniels 04/24 Natalie Roesner 04/24 Dave Tabbert 04/25 Shelby Hoppe 04/26

Anniversaries Glen and Delores Butterfield 04/23 60 yrs. Alan and Susan Weedon 04/25 33 yrs.

Message from Nicole Spangler

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

These are unusual times. You may be wondering, if I am not physically attending church, how can I still financially support my congregation?

Tithes and Offerings Weekly Financial Report 12 April A.D. 2020 General Fund Income Week of 04/12 $ 32,151.00 General Operating Savings Balance 04/12 $ 2,477.60 General Operating Checking Balance 04/12 $ 22,987.54 1+1+1 Eng, District Donations YTD 04/12 $ 590.25 Debt Retirement Contributions 3/1/19-04/12 $ 23,483.77

UPCOMING NEEDS Week of 04/19 $ 38,318.26 Week of 04/26 $ 18,843.97 Week of 05/03 $ 25,684.00 Week of 05/10 $ 2,353.21 Week of 05/17 $ 28,850.60 Week of 05/24 $ 24,769.58

Week of 05/31 $ 32,456.29 Week of 06/07 $ 919.21 Week of 06/14 $ 26,021.60

Total $198,216.72

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There are many options. So that you can make a fully informed decision, here are all the ways to contribute without leaving your home, along with the benefits of each method.

Mail a check to the church. Mail is still being collected regularly. Any contribution checks received in the mail are included with the Sunday offerings.

Use your bank's online bill pay feature. Checks arrive in the mail and are handled as above. Sign up for Joyful Response automatic ACH transfer (form attached). Authorization must be in writing (via form email

to nspangler@oursaviorhartland.org). This goes directly into the LCEF General Fund Savings Account. No physical contact. All bank fees are waived by LCEF. This is a recurring transaction and requires you to contact nspangler@oursaviorhartland.org to change or cancel this method of payment.

Give online at https://www.shelbygiving.com/app/giving/oursaviorhartland - either a one time gift or set up a recurring gift. No physical contact. You 'push' payments. You can use credit, debit, or a bank account. Our Savior does not receive your account information. This method links contributions directly to our church management software.

Text Giving - Text 'Give' to 248-845-1095 - you will be sent a link to online giving. Same benefits as online giving. God be with each of us during our time apart. Blessings, Nicole

13667 West Highland Road, Hartland, Michigan 48353 Phone (248) 887-4300 Fax (248) 887-3596 www.oursaviorhartland.org

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Settings Three from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, all 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.

Our Savior eNews from April 13, 2020

Brothers and sisters in Christ, The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Don’t you just love that announcement? I sure do, especially during times of uncertainty. Standing on the foundation of Christ’s all-sufficient death and justifying resurrection, the rest of the world can do all it wants to terrorize God’s people, and yet we are unmoved in spirit. He is risen. Death holds no dominion over us. And that’s that. We have life—real life. A few times during this world-wide pandemic, like others, I’ve caught myself bemoaning what not only felt like the tragic loss of the final weeks of Lent, but of Holy Week and Easter. And please, don’t get me wrong. I more than wish we could have celebrated these times together. But the more I view the situation through the lens of God’s handiwork, the more I realize the importance of the strange context in which we heard and received some of the most important texts the Bible has to offer. We heard what God thinks about Sin and Death. We heard what He intended to do about it. We heard the story of His plan in action. We heard God’s opinion. Everyone has an opinion about what life should or should not be like in our nation and state right now. Unfortunately, part of the curse of social media is that we all get to read those opinions over and over and over again, and this includes the insulting ones. When it comes to opinions, I’m certainly no exception. I have mine, and I share them where and when appropriate. Interestingly, Voltaire mused something about opinions being more devastating than plagues. That’s ironically fitting. In the end, God’s opinion is all that matters. Once again, He is risen. Death holds no dominion over us. And that’s that. We have life—real life. And so here we are in quarantine, and the world continues to preach to us what life is to be. Life is the economy. Life is civil freedom. Life is a vaccine. Life is a doctor saying the data is right. Life is another doctor saying the data is wrong. Life is family. Life is rest. Life is hand sanitizer, a face mask, and a pair of gloves in public. Life is curbside pickup. Life is whatever the governor decides. Life is what the citizens choose. Life is your terror. Life is your overreaction. Life is this and that. As everyone funnels into these discussions, my hope is that for the Christians engaging in the conversation—the ones who know the deeper meaning of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—the reality of Easter will be there for them like a lifeboat of truth in a rising flood of confusion. No matter the threat, Christians will always have in their pockets the reminder that Death

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has been conquered, and with that, the assuring knowledge that life—real life—is located firmly and surely in Jesus Christ alone. It can’t be found in money. It can’t be found in fame. It’s not located in anything this world would offer. Apart from Jesus, real life in the midst of a world coming undone will always be a mist-like dream that shifts with every societal breeze. Apart from Christ, real life will always be the vaccine (or essential oil, if you prefer) that remains out of reach. It’ll be the foreign language that no one can read, write, or come close to pronouncing correctly. In the days ahead, even as the Church continues to receive the Word of the risen Christ through some pretty weird mediums, my prayer is that you’ll commit to receiving that same Word—that you’ll remain immersed in it in every possible way, being sure to see it and hear it for all that it is during this time of questioning what life is all about. If you can, join the online Bible studies. Watch and re-watch the worship services. Listen and re-listen to the sermons. I can promise you’ll read or hear something new each and every time. Most importantly, you’ll continue to be nourished by the wellspring of real life, just as Christ said (John 6:63), and you’ll be more than ready for that future day when we can all be together to rejoice before the altar of God—and I’m not just talking about when the quarantine finally ends. But you Christians knew that, didn’t you? And with that, it’s on to the news… which should be short. ------------ + As some of you already know more intimately than others, it’s been a really complicated couple of weeks when it comes to getting what we do here into the age of technology. For the record, I don’t intend to be at the church much this week. Kantor Swett and I will be recording this coming Sunday’s worship sometime this week, but other than that, I intend to stay home. I actually managed to buy some supplies before the gauntlet was dropped on non-essential items, and with that, I’ll be completing some much needed repairs to our home. Of course if you need me, don’t hesitate to call. I’m here. Pastor Zwonitzer is, too. And as a side note, next week sometime I’ll be offering private communion again, and I’ll be sure to give you more than a day’s notice on it. This last time, about 60 folks were served, and it was well worth the effort. God is good. + Speaking of our new efforts at online video worship, I’ll be reformatting the downloadable ordos so that you can print them on regular 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper. Seeing as how that’s what most home printers do fairly readily, I’m not sure why that idea didn’t click sooner. Anyway, I hope that helps you in your ability to participate in the services. + Praise be to God for your prayers on behalf of the Cowdens and their newborn son. God willing I’ll be chatting with them a little later today and I’ll have a more complete update for you. In the meantime, know that since my message to you last week, there has been some improvement. Indeed, we are thankful to the Lord for His merciful kindness! + For the record, Kim Leonard is doing a great job of deep cleaning the School and Church. It’s not an easy job, but she’s accomplishing it masterfully. But there is something that makes it harder on her, and in some ways endangers both her and anyone else who goes into the facility to do essential work: People going in and out of the facility during the quarantine who have no reason to be in there. With this, I humbly ask that if you do not have a work-related reason to be at the church or school, please do not go there. You don’t have to go home. You don’t even have to believe that the quarantine is of any value at all for anything. But a cavalier approach to the situation that obstructs the efforts of others is not helpful, and it’s kind of insulting to the one person, Kim Leonard, who is working her tail off to make sure the place is ready when the quarantine is lifted. Please be mindful of this. It is the Godly and respectful thing to do. + I received the following financial update from Nikki Spangler. Take a look.

Holy week proved to be a bit of a financial rollercoaster as we adjust to the new flow of funding. Monday afternoon we were short for making payroll and a temporary cash flow transfer of $5,000 was made from the designated funds bank account. By Wednesday, adequate funds had been received to pay back the designated funds account and the transfer back was made. At the end of business on Friday, general fund bank balances are: Savings - $2477.60 Checking - $7,019.34 Expenses for the week of April 13 are $5,740, which includes $2,320 of held over bills. Some bills may continue to be held over in order to prioritize payroll, mortgage payments, and utilities as we wait to hear the results of our Payroll Protection Program Loan application.

By the way, I received a good number of responses last week voting in favor of proceeding with the PPP efforts. I did not receive a single “nay” vote. -----------------

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That’s it for this week. God be with you! In Jesus, Pastor Thoma+