Welcome!
“I know that my Redeemer lives!” (Job 19:25)
EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 20, 2025
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH HIDEWOOD TOWNSHIP, SD
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH WATERTOWN, SD
To prepare yourselves for worship you are welcome to meditate on:
Today’s Psalm 118: 15-29
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You, For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
ORDER for WORSHIP
Prayer for you to use to prepare for worship: Compassionate God, since faith comes by hearing Your Word, help us to listen to the Scriptures with all attention, that they may criticize our faults, confirm our faith, and console our spirits, through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.
The bell calls us for worship
Invocation
P: Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed!
P: We begin in the name of the Triune God:
C: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn 198: 1-3
Confession and Absolution of Sins and Praise Response
from Psalm 107:10-15; Mark 9:31; Romans 8:31-34
P: Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
C: Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
P: Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
C: Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
P: He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
C: And broke their chains in pieces.
P: Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
C: And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
P: Jesus said: “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.
C: And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
P: What then shall we say to these things?
C: If God is for us, who can be against us?
P: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
C: how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
P: Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?
C: It is God who justifies.
P: Who is he who condemns?
C: It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hymn 198: 4-5
The Easter Account – Part One
Jesus' Resurrection From the Dead
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And now, as the first day of the week began to dawn, while it was still dark, they came to see the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, for it was very large.
When Mary Magdalene saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb, she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
The other women entered the tomb; but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments, one young man clothed in a long white robe, sitting on the right side. And the women were alarmed and afraid and bowed their faces to the earth.
And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid or alarmed; for I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen, as He said. Behold, here is the place where they laid Him. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"
And they remembered His words.
And he said to them, "But go quickly and tell His disciples and Peter that He is risen from the dead; and indeed, He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. Behold, I have told you."
So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb with fear and great joy, for they trembled and were amazed; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. And they ran to report it to His disciples.
Hymn 200: 1-4
The Easter Account, Part Two
Jesus' Appearance to Mary Magdalene
Now when Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping; and, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Now when she had said this, she turned around, and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni," which is to say, Teacher.
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me; for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept, that she had seen the Lord, and He had spoken these things to her. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Hymn 200: 5-8
The Easter Account, Part Three
The Visit of Peter and John
Peter therefore arose and went out, and the other disciple, and they ran to the tomb. So they both ran together; and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first; and he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and the handkerchief, that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes, and Peter marveled to himself at what had happened.
Appearance to the Other Women
And as the other women went to tell the disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice." So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
And they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
The Lie of the Guards
Now while these women were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure."
So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
EASTER CONFESSION OF FAITH
in the RISEN CHRIST
from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians chapter 15:1-8, 55-57
P: Paul wrote: Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:
C: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried,
and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
P: After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
C: “O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hymn 206: 1-3
Sermon Text – 1 Corinthians 15: 12-24
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
BEING AN EASTER FEASTER!
Found False – Futile Faith – FirstFruits
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Hymn 206: 4-6
The Offering is brought forward
Easter Responsive Prayer
P: Grant me grace, O blessed Savior, And Your Holy Spirit send
C: That my walk and my behavior May be pleasing to the end;
P: That I may not fall again Into Death’s grim pit and pain,
C: Whence by grace You have retrieved me
And from which You have relieved me.
P: For the joy Your advent gave me, For Your holy, precious Word;
C: For Your Baptism, which does save me,
For Your blest Communion board;
P: For Your death, the bitter scorn, For Your resurrection morn,
C: Lord, I thank You and extol You,
And in heaven I shall behold You!
P: any special requests will be included here
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P: We also pray responsively the words Jesus taught us:
C: Our Father, who art in heaven;
P: Truly You are our Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who, on the day of His resurrection, declared His ascension to “My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”
C: Hallowed be Thy name;
P: Enable us to honor You with a faithful and bold witness to our risen Lord, and a new life worthy of His Gospel.
C: Thy kingdom come;
P: Keep us under Your good and gracious rule through that Spirit by which we live before You now and shall live forever.
C: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
P: O Father, help us to submit our lives to Your gracious will, even as Jesus put His life into Your hands.
C: Give us this day our daily bread;
P: Free us from exaggerated concern and anxiety for our physical welfare, knowing that You are the Provider of our needs.
C: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;
P: Move us to be gracious and forgiving to those who have hurt us, even as You, for Christ’s sake, have forgiven us, certifying our justification by His resurrection.
C: And lead us not into temptation;
P: From the leaven within and the temptations around us, deliver and keep us, good Lord.
C: But deliver us from evil;
P: Fulfill Your promises to preserve us from all evil, and keep us from despair in the midst of all trouble.
C: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen, Amen, that is, yes, yes, it shall be so!
The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you His peace. Amen!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
C: Alleluia! Let us be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord! Alleluia! Amen! based on 1 Cor 15:58
Closing Hymn – 732
Trinity Lutheran Church Watertown, SD – 9:00 a.m.
Zion Lutheran Church Hidewood Township, SD – 11:00 a.m.
trinitywatertownsd.com
Members: Church of the Lutheran Confession www.clclutheran.org
Pastor Paul Krause. . . parsonpaulkrause@gmail.com cell:920-238-5775
Teacher Collette Krause . . collettekrause@gmail.com cell: 920-238-5132
Church and School: 886-2976
Organists: John Klatt, Rebecca Larson, Naomi Rehder
STATISTICS – week of April 13, 2025
Attendances- Zion: 35; SS: 12; Good Friday: 23
Trinity: 63; SS: 7; Maundy Thursday: 35
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CALENDAR and ANNOUNCEMENTS
THIS WEEK >> Lucas Bruna class; Trinity elders meeting
TODAY >> EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION!
>> Zion – 8:30 a.m. service – no Sunday School
>> Trinity – no Sunday School – 10:30 worship service
TUE >> School resumes at Trinity after Easter break
WED >> Louis Jenson class after school
THU >> Avantara devotion – 10:30 a.m.
>> Education Fair at Trinity – 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
FRI >> Trinity church council meeting – 7 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY >> Zion – 8:30 a.m. service, then Sunday School
>> Trinity – 9:20 a.m. Sunday School; 10:30 worship service
Potluck meal after church
Trinity quarterly voters’ meeting – 1 p.m.
Trinity Ladies’ Aid meeting – 1 p.m.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
4/29 Tue Brookings Bible Study – 7 p.m.
5/2-3 Fri/Sat ILC Visitors’ Day weekend / play production
5/14 Wed Last day of school at Trinity
5/18 Sun Last day of Sunday School at Zion / Trinity
5/20-22 Tue-Thu West Central Delegate Conference - Jamestown, ND
5/23-24 Fri/Sat ILC Closing Concert / Class Day / Graduation
EDUCATION FAIR AT TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL All are invited to come for our Education Fair to be held at Trinity Lutheran School on Thursday, April 24, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. At this fair there will be: music, entertainment, display boards, and refreshments!
CLC NEWS
Undecided calls:
Pastor Wayne Eichstadt, Spokane Valley, WA, to Eau Claire, WI
Pastor Frank Gantt, Atlanta, GA, to Mountain View, CA
Returned calls:
Teacher Amy Mielke, Eau Claire, WI, to Fond du Lac, WI
Principal/Teacher Brandan Heinze, to Mankato, MN
(He is leaving teaching and is returning to secular work.)
GOINGS ON AT IMMANUEL CAMPUS IN CONNECTION WITH VISITORS’ DAY Immanuel Lutheran High School in Eau Claire, WI will host their annual High School Visitors Day on Friday, May 2, 2025 for students grades 7 and up. A schedule of events and online registration can be found at www.ilc.edu. A theater performance of The Worst High School Play in the World will take place on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm. Friday night’s play performance will be livestreamed on Youtube with an unlisted link that will be shared via email. The Immanuel Band will perform before the play on Friday at 7:00 pm, and student talent performances will take place Saturday at 7:00 pm. Performances are free and open to the public. For more information please contact Prof. Joel Gullerud (joel.gullerud@ilc.edu 715-544-8446).
ILC FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT Updated reports, pictures, drawings, etc. (also accessed by QR codes) are available via the posters in the entry ways at Zion and Trinity. You can also go directly to the web site – https://fep.ilc.edu
PASTOR ANDREW SCHALLER RECOVERY The following has come across e-mail... Brothers in Christ, Since a number of you have asked for an update, here it is. On Saturday night (4/5) I had chills and then fever. I did the service without contact and went home and slept Sunday and then Monday. On Tuesday (4/8) I called the doctor who sent me for labs and then prescribed antibiotics. When he saw my results he sent me to the ER and then to the ICU with an abdominal infection of an unknown variety.
On Saturday (4/12) I was released from the hospital. It will take some time to regain my strength and stamina. A few hours in the office can be exhausting. My health improves each day and my strength is slowly returning. It turns out that the infection was Ecoli... It seems unlikely that I picked up the Ecoli on the trip to Uganda back in February.
The infection was extensive enough that it affected my heart. When combined with dehydration it resulted in a resting heart rate of 160-180 bpm. Follow up echocardiogram, EKG, CT and who knows what all tests have determined that the heart is strong. I will still be on antibiotics for 4-6 weeks... I've been declared a diabetic (Type 2).
Thank you for your prayers. ... It was far worse than I knew...thankful to return to the service of Him who suffered far worse to redeem me from something far worse.
UPDATE ON PASTOR JOHN HEIN’S CANCER BATTLE Janelle Hein posted the following on caringbridge.org on Thursday, April 17...
John received two units of blood today to hopefully help with his critically low hemoglobin, which was only 6.9 on Monday. He has been extremely fatigued, short of breath, and has had some confusion. All of this in addition to the mouth sores that he is now struggling with. We were able to get a prescription for a mouth rinse that helps somewhat, but eating and talking are so painful. His hands are a little less swollen so he has been able to feed himself again, but his feet remain very swollen.
As of this writing, we have not yet seen any improvement, but I did read that it can take up to 24 hours after the transfusion, so we will be patient. John will go in for labs tomorrow morning (Friday) to check his numbers.
It seems like lately these posts have all been so negative. Please know that we are not despairing, but we do know that people want to know how John is doing. As we go through these tough times, we know it's because we live in a sin-filled world. How thankful we are for the message we read in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life."
CONCLUSION OF PAULA NAUMANN’S TANZANIA MARCH JOURNAL Recently, someone greeted us by asking, “Mzima?” We are often greeted with words we don’t know and can’t figure out, but since Lori is our next door neighbor, we questioned her closely to make sure we had the correct word, so we could research it later. The literal translation is “Are you whole?”; the meaning is “Are you well?” The expected answer is also “Mzima” or “Mimi ni mzima,” which means “I am well.” And had we known the correct words, we could have honestly given that answer. I had a minor cold and sore throat this month, which was a reminder that we have both been VERY healthy the whole time we have been here. We’re very thankful to God for that. There is medical care available here, of course, but we’re happy not to have firsthand experience with it yet. We are blessed.
CLC MISSIONS/MISSIONARIES ONLINE INFORMATION
To keep up on our CLC missionaries, and to learn more of our overseas brethren, go to lutheranmissions.org Scroll down and click on the photos of the individual missionaries to access their blog, photos, video, etc.