I've had an Epiphany!

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-- only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Have you ever led a tour? Been respons...

This hymn is a Latin poem from the 15 th century and was written in the style of a folk carol with refrain. It was designated to be sung for the “Salut” (solemn salutation of the Blessed Sacrament) on the evening of Easter Day. The first translation of this hymn appeared in London in 1851. The hymn is basically a retelling of the Gospel account of Thomas and the disciples in the room when Jesus appeared to them first on Easter evening and then again a week later. The minister will speak the words of the Gospel account and you will respond by singing the stanzas of the hymn. M: The Holy Gospel according to St. John verses nineteen through thirty-one of the twentieth chapter. C: O sons and daughters of the King, Whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing, Today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!   M: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the J...

Luke 24:36-49 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them...

George R. Woodward was a translator and clergyman who lived from 1848-1934 and who compiled several collections of hymnody. It is an inspired Easter text that Woodward meant to be sung to “Vruechten,” a popular Dutch folk tune of the 17 th century. As an aside, this highlights the catholic (universal) nature of Christian hymnody and Lutheran worship. At Easter, we sing an 18 th century British hymn, set to a 17 th century Dutch secular tune, by 21 st century Christians living in Wisconsin in churches built in the 19 th and 20 th centuries. We will also listen to this hymn sung in a majestic, traditional style with pipe organ and brass by the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Choir and then by the WELS band, Koine. The hymn is based on 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul lays out for us in clear terms the Christian teaching on the resurrection. 1. Stanza 1 starts where 1 Corinthians 15 starts – with the Gospel. Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to...

1 Corinthians 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resur...