THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
GATHERING MUSIC / PRELUDE
Brass
“Were You There?”
~ arr. David Herberg
ORGAN PRELUDE
Joyce Rhodes
“O Sons and Daughters of the Lord” – tune – “O Filii”
~ arr. Felix Alexandre Guilmant
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Pastor Jeffrey
OPENING FANFARE AND CHORAL INTROIT
Chancel Choir and Brass“Easter Fanfare”
~ Paul Fetler
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Jeffrey D. Hall
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Reese Reynolds
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: Remember the good news Jesus promised.
P: We will not be left alone.
L: Death cannot contain the purposes of God.
P: We will rise and live with this hope.
L: Tears and weeping will be no more.
P: We will know joy and laughter again.
L: Rejoice for Christ is risen.
P: Christ is risen indeed!*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Reese Reynolds
Risen Christ, Lord of life, breathe new life into us this day. Inspire us with confidence and open our hearts anew to receive your promise of resurrection. Speak to us once more, that we might hear your voice and recognize your presence in our midst. From the darkness of doubt, guide us into the glorious light of faith and love. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
*HYMN
“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” ~ UMH #302THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Reece Reynolds
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Reece Reynolds
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.*HYMN
“Easter People, Raise Your Voices” ~ UMH #304
JOYS AND CONCERNS / THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor Jeffrey
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Reece Reynolds
We are witnesses to the power of the Holy Spirit and the glory of God, and now we turn in thanksgiving to share the good news of love and grace to all the world. Let these, our gifts, be a living testimony to the power of Christ’s resurrection.
OFFERTORY
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“The Strife Is O’er” – tune – “Victory”
~ arr. Wilbur Held
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH #95
ANTHEM
Chancel Choir and Brass
“Sing the Resurrection Song”
~ Allen Pote
SCRIPTURE READING
Reece Reynolds
John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen. SERMON
Pastor Jeffrey
Christ Is Risen!
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
*CLOSING HYMN
Chancel Choir with Brass
“Hallelujah”
~ G.F. Handel
(Members of the congregation are invited to the chancel to sing.)
*BENEDICTION
Pastor Jeffrey
CHORAL BENEDICTION
Chancel Choir
Choral Closing
~ David Kidwell
POSTLUDE
Brass
“This Is the Glory “
~ G. F. Handel
- Stand as you are able