Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
GATHERING MUSIC
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain”
~ Arthur S. Sullivan, arr. Edward Broughton
“Resurrection Morn”
~ Edward F. Johnston
PRELUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Easter Carillon”
~ Sarah Douglas
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Pastor Jeffrey
THE SACRAMENT OF SILENCEINTROIT
Chancel Choir
“Alleluia, Christ Is Risen!”
~ music & words, Jay Althouse & Christopher Wordsworth
“Alleluia, Christ is risen!
We rejoice this day of days.
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Sing to God a song of praise.”
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Jeffrey
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Christina Capps
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)
Christina Capps
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 #302
CHILDREN DEPART FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
Parents are invited to accompany their children to Sunday School, sign them in, and return to the sanctuary for worship. After the worship service, parents are asked to return to the classroom and sign their children out.
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Christina Capps
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
Christina Capps
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
HYMN
“Easter People, Raise Your Voices” ~ UMH #304
ANTHEM
Chancel Choir
“Alleluia”
~ words & music, Andrew Miller
“Alleluia.
Lift your voice to the Lord,
Give your thanks, give your praise
All glory and honor are yours forevermore!
Alleluia.”
JOYS AND CONCERNS / THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor Jeffrey
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Christina Capps
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
“Thine is the Glory” from “Maccabeus”
~ George Frideric Handel, arr. David Paxton
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH 95
ANTHEM
Chancel Choir
“An Easter Fanfare”
~ words, Don Besig & Nancy Price; music, Don Besig
“People of God, rejoice and sing,
Lift up your voices and let them ring.
Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia!
He is risen our Savior and King!
“People of God, rejoice and believe,
This is the day He sets us free.
Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia!
Jesus, the Savior is risen indeed!
“The strife is o’er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
“People of God, rejoice in praise,
We have His Son to show us the way.
Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia!
Jesus, our Savior is risen today!”
SCRIPTURE READING
Christina Capps
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
*HYMN
“Hallelujah Chorus” from “Messiah”
~ George Frideric Handel
*BENEDICTION
Pastor Jeffrey
POSTLUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Toccata on ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’ “
~ arr. Joyce Jones
- Stand as you are able