250420-Worship Bulletin

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship

Minister: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Minister: This is the good news: the grave is empty.

People: Alleluia!

Minister: This is the good news: the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never put it out.

People: Alleluia!

Minister: This is the good news: once we were not a people; now we are God’s people.

People: Alleluia!

Minister: This is the good news: Christ is our peace, the indestructible peace we share with God and each other.

Unison: Come, let us adore Him! Alleluia!

*Hymn of Proclamation: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” (No. 277)

1 "Christ the Lord is ris'n today," Alleluia!
sons of men and angels say; Alleluia!
raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!
Sing ye heav'ns, and earth, reply. Alleluia!

2 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell: Alleluia!
death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

3 Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!
where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

4 Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
foll'wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!
made like him, like him we rise: Alleluia!
ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

5 Hail, the Lord of earth and heav'n! Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be giv'n; Alleluia!
thee we greet triumphant now; Alleluia!
hail, the Resurrection, thou! Alleluia!

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Almighty God: Great was the joy in Israel when Egypt died upon the shore; but far greater is our joy since the Redeemer’s foe lies crushed in the dust! O, Jesus, you stride forth as the victor; conqueror of the grave, hell and all opposing might. You burst the bands of death, trampled the powers of darkness down, and now live forever. Give me the assurance that in You I died, in you I rose, in your life I live, in your victory I triumph, in your ascension I shall reign, in your glory I shall be glorified, all to the praise of your glorious grace. Amen.
~from Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed

Unison: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Praise be to God!

*Gloria (Tune: “Maccabaeus”)

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;
endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen conqu'ring Son;
endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9

*Hymn of Response: “Up from the Grace He Arose” (No. 276)

1 Low in the grave he lay–
Jesus, my Savior,
waiting the coming day–
Jesus, my Lord.

Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose,
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2 Vainly they watch his bed–
Jesus, my Savior;
vainly they seal the dead–
Jesus, my Lord. [Refrain]

3 Death cannot keep his prey–
Jesus, my Savior;
he tore the bars away–
Jesus, my Lord. [Refrain]

A Litany for Easter

Minister: In the peace of the risen Christ, we pray to you, our Father: that our risen Savior may grant us victory over all our enemies, seen and unseen.

People: That He may crush beneath our feet the prince of darkness and his power.

Minister: That He may raise us up and seat us with Himself in heaven.

People: That He may fill us with the joy of His holy and life-giving resurrection.

Minister: That He may, through us, provide for those who lack food, work, and shelter.

People: That isolated and persecuted churches might find fresh strength in the Paschal mystery.

Unison: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34)

Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

*Hymn of Praise: “In Christ Alone” (SH 9)

1 In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2 In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

3There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

Offertory: “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” (Youth Choir)

*Doxology (Tune: “Old Hundredth”)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Amen!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of the Holy Scriptures: Luke 24:1-12

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “He Is Not Here, But Has Risen” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “Resurrection Hymn” (SH 13)

1 See what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes
Tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives,
Christ is risen from the dead!

2 See Mary weeping: ‘Where is He laid?
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name:
It’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope,
Bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

3 One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit
Who clothes faith with certainty,
Honour and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned
With power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

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*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.