Easter Bells

Opening Prayer  1

Living God, on the first day of the week you brought to birth a new creation through the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Fill us with the hope and joy of new beginnings, so that we may share the good news of your liberating, life-giving power with all the world; through Christ our Savior, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and always. Amen.

Welcome

Introit       Easter Morning     Paul Christiansen

Call To Worship

ONE: Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life.

ALL: Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,

ONE: and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

ALL: Christ is risen! We have seen the glory of God.

Hymn 245   Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!

Prayer of Confession

ONE: Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb we don't always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of your love. Forgive our distrust of your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of your name.

ONE:      Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

   (silence)

    ONE: Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 2

ONE: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is arisen.

Bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Scripture: John 20:1-18

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Two Carols for Easter Season  arr. Alice Parker, Robert Shaw

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 681        This is the Day the Lord Hath Made

Invitation to the Offering

We are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. On this joyous day let us reflect on the extraordinary gift of the Risen Christ. Let us continue our worship by offering our gifts to God.

Offertory     Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble     Martin Smith

Prayer of Dedication

Gracious God, we know that every good thing is a gift from you - the food we eat, the things we have, the time we spend, our whole lives. We give our lives back to you as a way of saying thank you - sharing money with those who are in need, giving food to those who are hungry, and spending our time to help others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 515   I Come With Joy

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     Living Hope     Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson

1 David Gambrell

2 Greg Scheer

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Holy One, on this Eastertide morning, we come to you, singing alleluias, celebrating new life all around us, not quite believing it all, but going along with it, just the same. We celebrate the doubters and questioners among us, who simply keep our faith real, who demand that we live our believing into faith that works towards justice and peace, and making sure that the hungry are nourished and loved. We celebrate the saints among us, whose courageous faith flies without a safety net, reminding us that true discipleship is risky and radical in the face of a world held hostage by greed, love of power, and denial. We are your Easter people, Holy One. Doubters, saints, sinners, questioners, spiritual and religious, who skip, run, and stumble on the journey. We pray that whoever we are this journey, that you might open our ears and eyes to your call, to be Your love, where ever we are. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

Welcome

Introit       River of Delight     Danny Daniels

Call To Worship 2

ONE: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

ALL:   Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

ONE: We have not seen the risen Christ,

ALL: But we see him in the lives of those transformed by grace.

ONE: We have not seen Jesus face-to-face,

ALL: But we have seen him in the faces of everyone whose love encourages us.

ONE: We have not touched the wounds from the cross,

ALL: But we have been called to bring healing to the scarred of the world.  Let us worship God together.

Hymn 276   Sing a New Song Unto the Lord

Prayer of Confession

ONE: Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb we don't always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of your love. Forgive our distrust of your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of your name.

ONE: Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

(silence)

ONE: Amen.

Words of Assurance

ONE: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness.

ALL: Thanks be to God!    

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is arisen, bright is the dawning of the Lord's day;

Alleluia! Christ is arisen, bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Scripture: John 20:19-31

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Remain in Me, I am the Vine     Curtis Stephan and Steve Angrisano

Sermon     "No Doubt"     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 257        The Risen Christ

Invitation to the Offering

We are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. On this joyous day let us reflect on the extraordinary gift of the Risen Christ. Let us continue our worship by offering our gifts to God.

Offertory     At the Table of the Lord     Jay Althouse

Prayer of Dedication

Gracious God, we know that every good thing is a gift from you - the food we eat, the things we have, the time we spend, our whole lives. We give our lives back to you as a way of saying thank you - sharing money with those who are in need, giving food to those who are hungry, and spending our time to help others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Welcome to the delight that is this table.  Our Lord's table.  Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity.  We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood.  Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.  

“This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him.  Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected.  Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

Preparation of the Table

ONE: The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

ONE: Lift up your hearts

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise

ONE: We give you thanks, O God, for making your love evident since the very beginning of time when you spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. A light which has nurtured generations of people, and plants and creatures, great and small. A light which also revealed the fear and powerlessness caused by corrupt and evil actions. And so you spoke the Word which would once and for all dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Through your love for the world the Word became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The angels caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and with all people to praise your holy name saying together:

ALL:     Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:      Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us. On that night when he gave himself up for us, as he sat at the table and broke bread with his friends, he said: 'Take and eat; this is my body which is broken for you. Remember me each time you do this.' After they had eaten, he took the cup, and said: 'Remember me as you drink from this, for it is my life, poured out for you—the beginning of a new relationship with God.'

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. May we be filled with your breath nourished by your food renewed by your living water and sustained by your love.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 263    All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     Medley of the Cross     Arr. Page & Shafferman

1 Rev Karla  RevGalBlogPals

2 Thom Schuman Lectionary Liturgies

3 Greg Scheer

4 Rev. Bob Gibson for the London Conference of the United Church of Canada

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

When we are blinded by anger, you pour out your love for all to see; when we wonder what tomorrow will bring, you call us to trust in you; when sadness fills our lives, you plant gladness in our hearts. God of Easter: touch us with your grace. You show us your hands, so we may reach out to mend the broken; you show us your feet, so we may walk with those the world passes by; you show us your face, so we may know what our sisters and brothers look like. Risen Christ: touch us with your compassion. You open our eyes, so we may see God's love; you open our minds, so we may welcome God's Word; you open our lips, so we may be God's witnesses. Spirit of Hope: touch us with your peace. God in Community, Holy in One, open us to your presence. Amen.

Welcome

Introit      Spring Morning/Alleluia     Czech Folk Song/W.A.Mozart, Arr. Wilson/Reddell-Popovich

Call To Worship 2

We are witnesses, to the love God has poured into us. We are witnesses of God's love, sharing it with each person we meet. We are witnesses to everyone we encounter, little children like us, sisters and brothers in God's family.  

Hymn 702     Christ Be Beside Me

Prayer of Confession

ONE: Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb we don't always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of your love. Forgive our distrust of your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of your name.

ONE: Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

(silence)

ONE: Amen.

Words of Assurance 3

ONE: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness.

ALL: Thanks be to God!    

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Scripture: Luke 24:36b-48

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    I Can Trust Him     Lindsey & Haun, Arr. Hamby

Sermon     "Continuation"     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 258        A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

Invitation to the Offering 4

Generous God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have shown us what it means to love. And you call us to follow your example - to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts. Give us an unwavering passion for justice, and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome. Amen.

Offertory     Your Grace Is Enough     Chris Tomlin

Prayer of Dedication  5

Gracious God, we know that every good thing is a gift from you - the food we eat, the things we have, the time we spend, our whole lives. We give our lives back to you as a way of saying thank you - sharing money with those who are in need, giving food to those who are hungry, and spending our time to help others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 366    Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     Testify to Love     Paul Field, Henk Pool, Ralph Van Manen, Robert Riekerk

1 Thom Schuman Lectionary Liturgies

2 Thom Schuman, LiturgyLink

3 Greg Scheer

4 Christine Longhurst, Hunger for Justice: World Food Day 2016

5 Katherine Hawker, Liturgy Outside

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Loving Shepherd, you know our names; you care for us. When we face darkness and death, walk beside us. When we hunger for your love, fill us with your presence. When we are fearful, feed us at your table. May we dwell in the house of goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Amen.

Welcome

Introit      Above All     Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche

Call To Worship 2

ONE: Our Lord is the Good Shepherd. In his goodness he supplies our every need.

ALL: The Lord is our Shepherd, and he takes perfect care of us.

ONE: Our Lord is the Good Shepherd. He leads us into safety and gives us strength for the journey.

ALL: The Lord is our Shepherd, who grants us rest and restores our souls.

ONE: Our Lord is the Good Shepherd. He sought us out when we were lost, calling us by our names.

ALL: The Lord is our Shepherd, and he has carried us home. Let us worship God.

Hymn 803     My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

Prayer of Confession

Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Creator God, we confess that at times we are skeptics. At times we doubt that You exist because of the evil we have seen in the world. Oppression, marginalization, and plain hate still plague our world, and it is hard to see Your love and light. Sometimes, even those who bear Your name do not walk in Your ways. Help us to see Your goodness in this world. Help us to know Your love. Fill us with Your love and goodness, so that we might love one another, and lift up one another in faith.

ONE: Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

(silence)

ONE: Amen.

Words of Assurance 3

ONE: Know that you do not wait alone.

ALL: God has given us one another for this journey of faith, to help one another.

ONE: Know that you do not wait alone;

ALL: Christ is with us.

ONE: Be encouraged, and encourage one another.

ALL: Let us go and share the Good News. Amen.  

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is Arisen

Alleluia! Christ is arisen.

Bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Scripture: Psalm 23

                  John 21:15-19

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    What A Friend     Matt Maher, Abbie Parker, Adam Palmer, Matthew Hein

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 43        You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord

Invitation to the Offering 4

The Shepherd cares for us, providing all that we need in abundance. The Shepherd calls us to love one another in truth and action. May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd's care. May our offerings show our willingness to love one another. Let us receive this morning's offerings.  

Offertory     Lord, I Stretch My Hands to You     Jay Althouse

Prayer of Dedication 5

God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways. Out of gratitude for your care, we bring our gifts before you. Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion.  We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 543   God, be the Love to Search and Keep Me

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     Jesus, Have Thine Own Way     Arr. Page & Shaffrerman

1 Mary Petrina Boyd Ministry Matters

2 Literature & Liturgy

3 Rev. Mindi Rev-o-lution

4 Christine Longhurst, Hunger for Justice: World Food Day 2016

5 Mary Petrina Boyd Ministry Matters

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Holy God, we come before your throne and admit that most of the time we are too busy singing and praying and feeling good and feeling bad and feeling so-so to stop and listen for your tiny, little whispers. In your word you paint for us a picture of full and abundant life, life that can only be had by drinking your living water, knowing you not as a title, but intimately, a mystery…We pray that our lives would be planted near you – that we would send our roots deep into your word and your life, that we would draw nourishment from you, and that with the life you give we would in turn provide shelter and comfort and blessing to whoever comes under our branches.

Welcome

Introit      Cantate Domino!     Mozart, Arr. Liebergen

Call To Worship 2

ONE: We are branches, rooted in the vine of Christ.

ALL: We come because we seek to abide in Christ.

ONE: The branches that remain on the vine bear much fruit.

ALL: We come because we long to be spiritually vibrant, alive, productive.

ONE: If we abide in Christ, then Christ's words will abide in us.

ALL: We come because we strive to be faithful disciples.

ONE: We gather for worship now to the glory of the One God: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.

ALL: May we grow wildly as God tends us lovingly. Let us worship God.

Hymn 395     Blessed Jesus, at Your Word

Prayer of Confession

ONE: Jesus said: I am the vine, you are the branches. Let us pray.

We thank you, gracious God, for Jesus Christ the true vine, with his roots eternally grounded in you. We rejoice that by grace we have been grafted into him, to be branches on a vine which bears the loveliest of all the fruits of earth. Yet we confess that all is not well with the way we live.

Please forgive us for the occasions when we have been the ones to introduce disease into the vine, preferring its contamination to the vigour of health. Forgive us for neglecting to draw deeply on the sap of Life, for our tendency to wander instead of growing on the framework your provide, for being content, and sometimes even proud of, a few sparse or undersized fruits, for the apathy which lets us to go through some seasons without bearing any fruit.

Have mercy on us. Please do not lose patience or sever us completely from the true vine. Rather heal our diseases, discipline and train our wandering tendrils, prune our unfruitful branches and cut away our diseased ones. May we remain in Christ and he in us, through all the changing seasons of life. Let us delight in bearing the fruits of love which are our true purpose and joy. For your Name's sake.

ALL: Amen!

Words of Assurance 3

ONE: Jesus said: “If you reside in me, and my words reside in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” Friends, we have asked for forgiveness and correction. It has been truly done for us. It is being done for us. And it will be done for us.

ALL: Thanks be to God!     

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is Arisen

Alleluia! Christ is arisen.

Bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Scripture: John 15:1-8

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Come Alive     Craig Bray

Sermon     "Branches, Meet Vine"     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 761     Called as Partners in Christ's Service

Invitation to the Offering 4

May the offerings brought this day be used as seeds, planted faithfully and nurtured lovingly so that God's way may be realized anew in this world. Grant us the humility we need to plant and then tend your precious garden. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     Adoramus te Christe/Christ, We Do All Adore You     Dubois, Arr. NAM/Hopson

Prayer of Dedication 5

O God, Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. In this hour, we come bringing our treasures - all that we have and all that we are. We come seeking your treasure - treasure that does not fade, decay, or disappoint. Share with us the treasure of heaven, that we may boldly share it with others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 733    We All Are One in Mission

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     What A Friend     Matt Maher, Abbie Parker, Adam Palmer, Matthew Hein

1 Jeff's Blog

2 Joanna Harader (2011) Spacious Faith

3 Bruce Prewer

4 Katherine Hawker, Liturgy Outside

5 Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, PC(USA) pastor and liturgical scholar bjhlog

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

We, who so often take the wonders of creation for granted, welcome the opportunity to make a joyful noise before you, O God. We come here this morning to worship and to praise you, glad that we live in this country filled with such diverse and beautiful examples of your creation. Yet, joyful noises are not easy for everyone to make, as we come from differing situations and lifestyles. Some are burdened down with the stresses of daily living and all that involves; some wearied from tasks of serving others; some worried over the state of the world and where that is all leading. Speak to us all, O God, in the stillness of this time and remind us of Jesus' willingness to take our burdens upon himself and to learn from him - to experience his gentleness and steadfast love for all. Jesus also offers us his joy so that our joy might be complete. Confident in these promises, we offer this time of worship to you, O God, praying that it may reflect our praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of creation and for all that Jesus has done for us. This we pray in his name. Amen

Welcome

Introit      Lamb of God    Twila Paris, Arr. Larson

Call To Worship 2

ONE: The Spirit is coming to bless us all with a new song:

ALL: Let our joy be complete!

ONE: Gifts for the good of all, poured out on all to teach us a new song:

ALL: Love one another!

ONE: Strangers and neighbors, foreigners and family will join in the new song:

ALL: No longer servants but friends!

ONE: Come, let our worship make a joyful noise,

All: Rejoicing in the friendship of God.

Hymn 638     O Come and Sing Unto the Lord

Prayer of Confession

ONE: Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb we don't always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of your love. Forgive our distrust of your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of your name.

ONE: Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

ALL: Amen.

Words of Assurance 3

ONE: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness.

ALL: Thanks be to God!     

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is Arisen

Alleluia! Christ is arisen.

Bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Scripture: John 15:9-17

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)     Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 816     If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee

Invitation to the Offering

We are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. On this joyous day let us reflect on the extraordinary gift of the Risen Christ. Let us continue our worship by offering our gifts to God.

Offertory     In Remembrance     Courtney/Red, Arr. Larson

Prayer of Dedication

Gracious God, we know that every good thing is a gift from you - the food we eat, the things we have, the time we spend, our whole lives. We give our lives back to you as a way of saying thank you - sharing money with those who are in need, giving food to those who are hungry, and spending our time to help others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 6

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

LEADER: The Lord be with you

PEOPLE: And also with you

LEADER: Lift up your hearts

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

LEADER: Let us pray.  We give you thanks, O God, for making your love evident since the very beginning of time when you spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. A light which has nurtured generations of people, and plants and creatures, great and small. A light which also revealed the fear and powerlessness caused by corrupt and evil actions. And so you spoke the Word which would once and for all dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Through your love for the world the Word became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The angels caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and with all people to praise your holy name saying together:

ALL:  Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:  Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us.

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. May we be filled with your breath nourished by your food renewed by your living water and sustained by your love.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 372    O For a World

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Announcements

Postlude     Word of God Speak      Bart Millard and Pete Kipley

1 Moira Laidlaw, Liturgies Online

2 Friends of God: Service Prayers for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Rev. Susan A. Blain

3 Greg Scheer

4 Rev. Bob Gibson London Conference of the United Church of Canada

“May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

We, who so often take the wonders of creation for granted, welcome the opportunity to make a joyful noise before you, O God. We come here this morning to worship and to praise you, glad that we live in this country filled with such diverse and beautiful examples of your creation. Yet, joyful noises are not easy for everyone to make, as we come from differing situations and lifestyles. Some are burdened down with the stresses of daily living and all that involves; some wearied from tasks of serving others; some worried over the state of the world and where that is all leading. Speak to us all, O God, in the stillness of this time and remind us of Jesus' willingness to take our burdens upon himself and to learn from him - to experience his gentleness and steadfast love for all. Jesus also offers us his joy so that our joy might be complete. Confident in these promises, we offer this time of worship to you, O God, praying that it may reflect our praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of creation and for all that Jesus has done for us. This we pray in his name. Amen

Welcome

Introit      Lamb of God    Twila Paris, Arr. Larson

Call To Worship 2

ONE: A new day has begun.

ALL: Hope wins!

ONE: A fresh start is granted.

ALL: Faith wins!

ONE: Today you have the opportunity to do something new.

ALL: Hope wins!

ONE: Christ is entering your life in a new way.

ALL: Faith wins!

ONE: Come, let us worship God, who is inviting us into life in a new way, a way that transcends death, a way of hope and faith.

ALL: Love wins! Let us worship Christ, who overcame death to give us new life!

Hymn 410     God is Calling

Prayer of Confession 3

ONE: On this day of Ascension, we celebrate that Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him.  Yet we must confess the ways we have forgotten just how wide you are able to open our hearts. Let us read together, this confession:

ALL: Risen and ascended Lord Jesus, when we are numbed by the suffering of the world, take us back to the deep truth of your power and glory, of your invincible Kingdom, of your promise of reconciliation. In the knowledge of this truth, help us to bring our gaze to earth and find the strength to go into the world, to do your will on earth as in heaven. To build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

ONE: Let us continue in silence, as we offer our private confessions to God.

ALL: Amen.

Words of Assurance

ONE: No longer looking to heaven, we are called by Christ to new life here on earth. Our sins are forgiven, our shortcomings are as nothing to God, who loves us always.

ALL: Thanks be to God!     

Response Hymn 240

Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 253

Alleluia! Christ is Arisen

Alleluia! Christ is arisen.

Bright is the dawning of the Lord's day.

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Build My Life     Brett Younger, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman, Pat Barrett

Sermon     "Unbelievable"     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 258     A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!

Invitation to the Offering 4

God, we often look at our humble offerings and we think they might not change the world today. But they help us remember. We remember that you are generous. We remember that when we give our money, time, skills and talents, we mean that we're giving ourselves. We remember that you working in us does change the world, letting your kingdom come on earth. Let us continue our worship by offering our gifts to God.

Offertory    Ave Maria     Gregorian, Arr. J. Reddell-Popovich

Prayer of Dedication  5

We give thanks to you, O God, for the promise of your abiding presence among us, and for your abundant life within and around us. As we offer our gifts to you, may they be made useful in this world, that your saving presence may be known among all people. Gracious God, we know that every good thing is a gift from you - the food we eat, the things we have, the time we spend, our whole lives. We give our lives back to you as a grateful response to your gifts. We share money with those who are in need, we give food to those who are hungry, and we give of our time in order to help others. We ask you to bless all of the gifts that we give, and bless what we keep, and fill us with joy as we discover ways to use our resources for your work in our world. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 727    Will You Let Me Be Your Servant

Pastoral Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude     Ascension Prayer     Thomas Keesecker

1 The Chapter of a Great Lord, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

2Rev. Mindi, Rev-o-lution

3 Monthly Prayers, Christian Aid

4 commonword.ca

5 https://ourlifeinliberty.wordpress.com/