Easter Bells

Opening Prayer

Praise be to you, O God of resurrection, for you have defeated the powers of sin and death. In resurrecting Christ Jesus, you displayed your holy power and transformed all of creation. In your steadfast love, you have redeemed us once and for all. Where we once saw pain, scarcity, and despair, we now see wholeness, abundance, and hope. Holy Spirit, inspire us to live as your new creation, working to make things on earth as they are in heaven. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     Ring the Easter Bells     Joseph Martin

Call To Worship 1

ONE: Christ is Risen!

ALL: Christ is Risen Indeed!

ONE: On this day we celebrate resurrection.

ALL: The power of life has overcome the power of death.

ONE: The light of love has shattered the darkness of fear.

ALL: The way of peace has prevailed against the violence of empire.

ONE: Hallelujah!

ALL: We come to worship the God whose resurrection power lives on in the Christ we serve. Let us worship God!

Hymn 245   Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Prayer of Confession 2

ONE: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, not even death. Trusting in this Good News, let us turn to God to honestly confess our sins.

ALL: You call us to hope, Savior God, but we despair. You call us to work for peace, but we doubt its power. You call us to community, but we judge and shun. Transform us, Holy One, by the joy of this Easter. Let us celebrate this day as a new beginning and a new life. Amen.    

Assurance of Pardon 2

ONE: Christ conquered death to restore us to life. Believe this good news. Live this resurrection. Hope in God's promise because we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 591

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Halle, halle, hallelujah!

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25; John 20:1-18

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    O Praise the Living King!     Lloyd Larson & Christopher Wordsworth

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 246  Christ is Alive!

Invitation to the Offering

In a difficult economic climate, fear is the greatest obstacle to generosity: fear that there isn't enough to go around; that if we give away what we have, we won't be able to take care of our own needs. Fear is like a big stone standing between us and the experience of the resurrection miracle. So “who will roll away the stone?” We will, through the gifts we now give.

Offertory     Glorious Day     Michael Bleeker and Mark Hall

Prayer of Dedication

Eternal God, take and use these gifts for your purpose in the world—giving food to the hungry, hope to the despairing, and new life to the dead. Teach us to live each day for you, so that future generations will know your goodness and praise your glory; in the name of Christ our Lord. 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 238   Thine is the Glory

Pastoral Prayer 3

May God, who comes to us in the things of this world,

bless your eyes and be in your seeing.

May Christ, who looks upon you with deepest love,

bless your eyes and widen your gaze.

May the Spirit, who perceives what is and what may yet be,

bless your eyes and sharpen your vision.

May the Sacred Three bless your eyes and cause you to see.

Community 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 - Hymn 236        The Strife is O'er

1 Joanna Harader, Spacious Faith (adapted)

2 Presbyterian Outlook

3 Jan L. Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women - Painted Prayerbook

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Spirit of God, enlighten our hearts to the reality of divine presence in our midst. Let our worship be pleasing in your sight, so that our gathering is an experience of deep communion with you and one another. In the name of Jesus Christ, this is our prayer. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     Ring the Easter Bells     Joseph Martin

Call To Worship 1

God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of God's own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Let us worship God!

Hymn 630    Fairest Lord Jesus

Prayer of Confession 2

ONE: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, not even death. Trusting in this Good News, let us turn to God to honestly confess our sins.

ALL: You call us to hope, Savior God, but we despair. You call us to work for peace, but we doubt its power. You call us to community, but we judge and shun. Transform us, Holy One, by the joy of this Easter. Let us celebrate this day as a new beginning and a new life. Amen.    

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.

Assurance of Pardon 2

ONE: Christ conquered death to restore us to life. Believe this good news. Live this resurrection. Hope in God's promise because we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 591

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Halle, halle, hallelujah!

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Scripture: Acts 5:27-32

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Hold Us Together     H.E.R. and Tauren Wells

Sermon     Change the Atmosphere!      Rev. Don Mulford

Hymn 475  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Invitation to the Offering 3

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, and in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit! God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     Glorious Day     Michael Bleeker and Mark Hall

Prayer of Dedication 3

Holy One, whose heart abounds with gifts, receive this offering as a sign of our intention to live surrounded by your mercy, inspired by your Spirit, open to the joy of your presence, hospitable to one another, and generous toward your 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 766   The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound

Pastoral Blessing

Community 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        Nobody     Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, and Matthew West

1 Norman D. Yeater, Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren

2 Presbyterian Outlook

3 Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi, “Touch of Holiness”

Easter Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Holy God, Creator of all, the risen Christ taught from scripture of his death, resurrection, and ascension into your glorious presence. May the living Lord breathe on us his peace, that our eyes may be opened to recognize him in breaking bread, and to follow wherever he leads. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     Here I Am, Lord     Daniel L. Schutte

Call To Worship 2

We come before you, O God, in Easter joy, seeking to be a people of the resurrection. Be known among us; grant us the assurance of your presence, your love, and your renewing power. Through your Word and Spirit, grant us hearts of expectation as we worship you today. Let us worship God!  

Hymn 305    Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!

Prayer of Confession 2

ONE: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, not even death. Trusting in this Good News, let us turn to God to honestly confess our sins.

ALL: You call us to hope, Savior God, but we despair. You call us to work for peace, but we doubt its power. You call us to community, but we judge and shun. Transform us, Holy One, by the joy of this Easter. Let us celebrate this day as a new beginning and a new life. Amen.    

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.

Assurance of Pardon 3

ONE: Christ conquered death to restore us to life. Believe this good news. Live this resurrection. Hope in God's promise because we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 591

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Halle, halle, hallelujah!

Halle, halle, hallelujah!;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Living Hope     Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 320  The Church of Christ in Every Age

Invitation to the Offering 2

God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, and in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit! God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory     We Gather at Your Table, Lord     Walter Ehret

Prayer of Dedication 2

Holy One, whose heart abounds with gifts, receive this offering as a sign of our intention to live surrounded by your mercy, inspired by your Spirit, open to the joy of your presence, hospitable to one another, and generous toward your world. Amen.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 4

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.

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.

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 697     Take My Life

Community 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        Medley of the Cross     Arr. Page & Shafferman

1 Book of Common Worship, Daily Prayer

2 Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi, “Touch of Holiness”

3 Presbyterian Outlook, April 2025

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