The authority of American Methodism
to teach, admonish and console is not derived
from a creed of polity formulated
in some ecclesiastical Jerusalem or sacerdotal Rome.
An itinerant Pentecost has burned
in our valleys and on our mountain sides,
along our frontiers, and in our cities,
bringing conversion and the commission to witness
simultaneously to all who accepted salvation.
The musty records of Councils,
embodying a theoretical orthodoxy,
have never been a procrustean conservator of its spiritual life;
but its spiritual life has conserved its orthodoxy, and that, too,
notwithstanding the untempered zeal and untutored condition
of many of its evangelists.
From the effective appeal to sanctified heroism
by lofty example came the development
and perpetuation of holy daring and conquering energy.
Its changing environment and its passion
for the largest usefulness account for its varying forms.

John Franklin Goucher
from an address delivered to
The Third Ecumenical Methodist Conference,
City Road Chapel, London, 1901

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Come, Holy Ghost”                                   Frater

Words of Welcome and Announcements (by the minister)

Choral Introit: “Spirit of God”                        Frederick Atkinson

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;

stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Call to Worship

Come, believers and faithful ones,

sing your alleluias to God!

Praise God, who invades us

with the rush of a mighty wind and fills us with fire.

Praise God, who out of life for all humanity

sent Jesus Christ to live among us.

Praise God whose Spirit is not hindered

by the barriers of this world,

but moves freely to offer community and hope.

Come Holy Spirit, dream dreams through us.

Imagine with us.

Breathe, oh breathe, your loving Spirit,

and empower us, and call us by name.

Hymn: No. 559,  “Christ the Sure Foundation” Westminster Abbey

Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone;

chosen of the Lord and precious,

binding all the church in one;

holy Zion’s help forever,

and her confidence alone.

To this temple, where we call thee,

come, O Lord of Hosts, today!

With thy faithful loving kindness

hear thy people as they pray,

and thy fullest benediction shed

within its walls always.

Here vouchsafe to all thy servants

what they ask of thee to gain;

what they gain from thee forever

with the blessed to retain,

and hereafter in thy glory

evermore with thee to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father,

laud and honor to the Son,

laud and honor to the Spirit,

ever three and ever one;

one in might and one in glory,

while unending ages run.

Morning Prayer

Gracious and loving God,

you created the ocean depths;

you made the mountains rise;

you spangled the sky with stars.

We praise your majestic power in all creation.

When the earth trembles

and our hearts shake with fear,

we look for a steady place to stand.

We yearn for your gentle power to come to us,

in ways that speak comfort and peace

to our very human hearts.

In the midst of all that changes,

we look for a love that endures.

Pour your holy power on each one here

in ways that reveal your quiet strength,

your hopeful presence,

your faithful love. Amen.

To Hear The Word

A Reading from the Letters to the Early Church: Acts 2:1-21

John Strawbridge is the reader.

When the day of Pentecost had come,

they were all together in one place.

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound

like the rush of a violent wind,

and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,

and a tongue rested on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in other languages,

as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews

from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.

And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered,

because each one heard them speaking

in the native languages of each.

Amazed and astonished, they asked,

“Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

And how is that we hear, each of us,

in our own native language?

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia,

Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya

belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

both Jews and proselytes,

Cretans and Arabs – in our own languages

we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,

“What does this mean?”

But others sneered and said,

“They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven,

raised his voice and addressed them,

“Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem,

let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose,

for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.

No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

shall be saved.’”

Act of Praise: pp. 826-827, Psalm 104 (with sung response)

Response: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,

who rules all creation.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

and cover yourself with light as with a garment,

you have stretched out the heavens like a tent,

and have laid the beams of your chambers on the waters;

you make the clouds your chariot,

and ride on the wings of the wind.

you make the winds your messengers,

fire and flame your ministers.

You set the earth on its foundations,

so that it should never be shaken.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

At your rebuke they fled;

at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys,

to the place which you appointed to them.

You set a bound which they should not pass,

so that they might not again cover the earth.

Response:

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

they flow between the hills;

they give drink to every beast of the field;

the wild asses quench their thirst.

Above the springs the birds of the air have their nests;

they sing among the branches.

From your lofty place you water the mountains;

with the fruit of your work the earth is satisfied.  Response:

O Lord, how manifold are your works!

In wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the sea, great and wide,

creeping things innumerable are there,

living things both small and great.

There go the ships,

and Leviathan whom you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,

to give them their food in due season.

When you give to them, they gather it;

when you open your hand, they are filled

with good things.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created;

and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure for ever,

may the Lord rejoice in his works,

who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to the Lord

in whom I rejoice.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord!         Response:

Musical Selection: “God of Grace and God of Glory”       Purifoy

God of grace and God of glory,

on Your people pour your power.

Crown your ancient church’s story,

bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

for the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us

scorn you Christ, assail His ways:

fears and doubts too long have bound us,

free our hearts to work and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

for the living of these days.

Set our feet on lofty places,

gird our lives that they may be

armored with all Christ-like graces

in the fight to set men free.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

for the facing of this hour.

A Reading from the Gospel: John 14:8-17

Philip said to him, “Lord show us the Father,

and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus said to him,

“Have I been with you all this time, Philip,

and you still do not know me?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father

and the Father is in me?

The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own;

but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and Father is in me;

but if you do not,

then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me

will also do the works that I do and,

in fact, will do greater works than these,

because I am going to the Father.

I will do whatever you ask my name,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

And I will ask the Father,

and he will give you another Advocate,

to be with you forever.

This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,

because it neither sees him nor knows him.

You know him, because he abides with you,

and he will be in you.

Sermon: “Spirit of Fire”                     Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 539, “O Spirit of the Living God”                       Forest Green

O Spirit of the living God,

thou light and fire divine,

descend upon thy church once more,

and make it truly thine.

Fill it with love and joy and power,

with righteousness and peace;

till Christ shall dwell in human hearts,

and sin and sorrow cease.

Blow, wind of God!

With wisdom blow until our minds are free

from mists of error, clouds of doubt,

which blind our eyes to thee.

Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips with

flaming love and zeal,

to preach to all thy great good news,

God’s glorious commonweal.

Teach us to utter living words

of truth which all may hear

the language all may understand

when love speaks loud and clear;

till every age and race and clime

shall blend their creeds in one,

and earth shall form one family

by whom thy will is done.

So shall we know the power of Christ

who came this world to save;

so shall we rise with him to life

which soars beyond the grave;

and earth shall win true holiness,

which makes thy children whole;

till, perfected by thee,

we reach creation’s glorious goal!

Litany of Pentecost

Come, Holy Spirit, Light of God, rest upon us;

lead us unto the Truth

that comes from God’s speaking.

We long for the resting of your Spirit upon us

then we may know the end and the why

of our being in God’s image.

Come, Holy Spirit, Love of God, rest upon us;

that we may not be strangers in the world of God’s hands.

Come, Holy Spirit, Grace of God, inflame our hearts

that we may be instruments of that divine love

which seeks out the poor and broken hearted.

Come, Holy Spirit, Power of God,

raise our spirits from the death into which we are born.

O Resurrection life of God,

empower us to walk in God’s way,

fearful of no person or dominion.

Feed us, O Spirit of God,

that we may bring good news to the poor,

that we may bind up the broken hearted,

that we may open prisons and comfort the mourning.

Come, Holy Spirit, bless us with what we cannot provide,

that our faint spirits may be revived with and in praise!

Offertory: “Listen, Sweet Dove”                              Grayston Ives

Listen, sweet dove, unto my song,

and spread Thy golden wings in me;

hatching my tender heart so long,

till it get wing and flie away with thee.

Such glorious gifts thou didst bestow,

the earth did like a heaven appeare,

the starres were coming down to know

if they might mend their wages and serve here.

The sunne which once did shine alone

hung down his head and wisht for night,

when he beheld twelve sunnes for one,

going and giving light.

Lord, though we change, Thou art the same,

the same sweet God of love and light:

restore this day for Thy great name

unto his ancient and miraculous right.

Presentation of Tithes with Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 547, “O Church of God, United”            Ellacombe

O church of God, united to serve one common Lord,

proclaim to all one message, with hearts in glad accord.

Christ ever goes before us; we follow day by day

with strong and eager footsteps along the upward way.

From every land and nation the ordered ranks appear;

to serve one valiant leader they come from far and near.

They chant their one confession,

they praise one living Lord,

and place their sure dependence upon his saving word.

Though creeds and tongues may differ,

they speak, O Christ, of thee;

and in thy loving spirit we shall one people be.

Lord, may our faithful service and singleness of aim

proclaim to all the power of thy redeeming name.

May thy great prayer be answered that we may all be one,

close bound, by love united in thee, God’s blessed Son:

to bring a single witness, to make the pathway bright,

that souls which grope in darkness

may find the one true light.

Dismissal with Blessing

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Choral Response: “To God, with the Lamb”

Christopher Smart, on Sacred Harp

To God, with the Lamb and the Dove,

all honor and praise we commend;

as is, was in truth and in love, and shall be, world without end.

Organ Postlude: “Ave Paracletum”                                      Nolan

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Ascendit in Coelo”                              Gregorian

Words of Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit: “Lift up Your Voice” John Goss

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.

Call to Worship

Clap your hands, all you people of God.

Sing praises to our Ruler, sing praises!

God reigns among us and far beyond us.

We celebrate the immeasurable greatness of God!

We are called to be witnessing people.

Testify then to God’s loving purpose in Jesus Christ.

This is the day for revelation and renewal.

We celebrate Christ’s resurrection and ascension.

Hymn: No. 154, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”  Coronation

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,

ye ransomed from the fall,

hail him who saves you by his grace,

and crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget

the wormwood and the gall,

go spread your trophies at his feet,

and crown him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball,

to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,

who from his altar call; extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod,

and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!

We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.

Morning Prayer

Glorious God of wonder and might,

you have spoken your eternal word in Jesus

whom you have given to teach, to suffer, to love,

and to rise with new life.

May we raise our sights

toward the ascended Christ and renew our hope

in the eventual triumph of righteousness and peace.

We plead for your justice and your salvation,

which you give so freely.

Stir us to action and faith by our confidence

that good will overcome evil

and that the gentle breath of your spirit

will blow away every cloud of doubt and despair.

Glory to you, O Christ;

you are our friend, our savior,

our only hope and sovereign.

Yours is the victory beyond every tragic defeat,

through time and past death.

Glory be to you forever! Amen.

To Hear the Word

A Reading from the Letters of the Early Church: Acts 11:1-11

Johnny Olszewski is the reader.

In the first book, Theophilus,

I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

until the day when he was taken up to heaven,

after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit

to the apostles when he had chosen.

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them

by many convincing proofs,

appearing to them during forty days

and speaking about the kingdom of God.

While staying with them,

he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem,

but to wait there for the promise of the Father.

“This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me;

for John baptized with water,

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit

not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him,

“Lord, is this the time

when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods

that the Father has set by his own authority.

But you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,

in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When he had said this, as they were watching,

he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven,

suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

They said, “Men of Galilee,

why do you stand looking up toward heaven?

This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven,

will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

An Act of Praise: p. 781, Psalm 47 (with sung response)

Denzel Enos is the reader and acolyte.

Response: Earth and heaven repeat the cry,

“Glory be to God on high.”

Clap your hands, all peoples!

Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,

a great Ruler over all earth,

who subdued peoples under us,

and nations under our feet,

who chose our heritage for us,

the pride of Jacob whom God loves.     Response:

God has gone up with a shout,

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises!

Sing praises to our Ruler, sing praises!

For God is the Ruler of all the earth;

sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;

God sits on his holy throne.

The princes of the people gather

as the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God,

who is highly exalted!          Response:

Anthem: “Praise to the Lord”                                Norman Gilbert

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work

and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath,

come now with praises before Him.

Let the Amen sound from His people again,

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:44-53

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you

while I was still with you -

that everything written about me in the law of Moses,

the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,

and he said to them, “Thus it is written,

that the Messiah is to suffer

and to rise from the dead on the third day,

and that repentance and forgiveness of sins

is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations,

beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses to these things.

And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised;

so stay here in the city

until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,

and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

While he was blessing them,

he withdrew from them and was carried up unto heaven.

And they worshiped him,

and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;

and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Sermon: “Everywhere Always”      Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 331, “Holy Spirit, Come Confirm Us”     For the Bread

Holy Spirit, come, confirm us

in the truth that Christ makes known;

we have faith and understanding

through your helping gifts alone.

Holy Spirit, come, console us,

come as advocate to plead;

loving Spirit from the Father,

grant in Christ the help we need.

Holy Spirit, come, renew us,

come yourself to make us live;

holy through your loving presence,

holy through the gifts you give.

Holy Spirit, come, possess us,

you the love of Three in One,

Holy Spirit of the Father,

Holy Spirit of the Son.

Affirmation of Faith:

We believe in a creating God

who calls us to costly love.

We believe in a caring Christ

whose example encourages us to risk ourselves

for the sake of the gospel.

We believe in a healing Holy Spirit

whose power enables us to share one another’s burdens.

We believe in a community called the church,

which is the physical presence of Christ in the world.

We believe in a redeeming gospel

that brings wholeness and healing to each child of God.

We believe in committing our lives

to freedom and justice and wholeness,

sharing our belief that the God who created us

calls us still.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself

in the service of love

as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord,

to the end that the kingdom of God

may come upon the earth. Amen.

Prayers of the Congregation with 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory: “When Morning Lights the Eastern Skies”      G Parker

When morning lights the eastern skies,

O Lord, Your mercy show;

On You alone my hope relies – let me Your kindness know.

Teach me the way that I should go; I lift my soul to You.

For refuge from my cruel foe to You, O Lord, I flee.

You are my God, to You I pray: teach me Your will to heed,

And in the right and perfect way may Your good Spirit lead.

For Your Name’s sake, O gracious Lord,

revive my soul and bless,

And in Your faithfulness and love redeem me from distress,

O gracious Lord.

Presentation of Offerings with the Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 451, “Be Thou My Vision” slane

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

waking or sleeping thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

thou and thou only, first in my heart,

still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Great God of heaven, my victory won,

may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Dismissal with Blessing

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Choral Response: “Iona Gloria”                                             Trad

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Organ Postlude: “Allegro Comodo”                                      Blake

We are that which we love.
Neither larger nor smaller
than the size of the objects of our desire.
And that is why Christians become known
by revealing to each other their dreams.
To dream is to see love and desires
transformed into symbols, words.
It should not be frightening, then,
that God, who is love, speaks to us through our dreams.
And may we, from our part, speak to God through prayer,
which is nothing more than the confession
of our dream of love before the altar.
—Rubem Alves
I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “All Greene and Faire”                Thomas Morley

Words of Welcome and Announcements (by the minister)

Choral Introit: “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”             Frederick Make

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen, our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead.

Call to Worship

We gather in the presence of God,

through whom all families on earth

receive their life and their name.

We wish to be strengthened in our inner selves,

that Christ may dwell in our hearts.

We seek to be rooted and grounded in God’s love

and in the love of Christ which surpasses understanding.

We come to worship and to praise

the source of love and peace.

Glory be to God in the church and in Jesus Christ

to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: No. 111, “How Can We Name a Love”            Terra Beata

How can we name a Love that wakens heart and mind,

in dwelling all we know or think or do or seek or find?

within our daily world, in every human face,

Love’s echoes sound and God is found,

hid in the commonplace.

If we awoke to life built on a rock of care

that asked no great reward but firm,

assured, was simply there,

we can, with parents’ names, describe, and thus adore, Love unconfined, a father kind, a mother strong and sure.

When people share a task, and strength and skills unite

in projects old or new, to make or do with shared delight,

our Friend and Partner’s will is better understood,

that all should share, create, and care,

and know that life is good.

So in a hundred names, each day we all can meet

a presence, sensed and shown at work,

at home, or in the street.

Yet every name we see, shines in a brighter sun:

In Christ alone is Love full grown and life and hope begun.

Morning Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you for your love and your grace

so abundant, so overflowing,

that you receive us in spite of our fear

and our timid lives of faith.

As you encouraged the first Christians

to witness in the face of all risks,

encourage us to meet the challenge you give.

You are comfort for the grieving, peace for the troubled,

so we turn to you.

Give us hearts to love and to risk as your disciples. Amen.

To Hear the Word

A Reading from the Letters of the Early Church: Acts 16:9-15

Aimee Delaney is the reader.

During the night Paul had a vision:

there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him

and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

When he had seen the vision,

we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia,

being convinced that God had called us

to proclaim the good news to them.

We set sail from Troas and took a straight course

to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,

and from there to Philippi,

which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia

and a Roman colony.

We remained in this city for some days.

On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river,

where we supposed there was a place of prayer;

and we sat down and spoke to the women

who had gathered there.

A certain woman named Lydia,

a worshiper of God, was listening to us;

she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth.

The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly

to what was said by Paul.

When she and her household were baptized, she urged us,

saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,

come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.

An Act of Praise: pp. 811-812, Psalm 92 (with sung response)

Quinn Gillison is the reader and acolyte.

Response: Sing praise to God our rock,

in whom we take our refuge.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night.

to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.    Response:

How great are your works, O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep!

The dull ones cannot know,

the foolish cannot understand this:

though the wicked sprout like grass

and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction forever,

but you, O Lord, are on high for ever.

For your enemies, O Lord,

for your enemies shall perish;

all evildoers shall be scattered.

But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;

you have poured over me fresh oil.

My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies,

my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.    Response:

The righteous flourish like the palm tree,

and grow like a cedar of Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord,

they flourish in the courts of our God.

They still bring forth fruit in old age,

they are ever full of sap and green

to show that the Lord is upright.

The Lord is my rock,

in whom there is no unrighteousness.     Response:

Anthem: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”             Lani Smith

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

There on the cross was the sacrifice made;

there in the tomb was my Lord’s body laid;

there in this Act was the hand of Death stayed

by love so amazing, so divine.

Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

A Reading from the Gospels: John 14:23-29

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word,

and my Father will love them, and we will come to them

and make our home with them.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;

and the word that you hear is not mine,

but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you everything, and remind you

of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled,

and do not let them be afraid.

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away,

and I am coming to you.’

If you loved me, you would rejoice

that I am going to the Father,

because the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it occurs,

so that when it does occur, you may believe.”

Sermon: “And Another Thing”       Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 618, “Let Us Break Bread”   Afro-American spiritual

Let us break bread together on our knees.

Let us break bread together on our knees.

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees.

Let us drink wine together on our knees.

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees.

Let us praise God together on our knees.

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees.

Let us praise God together on our knees,

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Offertory: “One Bread, One Body”                               John Foley

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,

one cup of blessing which we bless.

And we, though many throughout the earth,

we are one body in this One Lord.

Gentile or Jew, servant or free,

woman or man, no more.

Many the gifts, many the works

one in the Lord of All.

Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,

gathered in One, for All.

Presentation of Offerings with the Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

To Receive the Sacrament

The Great Thanksgiving: pp 17-18 (with Musical Setting A)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,

always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image

and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed,

your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity,

made covenant to be our sovereign God,

brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey,

and set before us the way of life.

And so, with your people on earth

and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

By the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection,

you gave birth to your Church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

By your great mercy we have been born anew

to a living hope

through the resurrection of your Son from the dead

and to an inheritance that is imperishable,

undefiled, and unfading.

Once we were no people, but now we are your people,

declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ,

who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

When the Lord Jesus ascended,

he promised to be with us always,

in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us,

he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,

gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Drink from this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as your drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead

he was recognized by his disciples

in the breaking of the bread,

and in the power of your Holy Spirit

your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread

and the sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts

in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ’s offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,

that we may be for the world the body of Christ,

redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other, and one is ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory,

and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,

all honor and glory is yours,

almighty God, now and forever.

Amen.

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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Receiving the Bread and Wine

Communion will be administered by intinction,

or the dipping of the bread in the chalice.

Prayer Following the Receiving of Communion

O Risen Christ:

we are grateful that you walk among us on earth,

bringing life and hope.

Help us to be aware of your presence

in our time of worship,

especially in the breaking of bread and taking of the cup.

Enable us to stand alongside you

in your ministry of healing

on the crowded roads of our world,

through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 139, “Praise to the Lord”                    lobe den herren

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near!

join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord,

who o’er all things so wondrously reigning

bears thee on eagle’s wings,

e’er in his keeping maintaining.

God’s care enfolds all, whose true good he upholds.

Hast thou not known his sustaining?

Praise to the Lord

who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord,

who doth nourish thy life and restore thee;

fitting thee well for the tasks that are ever before thee.

Then to thy need God as a mother doth speed,

spreading the wings of grace o’er thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that hath life and breath,

come now with praises before him!

Let the amen sound from his people again;

gladly forever adore him.

Dismissal with Blessing

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen From The Dead”

Round for Eastertide, arr. WSM

Organ Postlude: “Recessional in A”                                     Blake

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Quem quaeritis?”                               Gregorian

Words of Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit: “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”           Frederick Maker

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen, our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead.

Call to Worship

We come to praise your name, Shepherd of our souls!

From your hand we have received life’s treasures;

you have given us rest in our toughest times,

renewal when life has brought us low.

You give us guidance when life is confusing,

and show us the way we should go.

Your goodness and mercy shall surround our days,

and our spirits are yours forever and ever!  Amen!

Hymn: No. 89, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”       Ode to Joy

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;

hearts unfold like flowers before thee,

opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

drive the dark of doubt away.

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All thy works with joy surround thee,

earth and heaven reflect thy rays,

stars and angels sing around thee,

center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

flowery meadow, flashing sea,

chanting bird and flowing fountain,

call us to rejoice in thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,

well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our brother,

all who live in love are thine;

teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus

which the morning stars began;

love divine is reigning o’er us, binding all within its span.

Ever singing, march we onward,

victors in the midst of strife;

joyful music leads us sunward, in the triumph song of life.

Morning Prayer

O God, in mystery and silence

you are present in our lives,

bringing new life out of destruction,

hope out of despair, growth out of difficulty.

We thank you that you do not leave us alone

but labor to make us whole.

Help us to perceive your unseen hand

in the unfolding of our lives,

and to attend to the gentle guidance of your Spirit,

that we may know the joy you give your people. Amen.

To Hear The Word

A Reading from the Letters to the Early Church: Acts 11:1–18

Sefi Abedoh is the reader.

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea

heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem,

the circumcised believers criticized him,

saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men

and eat with them?”

Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step,

saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying,

and in a trance I saw a vision.

There was something like a large sheet

coming down from heaven,

being lowered by its four corners;

and it came close to me.

As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals,

beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.

I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord;

for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven,

‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’

This happened three times;

then everything was pulled up again to heaven.

At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were.

The Spirit told me to go with them

and not to make a distinction between them and us.

These six brothers also accompanied me,

and we entered the man’s house.

He told us how he had seen the angel

standing in his house and saying,

‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;

he will give you a message

by which you and your entire household will be saved.’

And as I began to speak,

the Holy Spirit fell upon them

just as it had upon us at the beginning.

And I remembered the word of the Lord,

how he had said, ‘John baptized with water,

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us

when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,

who was I that I could hinder God?”

When they heard this, they were silenced.

And they praised God, saying,

“Then God has given even to the Gentiles

the repentance that leads to life.”

Act of Praise: pp. 861-862, Psalm 148 (with sung response)

Lee Enos is the acolyte and reader.

Response: Let all things their creator bless:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens,

praise the Lord, in the heights!

Praise the Lord, all his angels,

praise the Lord, all his hosts!

Praise the Lord, sun and moon,

praise the Lord, all shining stars!

Praise the Lord, highest heavens,

and all waters above the heavens!   Response:

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

who commanded and they were created,

who established them for ever and ever,

and fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

sea monsters and all deeps.

fire and hail, snow and smoke,

stormy wind fulfilling God’s command!     Response:

Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

Beasts and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and maidens together,

old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

whose name alone is exalted,

whose glory is above earth and heaven.

God has raised up a horn for his people,

praise for all his faithful ones,

for the people of Israel who are near their God.

Praise the Lord! Response:

Anthem: “I’ll Keep My Eyes on the Cross”                    Kenn Mann

This world tries to distract me from the things that I must do,

and sometimes my heart grows heavy,

and Your face seems far from view;

like a ship out on the angry waves,

there’s a light there on the shore,

and I know I’m not alone any more.

I’ll keep my eyes on the Cross,

and when hope is far from view,

Lord, I’ll fix my eyes on You.

I’ll keep my eyes on the Cross,

like a beacon points the way

to a ship that’s been lost,

so I will find my way home

if I keep my eyes on the Cross.

Sometimes I turn my face

way in shame for what I’ve done,

Then I can softly hear my Father say

“That is why I sent My Son.”

So, when the trials seem too much to bear,

I will look to Calvary,

for in the shadow of the Cross it’s plain to see.

There is hope for tomorrow, there is peace for today,

if we focus on the Cross of Christ,

His love will light the way. Amen.

A Reading from the Gospel: John 13:31–35

When he had gone out,

Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified,

and God has been glorified in him.

If God has been glorified in him,

God will also glorify him in himself

and will glorify him at once.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer.

You will look for me;

and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you,

‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

I give you a new commandment,

that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you,

you also should love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

Sermon: “The Evidence”               Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 549, “Where Charity and Love Prevail”                    st. peter

Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found;

brought here together by Christ’s love,

by love are we thus bound.

With grateful joy and holy fear true charity we learn;

let us with heart and mind and strength

now love Christ in return.

Forgive we now each other’s faults

as we our faults confess;

let us love each other well in Christian holiness.

Let strife among us be unknown, let all contention cease;

be Christ the glory that we seek, be ours his holy peace.

Let us recall that in our midst dwells God’s begotten Son;

as members of his body joined, we are in him made one.

Love can exclude no race or creed

if honored be God’s name;

our common life embraces all whose Maker is the same.

Affirmation of Faith: No. 885, “A Modern Affirmation”

Where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is the one true church, apostolic and universal

whose holy faith let us now declare.

We believe in God the Father,

infinite in wisdom, power, and love,

whose mercy is over all his works,

and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good.

We believe in Jesus Christ,

Son of God and Son of man,

the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace,

the ground of our hope,

and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.

We believe in the Holy Spirit

as the divine presence in our lives,

whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance

of the truth of Christ,

and find strength and help in time of need.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself

in the service of love

as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord,

to the end

that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen.

Prayers of the Congregation with 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory: “The First One Ever”   Linda Wilberger Egan

The first one ever, oh, ever to know

of the birth of Jesus, was the maid Mary,

was Mary the Maid of Galilee,

and blessed is she who believes.

Oh, blessed is she who believes in the Lord.

She was Mary the Maid of Galilee,

and blessed is she who believes.

The first one ever, oh, ever to know

of Messiah, Jesus, when He said “I am He”

was the Samaritan woman who drew from the well,

and blessed is she who perceives,

Oh, blessed is she who perceives the Lord.

“Twas the Samaritan woman who drew from the well,

and blessed is she who perceives.

The first one ever, oh, ever to know

of the rising of Jesus, His glory to be,

were Mary, Joanna and Magdalene,

and blessed are they who see,

Oh, blessed are they who see the Lord.

They were Mary, Joanna and Magdalene,

and blessed are they who see.

Presentation of Offerings with Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 707, “Hymn of Promise”                                             Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;

in cocoons, a hidden promise:

butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter

there’s a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence,

seeking word and melody;

there’s a dawn in every darkness,

bringing hope to you and me!

From the past will come the future;

what it holds a mystery,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;

in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

Dismissal with Blessing

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen From The Dead”

Round for Eastertide, arr. WSM

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Organ Postlude: “Poco Scherzando, non Presto”               Maille

What can we gain
by sailing to the moon
if we are not able
to cross the abyss
that separates us
from ourselves?
This is the most important
of all voyages of discovery,
and without it,
all the rest
are not only useless,
but disastrous.
—Thomas Merton

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Ricercar”                                                    Lawes

Words of Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit: “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”           Frederick Maker

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen, our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead.

Call to Worship

Come, children of creation,

and celebrate the wonder of spring.

Come, brothers and sisters of the human family,

and rejoice at the renewal of life.

Come, people of God,

and acclaim the resurrection of Christ.

Come, friends of Christ,

and marvel at the empty tomb.

Come, you who are loved by God,

and receive for yourselves this gift of renewal.

Come, you who love God,

and make your lives a witness to holy love.

Then Christ will be resurrected in us,

redeeming life from death.

Then will we be resurrected in Christ,

a blessing to the world.

Hymn: No. 304, “Easter People”                           Regent Square

Easter people, raise your voices,

sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;

heavenly music, let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

Fear of death can no more stop us

From our pressing here below.

For our Lord empowered us

to triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster

to our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

Morning Prayer

Merciful God,

what a gentle and healing presence you offer to us.

We bring all that we have to you:

our secret thoughts, our sad discouragements,

and our noblest dreams, and find you here to listen,

to forgive, and to renew us!

We confess our reluctance

to understand your will

and our hesitancy to act upon it.

We are quick to blame others

and slow to accept responsibility for ourselves.

Guide us for we look to you as our shepherd.

Surround us with your strength for we are your flock.

Submerge us in your spirit

and grant us faith to follow where you lead. Amen.

To Hear the Word

A Reading from the Letters to the Early Church: Acts 9:36-43

Susan Allenback is the reader.

Now in Joppa there was a disciple

whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas.

She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.

At the time she became ill and died.

When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.

Since Lydda was near Joppa,

the disciples, who heard that Peter was there,

sent two men to him with the request,

“Please come to us without delay.”

So Peter got up and went with them;

and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs.

All the widows stood beside him,

weeping and showing tunics and other clothing

that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Peter put all of them outside,

and then he knelt down and prayed.

He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.”

Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

He gave her his hand and helped her up.

Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.

This became known throughout Joppa,

and many believed in the Lord.

Meanwhile, he stayed in Joppa for some time

with a certain Simon, a tanner.

An Act of Praise: p. 137, Psalm 23

Hannah Coates is the acolyte and reader.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Hymn: No. 347, “Spirit Song”                                      John Wimber

O let the Son of God enfold you

with his Spirit and his love.

Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.

O let him have the things that hold you,

and his Spirit like a dove

will descend upon your life and make you whole.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

O come and sing this song with gladness

as your hearts are filled with joy.

Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.

O give him all your tears and sadness;

give him all your years of pain,

and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Anthem: “The Day Draws with Golden Light”   Edward Bairstow

The day draws on with golden light,

glad songs go echoing through the height;

the broad earth lifts an answering cheer,

the deep makes moan with wailing fear.

For lo, He comes, the mighty King,

to take from death his power and sting,

to trample down his gloomy reign,

and break the weary prisoner’s chain.

Maker of all, to Thee we pray;

Fulfill in us Thy joy today.

When death assails, grant, Lord that we

may share thy Paschal victory. Amen.

A Reading from the Gospels: John 10:22-30

At that time the festival of the Dedication

took place in Jerusalem.

It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple,

in the portico of Solomon.

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,

“How long will you keep us in suspense?

If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly,”

Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe.

The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;

but you do not believe,

because you do not belong to my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

No one will snatch them out of my hand.

What my Father has given me is greater than all else,

and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.

The Father and I are one.

Sermon: “Tell Us Plainly”               Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 121, “There’s a Wideness”                          Wellesley

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

like the wideness of the sea;

there’s a kindness in God’s justice,

which is  more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,

and more graces for the good!

There is mercy with the Savior;

there is healing in his blood.

For the love of God is broader

than the measure of our mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple,

we should rest upon God’s word;

and our lives would be illumined

by the presence of our Lord.

Act of Praise

We celebrate you, Risen Christ.

We join every creature in proclaiming that you are worthy

to receive glory and honor and power forever and ever.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for those who worship you through their wonder

in your world’s sights and sounds and movements.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for those who seek your presence

in the beauty of creation

and your compassion in the voices of others.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for those whose lives are psalms of praise

through their words and works.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for those who fill their lives with faith,

their voices with song, their hands with offerings,

and their words with gratitude.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

who was in the beginning, lived among us,

and now reigns as our resurrected Lord.

Prayers of the Congregation with 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory: “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed?”                      Purifoy

Alas! and did my Savior bleed

and did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

for sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide

and shut his glories in,

when Christ, the mighty Maker died,

for man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face

while His dear cross appears,

dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

and melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay

the debt of love I owe:

here, Lord, I give myself away

’tis all that I can do.

Presentation of Offerings with the Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 582, “Whom Shall I Send?”       Deus Tuorum Militum

Whom shall I send? our Maker cries;

and many when they hear God’s voice,

are sure where their vocation lies;

but many shrink from such a choice.

For who can serve a God so pure,

or claim to speak in such a name,

while doubt makes every step unsure,

and self confuses every aim?

And yet, believing God who calls

knows what we are and still may be,

our pasts defeats, our future falls,

we dare to answer: Lord, send me!

Those who are called God purifies,

and daily gives us strength to bend

our thoughts, our skills, our energies,

and life itself to this one end.

Dismissal with Blessing

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen from the Dead”

Round for Eastertide, arr. WSM

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Organ Postlude: “Allegro Fiero”                                         Pizzetti

The earliest reference
to the Resurrection
is Saint Paul’s
and he makes no mention
of an empty tomb at all.
But the fact of the matter
is that in a way
it hardly matters
how the body of Jesus
came to be missing
because in the last analysis
what convinced the people
that he had risen from the dead
was not the absence of his corpse
but his living presence.
And so it has been ever since.
—Frederick Buechner

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “All in an Aprille Morne”             Fitzwilliam Book

Words of Welcome and Announcements (by the minister)

Choral Introit: “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”           Frederick Maker

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen, our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead.

Call to Worship

Sing praises to God, O you saints of God.

Give thanks to God’s holy name.

Praise God for the joyous gift of a new day.

Thank God for healing and ever-present help.

Extol the one who lifts us up from defeat.

Praise the one who upholds us when we are discouraged.

God sees and hears our weeping.

God lifts our souls from the depths of despair.

Give thanks to God who turns mourning into dancing.

Praise God who answers our prayers.

We have called to you in our need, O God.

We believe you hold the promise of new life.

Hymn: No. 674, “See the Morning Sun”   Unser Herrscher

See the morning sun ascending,

radiant in the eastern sky;

hear the angel voices blending,

in their praise to God on high!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high!

So may we, in lowly station, join the choristers above;

singing with the whole creation,

praising thee for thy great love.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God above!

For thy loving kindness ever shed upon our earthly way;

for thy mercy, ceasing never, for thy blessing day by day:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God alway!

“Wisdom, honor, power, and blessing!”

with the angelic host we cry;

round thy throne, thy name confessing,

Lord, we would to thee draw nigh.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high!

Morning Prayer

We come before you, O God, in Easter joy,

as a people of the resurrection.

Be known among us;

grant us the assurance of your presence,

your love, your renewing power.

Through your word and spirit,

reveal to us your purpose in our lives.

Help us trust our lives into your keeping,

accept the embrace of your loving arms,

and receive your forgiveness.

We surrender to your grace,

so we might love and serve you

beyond frustrations and difficulties.

Here we offer ourselves in worship and in service. Amen.

To Hear The Word

A Reading from the Letters of the Early Church: Acts 9:1-6

Beatrice Badders is the reader.

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder

against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him for letters

to the synagogues at Damascus,

so that if he found any who belonged to the Way,

men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus,

suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

He asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

But get up and enter the city,

and you will be told what you are to do.”

An Act of Praise: pp. 762-763, Psalm 30 (singing the response)

Denzel Enos is the acolyte and reader.

Response:  For the night weeping may tarry;

with the morning light comes joy.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up,

and I did not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you healed me.

O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,

restored me to life

from among those gone down to the pit.   Response:

Sing praises to the Lord, O his faithful ones,

and give thanks to his holy name.

Surely the Lord’s anger is but for a moment;

the Lord’s favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,

“I shall never be moved.”

By your favor, O Lord,

you had established me as a strong mountain;

you hid your face,

I was dismayed.         Response:

To you, O Lord, I cried

and to the Lord I made supplication:

“What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and girded me with gladness,

that my soul may praise you and not be silent.

O Lord, my God,

I will give thanks to you forever.       Response:

Anthem: “Christ Will Be Lifted Up”                       Mary McDonald

“It is finished,” He cried; My Lord was crucified

as He hung upon the cross and died.

But His death on Calvary became a victory;

and Christ will reign as Lord eternally!

Christ will be lifted up, robed in majesty

and crowned with grace.

Every eye shall see,

every knee shall bow,

when we see our King face to face!

We will rise and go to Him when Christ shall come again.

Heaven’s glory will descend when Jesus comes.

Let us follow now in faith until that glorious day

when Christ will reign as Lord eternally!

A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:1-19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples

by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.

Gathered there together were Simon Peter,

Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee,

the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We will go with you.”

They went out and got into the boat,

but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach;

but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?”

They answered him. “No.”

He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat,

and you will find some.” So they cast it,

and now they were not able to haul it in

because there were so many fish.

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,

he put on some clothes, for he was naked,

and jumped into the sea.

But the other disciples came in the boat,

dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land,

only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore,

they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and bread.

Jesus said to them,

“Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore,

full of large fish, a hundred fifth-three of them;

and though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

Now none of the disciples dared to ask him,

“Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them,

and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus appeared

to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast,

Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

A second time he said to him,

“Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time,

“Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time,

“Do you love me?”

And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything;

you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger,

you used to fasten your own belt

and to go wherever you wished.

But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will fasten a belt around you

and take you where you do not wish to go.”

(He said this to indicate the kind of death

by which he would glorify God.)

After this he said to him “Follow me.”

Sermon: “Again and Again and Again”     Rev. Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 344, “Lord, You Have Come”   Pescador de Hombres

Lord, you have come to the lakeshore

looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;

you only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain: O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me,

and while smiling have spoken my name;

now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;

by your side I will seek other seas.

You know so well my possessions;

my boat carries no gold and no weapons;

you will find there my nets and labor.          Refrain:

You need my hands, full of caring

through my labors to give others rest,

and constant love that keeps on loving.      Refrain:

You, who have fished other oceans,

ever longed for by souls who are waiting,

my loving friend, as thus you call me.          Refrain:

Affirmation of Faith

We find our faith in Jesus, who lives among us,

who calls us together to understand life and love

as radical commitment to others.

We have faith in one God,

who created and claimed all creatures,

who enters our lives with hope and redemption,

with courage to act on our beliefs.

We know that God’s presence comes to us in community,

wherever we seek to know God

by doing justice and loving mercy.

We proclaim the gospel in this world

where God is still creating

and redeeming and making things whole.

Prayers of the Congregation with 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory: “Lord, We Pray Thee”                                J V Roberts

Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace

may always prevent and follow us,

and make us continuously to be given to all good works;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Presentation of Offerings with the Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 318, “Christ Is Alive”                                                 Truro

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

His cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and homes with praises ring.

His love in death shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound

to distant years in Palestine,

he comes to claim the here and how

and dwell in every place and time.

Not throned afar, remotely high,

untouched, unmoved by human pains,

but daily, in the midst of life,

our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war,

where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

he suffers still, yet loves the more,

and lives, though ever crucified.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring

good news to this and every age,

till earth and all creation ring with joy,

with justice, love, and praise.

Dismissal with Blessing

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen from the Dead”

Round for Eastertide, arr. WSM

Organ Postlude: “Allegro Maestoso”                                  Barnes

Resurrection has to do with being called forth
from all kinds of hiding.
Resurrection begins wherever one heart opens to another,
wherever goodness triumphs over the instincts of hatred.
Jesus understood our need for presence.
The same one who washed feet, broke bread,
and ate with strangers, comes into the disciples midst,
urging them to be at peace
and commissioning them with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Into their fear he comes,
despite locked doors, disbelief and hiding.

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,
the doors of the house where the disciples had met
were locked for fear.”
I can’t help but wonder,
are Jesus’ followers afraid of death, or terrified of life?
—Christine M. Smith

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Introibo”                                              Gregorian

Words of Welcome and Announcements (by the minister)

Choral Introit: “Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!”           Frederick Maker

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Risen, our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead.

Call to Worship

A hundred generations have come and gone

since Jesus’ friends visited the tomb and found it empty.

Yet the mystery remains fresh, the wonder like new.

A week has passed since we ourselves

celebrated anew our savior’s rising.

We have not forgotten, nor can we forget.

For we do not know how soon we may know in ourselves

the promise of resurrection.

It will come. In God’s time it will come.

Then we shall leave it in God’s hands, but not silently.

We will punctuate our waiting with song

and petition and acts of praise.

Glory be to God!

Hymn: No. 308, “Thine Be the Glory”                 Judas Maccabeus

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain: Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb;

lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,

for our Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.  Refrain:

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!

Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.

Make us more than conquerors,

through thy deathless love;

bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.  Refrain:

Morning Prayer

God of all our beginnings,

may this day and every day begin with our praise to you.

Let every breath become a witness to your spirit,

dwelling within and among us.

Open our hearts to receive your saving gifts.

Loosen our tongues to proclaim

your unsurpassed greatness.

Startle us with the presence of the risen Christ

in the gardens of our days,

and we, too, will worship in awe and amazement.

May the noise of our celebration

help us to sense your powerful presence

and to claim the joy of serving you,

in Christ’s name. Amen.

To Hear The Word

A Reading from the Letters of the Early Church: Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought Peter and the apostles,

they had them stand before the council.

The high priest questioned them, saying,

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,

yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching

and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered,

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.

The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus,

whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior

that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

And we are witnesses to these things,

and so is the Holy Spirit

whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Nancy Brannan is the reader.

An Act of Praise: pp. 853-854, Psalm 138 (singing the response)

Quinn Gillison is the acolyte and reader.

Response: I sing your praise for steadfast love;

fulfill your purpose for me.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name

for your steadfast love and faithfulness;

for you have exalted your name

and your word above everything.

On the day I called, you answered me,

you strengthened my life.    Response:

All the rulers of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth;

and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord.

For the Lord is high, but regards the lowly;

yet knows the haughty from afar.   Response:

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand

against the wrath of my enemies

and your right hand delivers me.

O Lord, fulfill your purpose for me;

O Lord, may your steadfast love endure for ever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands. Response:

Anthem: “O Sons and Daughters of the King”

O Filii et Filiae, arr. Lani Smith

O sons and daughters of the King

Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,

today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia!

That Easter morn, at break of day,

the faithful women went their way

to seek the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia!

An angel clad in white they see,

who sit and speaks unto the three,

“Your Lord will go to Galilee.” Alleluia!

On this most holy day of days

be laud and jubilee and praise:

to God your hearts and voice raise. Alleluia!

Love so amazing, so divine

demands my soul, my life, my all. Alleluia!

A Reading from the Gospels: John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week,

and the doors of the house where the disciples had met

were locked for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood among them and said,

“Peace be with you.”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;

if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him. “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands,

and put my finger in the mark of the nails

and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house,

and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were shut,

Jesus came and stood among them and said,

“Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here

and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him,

“Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen

and yet have come to believe.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs

in the presence of his disciples,

which are not written in this book.

But these are written so that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,

and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Sermon: “We Are Witnesses”        Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: “Christ Has Risen”                                                  Holy Manna

Christ has risen while earth slumbers,

Christ has risen where hope died,

as he said and as he promised,

as we doubted and denied.

Let the moon embrace the blessing;

Let the sun sustain the cheer;

let the world confirm the rumor:

Christ is risen, God is here!

Christ has risen for the people,

whom he died to love and save;

Christ has risen for the women

bringing flowers to grace his grave.

Christ has risen for disciples

huddled in an upstairs room.

He whose word inspired creation

can’t be silenced by the tomb.

Christ has risen to companion

former friends who fear the night,

sensing loss and limitation

where their faith had once burned bright.

They bemoan what is no longer,

they expect no hopeful sign

till Christ ends their conversation,

breaking bread and sharing wine.

Christ has risen and forever

lives to challenge and to change

all whose lives are messed or mangled,

all who find religion strange.

Christ is risen, Christ is present

making us what he has been –

evidence of transformation

in which God is known and seen.

Offertory: “An Anthem for Communion”                Gilbert Martin

Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, Thee.

Who in Thy Sacrament are pleased to be!

Draw nigh, and take the Body of the Lord,

and drink the Holy Blood, for you outpoured.

Saved by that Body, hallowed by that Blood,

whereby refreshed, we offer thanks to God.

Both flesh and spirit in Thy presence fail,

yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail.

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;

here would I touch and handle Things unseen,

here grasp with firmer hand eternal Grace,

and all my weariness upon Thee lean. Amen.

Presentation of Offerings with the Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

To Receive the Sacrament

The Great Thanksgiving: pp 17-18 (with Musical Setting A)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,

always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image

and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed,

your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity,

made covenant to be our sovereign God,

brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey,

and set before us the way of life.

And so, with your people on earth

and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

By the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection,

you gave birth to your Church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

By your great mercy we have been born anew

to a living hope

through the resurrection of your Son from the dead

and to an inheritance that is imperishable,

undefiled, and unfading.

Once we were no people, but now we are your people,

declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ,

who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

When the Lord Jesus ascended,

he promised to be with us always,

in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us,

he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,

gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Drink from this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as your drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead

he was recognized by his disciples

in the breaking of the bread,

and in the power of your Holy Spirit

your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread

and the sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts

in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ’s offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,

that we may be for the world the body of Christ,

redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other, and one is ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory,

and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,

all honor and glory is yours,

almighty God, now and forever.

Amen.

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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Receiving the Bread and Wine

Communion will be administered by intinction,

or the dipping of the bread in the chalice.

Prayer Following the Receiving of Communion

O Risen Christ:

we are grateful that you walk among us on earth,

bringing life and hope.

Help us to be aware of your presence

in our time of worship,

especially in the breaking of bread and taking of the cup.

Enable us to stand alongside you

in your ministry of healing

on the crowded roads of our world,

through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 159, “Lift High the Cross”                                    Crucifer

Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow this triumphant sign.

The hosts of God in unity combine.   Refrain:

Each newborn servant of the Crucified

bears on the brow the seal of him who died.   Refrain:

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,

as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee.  Refrain:

So shall our song of triumphant ever be:

Praise to the Crucified for victory.  Refrain:

Dismissal with Blessing

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen from the Dead”

Round for Eastertide, arr. WSM

Organ Postlude: “Recessional for Eastertide                         Rose

In Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

Like a blade of grass pushing up stubbornly through the sidewalk.

or

like the butterfly emerging from the tomb-like chrysalis.

But much more.

Like the seed after years of dormant death sending up sprout.

or

Like the brown bulb breaking forth from brown earth into brilliant color.

But much more.

Like brilliant daybreak after stormy, darkened night.

or

Like a rainbow mystically appearing amidst the rain.

But much more.

Like a patient making an unexpected, unpredicted turn for health.

or

Like the pine cone opening to spread seed only after touched by fiery death.

But much more.

Like a beautiful vase emerging from a lump of clay in the potter’s hands.

or

Like a hidden spring burbling forth in the middle of a barren desert.

But much more.

Like the surprise of Spring’s buds pushing aside Winter’s snow.

or

Like someone finally emerging from the fatality of addiction.

But much more.

So, it comes.

Nothing else like it.

No image adequate. No simile. No metaphor.

Unable to talk about it but inadequately

we celebrate this great, real mystery that

neither language nor imagination can encompass.

Easter!

R. Preston Price

The Church Gathers

Organ Prelude: “Marye, Looke On Me”                                  Byrd

Words of Welcome and Announcements (by the minister)

Choral Introit: “Easter Fanfare”                              E.E. Ferguson

Christ is risen!

Christ the Lord is risen from the tomb!  Alleluia!

Call to Worship

The entire world can change in the span of one Holy Week.

We have seen shouts of joy at the arrival of the king

turn into cries for execution.

But execution is not the final act.

The final act is resurrection! The Lord is risen!

He is risen indeed!

We have seen the loyalty of the disciples

veer quickly into betrayal.

But betrayal is not the last word.

The last word is “He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

We have seen the sky torn apart and the world go dark.

But the darkness is demolished in the light of morning,

and the great good news floods the world like the dawn:

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Hymn: No. 302, “Christ the Lord Is Risen”                 Easter Hymn

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where’s thy victory, boasting grave, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Morning Prayer

Gracious Redeemer, we come to you

in the morning of the resurrection.

We expect to find you among the tombs and grave clothes

of our world, but you are alive.

Sin cannot hold you; death cannot bind you.

Just as we have been weeping and mourning

that you have been taken from us,

you meet us in the garden of the new life

and send us running to share the good news

of the gospel to the very ends of the earth.

Be present with us as miracle and mystery. Amen.

To Hear the Word

A Reading from the Letters of the Early Church: Acts 10:34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him received forgiveness of sins through his name.”

John Strawbridge is the reader.

An Act of Praise: pp. 816-817, Psalm 97 (sung response #2)

Response: Lift every voice and sing,

till earth and heaven ring.

Let them resound loud as the rolling sea.

The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice;

let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness surround the Lord;

righteousness and justice

are the foundation of God’s throne.

Fire goes before the Lord,

and burns up his adversaries round about.

The Lord’s lightnings illumine the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim God’s righteousness

and all the peoples behold God’s glory. Response:

All worshippers of images are put to shame,

who make their boast in worthless idols;

all gods bow down before the Lord.

Zion hears and is glad,

and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

because of your judgments, O God.

For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

The Lord loves those who hate evil,

preserves the lives of his faithful,

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light dawns for the righteous,

and joy for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

and give thanks to God’s holy name. Response:

Lee Enos is the acolyte and reader.

Anthem: “Living Lamb of God!”                                           Larson

The Shepherd was stricken, the sheep roamed away.

In death’s confinement, the Holy Jesus lay.

Day into evening, night into day,

in fear we waited, alone we prayed.

Then on the third day at breaking of dawn,

from death’s dark shadow His body was gone!

What now had happened? Did he survive?

Our fallen shepherd was now alive!

Living Lamb of God, slain for the sins of all,

risen up victorious! Again we hear his call.

In death he scattered darkness, in life he gathers all,

He is the Living Lamb of all.

The stone that was rejected has become my solid rock,

the dying gentle Shepherd is now the Loving Lamb of God!

Praise the Lamb of God, the Holy Lamb of God!

A Reading from the Gospels: 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 wrapping 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 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.

Sermon: “Letting Go”                     Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 314, “In the Garden”                                         Garden

I come to the garden alone

while the dew is still on the roses,

and the voice I hear falling on my ear,

the Son of God discloses.

Refrain: And he walks with me, and he talks with me

and he tells me I am his own;

and the joy we share as we tarry there,

none other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of his voice

is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

and the melody that he gave to me

within my heart is ringing.   Refrain:

I’d stay in the garden with him

though the night around me be falling,

but he bids me go; through the voice of woe

his voice to me is calling.   Refrain:

Litany of Faith

When the world seems to be crumbling around you,

remember who you are:

resurrection people with Easter in our hearts.

When despair would seem to squelch all hope,

believe in who you have become:

resurrection people with Easter in our hearts.

When it is hard to persevere against all odds,

trust in God who names you:

resurrection people with Easter in our hearts.

As we follow Christ into the world,

may God help us remember who we are:

resurrection people with Easter in our hearts.

Offertory: “Ehre sei Dir, Christe”                                       Schuetz

Christ, let the glory be Yours!

You suffered on the Cross in deepest woe,

and suffered a bitter death for us,

but now You reign with the Father in Eternity.

Help us poor sinners to our heavenly rest.

Kyrie eleison! Christe eleison! Kyrie eleison!

Presentation of Offerings with Festal Doxology: No. 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 306, “The Strife is O’er”                                    Victory

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The strife is o’er, the battle done;

the victory of life is won;

the song of triumph has begun: Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,

but Christ their legions hath dispersed;

let shouts of holy joy outburst:  Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped;

he rises glorious from the dead;

all glory to our risen Head! Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,

from death’s dread sting thy servants free,

that we may live, and sing to thee:  Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dismissal with Blessing

Choral Response: “Christ Is Arisen”      Round for Easter, 1865

Christ is arisen from the dead!

Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Organ Postlude: “Surrexit Dominus”                                  Crabbe

The Service of Light

The Gathering

Maria looks at the women, almost frightened,

afraid she has broken the circle.

To have missed the chance, forever, to express their love.

The pain runs throughout the room, excruciating loss,

tinged with jealousy.

Maria speaks, her voice stronger.

No. I was only doing what we have all done.

I was expressing my love, giving myself to him. . .

You have all done the same. You were all there by the cross,

all with him as he died.

And you have followed him since he touched you.

Those are our stories, told here today even as the sun sets

and as the night has run.

She looks slowly, deliberately at each woman.

Like you, Lydia, Rhoda. And you, Susannah and Joanna.

Like you, Salome.

And you, his own mother, when you were visited

and you told the angel that you were the Lord’s handmaid,

and you would give yourself to him. . .

Like you, Mary, from the moment he delivered you.

I did the same.

The women are all silent, immersed in their own pain.

They look at each other,

and after a few moments, Mary Magdalene speaks.

I think I understand what Jesus meant when he said

what you did will be remembered.

It will be told, because what you did

was the very center of Jesus’ life and our life with him.

The heart of the story is about those

who give themselves to Jesus,

as Jesus gave himself to us.

We didn’t fully understand,

but we came to him with open hands. . .

Maria’s right. . .  we’ve all done that. . .

since the day each of us began to follow him. . .

at the cross as we stood with him. . .

tonight as our stories have made the night holy.

We all wish that we’d done it

by pouring out a wonderful perfume,

by touching him.

What wouldn’t any of us give for a last chance

to tell him we love him,

to see his smile of love as we pour ointment on him. .

Mary Magdalene looks toward the window,

toward the pale lightening rim at the edge of the sky.

He can’t hear us. . .He’ll never smile at us again. . .

Soon it will be dawn. She struggles to her feet.

It is late. . . probably less than an hour until the day’s dawning.

Don’t you see. . .even though he is dead,

we can still offer ourselves to him.

We can anoint his body.

Mary Magdalene leans over Jesus’ mother and kisses her.

She looks at her deeply.

Please stay and rest for a few hours,

and then the others will bring you over to the tomb

when it is warmer. . .

She moves to pick up her cloak.

I must go now, and be with him. . .

She stands in the doorway with Salome and Miriam.

The others on the circle

hold back their cries of fear and longing.

They will wait and follow when it is light.

None of these women – so full of faith and love –

know what they will find at the tomb.

Mary Magdalene stops, looks around the circle,

and speaks to all the women.

Don’t be afraid. We will never forget him.

Love is as strong as death.

And they move into the darkness,

holding spices and ointments

to anoint the one they love.

(The Magdalene Gospel, Mary Ellen Ashcroft)

The Prelude: “Agnus Dei”  (Mass in B minor BWV 232)                 Bach

Cathleen Jeffcoat, Violin

Call to Worship

Look! The dawn is breaking. Morning is on its way.

See, on the hillside the sun is beginning to rise!

Leave us alone and let us sleep.

We want to forget about the terrors of the night.

We want to shut out the darkness.

Look! The tomb is open. A new day has begun.

Leave us alone and let us grieve. We have lost our hope,

and all our dreams are dead.

But look! The grave is empty. The stone is rolled away.

An empty grave? A vacant shroud?

Then hope is reborn, and the dream is alive again.

Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Rejoice, for the day of resurrection has come at last.

Alleluia!

Lighting of the Paschal Candle

Hymn: “The Women Came”                                                            Azmon

The women came at early dawn to visit Jesus’ tomb.

They came discouraged and forlorn.

Their hearts were filled with gloom.

As they approached, they wondered who

would roll away the stone.

But soon they found it strange but true,

they were not there alone.

A messenger spoke loud and clear

and told them what took place.

The herald told them not to fear;

it was an act of grace.

“He is not here; come, see the place;

He’s risen from the dead.

He’s now alive; you’ll see his face.

It’s happened as he said.

“So now go forth to Galilee to meet the risen One,

by death once held but now set free.

A new age has begun.”

The Easter song is ours to sing

to share our joy today.

And now we’ll keep on traveling

along the pilgrim way.

Prayer of Confession and Pardon

God of new awakenings,

we confess that we would rather stay asleep.

We are afraid to hope and have our hopes shattered.

We are afraid to dream and find our dreams deferred.

Break us open like the tomb

so that new life may pour forth.

Give us the faith to believe, to hope, to dream anew.

Let us live as people of your resurrection. Amen.

Christ has risen from the grave

to bring us out of the shadow of death,

to free us from all fear,

to liberate our souls into newness of life.

This is good news indeed. Thanks be to God.

The Service of the Word

A Reading from the Letters to the Early Church: Acts 10:34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him received forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Diane Macklin is the reader.

An Act of Praise

We celebrate you, Risen Christ.

We join every creature in proclaiming that you are worthy

to receive glory and honor and power forever and ever.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for children who worship you through their wonder

in your world’s sights and sounds and movements.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for youth who seek your presence

in the beauty of creation

and your compassion in the voices of others.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for women and men whose lives are psalms of praise

tuned to glorify your name through their words and work.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for congregations who fill their lives with faith,

their voices with song, their hands with offerings,

and their words with gratitude.

We celebrate you, Risen Christ,

for the life of Jesus Christ who was in the beginning,

lived among us, and now reigns forevermore

as our resurrected Lord.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Homily: “Now the Light”                 Rev. Nancy Nedwell, preaching

To Respond in Faith

Hymn: No. 707, “Hymn of Promise”                                             Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;

in cocoons, a hidden promise:

butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter

there’s a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence,

seeking word and melody;

there’s a dawn in every darkness,

bringing hope to you and me!

From the past will come the future;

what it holds a mystery,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;

in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,

unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

To Receive the Sacrament

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Lift up your heads.

We lift them up to God.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Lift up your hands.

We dedicate our heads, our hearts,

and our hands to the worship of God.

We offer our entire being to the God of Creation,

who made the sun and the moon

to govern by day and by night

and hung the stars in the sky.

We offer our entire being to the great God

who hollowed out the valleys and bulged up the mountains,

who spat out the seven seas,

and populated the world with glorious creatures.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

who created us and fashioned us from the dust

and breathed into us the breath of life.

Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

who came to us in spite of our destructive ways.

He healed the sick,

raised the dead

and cast out demons.

In the brief time that he was with us,

Jesus sided with the oppressed,

had compassion for those who suffer,

and gave dignity to women and children.

He taught us in word and deed about a God

we had been unable to understand.

In spite of his glory-revealing presence among us,

we turned him into a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Jesus was persecuted by certain religious leaders

and betrayed by one of his own.

He was lied about, tortured, and hung on a cross to die.

Yet, even on the day of his crucifixion,

Jesus continued to teach those who would listen.

When evil people came with his betrayer,

Jesus did not respond with violence,

choosing instead to remind us that

those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

When he was falsely accused and condemned to death,

Jesus refused to do harm.

And while hanging on the cross, he prayed:

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

But we give you thanks that nothing ever was,

or ever will be able to separate us

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Early on the morning of the third day

Jesus laughed at death,

shed his grave clothes,

and walked among us alive!

Forty days later, he ascended into heaven,

where he is seated at the right hand

of the God of our ancestors.

Our eyes are turned toward the skies looking for the day

when Jesus shall return to a kingdom without end,

where the lion will lie down peaceably with the lamb,

where sickness and disease are not known

where the wicked will cease from troubling

and we will study war no more!

On the night that Jesus was betrayed,

He shared a meal with his disciples.

He took bread from the table,

gave thanks to God,

and gave it to his disciples saying:

“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the meal was over he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it to his disciples saying:

“Drink from this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Today, Jesus, we remember the bread and the cup.

Today, we remember your life and your death.

We remember your resurrection; we remember eternal life.

Holy God,

pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine;

make them be for us the body and blood of Christ.

Wonder-working God, pour out your Spirit upon us;

as we offer ourselves to be God’s presence in the world

until Jesus returns in glory.

Almighty God,

We your people cry out to you on behalf of our community:

Have mercy upon all who suffer from the evils of poverty.

Have mercy, Lord!

Have mercy upon all who have lost their way.

Have mercy, Lord!

Have mercy upon all who have been offended by the church.

Have mercy, Lord!

Have mercy upon all who feel forgotten and neglected.

Have mercy, Lord!

Have mercy upon us Triune God,

and make us worthy to be called your people

who pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples:

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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen

Receiving the Bread and Wine

Communion will be administered by intinction,

or the dipping of the bread in the chalice.

Musical Selection: “Adagio ma non tanto” (Sonata in E)             Bach

Prayer Following the Receiving of Communion

O Risen Christ:

we are grateful that you walk among us on earth,

bringing life and hope.

Help us to be aware of your presence

in our time of worship,

especially in the breaking of bread and taking of the cup.

Enable us to stand alongside you

in your ministry of healing

on the crowded roads of our world,

through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And Scatters to Be the Church in the World

Hymn: No. 318, “Christ Is Alive”                                                 Truro

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

His cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and homes with praises ring.

His love in death shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound

to distant years in Palestine,

he comes to claim the here and how

and dwell in every place and time.

Not throned afar, remotely high,

untouched, unmoved by human pains,

but daily, in the midst of life,

our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war,

where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

he suffers still, yet loves the more,

and lives, though ever crucified.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring

good news to this and every age,

till earth and all creation ring with joy,

with justice, love, and praise.

Procession to the South Portico

Dismissal with Blessing

† † †

The Prelude: “In Darknesse”                                           Taverner

The Invocation

It’s early, Lord, awfully early.

We are merely children in the faith,

beginners on our journey,

early in the morning of our spiritual lives

just as not much passed dawn physically.

We are seeking to discover greatness in humility,

we are seeking to heal by hurting, to receive by giving,

to live by dying.

It’s late, Lord, later than we thought.

Already we know that before mid-afternoon today

a Savior can be killed.

We already have learned our capacity for betrayal,

for rebellion, for sin.

Come to us early and late, Lord,

that we may know you in every hour

and walk with you and serve you all of our days. Amen.

The Call to Worship

Here, in the midst of these people,

we come to worship you.

We come with the groans of our lives,

and the whispers of hope in our hearts.

Here, in the midst of these people,

we come to remember you.

We come, trusting you have not forgotten us;

and that here, promises will be fulfilled.

Here, in the midst of these people,

we come to have our hearts touched.

We come, knowing you hear our souls;

we come, to praise you for your steadfast love.

The Hymn: No. 290, “Go to Dark Gethsemane” vv. 1-3  Redhead

Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s power;

your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with him one bitter hour.

Turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

See him from the judgment hall, beaten,

bound, reviled, arraigned;

O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs his soul sustained!

Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;

learn of Christ to bear the cross.

Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at his feet,

mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete.

“It is finished!” hear him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.

The Collect

O Lord, our God, we have gathered this day

to consider how you carried out

your good and strong will for the world and for us all

by letting our Lord Jesus Christ, your dear Son,

become captive that we might become free,

by letting him be judged guilty that we might be innocent,

by letting him suffer that we might have joy,

by letting him die that we might live eternally.

We place our lives in your hands as we pray together:

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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Psalter, pp. 764-765, Psalm 31:1-16, (with response #1)

Response: A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing.

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;

let me never be put to shame;

in your righteousness, deliver me!

Incline your ear to me,

rescue me speedily!

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me!

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;

take me out of the net which is hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

I hate those who pay regard to vain idols;

but I trust in the Lord.

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,

because you have seen my affliction,

and have taken heed of my adversities.

You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

you have set my feet in a broad place.    Response:

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eye is wasted from grief,

my soul and body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,

and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

a horror to my neighbors,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see  me in the street flee from me.

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

For I hear the whispering of many –

terror all around! –

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord,

I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine on your servant;

save me through your steadfast love!    Response:

Musical Selection: “Ubi Caritas et Amor”  Sequence, Holy Week

Tod Myers, Bass

Where charity and love are, God is there.

Christ’s love has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.

And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

As we are gathered into one body,

Beware, lest we be divided in mind.

Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,

And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

And may we with the saints also,

See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:

The joy that is immense and good,

Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

FORGIVENESS AT THE CROSS

The Reading Luke 23:32-38

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

The Prayer

O Lord, we beg you,

absolve your people from their offenses,

that through your bountiful goodness

we may be delivered

from all the bonds of those sins

which by our frailty we have committed.

May all who have sinned in ignorance,

or are this day sincerely sorry for their sins,

be given pardon and newness of life.

Grant this, O heavenly Father,

for Jesus Christ’s sake,

our blessed Lord and Savior.  Amen.

The Hymn: No. 289, “Ah, Holy Jesus”        Herzliebster Jesu

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,

that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?

By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted!

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!

‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;

the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.

For our atonement, while he nothing heeded, God interceded.

For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,

thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;

thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,

I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,

think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.

AUTHORITY AT THE CROSS

The Reading Luke 23:39-43

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Prayer

Blessed and merciful God,

who through your infinite goodness

did save a sinful yet repugnant thief upon the cross,

look with mercy upon us

who desire pardon and forgiveness today.

Consider our repentance, accept our plea,

and save us as we put our trust in your mercy.

This we ask through no merit of our own,

but through our Savior and Redeemer.  Amen.

The Hymn: No. 295, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory          Rathbun

In the cross of Christ I glory,

towering o’er the wrecks of time;

all the light of sacred story

gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’er take me,

hopes deceive and fears annoy,

never shall the cross forsake me.

Lo! It glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming

light and love upon my way,

from the cross the radiance streaming

adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

by the cross are sanctified;

peace is there that knows no measure,

joys that through all time abide.

In the cross of Christ I glory,

towering o’er the wrecks of time;

all the light of sacred story

gathers round its head sublime.

REMEMBRANCE AT THE CROSS

The Reading John 19:23-27

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says. “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

The Prayer

Infinite and eternal God, maker of all creation,

you are never far away from any of your children.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit,

draw us into relationship with you.

May all the bonds of divine and human love

be made stronger and more meaningful through him

who in his mortal agony was not forgetful

that we need one another’s love,

even Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Hymn: No. 298, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”    Hamburg

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ, my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

SUBMISSION AT THE CROSS

The Reading Matthew 27:39-47

Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

The Prayer

O God of deepest mystery,

you know the secrets of our hearts,

shut not your merciful ears to our prayers.

Spare us, we pray, most eternal judge,

so that in our last hour

we may not be separated from you.

Save us in our mortal strife,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Hymn: No. 297, “Beneath the Cross”           St. Christopher

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;

a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

the very dying form of One who suffered there for me;

and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess:

the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask not other sunshine than the sunshine of his face;

content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,

my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

SUFFERING AT THE CROSS

The Reading John 19:28-29

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said, (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.

The Prayer

O God of strength, increase our faith,

renew our courage, and by your Spirit,

help us to overcome those things

which draw away from you

and from those who seek our help.

May your blessing be upon all

who give cups of water to others,

because all are a part of your created order.

Show us, we pray, that even in disorder,

you are still with us, and that in every sorrow

you continue to love us.

May our faith remain firm in your faithfulness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Hymn: No. 286, “O Sacred Head”              Passion Chorale

O sacred Head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded with thorns thine only crown:

how pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!

How does that visage languish which once was bright as morn!

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinner’s gain;

mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve thy place;

look on me with thy favor, vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend,

for this thy dying sorrow, thy pit without end?

O make me thine forever; and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.

VICTORY AT THE CROSS

The Reading John 17:1-8; 19:30

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over  all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life,  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me. I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Prayer

O God, we praise you for the finished work of your Son,

that in him all your promises of divine grace

had their fulfillment.

Help us to love and serve him all the days of our lives,

so that when our time on earth has ended,

we may be able to know

we have finished the work you gave us to do.

We ask this prayer

through the riches of grace in your Son,

Jesus our Savior. Amen.

The Hymn: No. 292, “What Wondrous Love”       Wondrous Love

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of life

to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

to lay aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,

while millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing;

while millions join the theme I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

and through eternity I’ll sing on.

CONFIDENCE AT THE CROSS

The Reading Luke 23:44-49

It was now about noon. And darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Prayer

O Christ of Calvary,

who on the cross did bow your head in pain,

commending your spirit

into the hands of the eternal God,

teach us willingly and joyfully

to commit our lives and souls to you.

In you, O God, do we place our trust.

Draw us into your embracing presence.

May your holy face shine on us

Save us we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Hymn: No. 287, “O Love Divine”                                  Selena

O Love Divine, what hast thou done

The immortal God hath died for me!

The Father’s co-eternal Son bore all my sins upon the tree.

Th’ immortal God for me hath died:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Is crucified for me and you, to bring us rebels back to God.

Believe, believe the record true,

ye all are bought with Jesus’ blood.

Pardon for all flows from his side:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Behold him, all ye that pass by,

the bleeding Prince of life and peace!

Come, sinners, see your Savior die, and say,

“Was ever grief like his?”

Come, feel with me his blood applied:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

The Meditation Rev. Dale Dusman

The Benediction

This day seems to be all about death, Jesus;

what else is it when you are arrested,

accused,

beaten,

betrayed,

crucified?

But, when we look a little closer,

we discover it’s really all about life;

integrity unbowed by expediency,

love unchanged by hatred,

humility undeterred by power,

truth untainted by lies;

and real, vibrant, fearless life breaking through it all.

You died, Jesus,

because you refused to settle for anything less,

than genuine, eternal life,

for you, and for us all.

Teach us to live by the same creed,

to refuse to cling to a life that is less than real,

less than honest, humble and loving;

and to be so resolute in our quest for life,

that we will always follow where you lead

in order to find it and share it. Amen.

The Response: “Jesus, Remember Me”               Jacques Berthier

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

The Postlude: “Mesto”                                                David Blake