April 1, 2018 Easter

THEME: A True Relationship - Longing Fulfilled

NOTES:We have one service today at 10:40am. The order will reflect changes.

SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-18
20:1 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.

20:2 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."

20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.

20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

20:5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

20:6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,

20:7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

20:8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

20:9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

20:10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

20:11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;

20:12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

20:13 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."

20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

20:15 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."

20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).

20:17 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.'"

20:18 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.



10:40AM Service

Welcome    

Prelude  

Dramatic Introduction

"A Story that Changes the World"

We are not eye-witnesses to an event,

as were Mary and the disciples;

we have not journeyed

through a dangerous city

to seek answers or consolation;

we have not seen angels

gathering at the rim of this day,

or wept in the garden this morning

because we could not find Him.

But we are here to attest to a story

that has not lost its power

during twenty centuries

of change and conflict.

We are here because those before us

carried this story

as if it were precious gold;

cherished it as if it were

the key to a hidden wisdom.

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

take your places here today

in celebration and in awe.

What you are about to hear again,

has the capacity to change the world.

Your very presence attests

to the rising up of life

from the tomb of despair,

and to the uncontrollable power of God.

It is Easter morning again:

and we will celebrate.

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/

                                                                   

We Gather in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship       

Leader: Friends, the tomb is empty!  

And the stone has been rolled away!
People: Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!
Leader: For three days Jesus lay in that cold and lonely place.
But God’s love cannot be contained by death!
People: Death has been swallowed up in victory!    
Leader: Where, O death, is your victory?
People: Where, O death, is your sting?
Leader: Come, let us worship God who gives us the victory!

~ adapted from a piece written by Stephen Fearing, and posted on Liturgy & Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  http://www.stephenmfearing.com/

        

Hymn of Praise: CH#216 "Christ the Lord is Risen Today"    Sts. 1, 2 & 4

Invocation (UNISON)

Creator of Life,

in raising Christ Jesus

through and beyond

the chains of death,

You opened for us the way

to eternal and abundant life.

May our Alleluias on this day

float high above the ceiling

of what we think we know

and transcend to the heaven of

what we believe—

and thus live. 

Through Jesus Christ our Living Savior,

Amen.

~ written by Karen Turner, and posted on the Lifeway website.  http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_LW_MaundyThursday.pdf

Procession of Flowers

I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East,
Though he give light, & th’ East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this,
Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we misse:
There is but one, and that one ever.

George Herbert (1593-1533): I got me flowers, from The Temple, 1633

Bring your flowers and place them in the cross frame.

Passing of the Peace

We return to our seats as the piano music begins.   
   

Hymn of Faith: CH#548  "The Old Rugged Cross"     Sts. 1, 3 & 4

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture
                                                                     

Anthem

Children’s Sermon                                                       

Sermon                                                        

We Prayer Together

We Share Our Joys & Concerns                                        

Prayer Hymn: CH#562  "Because He Lives"        Sts. 1 & 3

Praying Together                                                      

Risen Lord Jesus, 
as the rising sun scatters the darkness, 
let fear and the memory of failure

be scattered from our souls 
that we may live in the glorious freedom

of the children of God

We raise up into your resurrection light

all who are excluded from fullness of life 
by poverty, unemployment or stigma, 
by injustice, criminality or neglect, 
by homelessness, landlessness or war, 
remembering in particular the peoples of

Risen Lord Jesus, 
let us be baptized by your resurrection light. 
May we trust in you above all else, 
hope in you above all else, 
seek you in all things, 
find you in every place, 
meet you among all people, 
know you through everything, 
and love you 
beyond, beyond, beyond all telling. 

We pray in your name, living Lord. Amen.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion  Hymn: CH# 227   "In the Garden"       ALL

The Elder’s Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Supper

All are welcome to share at the Table.  Come forward using the center aisle.  As you partake of the bread and the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the table.  The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

The Lord’s Prayer   

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                                   

Discipleship Hymn: CH# 226  "He Lives"     ALL

Acolytes come forward.

Blessing                                                                          

Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading. 
 

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,

People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
 

Parting Song: Maranatha #126  "He Is Lord"    Sing Once