EASTER SUNDAY
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us for the Easter egg hunt at Joan E’s at 10:15 following the service.
GREETING
PRELUDE Kathy Nash
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: His right hand has done mighty things!
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
All: His love endures forever.
Leader: The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
All: His love endures forever.
* HYMN “Lift High the Cross” UMH #159
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, in light of the sacrifices you made for us, what do we have to offer that is worthy? You were willing to suffer the injustice of a mockery of a trial. You endured the abuse of a violent and cruel system. You even went so far as to die one of the worst deaths that humanity has ever conceived. In the face of all that, Scripture time and time again calls us to be imitators of you, but we are unable or unwilling. Lord, we confess our weakness.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
TIME WITH YOUTH Janet Keffer
*HYMN “Crown Him with Many Crowns” UMH #327
NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Luke 24:1-12
PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Glorious God of Life and Light, even as you broke into the sealed tomb so long ago, you break into the dark tombs we find ourselves in even today. You’ve rolled away stones and led us into the light of new days we never thought we would see. Remind us that you call us to bring others to the light of new life in your Son, our Savior. Remind us that we bring others to that light through the words we share, through the lives we live, and through the mission and ministry we empower through gifts of time, talent, and treasure. May our whole offering, our very lives, give testimony to life that overcomes death and light that defeats any darkness. In the risen Christ, we pray. Amen. (John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12)
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY UMH #95
JOYS AND CONCERNS-PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Janet Keffer THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE John Chapter 20
THE MESSAGE “The Defeat That Ended in Victory” Michael Keffer
*HYMN “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” UMH #302
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “He Lives” UMH #310
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives! He lives within my heart.
*BLESSING
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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary if needed.