Service for Easter

                                                     April 4, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

 

                                                   GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

IN SILENCE                                                                                                        Henri Nouwen,

                                                       With Burning Hearts:  A Meditation on the Eucharisic Life

Only with an invitation to ‘come and stay with me’ can an interesting encounter

            develop into a transforming relationship

 

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP                                                               from Psalm 114: 7-8/wrl

            Tremble, O earth at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

            God turns rocks into pools of water, flint into a spring of water;

                 the stone of death into life given in baptism!

 

PRELUDE                 Prelude from a Sonata for Strings and Trumpet                   A. Corelli

                                       Triumphal March from Judas Maccabacus                   G. F. Handel

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

          Minute for One Great Hour of Sharing                                                          Tom Sloan

 

CHIMES & CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP           Come Before the Lord         G. Cornell

             LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                 on Isaiah 25:6-9 (The Message)

 

               Isaiah pictures God’s promise to be at home with God’s people—

     “Here…the Lord of hosts will throw a feast for all the people of the world,

     A feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines,

a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts.

            Here…God will banish the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,

the shadow of doom darkening all nations.

                 Yes, God will banish death forever. 

            At that time, people will say, “Look at what’s happened!  This is our God!

                 We waited for the Lord, who showed up and saved us!

                 Let’s celebrate, sing the joys of God’s salvation!

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 123                                                Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE                                                         on Luke 24:13-35/wrl

 

               Lord, as a stranger you approach disciples along the way.

            Fearing strangers, we miss the daily bread of your holiness in our midst.

            Failing to know your scriptures,

    our hopes grow old, and disappointments linger in memory;

            making us blind and deaf to your walk with us.

 

Forgive us.  Appear and heal us again or for the first time.

Break bread in front of us.  Break what we have become, if need be.

Mend and restore us in company with the faithful, in Jesus Christ.

                                       (time for silent, personal confession)  Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON & THE PEACE                                                   from Romans

           

            Hear the Good News:  If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord,

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

                 For one believes with the heart and so is justified,

and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

            The scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

                 Thank God!

           

            The peace of the forgiving Lord be with you all.

                 Peace be with you.

                          (worshipers share words and gestures of the peace of Christ)

 

                                                   PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

ANTHEM                                          Joy in the Morning                                            N. Sleeth

 

WORD WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                          Luke 24: 13-35 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                     Pew Bible pp. 84-85

 

SERMON                                                                                                       “Hinge of History”

 

              RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD & SEAL THE WORD IN SACRAMENT

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSE

            OFFERTORY                         A Jubilant Song                                                  A. Pote

 

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

                 And also with you.

            Lift up your hearts.

                 We lift them to the Lord.

            Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

                 It is right to give our thanks to God.

            It is right, O God, and…. 

With faithful people of every time and place we raise our voices.

     RESPONSE # 581                                                                             Holy, Holy, Holy Lord

            You are holy, Lord, and holy is your Son Jesus…. 

Let us proclaim the mystery at the center of faith.

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

Loving God, send your Holy Spirit….Amen.

     *RESPONSE # 592                                       Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

     *THE LORD’S PRAYER (ecumenical)                       The Hymnal p. 16 (large print p.21)

 

BREAKING BREAD AND SHARING THE CUP

               Serving others the bread, worshipers may say, “The bread of life for you.”

                        Serving others the cup “The cup of blessing in Christ for you.”

 

                                                        GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 115                                                                  Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                   The Heavens Are Telling, First Movement                     B. Marcello

                                  (Note that some will be seated and others depart in joy and silence.)

 

                            WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

                                                        WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Michael Ludwig, Steve Hilditch

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Musical Leadership

James Muessig and Fred Shaffer, Trumpets

Gordi Villanova and Patrick Chase, Trombones

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organist/Pianist

Greeters

Jan Bundy, Ed & Shirley Cotter

Concerned Deacon

Ginni Douridas

Head Usher

Tom Sloan