Second Sunday of Easter

                                                    April 11, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

 

                                                   GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

IN SILENCE                                                                        Charles Ohlich, The Suffering God

 

            The peace which God gives us is not a freedom from the storms of life,

                        but a mysterious strength and comfort amid the storms;

                  not the removal of pain, but the bestowal of a precious gift.

                        The gift is God himself, the comforter,

                                the one who stands alongside us.

 

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP                                                                     Psalm 118: 26-27

 

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

            We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given

            us light.

 

PRELUDE                           In Christ There Is No East or West                    arr. A. Reinagle

                                                            The Risen Christ!                                               L. Smith

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

 

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

             LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                        Psalm 118: 1, 19, 21-24

 

            O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

                    his steadfast love endures forever.

            Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them

                    and give thanks to the Lord.

            I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

                    The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

            This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

                    This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 119                                                                The Strife Is O’er

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Unison)                           excerpts from the Confession of 1967

 

            In Jesus of Nazareth true humanity was realized once for all.

                 Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs,

                            temptations, joys and sorrows.

                 He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother

                                to all kinds of sinful people.

                 But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people.

                     His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations

                                and national hopes.

                                     Many rejected him and demanded his death.

                 In giving himself freely for them he took upon himself

                                the judgment under which all stand convicted.

                 God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord.

             The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all.

 

*THE PEACE

            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

 

LESSON FROM HISTORY                                                                        Acts 6: 1-6 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                          Pew Bible p. 116

 

ANTHEM                                         Lift High the Cross                    S. Nicholson/R. Vickery

 

WORD WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                          John 20: 19-23 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                   Pew Bible pp. 108-09

 

SERMON                                                                                               “A Breath of Fresh Air”

 

                                                 RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSE

     OFFERTORY               Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing                       R. Thygerson

 

COMMISSIONING OF STEPHEN MINISTERS

     Donna Coolidge, and Elmer Fischer

     Stephen Leaders assisting - Carol Bessey, and Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

                                                  Associate Pastor, Rev. Michael Ludwig

 

PRAYER DEDICATING, THANKING AND ASKING

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

 

                                                        GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 118                                                                                    The Day of Resurrection!

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                                       The Strife Is O’er                                     arr. C. Simone

                                  (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, Anne Gibson

Sermon

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Word with Children

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Musical Leadership

Chancel Choir

Celebration Singers

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster;

Nancy Deeth, Organist/Pianist

Greeters

Betty Bryan, Donna Coolidge, Jan Bundy,

Polly Boring

Concerned Deacon

Shirley Cotter

Head Usher

Jeff Soderholm