Service for the 3rd Sunday of Easter

                                                    April 18, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

 

                                                   GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

IN SILENCE                                                   Philip Yancey, Reaching for the Invisible God, p. 46

 

The church at its best prepares a safe and secure space that belief may one day fill;

we need not bring fully formed belief to the door as a ticket for admission.

 

To believe is human; to doubt divine.                                                                    Pete Rollin

 

THE WORD BECKONS                                                                              John 20:29 (NRSV)

 

            Jesus says to a doubter:  “Have you believed because you have seen me?” and adds:

                Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

 

PRELUDE                                             Joyful Praise                                                 H. Starks

                                               Meditation on “Beautiful Savior”                          C. Moklebust

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

 

CHIMES & CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP

             LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                    from Psalm 30:4-5 (NRSV)

            Sing praises to the Lord, you his faithful people!

                 We give thanks to God’s holy name.

            God’s anger lasts a moment.

                And God’s favor a lifetime!

            Tears linger for the night.

                 And joy comes with the dawn.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 108                                                                    Christ Is Alive!

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                                                              John 20:19-31

 

            Through Jesus Christ—

                 God has loosed the chains of sin, forgiving us

and commissioning us to loose and to bind sin forever.

            Through Jesus Christ—

                 God has broken the bonds of death, giving us the Spirit

                        that Jesus breathed in and breathes out upon disciples, the church.

            Through Jesus Christ—

                 God has released the forces of love, sending us out in God’s name

                        to the world God loves and has reconciled to himself.

            Through Jesus Christ—

                 God offers the world peace and wholeness,

                      and sends us as ambassadors of God’s peace.

            Therefore when we hear:

                  “the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,” we respond,

                   “The Peace of Christ be with you.”

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

 

                                                   PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

ANTHEM                                            I Am Not Afraid                                              L. Larson

 

WORD WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                          John 20: 19-31 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                   Pew Bible pp. 108-09

 

SERMON                               “When disciples meet behind closed doors, a doubter is inside.”

 

                                                 RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

AN OFFERING OF OUR LIVES FOR GOD’S PURPOSES

     OFFERTORY                         The Lord Is My Shepherd                                     A. Kaplan

                                                         Sarah Shaffer, Soprano

 

ORDINATION & INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS-ELECT

               Installation of Deacon-Elect Shirley Cotter

            Installation of Elder-Elect Patricia Soderholm

 

                 Statement on Ordination & Installation

                 Constitutional Questions & Responses

                 Laying On of Hands & Prayers

                 Declaration of Ordination & Installation, Charge to Officers and Welcome

 

PRAYERS THANKING, ASKING & DEDICATING

     THE LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)                                                            Hymnal Pg. 16

 

                                                        GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 122 (Sing refrain only after verse 3)                                             Thine Is the Glory

 

*CHARGE

 

            Jesus says to disciples, “Peace be with you.

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

     After saying this, Jesus 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.”

 

*BLESSING

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE

 

POSTLUDE                                         Mallet Postlude                                            K. Mitchell

                                  (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

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Musical Leadership

Overbrook Belles

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organist/Pianist

Greeters

Mary Schnelle, Betty & Jim Clark