Order of Service / Easter Sunday / April 20, 2025

 *Gathering Hymn Welcome, Happy Morning (#161 VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: This is the place of joy.

  All: Christ is risen!

One: This is the time of new hope.

  All: Christ is risen!

One: This is the way of freedom.

  All: Christ is risen!

One: Gathered with faithful friends,

  All: Christ is risen!

One: Everything is possible now.

  All: Christ is risen!

One: Christ is risen indeed.

  All: Hallelujah!

*David Sparks, Gathering L/E 2025. Page 43.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn This Is the Day That God Has Made (#175 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Compassionate God, you have shown us through the risen Christ that love is stronger than death, and goodness is greater than evil. Still, we confess that we do not always live as Easter people. We forget the promise. We lose hope. We turn away from your love. Forgive us and lift us with the hope of resurrection. Renew us with the joy of new life. Guide us, that we may walk in faith and share your Good News with the world. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: God’s love is stronger than death, and grace is deeper than our failings.

  All: Through the risen Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and set free.

One: Let us walk in hope, live in peace, and share the joy of resurrection.

  All: Thanks be to God. Amen.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (Draw the Circle Wide (MV 145), Refrain)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song: no one stands alone.

Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.


Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Isaiah 65:17-25 Look, I am doing something new.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (VU p. 850 | P. 1,2,3) God is my strength and my song.

Luke 24:1-12 The women report that the tomb is empty.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Joy comes with the Dawn (#166 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#541 VU)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known;

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Loving God, all good gifts around us come from you. God of all creation, thank you that in Jesus’ resurrection, we arise to new life in body, mind, and spirit. Bless us as we share the abundance of this resurrection, in our witness and service, as we join Creation in declaring your majesty. May we bear wonderful fruit that we might flourish in abundance and use all good gifts to live for you. Amen.

*Keith Mayers, Gathering L/E 2025. Page 48.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks (#179 VU|vs. 1,2,3)

*Commissioning

One: Go bring hope, where there is defeat.

All: We will be hope from the risen Christ!

One: Foster companionship, where people live in loneliness.

All: We will be company, in the risen Christ!

One: Work for purpose, where confidence is lacking.

All: We will bring fulfillment in the risen Christ!

One: Bring an end to apathy and fear.

All: We will bring freedom in the risen Christ!

One: Be a word of calm where there was tumult and upset.

All: We will be peace in the risen Christ.

*Commissioning Song May God’s Sheltering Wings (#214 MV)

May God’s sheltering wings, her gathering wings protect you,

May God’s nurturing arms, her cradling arms sustain you,

And hold you in her love, and hold you in her love.

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