Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart. -Rainer Maria Rilke
The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also. -Harriet Ann Jacobs
Gathering Music: Day By Day (by Stephen Schwartz)
-Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Responsive Call to Worship:
Leader: Sing a new song, a springtime celebration of new life
People: Sing praise to our joyful Easter God Whose
power brings new life out of death!
Leader: Immerse doubt and despair in the fountain
of new birth
People: Our visions and hopes are refreshed and made new
Leader: For God has taken ordinary things and made them extraordinary.
All: Sing a New Song!
Opening Hymn: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! *See Lyric Insert
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! (Lyrics)
1.Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
All creation join today, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumph high, Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
3. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven! Alleluia!
Praise to you by both be given, Alleluia!
Every knee to you shall bow, Alleluia!
Risen Christ, triumphant now, Alleluia!
Invocation:
Holy God, You have transformed absurd impossibility
into reality: resurrection… You have coaxed us to sing springtime alleluias where once there was a gray dawn, You have called us out of the tombs we inhabit into an undreamed of tomorrow, we praise you for this day! Come, Risen Christ, in newness and hope on this Eastertide day. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer:
Awakening: All Good Gifts (by Stephen Schwartz)
-Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Scripture: 1 John 3:16-24, Matthew 28:8-10, 16-20
-Peter McPheeters
After the readings, you may respond “Thanks Be to God.”
Reflections: Rev. Paula Norbert
Meditative Instrumental ~ Neal Zweig
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace,
Be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon
the Lord.
Prayers of the People:
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: Simple Gifts (by Joseph Brackett) -Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below, Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Closing Hymn: This Little Light of Mine
This Little Light of Mine (Lyrics)
1.This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
2.Ev’ry where I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Ev’ry where I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Ev’ry where I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
3.Here in this church, we’re gonna let it shine
Here in this church, we’re gonna let it shine
Here in this church, we’re gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
*REPEAT VS. #1
Benediction
No matter the brightness of the day, Or the clear
skies of night, Our God is moving with us,
The Christ is calling to us “Peace be with you,”
And the Holy Spirit is surrounding us.
May you know this deep peace and carry it in your hearts. Amen.
Go In Peace
For Your Reflection…
Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime. – Martin Luther
“Seen”
“You had not imagined
that something so empty
could fill you
to overflowing,
and now you carry
the knowledge
like an awful treasure
or like a child
that curls itself
within your heart:
how the emptiness
will bear forth
a new world
you cannot fathom
but on whose edge
you stand.
So why do you linger?
You have seen,
and so you are
already blessed.
You have been seen,
and so you are
the blessing.
There is no other word
you need.
There is simply
to go
and tell.
There is simply
to begin.”
“Seen” by Jan Richardson, “Easter Sunday: While It Was Still Dark,” The Painted Prayerbook website (Apr. 15, 2017)
“Prayer is sitting in the silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful, and praising God until we ourselves are an act of praise.”
— Richard Rohr
Many thanks to Neal Zweig and Cheryl Sager for sharing our music this day. Thank you to the wonderful musicians who brought such joy to our Easter Worship last Sunday.