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: “Laughter is carbonated holiness.” – Anne Lamott
“It is cheerful to God when you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.”
– L.M. Montgomery
Gathering Music: Dreams and Rainbows – A Medley, Jen Comeau,
Deirdre Drennen, and Cris Hudson (Williams, David, Hoffman, Livingston)
Responsive Call to Worship:
Leader: Sing a new song, A springtime shout-out to new life and to the joy of this Easter Season.
People: Sing praise to our joyful Easter God Whose power brings new life out of death.
Leader: Grant us peace and hope each day.
People: Our visions and hopes are refreshed, made new.
Leader: For God has taken ordinary things And made them extraordinary. God has turned our tears into dancing.
All: Sing a New Song!
Opening Hymn: Give Us to Laughter (lyrics in bulletin; melody is: Be Thou My Vision)
Invocation:
O Great Laughing God, we come into your presence with joy and longing to be surprised. We thank you that you have given to us the gift of laughter and delight. These things give hints as to the nature of your purpose for us and for all the earth. May we find that in giving up to laughter there is healing and hope and abundance and blessing. Tickle our souls with the brush of your Spirit to renew our worship and our living. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer:
Awakening: Weave (by Rosemary Crowe) -Deirdre Drennen, Jen Comeau and Chris Hudson
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9, Luke 24:13-35 -Karen Stanley?
After the readings, you may respond “Thanks Be to God.”
Reflections: Rev. Paula Norbert
Meditative Instrumental ~ Deirdre Drennen
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.
Offertory: Special Music – by Deirdre Drennen
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.
Prayers of the People: See Insert
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Closing Hymn: It is Well With My Soul p.840 vs. 1, 3,& 4
Benediction
May God grant you a soul that treasures all that is good, doesn’t frighten easily when life goes awry, and finds the means to hold things in their place. May God grant you the good humor to take a joke, discover joy in life, and share love with others. May God, our Creator, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you this day and forever more. Amen
Postlude: Go In Peace
Song Lyrics: Give to us Laughter
Give to us laughter,
O Source of our life.
Laughter can banish
so much of our strife!
Laughter and love
give us wholeness and health.
Laughter and love
are the coin of true wealth.
Give to us laughter
as sign of deep joy;
let us in laughing
find Christian employ,
joining with stars
and with bright northern lights,
laughing and praising
and sharing delights.
Even in sorrow
and hours of grief,
laughter with tears
brings us healing relief!
God, give us laughter,
and God, give us peace,
joy of your promise
among us increase.
— hymn text copyright © 1974 Walter Farquharson.