A Service for the Lord's Day
Easter
* Indicates that those who are able may stand.
April 24, 2011, 11:00 A.M.
Bold type is spoken by the people.
A thought from Calvin: “The angel mingles joy with Mary’s grief when he says that there is no reason to weep, since Christ has risen”
VOLUNTARY Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Robert A. Hobby
Paul Thurmond, Organist
(Please sign and pass the registers)
*CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Matthew 28) Sue Rich, Liturgist
Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus.
We are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here. He has been raised, as he said.
Let us see the place where he was laid.
*OPENING HYMN NO. 108 Christ Is Alive!
* UNISON PRAYER OF PRAISE FOR THE RESURRECTION
God of love and God of glory, we celebrate with your Son a great victory over sin and death. All creation is a witness to your power over pain and suffering. We give thanks for the opportunity to sing your praises and share the good news of the resurrection. We give you thanks for all the saints who have gone on before us and sing today in the heavenly choir. We sing and pray for those who do not enjoy our freedom. We sing for those who are lost and struggling. Help us to live as your Easter people, reconciling the world to your unending love. This we pray in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI, P. 579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES Presented by the Youth of the Church
SCRIPTURE READING Jeremiah 31:1-6 (p 689)
ANTHEM Hearts to Heaven and Voices Raise Paul Thurmond
Text: Christopher Wordsworth
Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to heav’n and voices raise;
Sing to God a hymn of gladness, sing to God a hymn of praise.
He, who on the cross a victim, for the world’s salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, now is risen from the dead.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ from death to life is born.
Glorious life and life immortal, on this holy Easter morn.
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer by his mighty enterprise.
We with him to life eternal by his resurrection rise.
Christ is risen; we are risen. Shed upon us heav’nly grace,
Rain and dew and gleams of glory from the brightness of thy face,
That we, with our thoughts in heav’n, here on earth may fruitful be,
And by angel hands be gathered, and be ever, Lord, with thee.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high.
Alleluia! to the Savior who has gained the victory;
Alleluia! to the Spirit, fount of love and sanctity;
Alleluia! Alleluia! to the Triune Majesty. Alleluia! Alleluia!
SCRIPTURE READING John 20:1-18 (p 108)
RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL: Hymn No. 106
Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.
SERMON The Return of the Gardener Rev. Pat Handlson
*HYMN OF AFFIRMATION NO. 104 Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
*GREETINGS (After an exchange of the Peace between the pastor and the congregation, we encourage you to greet one another. The Greetings will conclude with the first verse of
“Blest Be the Tie” {Hymn No. 438})
The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you. (A time of greeting)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY Prelude in D Major, WTC I J.S. Bach
*DOXOLOGY (p. 592)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns David Cherwien, arr.
All: Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
Hark, how the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.
Crown him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now his brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, yet of that rose the stem,
The root whence mercy ever flows, the babe of Bethlehem.
Choir: Crown him the Lord of love—Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bend their burning eyes at mysteries so bright.
All: Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Choir: Crown him the Lord of peace, whose pow’r a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pieced feet
Fair flow’rs of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
All: Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail through all eternity.
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE Toccata Théodore Dubois