Coffee Hosts:  Beverly Clark and Betty Weigel

April 8, 2007                                                                                                             10:00 a.m.

*Those able may stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE                 “Christ Hath Triumphed, Alleluia!”                                               Hughes

BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THIS ROOM

*CALL TO WORSHIP

ALL:  (Hymn 104, verse 1)  Christ is risen!  Shout Hosanna!  Celebrate this day of days!  Christ is risen!  Hush in wonder:  All creation is amazed.  In the desert all surrounding, See, a spreading tree has grown.  Healing leaves of grace abounding Bring a taste of love unknown.

ONE:  Christ is risen!

ALL:  Christ is risen indeed!

ONE:  This is the day that the Lord has made.

ALL:  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us worship God!         (From Psalm 118)

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN  118            “The Day of Resurrection!”

*LITANY OF ASSURANCE

Leader:  With the stone rolled away came emptiness

People:  Of a tomb that held captive the Crucified, of the space that was once filled with death, of the cross that now pointed to greater truth of God’s love in spite of ourselves.

Leader:  With the stone rolled away came questions

People:  From those whose world lay shattered, from those who would demand living proof, from those who were seeking a sign of promise breeding confidence, assurance and trust.

Leader:  With the stone rolled away came light

People:   To illumine the darkness of suspicion and fear, to dispel the shadows of distrust, anxiety, insecurity, to radiate with the beams of new hope and understanding the life about to be lived.

Leader:  With the stone rolled away came a future

People:  With a truth that outshines the wisdom of ages, with space to be filled with the kingdom of God, with the company of those who through history confess Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!  Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 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, Amen.

READING FROM THE PROPHETS                                                                   Isaiah 65:17-25

READING FROM THE ACTS                                                                                Acts 10:34-43

ANTHEM                           “All Heaven Declares”                                             Richards/Fettke

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Jesus loves me, this I know!  For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong, They are weak, but he is strong!  Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!

(Toddlers may go to the Nursery, older children to Children’s Church)

READING FROM THE GOSPEL                                                                           Luke 24:1-12

SERMON                   “Who? What? When? Where? Why?”                     Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

*HYMN INSERT            “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991)

In life and in death we belong to God.  Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.  We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God.  Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:  preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.  Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain, and giving his life for the sins of the world.  God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.   With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! (10.1, 10.2, 10.6)

*APOSTLES’ CREED (Page 14, Traditional)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (Page 16, Traditional)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen.

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                       “Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Strain”                                Broughton

*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 592) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

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.

*HYMN  108                           “Christ Is Alive!”

*THE CHARGE AND THE BENEDICTION

*CARRYING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

And the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts, shall keep your minds on Jesus Christ.