No matter who you are or where you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome in this Open and Affirming congregation of the United of Christ.

` Order of Service for

Sunday, April 4, 2021 Day

Minister: Rev. Sara Marean Music Director: William Ogmundson

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ORDER of WORSHIP – April 4, 2021

Words of Welcome and Announcements A Time of Silence to Center Ourselves

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Christ is Risen! All: Christ is risen, indeed! One: Hope is alive! All: Hope is alive, indeed! One: God’s love is eternal! All: ! Let us give thanks for what God has done.

HYMN “CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY” #216 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! All creation, join to say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

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!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

PRAYER OF INVOCATION God of grace and power, we come rejoicing in Christ’s empty tomb. We come trusting in the good news that tells us Christ is with us. The Risen Christ is living proof that You care about our lives, O God. The Risen Christ offers to us glimpses of hope, even in our tears. For the tomb is not quiet. It speaks. It proclaims! It is a promise of eternal life! Thank you, gracious and almighty God. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE Isaiah 25:6–9 and John 20:1–18

MESSAGE REV. SARA MAREAN

HYMN “THINE IS THE GLORY” CHALICE #218 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son, Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for our Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life! Life is nought without thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love. Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

MORNING PRAYERS Sharing of Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer followed by The Lord’s Prayer Our * …. 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen *We have come to know God by many different names and images. Please use the one which speaks from your heart today. (e.g. Father, Mother, Creator…)

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Prayer Response “RESTLESS WEAVER” Chalice Hymnal # 658, stanza 4 Restless Weaver, still conceiving new life now and yet to be. Binding all your vast creation in one living tapestry. You have called us to be weavers. Let your love Guide all we do. With your Reign of Peace our pattern, we will weave your world anew.

THE GIVING OF OUR GIFTS Invitation and * Lasst Uns Erfreuen Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Alleluia, Alleluia Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of love, We offer our gifts of time, spiritual gifts, and financial gifts as a sign of our love for you and the world. We ask a special blessing on these gifts where you meet us in our suffering, and raise us up, so that all may come to know of your abiding love. Amen.

SACRAMENT OF

COMMUNION HYMN “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether” NCH #337 Draw us in the Spirit’s tether, for when humbly in your name, Two or three are met together, you are in the midst of them; Alleluia! Alleluia! Touch we now your garment’s hem.

As disciples used to gather in the name of Christ to sup, Then with thanks to God the Giver, break the bread and bless the cup, Alleluia! Alleluia! So now bind our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of you, That by caring, helping, giving, we may be disciples true. Alleluia! Alleluia! We may serve with faith anew.

INVITATION

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of resurrection grace, Help us in our pain, despair and fear so that we are not prone to follow the path of hopelessness. Help us, to instead, be like the Risen Christ, and rise up, as a brave and holy people, living beyond our pain, despair and fear by remaining hopeful in your steadfast love. Help us, we pray. Amen.

SILENCE

ASSURANCE OF PARDON God hears our prayers with grace and mercy, and raises our countenance from despair into resurrection joy! God meets us in our human suffering, comforts us in our tears, and offers to us new hope, Hallelujah!

WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING O Christ, we thank you for this feast of life. Fed by your love and strengthened by your life, we humbly accept your call to go into this world to live with hope, and to share your joy. You commission us to feed as we have been fed, forgive as we have been forgiven, and love as we have been loved. Thanks be to God. Amen.

HYMN “CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS” CHALICE # 234 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! How the heavenly 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.

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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.

Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end, and round his pierced feet Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me; Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

COMMISSIONING ONE ANOTHER Go into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

BENEDICTION

SUNG RESPONSE “ALLELUIA”

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