Leading Worship Today

Spring Glen Church, United Church of Christ The Institution of the Meal A Service of the Word and Communion for Easter Day The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup

April 8, 2012 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. The Prayer of Thanksgiving All: We give thanks to you, O God, for the blessing of your table, for your grace Thought for Preparation: that loves, forgives and heals the world. Now send us out to be bread for each other Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. and light for the world, ~Clarence W. Hall as we follow Jesus into your kingdom. Amen.

RINGING THE HOUR OF WORSHIP If you’d like to join the choir for the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus” at the postlude, please come into the choir loft on the closing hymn. One: Alleluia! Christ is risen! All: Alleluia! He is risen indeed! HYMN (Please stand) “The Day of Resurrection” New Century #245

PROCESSIONAL HYMN (please stand) “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” BENEDICTION (Remain standing) New Century #233 POSTLUDE (all who are able, please remain standing and continue standing through the THE EASTER ACCLAMATION AND PRAYER (please remain standing) ringing of the bell) “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah G.F. Handel (1685-1759) One: Death cannot contain him; we have seen the Lord! All: Thanks be to God, who gives us victory over death. RINGING THE CLOSE OF WORSHIP One: Let us pray: All: God of life and power, God of the now-awakened world, We praise you on this our festival day, for the dawning of joy, for the opening of tombs, for love that outlasts everything. We praise you for Jesus who is the Christ, crucified yet risen, who for our sakes has lived and died and lives again. God of life and power, God of the now-awakened world, may we live as Easter people, today and tomorrow, compelled by love, made bold by hope, with alleluias in all our hearts. In Jesus’ name and spirit, Amen.

THE UNISON EASTER RESPONSE (please remain standing) Pilgrim Hymnal #181 (verses 1 & 3) Pilgrim Hymnal #181 (verses 1 & 3) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The strife is o’er, the battle done; The victory of life is won; The strife is o’er, the battle done; The victory of life is won; The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia! The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped, He rises glorious from the dead; All glory to our The three sad days are quickly sped, He rises glorious from the dead; All glory to our risen Head! Alleluia! risen Head! Alleluia!

PASSING OF THE PEACE (remain standing) PASSING OF THE PEACE (remain standing) One: May the peace of the risen Christ be with you. One: May the peace of the risen Christ be with you. All: And also with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us share among us a sign of that peace. One: Let us share among us a sign of that peace. READING FROM THE EPISTLES 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11 READING FROM THE EPISTLES 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11 TIME WITH CHILDREN “Easter Eggs” TIME WITH CHILDREN “Easter Eggs” (Children may return to their seats) (Children may return to their seats) ANTHEM “Alleluia” from Exsultate Jubilate W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) ANTHEM “Alleluia” from Exsultate Jubilate W.A. Mozart (1756-1791

READING FROM THE GOSPEL Mark 16:1-8 READING FROM THE GOSPEL Mark 16:1-8

THE EASTER MESSAGE “Beginning Again” Rev. Jeff Crews THE EASTER MESSAGE “Beginning Again” Rev. Jeff Crews

HYMN (please stand) “Now The Green Blade Rises” HYMN (please stand) “Now The Green Blade Rises” New Century # 238 New Century # 238

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Joys and Concerns Joys and Concerns Pastoral and Silent Prayer Pastoral and Silent Prayer

OFFERING OF GIFTS OFFERING OF GIFTS Invitation Invitation Offertory “O Love, How Deep” Alfred Fedak (b. 1953) Offertory “O Love, How Deep” Alfred Fedak (b. 1953) Doxology (Please stand) (Congregation joins choir to sing final verses of “O Love, Doxology (Please stand) (Congregation joins choir to sing final verses of “O Love, How Deep” ) How Deep” )

For us he rose from death again; for us he went on high to reign; for us he sent his For us he rose from death again; for us he went on high to reign; for us he sent his Spirit Spirit here to guide, to comfort and to cheer. here to guide, to comfort and to cheer. 2 2 THE UNISON EASTER RESPONSE (please remain standing) All glory to our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad: the Trinity whom we adore forever and forever more! Prayer of Dedication

O love, how deep, how broad, how high, how passing thought and fantasy, that God, THE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION the Son of God, should take our mortal form for mortals’ sake! This table is open to all. Parents, please know that your children are welcome to participate Prayer of Dedication in the Sacrament of Communion. This morning you are invited to process to the front of the church to receive the elements, coming forward in two lines by the center aisle and returning THE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION to your seats by the side aisles. After you have received the bread, proceed to one of the cups, dip the bread in the grape juice, and partake of Communion. If you wish to remain in This table is open to all. Parents, please know that your children are welcome to participate the pews, you will be offered the elements by a Deacon. in the Sacrament of Communion. This morning you are invited to process to the front of the church to receive the elements, coming forward in two lines by the center aisle and returning The Invitation to your seats by the side aisles. After you have received the bread, proceed to one of the One: Luke the evangelist tells us that on the evening of the first Easter, two disciples on the cups, dip the bread in the grape juice, and partake of Communion. If you wish to remain in road to Emmaus are met by the risen Christ, that it is in the breaking of bread that the pews, you will be offered the elements by a Deacon. their eyes are opened, and they recognize his presence, remembering what he had said: The Invitation All: That Jesus would always be with them in the fellowship of the meal. One: Luke the evangelist tells us that on the evening of the first Easter, two disciples on the One: We are his body now, his body in the world. Once more as we are invited to this road to Emmaus are met by the risen Christ, that it is in the breaking of bread that table, where Christ is the host and their eyes are opened, and they recognize his presence, remembering what he had we are the guests, we remember and proclaim: said: All: Christ is present here, Christ is present now, Christ is present always. All: That Jesus would always be with them in the fellowship of the meal. One: We are his body now, his body in the world. Once more as we are invited to this The Prayer of Consecration and the Lord’s Prayer table, where Christ is the host and Concluding, by All: we are the guests, we remember and proclaim: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be All: Christ is present here, Christ is present now, Christ is present always. done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into The Prayer of Consecration and the Lord’s Prayer temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the Concluding, by All: glory, forever. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be 3 done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our All are cordially invited to Fellowship Hour in Great Hall following the 9:00 a.m. worship trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into service. The Fellowship Hour hosts are members of the Bleickardt family. temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Leading worship today: 3 Officiants: Rev. Jeff Crews All glory to our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad: the Trinity whom we Organist and Choir Director: Dr. Terese Gemme adore forever and forever more! Musicians: Adult Vocal Choir; Adele Crawford, soprano; Igor Pikayzen, violin; Victor Fournelle-Blain, violin; Margaret Liddell, viola; Y. Alvin Wong, cello O love, how deep, how broad, how high, how passing thought and fantasy, that God, Lay Readers: (9:00) Sarah Libby; (11:00) Jennifer McCleery the Son of God, should take our mortal form for mortals’ sake! The Easter lilies are given in loving memory of Carolyn, Angus and Mimi MacArthur by the MacArthur family. The daffodils are given in loving memory of Peggy Finch by the Finch family.

Ministers, The entire Congregation Rev. Jeff Crews, Senior Pastor [email protected] Jennifer McCleery, Christian Education Coordinator [email protected] Lindsey Levenson, Youth Minister [email protected] Dr. Terese Gemme, Organist and Choir Director [email protected] Rev. Kurt Shaffert, Chaplain, Veterans Affairs, [email protected] West Haven Medical Center Jeff Owens, Sexton [email protected] Gayle Logan, Office Manager [email protected]

THE SPRING GLEN CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST An Open and Affirming Congregation 1825 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06517 288-3381 www.springglenchurch.org