How Beautiful Is the Blossom Spilling from the Tree, the Hidden Primrose and the Bluebell Ringing out the News. He Is Risen. He Is Alive

Home , The Lamb (poem)

How beautiful is the blossom spilling from the tree, the hidden primrose and the bluebell ringing out the news. He is risen. He is alive. We shall live forevermore. The dark winter is past, the slow, cold, foggy days are over. May the warmth of your resurrection tour our hearts and minds as the warmth of the sun blesses our bodies.~ Kate McIlhagga April 4, 2021 Resurrection of the Lord Sunday 9:30 a.m.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

GREETING ...... The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you!

GATHERING MUSIC

Christ Is Risen

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.

Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair. Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend. Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.

Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same. Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain. Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!” God the First and Last is with us. Sing hosanna every one!

ENTERING INTO GOD’S PRESENCE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing. Alleluia!

Unto Christ our heavenly King. Alleluia!

SONGS OF PRAISE

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant, holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia! Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as God’s love, Alleluia! Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

Stanzas 1-3, Lyra Davidica, 1708; Stanza 4, Charles Wesley, 1740

The Lamb Has Overcome

The Lamb has overcome, the Lamb has overcome, The battle’s done and the victory is won for the Lamb has overcome!

No grave could hold him down; no grave could hold him down. Up from the ground, “He is risen!” was the sound. No grave could hold him down.

At God’s right hand is he, at God’s right hand is he. Our Perfect Plea as he lives to intercede, at God’s right hand is he.

Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, glory be unto his name (2x)

The day is drawing near, the day is drawing near. He shall appear and will wipe away each tear, the day is drawing near.

The Lamb has overcome, the Lamb has overcome, The battle’s done and the victory is won for the Lamb has overcome! (Chorus)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

SONG OF RESPONSE

We Fall Down

We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus. The greatness of mercy and love at the feet of Jesus. And we cry, “Holy, holy, holy.” And we cry, “Holy, holy, holy.” And we cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb.”

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD

https://tinyurl.com/ColbertChurchOffering

DOXOLOGY

HEARING GOD’S WORD FOR OUR TIME AND PLACE

SCRIPTURE READINGS

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 25:6-9

6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. 8Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. SECOND LESSON: Mark 16:1-8

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

SERMON: Presence In Absence

SONG OF COMMUNION PREPARATION

Christ Still Rises

Christ still rises when fear grips our city, when death takes no pity, when much is unknown. Christ still rises when friends are divided, when joy feels misguided, when we are alone. Christ still rises when churches are shuttered, when praises are muttered, when payers go unsaid. Christ still rises when peace has all faded, when we are most jaded, when faith turns to dread, when faith turns to dread.

Christ still rises when we give to neighbors, when we share our labors, when strangers belong. Christ still rises when we come together, when love is our tether, when hope is our song. Christ still rises when grieving is ended, when bodies are mended, when beauty heals pain. Christ still rises when fear has retreated, when death is defeated, and joy will remain, and joy will remain.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table

Prayer of Consecration The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God our thanks and praise. Words of Institution

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER TIME AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

CHARGE: “I decided to”

BLESSING

THANKS TO THIS MORNING’S LEADERS IN WORSHIP

Musicians Ben Brody, Jayme Koerselman, Elizabeth Peterson, Grace Hewa Liturgist Wendy Olson Beadles Joyce and Ron McNamee, Dwight and Lila Spotts, Jim and Jonelle Bellis, Chris Morgan Sound and Video Tech Marissa Kuuskvere, Kirk Anders, Tim Groe Pastor Eric Peterson

Communion elements provided by Wayne Balholm and Jim Bellis

**Reprinted under CCLI license #1399037 ***Reprinted under OneLicense.net#A-706