The Celebration of the Gospel
April 19, 2015 — Third Sunday of Easter
Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer
and to rise from the dead on the third day;
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name
to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
— Luke 24.47-48
_______ We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE What A Friend We Have In Jesus Mark Hayes
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Risen Christ, you come among us.
All: Living One, you speak to us.
Loving One, you grant us your Spirit.
You who call us to bear witness, lift us up and guide us,
that we may shine with your light. Alleluia!
* SONG The Day of Resurrection Blue hymnal #303
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of resurrection, we bring before you all that we are, all that we do, all that we hope for, our fears and desires, our secret wounds. Receive us with your gentle grace, transform us by your love, and raise us to new life. We open our hearts like the earth opening to the sun in spring, that your light may fill us. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT 1 John 3.1-3
[ “What love we have been given, that we are God’s children!”]
See what love God has given us,
that God says, “You are my children;”
and indeed that is what we are.
The reason the world does not understand us
is that it does not understand God.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we will be has not yet been revealed.
What we do know is this: when God is revealed,
we will be like God, for we will see God
as God truly is.
All who have this hope in God purify themselves,
just as God is pure.
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GOSPEL Luke 24.36-48
[Jesus appears to the disciples, shows them his scars, and eats some fish. (He is not a ghost!) He then tells them to spread repentance and forgiveness of sins, to be “witnesses” of these things.]
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in the name of Christ to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
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SERMON
SONG Come, Let Us with Our Lord Arise Black hymnal #2084
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG The Lord’s Prayer Albert Hay Malotte (Kai Chur, Soloist)
__________We Share at Christ’s Table __________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Verset Léon Boëllmann
* COMMUNION SONG Christian People, Raise your Song Blue hymnal #636
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. May the risen Christ live in us, that we may be witnesses of repentance, forgiveness and new life in the name and presence and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lord of the Dance Blue hymnal #261
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE Please stand and sing to your neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Victory Through Christ Lani Smith
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]