The Celebration of the Gospel
Second Sunday of Easter
April 27, 2014
“My Lord and my God!”
—John 20.28
______________ We Gather as The Body of Christ
GREETING
PRELUDE 8:15 Lift Thine Eyes (Pax Mane)
10:30 Hosanna arr. by Jason Kruz (Spirit Ringers)
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God of our heart, we long for you.
All: Beloved, we reach out for you.
Christ, we hunger for your presence.
We ache for your touch.
Holy Spirit, we yearn for your love.
We listen for your voice.
And you come to us. Risen from the dead, you come to us.
Our Lord and our God, we welcome you. We thank you. We worship you.
* SONG O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing Blue hymnal # 317 vv. 1, 6-9
CHILDREN’S TIME
______________________ We Attend to the Word
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Laudate Dominum W. A. Mozart
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, like Thomas we want to know your presence. Come to us. Speak to us. Let us touch you. We love and trust you. We open our hearts. Amen.
FIRST READING 1 Peter 1.3-9
[God has raised us up with Jesus, so that we have a new life that is rooted in the Realm of God and the resurrection of Christ. It is a gift that can’t be taken away from us, and that is eternal and perfect. It enables us to endure trials, knowing that in the end we will see, even though we don’t now. ]
Blessed be the Abba God of our Lord Jesus Christ! In great mercy God has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. God has given us an inheritance that can’t ever be marred, diminished or taken away, for it is kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by the power of God, which you know through your faith, and promised a salvation that is right there but will only be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials. Your faith is more precious than gold—but think about it: gold, though perishable, is tested by fire. In the end the genuineness of your faith will result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you love and trust him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
SONG Without Seeing You Black hymnal, page 2206, vv. 1-3
GOSPEL John 20.19-31
SERMON
SONG Give Me Jesus
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.
I heard my mother say, give me Jesus.
Dark midnight was my cry. give me Jesus.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PASSING THE PEACE
———————————————————We Share at Christ’s Table
OFFERING OUR GIFTS When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
* COMMUNION SONG Christian people, Raise Your Song Blue hymnal # 636
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
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. In our doubt you come to us. In our longing you feed us with your presence. Send us into the world so that others who long to know will see your risen presence in us, and come to love and trust you. We pray in the name and the spirit of Christ. Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
___________ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Alleluia
1. Alleluia. 2. He is risen. 3. I will follow. 4. Alleluia.
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our 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 Largo in G G. F. Handel
_________________________________
…That Passeth All Understanding
An awe so quiet
I don’t know when it began.
A gratitude
had begun
to sing in me.
Was there
some moment
dividing
song from no song?
When does dewfall begin?
When does night
fold its arms over our hearts
to cherish them?
When is daybreak?
–Denise Levertov