Welcome
Call to Worship
We enter a virtual gathering space once again this season.
We worship together in spirit and in truth,
though not in person.
We pray, sing, and listen to God’s Word
We trust Christ’s peace,
a peace given freely, despite our doubts and fears.
We know the Holy Spirit is among us,
blowing with a hopeful wind of change.
We feel the presence of Christ,
the one who died and rose again and brings us eternal life.
We look for God’s leading in this time of transformation.
We experience the joy of Easter morning
when we celebrate all God has in store for us.
Opening Hymn No. 232 (verses 1, 2 & 4) Peggy
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Call to Confession
Christ has risen and we have risen to new life with him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death, first in a time of silent, personal prayer…
Now, let us pray together:
Prayer of Confession
Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb we don’t always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of your love. Forgive our distrust of your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of your name.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Response to Confession
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend.
Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.
Peace of Christ and Our Common Life
Scripture Reading - Mark 16:1-8
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Hymn of Invitation No. 522 (verses 1, 4 & 5)
I Am the Bread of Life
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
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 our thanks and praise...
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Blessing of the Bread and Cup
Communion of the People
Communion Music
Prayer after Communion
Gracious God, we thank you once again for this meal, this day, this gift of resurrection. Send us out into your world to be the presence of love and hope to all who despair and fear, that all may life, and life abundant. Amen.
Call to Offering
On this Easter Sunday, we are invited to participate in the kingdom emerging all around us. May we offer ourselves to God with glad and generous hearts, freely giving our tithes and offerings to the ministry of this congregation. In lieu of passing the plate, we invite you to give through our church website, our smartphone app, by texting the word “Wilmette” to the number 77977, or by sending a check to the church office. As we gather our gifts together and offer them to God, may we do so in gratitude and praise.
Congregational Response - The Doxology (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below, Alleluia, Alleluia;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Prayer of Dedication
God of Resurrecting Hope, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ, and what his gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. In the name of your greatest gift, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Sending Hymn No. 239, verses 1, 2 & 4
Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!
Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Hallelujah from Messiah G.F. Handel, arr. Lorenz
Worship Leaders:
Rev. Jeff Lehn, preaching
Rev. Laura Sherwood, pastoral liturgist
Debbie Ackerman, liturgist
Chancel Choir, Nick Lin, hymn singers
Chancel Bells, postlude
Rick Drake, trumpet
Sources
Call to Worship (adapted) ~ submitted to re:worship.blogspot.com by Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Martinsville, VA. https://fbcmartinsville.com
Communion Litany - Drawn from Thom Shuman and his liturgies
Prayer of Dedication - from the Presbyterian Church in Canada
