Prelude
Prelude on TRURO
Welcome
Call to Worship
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
The Lord is our strength and our song.
The Lord has become our salvation.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His steadfast love endures forever!
Let us worship God, tender and just.
Opening Hymn No. 246 (vs 1, 3, & 5)
Christ Is Alive
Call to Confession
In the early church, the apostles faced a spate of challenges: resistance from the powers that be, explosive growth, and internal differences. We, too, often face challenges that seem insurmountable, and it is hard to remain faithful in the midst of them. In humility and honesty, let us confess our failures to our gracious and always present God.
Prayer of Confession
Vulnerable God, we open our hearts to you this day and offer the truth of our lives: the fear that stifles us, the prejudice that blinds us, the ignorance that hobbles us, the doubt that plagues us, the frustration that wearies us. Help us in this Easter season, we pray, that we might find courage in unlikely places, see the world with new and gracious eyes, move to those places where love is needed, have faith that you are with us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Christ is alive and all things are being made new. Because of Christ, the old is gone and the new has come. Because of Christ, grace is really true. Because of Christ, reconciliation is possible. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel!
Christ is risen!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Sung Response
Celtic Alleluia
Peace of Christ and Common Life
Scripture Reading
Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon
Rev. Jeff Lehn
Hymn of Response No. 683 (vs. 1, 3 & 4)
Lord of All Hopefulness
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Call for Offering
In this season of Easter, we are invited to participate in God’s 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
Sending Hymn No. 157 (verses 1, 3, 4 & 5) Peggy
I Danced in the Morning
Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Lift High the Cross
Worship Leaders:
Rev. Jeff Lehn, preaching
Rev. Laura Sherwood, pastoral liturgist
Mary Watt, liturgist
Nicholas Lin, hymn soloist
Cecilia Chow, piano/postlude
Sources
Prayer of Dedication - https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/easter-3-april-18/