Easter Worship ~ April 4, 2021
Welcome to Easter Worship! Whether you are getting ready to come to the campus or you're preparing to participate via Zoom, you are loved.
We Covenant One With Another
Adult Spiritual Formation - 10:00 am
Spiritual formation returns next week with a new series for the rest of April - Inventive Faith. We'll explore creative practices connected to spirituality. Creativity is a way of bringing new life to our journeys. If you're attending worship in person in April, spiritual formation will be meeting between worship services in the Multipurpose Room at 10 o'clock.

Prelude - Easter Medley

Greeting and Announcements
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!

Celebrations and prayer concerns will be read from the pulpit. Please email your celebrations and prayer concerns to be read from the pulpit. For in-the-moment celebrations, you can text Pastor Ken at 480-263-3308.

Musical Call to Worship - We Are the Family

Call to Worship
One: Life is a gift for which we are grateful.
All: We gather in community to celebrate the glories and mysteries of this great gift.
(Silence)
One: Look at this day!
All:  For it is life, the very life of life.

Song - Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Opening Prayer "The Cycles of Nature" 
By William L Wallace in Harvest for the World

Song - Alleluia

Reading the Resurrection Story     
Mark 16:1-8 - selected verses, inclusive text
When the sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, just as the sun was rising. On entering the tomb they saw a youth in a white robe seated on the right-hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But the youth said to them: There is no need for alarm. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: Jesus has risen, and is not here... They went out and fled from the tomb, for both terror and amazement had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Perceiving and Responding
Giving and Stewardship
Giving brings joy and strength. Good things pour into the world, and we are part of them!

If you're participating in our 2021 Lenten offering, RIP Medical Debt, please make your donation via the Shadow Rock giving page by tomorrow, April 5. Totals from the campaign at Shadow Rock and throughout the Southwest Conference UCC will be announced soon!

Reading Celebrations and Prayer Concerns with Music

Pastoral Prayer

Song - Morning Has Broken
Balancing Word and Deed
Word About Life for Today ~ Rev. Ken Heintzelman
"Crumbs and Stones"

Communion
In-person worshippers will be provided individual communion elements, to use during worship or to take home. Zoom worshippers are invited to prepare communion elements for the online worship space.

Communion Prayer
Spirit of Life and Love, as we anticipate the taking of this bread and cup, we give thanks for all the influences in 
our lives that have helped us see beyond the present and 
have called us to live in hope and trust whatever losses 
and endings we have experienced. We give thanks for the Spirit of New Life active in our lives and active in the 
world as it was in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.
 
Words for Mission
One: Each of us has an important part to play in this world. And part of that is to know we need each other.
All: In the spirit of the new and changed life we know as resurrection, let us now give and receive a blessing.
One: May the God who dances in creation,
who embraces us with human love, who shakes our lives like thunder, bless us and empower us with power to fill the world with her justice. These are the times.
All: We are the people.
One: All of Creation is blessed!
All: May we love all and serve all!
One: May God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Amen.
All: Amen.

Postlude - Every Morning Is Easter Morning