Order of Worship

4-5-26

Always maintaining a proper balance between proclamation of the word about life with the deeds which make life good.

Prelude ~

Shared by Tanner Bayles

Welcome and Announcements

Shared by Pastor Ken

We welcome everyone to our service and hope you are blessed by worshipping with us.

Opening Words

Shared by Pastor Ken

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called to create a world where every person is radically affirmed, and barriers between people become

bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.



Call to Worship ~ Greg and Carla Freeman

One: With the crucifixion, we feared the good news had been silenced.

All: On the execution, we thought the good news had taken its last breath.

One: With death of a good human being, we felt the good news had been buried.

All: But today, we know the good news is alive and well. One: The good news is dancing!

All: The good news is on the loose!

One: The good news is out in the world, calling your name! All: Alleluia! Even death has lost its sting.

One: Let us worship our good-news Christ. 

Singing Our Faith ~ Lord of the Dance

1. I danced in the morning when the world was begun, And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth; At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Chorus

Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

2. I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, But they would not dance and they would not follow me; I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came with me and the dance went on. Chorus

3. I danced on the sabbath when I cured the lame, The holy people said it was a shame; They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high; And they left me there on a cross to die. Chorus

4. I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black; It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back. They buried my body and they thought I’d gone; But I am the dance and I still go on. Chorus

5. They cut me down and I leapt up high; I am the life that will never, never die; I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.

Chorus 

Sharing the Peace Led by Greg and Carla Freeman

One: Let us now celebrate each other. May a heart of peace rest with you.

All: And also with you.

One: As people who are free, loved, accepted, and futureoriented, greet one another and wish one another peace!

Musical Interlude Calling Us Back Together

Allelu Allelu! Allelu! Everybody sing Allelu! For the Lord has risen, it is true. Everybody sing Allelu!

On the third day he did rise, Allelu, Allelu! Now he lives no more to die, Alleluia! Chorus

Now we too can live anew, Allelu, Allelu! Live in him need all we do, Alleluia! Chorus 

Affirmation of Faith in Life Led by Greg and Carla Freeman

One: In the dark before dawn,

All: we believe that God is alive.

One: In the midst of our grief,

All: we believe the Spirit is at work.

One: In the chaos of our broken world,

All: we believe that love is on the loose.

One: For no stone could keep God at bay,

All: and no violence could keep God’s love from us.

One: So today we give, Alleluia!

All: For somewhere in between our belief and doubt, hope lives.

One: Christ has died, and Christ has also risen. All: Thanks be to God! Amen.

Celebrations ~ Pastor Ken

This is our time to share the celebrations of our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, words of kindness and works of peace and justice.

Music for Thinking of You Cards Shared by Tanner Bayles and Cole McLeod

CELEBRATING THE GREAT BANQUET

Invitation

Friends, let us share in the sacred story and celebrate the feast of the resurrection.

Thanksgiving Led by Greg and Carla Freeman

One: God is the heart of life.

All: And we are the heartbeat.

One: May our hearts be filled with thanks and praise and songs of joy.

All: We rejoice in the miracle of life and delight in our participation.

One: We give thanks for the invitation to be at this table, for here we are shown our lives…

All: The daily bread of our work and care, the wine of delight, pressed from the fruits of our creativity and our brokenness, with all its pain and self-knowledge.

One: We celebrate the life that is ours for we know we are precious in your sight.

All: We celebrate the life that is yours, pattern of reality for us: life that is love revealed love given and received love in action. (Sherri Weinberg)

One: Therefore, with all your lovers throughout the ages we praise you saying:

All: Holy, holy, holy, resurrection God, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

One: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.

All: Hosanna in the highest. 

Invite the Communion Servers to Take Their Stations

Bread and Wine Pastor Ken

Bread and Wine tell a very special story… about women, about men, about life. Bread has its beginnings in the earth: it is gathered, ground and kneaded by loving hands, tired backs, by sweat of toil. Bread from field and mill and store. Bread to break, to give and eat, shared from hand to hand. Bread that must be broken open, to be used, to feed. Bread broken to fill emptiness. Likewise, the wine is of the earth, bitter and sweet. From vine to glass, given and shared, of people's labor. Wine of joy and pain, grief and gladness. Wine to be spilled to slake thirst and enliven the heart just the way spirits can. With bread and wine, you are invited to see, hear, smell, feel and taste the mystery of grace.

Invitation to Give ~ Greg and Carla Freeman

One: If God is a painter,

All: let us be the brush.

One: If God is a musician,

All: let us be the song.

One: God is an architect,

All: let us be the tools.

One: Let us be the hands.

All: Let us be the builders.

One: But if God is a shepherd, who never stops seeking,

All: let us be willing to be found, no matter how lost we feel. One: Our God is never far away.

All: Our offering is for sustaining the work that makes life good for all people. Amen.

QR Code for Giving Page

The Chime Calls Us to The Word About Life

Word About Life ~ Pastor Ken

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: (QR Code for Giving Page) ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings, ” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Words for Mission ~ Greg and Carla Freeman

One: Do not look for the risen Jesus only here, in the confines of this church building.

All: We will seek the risen Jesus on the roads and in the streets, in all the pathways and byways of our lives.

One: Do not seek comfort in the familiar, but dare to risk the unfamiliar –

All: We know that Resurrection makes all things new!

One: Do not cling to all the old, expected notions about God, Jesus, Spirit, but go forth and celebrate this truly new Good News:

All: Because Christ lives, new possibilities are ever before us! One: Christ is Risen Indeed!

All: Alleluia and Amen!

Sending Forth Song ~ Every Morning is Easter Morning by David Wo

1. Every morning is Easter morning from now on, Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone, Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, welcome to the sun, I am one of the Easter people, my new life’s begun. Chorus Easter morning can happen every day When, in all you do, new life breaks through, Yes, Easter’s here to stay.

2. Every morning is Easter morning from now on, Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone, Life is open to us all, haven’t you heard? Get it straight from the Easter people, get out and spread the Word. Chorus

3. Every morning is Easter morning from now on, Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone, Share God’s love with everyone, be the best you can be, Just be one of the Easter people, live the life that’s free. Chorus Ending: Yes, Eas...ter’s...here...to stay!

Sermon Reboot is OFF for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.