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Order of Worship
for Easter Sunday
31 March 2024
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All are invited because no matter who you are or where
you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
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WELCOME TO SHADOW ROCK UCC! | |
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Prelude ~ What A Wonderful World
Shared by Travis Meyers and Bill Peterson
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GATHERING IN THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE
Centering Affirmation: What Would You Do If You Were Not Afraid?
Welcome and Announcements
Shared by Pastor Ken
Opening Words
Led 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.
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Call to Worship
Led by Gene McWhorter
One: Give thanks to our Good God whose unfailing love lasts forever!
Many: Give thanks to our Risen God whose unfailing love lives forever!
One: We gather together in the dawn of a new day. We look toward the tomb to seek the Anointed One.
Many: The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty! Alleluia!
One: We find God alive in the searching, in the garden, in our hope-filled spaces.
Singing Our Faith
~ Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Let the Victor’s people sing, Alleluia!
Where, O death is now your sting? Alleluia!
In God’s pow’r we too can live, Alleluia!
Striving now to love and give, Alleluia!
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STILLING OURSELVES
Opening Prayer Shared by Pastor Ken
Sharing the Peace
Led by Linda Johnston
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 future oriented, greet one another and wish one another peace!
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Musical Interlude Calling Us Back Together ~ Allelu
Chorus
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
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In response to our celebrations and the deep goodness of life, our offerings for the
celebration of life, in this place and beyond, shall now be
received.
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Invitation to Give
Led by Gene McWhorter
One: We have been raised with Christ! Thus we seek the things that are above, setting our minds on community, justice, and abundant life.
Many: In the giving of our gifts, we seek the kin-dom, we trust in the Spirit who provides all gifts, and we follow in the way of Jesus.
One: Giving God, receive this portion of the gifts you have
given to us. May our time, treasure, and talent be
magnified and multiplied, for the good of all Creation. Amen.
Offerings and Offertory ~
Shared by Travis Meyers
Dedication of Our Offerings
Led by Linda Johnston
One: We give thanks for our life and the courage we are given to live it.
All: Let our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
Let our faith be expressed in good causes.
Let our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude of mind.
One: Amen.
All: Amen!
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Word About Life
Led by Linda Johnston
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Easter Message
Shared by Pastor Ken
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Words For Mission
Led by Gene McWhorter
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! Christ is Risen Indeed!
One: 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.
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EMPOWERING AND SENDING
Sending Forth Song
~ Every Morning Is Easter Morning!
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.
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
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: repeat last line of chorus
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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.
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