Sunday, April 19, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We still worship beyond the walls of our church building, and we are still the church! I hope that as you read through the order of worship prayerfully and thoughtfully you grow closer to God and find comfort and direction for your life. Ask questions of yourself or of those you are with. Pause and ponder the words and images that arise as if God or Christ were speaking. Feel your way through the scriptures and hymns. Consider how they speak to our present time. Celebrate Easter joy and embrace the loving relationship in which God holds you. Imagine others in our faith community who are also reading and praying at home along with you. After all, especially in hard times, we are one in Christ.
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 19, 2020
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.” This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Acts 2:14a, 22-32
The Congregation at Worship
Gathering the Community of Faith
MINISTRY OF LIGHT Light a resurrection candle
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Out with the anxiety of fear and distrust!
Out with the spirit of pessimism!
God has not given us up to the world of the dead, nor allowed his children to see nothing but a grave.
Therefore my heart is happy and my soul celebrates. The life I now live in the body stays secure.
Let everyone be happy in the goodness of God.
and celebrate the rising of Christ our Savior.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “The Day of Resurrection” No. 303
Hymn is available by clicking here
EPISTLE LESSON 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Scripture is available by clicking here
MORNING PRAYER
Giver of new life, we come this morning singing our alleluias.
We come to worship in beauty and in truth because we have faith that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, because we have hope that the resurrection will enter into each of our lives and transform them, and because, through Christ’s spirit, we have come to love one another. Accept our worship, gracious God. Be present with us as a daystar, miracle, mystery, and as the tender hands of grace. Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
LITANY
Leader: On the evening of the day, you are in an upper room with the doors bolted and the shutters closed.
People: They have killed him. Our teeth are chattering with terror.
Will we be next? Will we share his fate?
Leader: Peace be with you.
People: He suddenly stands among us. It is He. He holds out his hands,
we see the scars. He shows his side, we turn our eyes.
Leader: “Peace be with you. As God sent me, I send you.”
People: Where is his anger? Why doesn’t he scold?
Why doesn’t he battle against our souls?
Leader: “Receive the Spirit. Forgive the unforgivable.”
People: He counts us worthy. We cannot believe him.
All: Lord, help our unbelief.
CHILDREN’S MOMENTS
Thomas was a faithful follower of Jesus, but when it came to accepting his Lord’s resurrection, Thomas had to see it with his own eyes. Actually, so did the rest of Jesus’ first twelve. Can you think of a time when you didn’t quite follow Jesus as you think he wanted? The great thing is, Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection shows how much God loves us, and, just like Thomas, we keep following Jesus and trying to do even better because we want to love him back. What is a really kind thing you can do today to show God’s love?
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS may be mailed to the church with thanks to you and our Lord. As you do so, pray, “All things come of thee of God, and of thine own have we given thee.”
* GOSPEL LESSON John 20: 19-31
Gospel Lesson is available by clicking here
HYMN: “The Strife is O’er” No. 306
Hymn is available by clicking here
MESSAGE Rev. David Harper
Message is available by clicking here
CLOSING HYMN: “Thine Is the Glory” No. 308
Hymn is available by clicking here
BENEDICTION
Utterly happy are those who never saw Jesus yet have believed in him.
Amen!
Keep happiness at the center of your being. Let it influence the quality of your daily work and the way you deal with both friends and enemies. That the God who raised up Christ, may uphold you by day and night, I bless you!
Amen!
That the Christ who breathed his forgiving soul into his friends may indwell you by day and night, I bless you!
Amen!
That the Spirit who makes life fun for us, may invigorate you each day and night, this day and for eternity; I bless you!
Amen!
Yes; today and for eternity!
Amen!