St. Paul United Church of Christ, Taylor, Michigan
Easter Sunday/ March 31, 2024, 10 a.m.
Silent Prayer and Reflection
He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!
Ringing of the Bell
Announcements/ Welcome Rev. Linda Anderson
Opening Voluntary
John Joanette, pianist*
Call to Worship Brenda Murphy, lector
One: Friends, the tomb is empty! The stone has been rolled away!
All: Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
One: For three days he lay in that cold and lonely cave.
All: But God’s love cannot be contained by anything, not even death!
One: Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Risen Lord.
All: Death has been swallowed up in victory!
One: Where, O death, is your victory?
All: Where, O death is your sting?
One: Christ is risen!
All: He is risen, indeed!
One: Come, let us worship the Risen Christ!
*Hymn No. 216 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
*Prayer of the Day Brenda Murphy, lector
One: Let us pray.
O Life-giving God, your love for your children knows no boundaries. In Jesus Christ your Son, you have gone the full distance, even into the shadows of death, to find us, redeem us, and bring us back to life. Fill our hearts with joyous praise, even as we still may struggle to see life in the midst of its own shadows, so that as we proclaim your greatest good news this day, we may bring glory to you and new hope to your world. Amen.
Children’s Chapel/ Family of God Pastor Cheryl Schalm
I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God, I’ve been washed in the
fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we
travel this sod, for I’m part of the family, the family of God.
Anthem “Jesus Is Lord,” Chancel Choir
Epistle Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 Brenda Murphy, lector
Gospel Lesson: Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-18 Pastors Anderson & Schalm
Message: “The Shadows are Lifted,” Rev. Anderson
*Hymn No. 218 “Thine Is the Glory”
Offertory Invitation/ Offertory/ *Dedication of Gifts
*Doxology Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him
all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Responsive Reading
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: Just when it seems that life has us at the point of no return…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: Fridays and gloom keep on coming at us hard, but…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: When we have been hemmed in on every side and need a refuge for our weary souls…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: When it appears that evil has won and the victory belongs to Satan…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: When the last nail seems to be pounding on the coffin of our dreams and hopes…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: When, like Marky, we have walked the floor all night long and felt that death had won…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: In the stillness of the midnight hour, we hear the One who knows us by name…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: As Jesus was raised to new life, taking the sting from death and the victory from the grave…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit!
People: The story is revisited in our lives over and over and over again for…
Leader: God’s strong love just won’t quit! It’s our job to tell the world that…
People: Our God’s strong love just won’t quit!
Holy Communion/Invitation/ Prayer of Consecration
Response: One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of
blessing which we bless. And we, though many, through out the
Earth, we are one body in this one Lord.
Receiving of the Bread and Cup
A Time of 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 debts, as we
forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver
us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the
glory, forever and ever Amen.
*Hymn No. 226 “He Lives!”
*Dismissal with Blessing
Closing Voluntary/ Recessional: Please remain in your pews as the Easter Cross leads the way into the world followed by our Pastor.
