Sunday, April 27, 2025

Easter Sunday

'Click' above to read the Sunday Bulletin NOTE: This is REALLY the bulletin for APRIL 27. Not as the cover page says!

Welcome & Announcements

Now the Green Blade Rises (VU 186) Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again, like wheat arising green.

In the grave they laid Him, love by hatred slain, Thinking that he would never wake to life again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again, like wheat arising green.

Call to Worship Come all, into this sacred holy space! We come celebrating Jesus' resurrection and eternal life! Yes, come and see how good it is to be part of this celebration: Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Come and pray and worship and celebrate! This is victory day!

We come with all our victories, great and small! Come with your challenges and your hopes and your victories over things that kept you from being fully happy. We come, hopeful that Christ will meet us on the way, Greet us and praise us for our successes, big and small! Of course he will: you are brothers and sisters of Jesus, for sure, Jesus will celebrate with you the things you were able to overcome! Come and join us all for praise and gratitude! Amen!

Opening Prayer

Sing Your Praise to God Eternal (VU 244) Sing your praise to God eternal, Sing your praise to God the Son, Sing your praise to God the Spirit, Living and forever One. God has made us, God has blessed us, God has called us to be true; God rules over all creation, Daily making all things new.

Join the praise of every creature; Sing with singing birds at dawn; When the stars shine forth at nightfall, Hear their heavenly antiphon. Praise God for the light of summer, Autumn glories, winter snows, For the coming of the springtime And the life of all that grows.

Praise God on our days of gladness For the summons to rejoice; Praise God in our times of sadness, For the calm, consoling voice. God our Maker, strong and loving, Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord, Living God, Creator Spirit, Be your holy name adored!

-- A New Creed --
1968

A New Creed (VU 918) We are not alone, We live in God's world. We believe in God: Who has created and is creating, Who has come in Jesus, The Word made flesh, To reconcile and make new, Who works in us and others By the Spirit.

We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: To celebrate God's presence, To live with respect in Creation, To love and serve others, To seek justice and resist evil, To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, Our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (VU 315, verses 1 & 4) Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning Our song shall rise to thee; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, In earth and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Art by Eva

Time with Kids

Art by Alex Kids Pray

Rev. Christine's

Sunday Message

Without His Cross Without his tears, there is no comfort. Without his death there is no life. Without his blood there is no pardon. Without his cross there is no crown... by Joseph M Martin

Invitation for the Offering

Prayer for the Offering Bless these offerings heavenly God, as you gear up for a battle where your love will be winning over all the difficulties of humankind. We pray that you journey with all those who need you so that they too are protected by your powerful arm and lead a happy life.

- Offertory Hymn - Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (VU 541) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures high and low; Give thanks to God in love made known: Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Gloire à Dieu, notre Créateur; A Christ, notre Rédempteur; Gloire à l'Esprit Consolateur! Louange et gloire à Dieu, Sauveur.

Pastoral Prayers

God of Grace and God of Glory (VU 686) God of grace and God of glory, On your people pour your power; Now fulfill your church's story; Bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, For the facing of this hour.	Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn your Christ, assail your ways; fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.
Cure your children's warring madness, Bend our pride to your control; Shame our wanton selfish gladness, Rich in goods and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, Lest we miss your kingdom's goal.	Set our feet on lofty places; Gird our lives that they may be Armoured with all Christ-like graces, Pledged to set all captives free. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, That we fail not them nor thee.

Commissioning There we are! Let us go back into the world Although we are not of this world. Be confident. Be strong. David's story against Goliath is OUR story of faith. Our God protects us, our God advises us. Our God speaks to us. Let us hear what our God wants to tell us. We go, comforted by God's right arm. We are his children, God is with us. Yes, praise be to the eternal One, whose Son is our brother. We go, stronger than ever, ready to tackle our challenges and do our best. Be strong. Be happy and be bold. We go in the world, bringing with us God's love and power. Amen! Go now, and be a blessing!

Blessing Amen

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