_{A Congregation of the Reformed Church in America}

                                                             Our Life, Ministry, and Mission:  To Have Hearts Centered on Christ and Hearts Open to our Neighbors                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Easter Day Order of Worship        

   April 20, 2025                                                                                                                               10:00 AM

 Our Approach to God 

Prelude                                             “Low in the Grave He Lay”                            -Hymn #186 

Choral Introit                       “The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done”            -Hymn #185, v. 1                                                                   

Welcome 

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, we pray for your blessing on the church in this place. Here may the believer find salvation, and the prodigal find home. Here may the doubting find faith, and the anxious be encouraged.  Here may the tempted find help, and the sorrowful find comfort.  Here may the weary find rest, and the strong be renewed.  Here may the aged find consolation and the young be inspired.  Here may we truly come Alive even as Christ came to Life on his Resurrection Day! through Jesus Christ, our Living Lord. Amen. 

Children’s Message 

*Call to Worship         -based on 1 Peter 1:3-5

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has given us new life and hope.
He has raised Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.
Alleluia!  Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.  Alleluia! 

*Opening Hymn                         “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”           -Hymn #182, vv. 1-4                                                                       

*Opening Praise Songs

“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”                                     -CCLI #117947; Hymn #610

“The Wonderful Cross”                      -CCLI #3148435; Hymn 175 & 176, vv. 1, 3, & 4 

Call to Confession                                                                                             -1 Corinthians 15:20-23

In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.  But each in its own order:  Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Silent Prayer of Confession 

Words of Assurance                                                                                          -Corinthians 15:54-57                                                                                  

Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.   But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!   

Easter Anthem          “O Praise the Name”      Choir and Praise Team  -Hastings, Ussher, Sampson; arr. Larson, © 2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Offering Ourselves and our Gifts                                  

Doxology

               Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;  

Praise Him, all creatures here below,

            Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;   

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Amen. 

 The Word of God in Proclamation 

Prayer of Inspiration                                                                                                          

Scripture        Luke 24:1-12, NIV (Pew Bible Pages 1506-1507)

        This is the Word of the Lord.   

        Thanks be to God. 

Resurrection Day Drama 

Sermon                   “OUR EMOTIONS:  NEW AND RENEWED” 

Prayer of Application 

Our Response to God  

*Hymn of Response             “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”   -Hymn #193; vv. 1, 2, 4, & 7

*Profession of Faith        

        *Let us confess our Christian faith using the Apostles’ Creed: 

          I believe in God, the Father almighty,  Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ,     Gods only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,  born of the Virgin Mary,  Suffered under Pontius Pilate,  was crucified, died, and was buried;   He descended to the dead.   On the third day he rose again .  He ascended into heaven,     He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,  the forgiveness of sins,    the resurrection of the body,  and the life everlasting.  Amen 

Sharing of Joys and Concerns 

Prayers of the People

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, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.  

*Closing Praise Song                                     “Celebrate Jesus“                                -CCLI #16859

*Benediction                                                                                                                        

*Postlude                                                    “Thine Is the Glory”                               -Hymn #187                                                                               

Prayer Leader is available after the service, by the front door of the Sanctuary, to pray for your needs.