Worship Service April 20, 2025
Order of Easter Service
Welcome, Greeting, Service Introduction Rev. Warren Lunsford//All
*Call to Worship Rev. Warren Lunsford//All
We have a message to preach to all.
Sing out the Great News! Christ the Lord is Risen Today UMH 302
Christ is risen!
Opening Prayer of Confession Rev. Warren Lunsford/All
God, resurrection is not what we expect in our world.
On the face of things, life seems to be under threat…
our earth is grieving, our families are fracturing, our nations are at war,
and the light of our hope is growing dim.
We need the stone to be rolled away again.
Forgive us and all who have failed to honor
and preserve life in all its diversity and glory
Forgive us and all who have allowed relationships
to become less important than riches or recognition
Forgive us and all who continue to exalt our needs and desires
over those of others,
and who are prepared to kill to prove it.
Forgive us and all who have grown blind
to all the signs of resurrection that beckon us still.
We need the stone to be rolled away again.
We need life to break out within us again.
We need love to consume us again.
Resurrect us today, O Lord,
and make us agents of Your life wherever dying and grief hold sway.
For Jesus sake. Amen.
Silent Personal Confession
Assurance of Forgiveness Rev. Warren Lunsford/All
Dear Friends, Christ is risen, and God’s resurrection
power makes us new creations!
Thanks be to God, for wiping clean our sinful ways
and re-creating us for love…rolling away our stones!
Alleluia! Our sins are forgiven! We are Easter people! Amen
Hymn He Lives! UMH 310
Life of the Church Rev. Cindy Lunsford (see bulletin)
Mission Moment – Prayer over donation items…thank you for your love and care!
Epistle Reading I Corinthians 15:19-26 Gina Elrod
Hymn I’ll Fly Away Insert (put in pew hymnal after use)
OFFERING OF OURSELVES
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All
Worship with Our Tithes & Offerings Steve Hawkins instrumental
Dedication & Offertory Rev. Warren Lunsford
Doxology UMH 095
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
Centering Song He Holds the Keys by Steve Green Steve Hawkins
PROCLAMATION
Prayer of Illumination Gary Seiler
Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death
and opened to us the light of eternity.
Enlighten our minds and kindle our hearts
with the presence of your Spirit,
that we may hear your words of comfort and challenge
in the reading of the scriptures,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Luke 24:1-12 Rev. Cindy Lunsford
Message Jesus Rolls Away Our Stones Rev. Cindy Lunsford
WORSHIP AT THE TABLE
Great Thanksgiving & Communion (Insert) Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All
Prayer After Communion:
God of grace, thank you for this bread and wine,
and for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Teach us good Lord to serve you as you deserve.
To give and not to count the cost.
To fight and not to heed the wounds.
To toil and not to seek for rest.
To labor and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing we do your will.
Through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, Amen
GOING FORTH WITH CHRIST
Closing Hymn Because He Lives UMH 364
Commissioning & Benediction Rev. Cindy Lunsford
Depart to Serve, caring for others, as we truly serve God
