Sunday April 20, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing — arr. by David Giardiniere|
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sons and daughters, let us sing with heavenly hosts to Christ our King; today the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.  The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.– C.S. Lewis

*Call to Worship
(*Please stand, if you are able)

This is the good news: the grave is empty; Christ is risen!
       He is risen indeed!
This is the good news – the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never put it out. Christ is risen!
       He is risen indeed!
This is the good news – once we were no people; now we are God’s people.  Christ is risen!
       He is risen indeed!  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!  Alleluia!

Praise and Adoration

*Choral Call to Worship — Now Is the Hour of Darkness Past — Daniel Pinkham

*Easter Hymn #232 — Jesus Christ Is Risen Today — EASTER HYMN — Arr. James Biery

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death.  We confess that we still remain captive to doubt and fear, not fully believing the good news of life beyond life.  We overlook the poor and the hungry, we pass by those who mourn and we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed.  Forgive us and help us trust in your power to change our lives and change the world!

Silent Prayers of Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Welcome         
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for a time with Dr. Zieman

Time for Young Disciples

The Sacrament of Baptism (11:10)
Dempsey Elizabeth Mendick, born August 10, 2024 to parents Joe and Haley Allen Mendick and big brother, Lennox

Congregation Response:  With joy and thanksgiving, we welcome Dempsey Elizabeth Mendick into Christ’s church to share with us in the one ministry of Christ, for we are all one in Him.

*Hymn #240 — Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks — ALLELUIA NO. 1

Announcements

Fellowship of Prayer

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.

Anthem — To the Lamb on the Throne — Dan Forrest

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 24: 1-12 — page 846 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “He Went Home, Amazed” — Dr. Zieman

*Affirmation of Faith — from 1 Corinthians 15
This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God. Amen.

*Sanctus (#572) — Holy, Holy, Holy

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Easter Hymn — John Ferguson

*Doxology (#609) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia!
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                             
God of the empty tomb, your grace astounds us, your generosity fills us to overflowing. Accept these offerings as signs of our gratitude and bless our work on Christ’s behalf.  May we love as Christ loved and serve as Christ served.  Call us forth into your world, guided by the spirit of Christ in our hearts. Amen.

*Easter Hymn #238 — Thine Is the Glory JUDAS MACCABEUS
Setting by Robert Hobby

*Charge and Benediction

*Choral Benediction Response — “Hallelujah” from Judas Maccabeus  — George F. Handel

Postlude — Carillon — Louis Vierna