The Day of Resurrection
Prelude Hail to the Lord’s Anointed arr. Stephen DeCesare
Easter Welcome, Welcome Back
Choral Introit Easter Introit John Ferguson
Responsive Call to Worship Leader: Christ is Risen! All: He is risen indeed!
*Opening Hymn No. 123 Jesus Christ is Risen Today
*Unison Prayer of Gathering and New Life
Triumphant God, humble in your love, wise in your way, and here in our midst, now draw our many spirits to the glorious height and hope of your resurrection. Take all of us who have been separate and cautious so long and unite us in your bold, living, loving Spirit. Rejoice with us and guide us past fear. Reveal to us the promises beyond the powers of death. Assure us that fear and death do not get the last word in Jesus’ way, and connect us to the risen, rejoicing, radical power of your Messiah. Transcend our brokenness so we receive and share the wholeness of new life this Easter. We pray all this in Jesus’ beloved name, Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
*The Hymn Response No. 115 Come Ye Faithful
The Gospel Reading Luke 24: 1-12
The Choral Anthem The Day of Resurrection arr. Daniel Kallman
The Epistle Reading 1 Corinthians 15: 19-26
The Easter Acclamation Kenneth Baily
*Hymn (insert) Now the Green Blade Rises
Celebration of Holy Communion
All: For this table is spread for you and for me that we might know that God has come to us and shared our common lot and invited us to receive life anew. Indeed, God has triumphed even over death. So we come to this table for thanksgiving, for grace, for God’s presence, for peace.
Leader: Let us unite our voices in preparation. God be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God!
Leader: Let us praise God, speaking together:
Santo, Santo, Santo … Holy, Holy, Holy: God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Blessed is the Christ, who comes in the name of our creator: Hosannah in the highest! Alleluia!
Sharing of Communion You are welcome at the station closest to you
Organ Acclamation Jubilee Fred B. Binckes
Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Hymn No. 371 Lift High the Cross
*Benediction
*Choral Response
Postlude Trumpet Voluntary John Stanley (arr. Marlatt)
* Those who are able please stand
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You are welcome to lift up communion elements that you have brought,
or to request them in your pew, or to come to one of the stations. You are welcome at God’s meal, where we’re all fed, and then we feed the hungry.
During this time of covid caution we welcome all to safe, cautious congregational assembly. It is good to worship together. To care for one another we wear masks
(except for worship leaders at times) and our leaders are vaccinated.
We have a touch-free offering today. Please leave a gift in the basket, deliver an envelope after worship, go online, or any touch-free method you wish.
Thanks to worship leaders Kenneth Baily, Lynd Matt, Yevgenia Semeina, Wendy Donnell, Brian Hickox (trumpet) Carol Jensen, Melissa Dietrich,
Joy Huber, Jeff Small and Misha Hill (technology)
NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose: whoever you are, you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,” so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.
Come back next week for our discussion about racism, refugees and neighbors
Newton Highlands Congregational Church, UCC
54 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA
www.nhcc.net 617 527 3898