Prelude Artzah Ara Gevorgyan (b.1960)
Congregational Welcome
Call to Worship
*Opening Hymn (insert) O Sons and Daughters Let us Sing, st. 1-3
*Prayer of Invocation and Resurrection
One voice: Hear the words of Luke, from Acts: “Peter and the apostles (told the Council) ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus… God exalted him at his right hand … And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit …’” Let us pray together:
Uniting God, reaching from heart to heart and home to home, gather us for holy worship now.
Extending God, who moves beyond Jesus’ tombstone and empowers his new life, inspire us now.
Resurrecting God, for whom the sting of death is vanquished, renew us now.
Be with us in our houses of worship by leading our minds, our hearts and our spirits to your next place of revelation. By leading our community to the world’s next place of need. We pray that you teach us your new song this Eastertide. Fill us with hope and perseverance, as well as lovingkindness, to reach out to others as Jesus’ body risen indeed, Amen.
*Assurance of Reconciliation
*Response in praise (insert) O Sons and Daughters… st. 4 & 5
The Day’s Psalm Psalm 118: 14-29
The Children’s Time
Children proceed forth to Christian Education (congregation seated)
Go, my children, with my blessing, Never alone. Waking, sleeping,
I am with you; You are my own. In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing – You are my own.
The Gospel Reading John 20: 19-31
Vocal Solo Alleluia (from Exsultate, jubilate) W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
The Morning Meditation
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer (“Our father and mother, who art… trespasses…”)
*Hymn No. 108 Christ is Alive
*Benediction
Postlude March from Symphony #1 Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
* Those who are able please stand
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It is still Eastertide. Alleluia! Last Sunday between dawn,
egg hunting and sanctuary worship we welcomed 200 friends of Christ
in person. Given our evolving world, and to care for one another we wear masks
still (except for worship leaders at times) and our leaders are vaccinated.
But our worship continues to add back some traditional bits, and it is good to be together and to serve a world that “God so loves.”
We have a touch-free offering today. You may leave a gift in the basket, deliver an envelope after worship, go online, or any touch-free method you wish.
In the days and weeks ahead we will begin our annual Stewardship
conversation. In Greater Boston expenses have gone up 7.3%.
But so have our expectations and missions, so we’ll invite everyone to help.
Thanks to worship leaders Kenneth Baily, Wendy Donnell,
Lynd Matt, Yevgenia Semeina, Amanda Ketchpaw,
Yumiko Matsuoka, Joy Huber and Tony Rudié
Join us on zoom at 1 pm today to discuss Reinhold Niebuhr,
pacifism and the Christian theology of our mission in the world today.
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.
Newton Highlands Congregational Church, UCC
54 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA
www.nhcc.net 617 527 3898
Morning Meditation:
“Don’t be afraid. You can’t be dead as long as you are living.”
— 12 year old to his little brother in Aleppo, Syria, 2016