PRELUDE: Piéce Heroique, César Franck
SALUTATION AND WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Gerry Mendler
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Leader: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Who has given us new life and hope and raised Jesus from the dead.
Leader: God has claimed us as his own.
People: Bringing us out of darkness, God has made us light to the world.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
* HYMN No. 234: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: from Messiah, George Friedric Handel
But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 118:1-9, Pew Bible, page 492
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Matthew 28:1-10, Pew Bible, page 811
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
THE SERMON: Go and Tell, Rev. Blaine Crawford
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Crown Him With Many Crowns, arr. Craig Courtney
Crown Him with many crowns! Crown Him the Lord of love! Behold His hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified: no angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown Him with many crowns, the lamb upon His throne; Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own! Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save; His glories now we sing who died and rose on high, who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of years: the potentate of time, Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime. All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me; Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity. Crown Him with many crowns!
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Remembering with Love and Hope (pew card)
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Sanctus (pew card)
Mystery of the Faith (unison)
Christ has Died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, George Friedric Handel
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded graveclothes where thy body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.
* HYMN No. 243: Christ Is Alive!
* BENEDICTION
Response (standing): from Messiah, George Friedric Handel
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah!
POSTLUDE: God of Grace, arr. Paul Manz
THE COFFEE HOUR is hosted by Judi Hunt, Judie Kellaway and Yoon Ryo. After the service, all are invited to Gessner Hall to share in a time of fellowship.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Jean and Gerry Mendler
Greeters: Joan Werbel and Joan Pearson
Ushers: Jorge Alamilla, Sally Ann Castle, Ginny, Hong and Michael Chan, Buck Kellaway, Jeanne and Steve Sarran
THE COTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND provides assistance to students who are part of our church community. Scholarships are available to graduating high school students and students enrolled in post high school studies. Applications are available in the church office and must be returned by May 1st.
WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN CIRCLE- Luncheon, Saturday, April 18, 2015
After the luncheon, the program is a story of Esther, written and portrayed by our Thespian Group.
VAN MINISTRY: Volunteers are desparately needed to assist with driving members to worship services. If you can help, speak with Gerry Mendler after church or call (917) 362-6284 (day) or (718) 464-3464 (evening).
Also, if you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler.
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please pick a date on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Gessner Hall or speak with Rhoda Jabbour.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Helga Brenner-Khan, Marilyn Cooney, Ed Dawson, Letty Delgardo, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Jackie Fraser, Elaine Good, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Josephine Rivera, Frank Rivilli, Matthew Schulman, Janice Serra, Emily Testut