April 16, 2006

Leader: Christ is risen!
People: Christ is risen indeed!
Leader: The tomb is empty - sing glad songs of victory!
People: We shall not die, but we shall live!
Leader: The Lord has done this;
People: Let us rejoice and be glad!
All: We give thanks, Lord, for you are good;
your steadfast love endures forever. Alleluia!
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns Alleluia HWB 101
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today HWB 280
This Joyful Eastertide HWB 276
Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Children's Story
Hymn He came down SJ 31

Hearing

Scripture Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18
Sermon I was there
Prayer
All: Unwavering God, we too have wept with Mary Magdalene
at the tomb. We have failed to trust in your promises. We have tried to make sense of your resurrection with our heads and not our hearts. Today we acknowledge that you are our only comfort, peace of our souls, our promise of new life. Come Holy Spirit.
Affirmation of faith
All: We believe in an extravagant God
whose steadfast love endures forever:
who is the cornerstone of our faith, Jesus the Christ
Who could not be contained in the tomb of death
Whose victory was the miracle of resurrection
Whose spirit empowers all the witnesses -
The disciples, Mary Magdalene, the apostle Paul,
and all who have flourished under God's grace.
We commit ourselves to live in the mystery of our faith until Christ comes again to reign in the fullness of His kingdom. With all God's people we proclaim, "We shall not die, but we shall live."

Responding

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn Bless'd be the tie that binds HWB 421
Benediction
Leader: Hear the promise of God:
"All who humble themselves will be exalted."
People: Let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus,
who humbled himself for our sake and became obedient
to the point of death-even death on a cross.
All: Thanks be to God!

Communion
Opening Hymn Jesus stand among us HWB 25
Invitation
Words of Institution and Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: In the week just past,
we have remembered our Lord's suffering and death,
how on the night he was betrayed he took a loaf of bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
"This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way after supper he took the cup, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

We also remember that in the days after his resurrection,
Jesus often ate with his disciples,
speaking peace to them, offering comfort,
and promising them new life.

God of life and hope, on this Easter Sunday,
we give thanks for the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
we give thanks for the promise that as we eat and drink,
our lives are made new.
Bless these gifts of bread and wine;
let them be a foretaste of eternal joy with you.
We pray in the name of the Risen One, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. AMEN
Communion
Communion Hymn Were You There HWB 257
Closing Prayer
All: O living Christ,
you have come to us in the glory of your risen power;
you have come to us in the humility of your wondrous love.
Now let new life course through our veins,
new love bind us together,
and new vision spur us on to follow you forever.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. AMEN
(adapted from #676, Hymnal: A Worship Book)
Special Music "By the Mark"

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn Low in the Grave He Lay HWB 273
Benediction

Today

Sermon: Roy Hange
Worship Leader: Maren Tyedmers Hange
Music: Jen Larson Sawin, Andy Orban
Nursery: Franz family

Announcements

Please have all bulletin information to Jeannine by noon on Thursday. Thanks!

The entire church family is invited to attend the yearly church retreat at Camp Bethel on June 2nd-4th. Please reserve these dates on your calendar and look for the registrations forms that will be in your mailbox next week. Please contact Libby Showalter for questions.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM Skip and Carol Tobin in Southeast Asia bring the resurrection news to persons with AIDS among the Isaan people. Ask for God's abiding strength for all-both the infected persons and those who serve them.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray for the Easter celebration planned by the team in Senegal. Ask God to bless the hearers of the word with openness to the redemptive work of Jesus.

Pray for the local services for people in need: Love Inc., Shelter for Help in Emergency, Food Bank, Salvation Army, IMPACT--a justice ministry and PACEM-- the initiative for the homeless.

Gathering in Christ's name

Hearing

Responding

Today

Announcements

Prayers and Praises