Easter Sunday
Sanctuary • 11:00 AM Sunday, April 5, 2026
OPENING VOLUNTARY
Order of Worship
An Easter Fanfare
The service of worship begins The prelude is offered on behalf of the entire congregation Quiet meditation and private prayer are encouraged
*CHIMING OF THE HOUR (*Those who are able are asked to stand )
*THE EASTER GREETING Leader: Christ is risen! People: He is risen, indeed! All: Alleluia!
*HYMN IN PROCESSION .....................................................................................................................
the Lord Is Risen Today
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1739 | MUSIC: Lyra Davidica, 1708 Setting by Gerry Senechal
COLLECT FOR EASTER
Almighty God, through Jesus Christ you overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that we who celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection may, by the renewing of your Spirit, arise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
RITUAL
OF FRIENDSHIP
*ACT OF PRAISE .................................................................................................................. Psalm 118:1-2, 14-17, 21-24
Response (R)
RO give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
The Lord is my strength and my power; the Lord has become my salvation
There are joyous songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord R
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. R
ANTHEM ... Alfred Fedak Spring Bursts Today Spring bursts today, for Christ is ris’n and all the earth’s at play Flash forth, thou sun, the rain is over and gone, its work is done. Winter is past, sweet spring is come at last, is come at last. Bud, fig and vine, olive, fat with fruit and oil and wine Break forth this morn in roses, thou yesterday a thorn Uplift thy head, O pure white lily thro’ the winter dead Beside your dams leap and rejoice, you merry making Lambs All flocks and herds rejoice, all beasts of thickets and of rocks Sing, creatures, sing, angels and men and birds, and everything All notes of doves fill all our world: this is the time of loves.
*GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 28:1-10 Leader: The Word of the Lord! People: Thanks be to God!
SERMON .. Rev. Thomas W Smith Go and Tell
*HYMN ......................................................................................................................................................... ELLACOMBE
The Day of Resurrection
MUSIC: Gesangbuch der H W k Hofkapelle, 1784, adapt. and harm. by W.
*THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: In the peace of the risen Christ, let us pray to the Lord: that our risen Savior may grant us victory over the forces of spiritual wickedness, seen and unseen
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
Leader: that he may crush beneath our feet the prince of darkness and all evil powers
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
Leader: that he may raise us up and set us with him in heaven
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer Leader: that he may fill us with the joy of his holy and life-giving resurrection
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer Leader: that he may provide through us for those who lack food, work, and shelter
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer
Leader: that by his love, wars and famine may cease through all the earth
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer Leader: that isolated and persecuted churches find fresh strength in the Gospel
People: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer Leader: that all those who have gone before us in the faith of Christ may find refreshment, light, and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERTORY ANTHEM (Please remain seated) ......................................................................... George Frideric Handel Hallelujah (from”Messiah”)
Hallelujah For the lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah 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 forever and ever. Hallelujah. And lord of lords forever and ever. Hallelujah.
*DOXOLOGY LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow
WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674; adapt. G. H. Vieira, 1978 |
MUSIC: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623 Setting by John Ferguson
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The pastor gives thanks appropriate to the occasion, remembering God’s acts of salvation, and concludes: And so, with all your people on earth and with all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The pastor continues the thanksgiving The institution of the Lord’s Supper is recalled The pastor concludes: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving As a holy and living sacrifice
In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith
The pastor invokes the present work of the Holy Spirit and then praises the Trinity, concluding: All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
GIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
(All who love Jesus, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with God and one another are welcome at the Lord’s Table Please follow the ushers’ directions You will come to one of the serving stations Please open your hands when you are ready to receive Communion Those who need gluten-free wafers should request this of the server Anyone who prefers to be served in their seats should notify an usher.)
COMMUNION HYMNS (sung by all)
HYMN
The Head That Once Was Crowned
ST.
MAGNUS
The Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done
Christ Is Alive
WORDS: Brian Wren, 1968, alt ©1975 Hope Publishing Co | MUSIC: Psalmodia Evangelica, 1789
PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION
*BENEDICTION
Leader: O God, you have given us a vision of our risen Lord, through whom we may know the peace that passes all understanding, which the world can neither give nor take away.
People: To Him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. Amen.
*HYMN IN PROCESSION ... CRUCIFER
Lift High the Cross
WORDS: George William Kitchin and Michael Robert Newbolt,1916, alt.
MUSIC: Sydney Hugo Nicholson, 1916, Setting by Michael Burkhardt
*CLOSING VOLUNTARY
Lift High the Cross