April 5, 2026
Sunday Gathering
Easter Sunday
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-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.
We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.
We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages, and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.
We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.
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-PRELUDE-
“Crown Him With Many Crowns” -Arr. P. Keveren
Brenda Gardiner
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-WELCOME-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Wilderness Wanderering People”
WE ARE A WILDERNESS WANDERING PEOPLE
ON A JOURNEY OF THE SOUL.
MAY WE FIND OUR DESTINATION
IN OUR LONGING TO BE WHOLE.
OUR HOLY GOD IS CALLING TO US.
WITH JESUS BY OUR SIDE
MAY COMPASSION BE OUR COMPASS;
MAY THE SPIRIT BE OUR GUIDE.
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Wilderness Wanderering People”
WE ARE A WILDERNESS WANDERING PEOPLE
ON A JOURNEY OF THE SOUL.
MAY WE FIND OUR DESTINATION
IN OUR LONGING TO BE WHOLE.
OUR HOLY GOD IS CALLING TO US.
WITH JESUS BY OUR SIDE
MAY COMPASSION BE OUR COMPASS;
MAY THE SPIRIT BE OUR GUIDE.
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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
We gather this morning as travelers on the road;
SOME WEARY, SOME HOPEFUL, ALL SEEKING NEW LIFE.
The journey has led us through shadows and silence.
BUT TODAY, THE STONE IS ROLLED AWAY!
Christ walks beside us, even when we do not see.
CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE JOURNEY IS TRANSFORMED!
Come, you who have wandered and wondered;
COME, AND FIND GRACE ALONG THE WAY.
This is the day of resurrection, the turning of the path.
WE RISE TO FOLLOW WITH JOY AND COURAGE!
Let us follow the One who meets us on the road and leads us into new life.
ALLELUIA!
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Christ the Lord is Risen Today”
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY, ALLELUIA!
ALL CREATION JOINS TO SAY, ALLELUIA!
RAISE YOUR JOYS AND TRIUMPHS HIGH, ALLELUIA!
SING, O HEAV’NS, AND EARTH REPLY, ALLELUIA!
LET THE VICTOR’S PEOPLE SING, ALLELUIA!
WHERE, O DEATH, IS NOW YOUR STING? ALLELUIA!
DYING ONCE, CHRIST LIVES TO SAVE, ALLELUIA!
WHERE’S YOUR VICTORY, O GRAVE? ALLELUIA!
LOVE'S REDEEMING WORK IS DONE, ALLELUIA!
FOUGHT THE FIGHT, THE BATTLE WON, ALLELUIA!
DEATH IN VAIN FORBIDS HIM RISE, ALLELUIA!
GOD HAS OPENED PARADISE. ALLELUIA!
SOAR WE NOW WHERE CHRIST WAS LED, ALLELUIA!
FOLLOWING OUR EXALTED HEAD, ALLELUIA!
MADE LIKE HIM, LIKE HIM WE RISE, ALLELUIA!
OURS THE CROSS, THE GRAVE, THE SKIES, ALLELUIA!
AMEN!
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-SCRIPTURE-
Matthew 28:1-10 (CEB)
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.”
With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.”
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-THE MESSAGE-
“They Met Him on The Way”
Kenny Bishop
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“God Comes to Us”
GOD COMES TO US ON WINTER NIGHT,
IN BABY’S BREATH, BY FIRELIGHT,
GOD COMES TO US ON A STAR.
GOD COMES TO US AMIDST OUR FEARS,
UNSPOKEN JOYS, UNENDING TEARS,
GOD COMES TO US WHERE WE ARE.
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-SHARNG JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“As We Gather At Your Table”
AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE,
AS WE LISTEN TO YOUR WORD,
HELP US KNOW, O GOD, YOUR PRESENCE;
LET OUR HEARTS AND MINDS BE STIRRED.
NOURISH US WITH SACRED STORY
TILL WE CLAIM IT AS OUR OWN;
TEACH US THROUGH THIS HOLY BANQUET
HOW TO MAKE LOVE’S VICTORY KNOWN.
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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-
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-COMMUNION MEDITATION-
“In the Garden/Because He Lives”
Brenda Gardiner
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-IN GRATITUDE-
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-OFFERING-
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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-
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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“He Lives”
I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR,
HE'S IN THE WORLD TODAY;
I KNOW THAT HE IS LIVING,
WHATEVER OTHERS SAY;
I SEE HIS HAND OF MERCY,
HIS VOICE SPEAKS TO MY FEAR,
AND JUST THE TIME I NEED HIM
I FIND HIM NEAR.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!
HE WALKS WITH ME AND TALKS WITH ME
ALONG LIFE'S NARROW WAY.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
SALVATION TO IMPART!
YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES?
HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART.
IN ALL THE WORLD AROUND ME
I SEE HIS LOVING CARE.
AND THOUGH MY HEART GROWS WEARY
I TRUST HIM IN DESPAIR;
I KNOW THAT HE IS LEADING,
THRO' ALL THE STORMY BLAST.
I KNOW THAT HE IS FAITHFUL,
HIS LOVE STEADFAST.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!
HE WALKS WITH ME AND TALKS WITH ME
ALONG LIFE'S NARROW WAY.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
SALVATION TO IMPART!
YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES?
HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART.
REJOICE, REJOICE, O CHRISTIAN,
LIFT UP YOUR VOICE AND SING
ETERNAL HALLELUJAHS
TO JESUS CHRIST, THE KING!
THE HOPE OF ALL WHO SEEK HIM,
THE HELP OF ALL WHO FIND,
HE IS SO RIGHT AND LOVING,
SO GOOD AND KIND.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!
HE WALKS WITH ME AND TALKS WITH ME
ALONG LIFE'S NARROW WAY.
HE LIVES, HE LIVES,
SALVATION TO IMPART!
YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES?
HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
We will follow on The Way.
WE WILL FOLLOW ON THE WAY.
The Creator God fills us with breath
inviting us to this journey called Life.
WE WILL FOLLOW ON THE WAY.
Jesus, our Guide, shows us what it means
to make a new way with Love.
WE WILL FOLLOW ON THE WAY.
The Spirit gives us strength to move forward
with courage and compassion for all we meet.
WE WILL FOLLOW ON THE WAY.
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Wilderness Wanderering People”
WE ARE A WILDERNESS WANDERING PEOPLE
ON A JOURNEY OF THE SOUL.
MAY WE FIND OUR DESTINATION
IN OUR LONGING TO BE WHOLE.
OUR HOLY GOD IS CALLING TO US.
WITH JESUS BY OUR SIDE
MAY COMPASSION BE OUR COMPASS;
MAY THE SPIRIT BE OUR GUIDE.
ON THE WAY,
ON THE WAY,
ON THE WAY.
. . . . . . . . . .
-THE TEAM-
ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner, Lisa Loeffler, Timmy Smallwood
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Tiff Jones
BUILDING CARE: Travis Hines, Barry Thompson
FACILITIES CARE: Edmond Edwards, Lisa Loeffler, Steve Melton, Seth Tuska
NURSERY: Linda Netherton
PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner
PROPERTY CARE: Skeet Freytag, West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste
SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Barry Thompson
SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Lisa Loeffler, Chris Cook
TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Erin Drenkhahn, Dale Hamilton, Keith Moore, Timmy Smallwood
APRIL BULLETINS