April 19, 2026
Sunday Gathering
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-PRELUDE-
“On the Road to Emmaus” -J. Steele
Timmy Smallwood
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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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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Dream of A Church”
WE DREAM OF A CHURCH
WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME,
WE DREAM OF A PLACE
WE ALL CAN CALL HOME.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE JUSTICE IS FLOWING
WITH HOPE AND PEACE GROWING,
WHERE GOD’S WILL IS DONE.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO!
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY,
MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
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-WELCOME-
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
O GOD, FILL OUR HEARTS
TO REACH OUT IN WELCOME,
MAKE US TO SEE YOUR VISION ONCE MORE.
LET’S DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE OUR HANDS ARE YOUR HANDS,
WE OFFER OURSELVES,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO!
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY,
MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
We come from many places,
following different roads.
WE COME HUNGERING
FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING.
We come to hear the wisdom of Scripture.
WE COME SEEKING COMPANIONS IN CHRIST.
We come to discover the One
revealed in the breaking of the bread.
WE COME TO GROW AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
Come, let us worship God,
made known to us in the life of Jesus.
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Let Us Break Bread Together”
LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES;
LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES.
WHEN I FALL ON MY KNEES,
WITH MY FACE TO THE RISING SUN,
MY GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME.
LET US DRINK WINE TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES;
LET US DRINK WINE TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES.
WHEN I FALL ON MY KNEES,
WITH MY FACE TO THE RISING SUN,
MY GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME.
LET US PRAISE GOD TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES;
LET US PRAISE GOD TOGETHER ON OUR KNEES.
WHEN I FALL ON MY KNEES,
WITH MY FACE TO THE RISING SUN,
MY GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME.
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-SCRIPTURE-
Luke 24: 13-35 (MSG)
That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”
He said, “What has happened?”
They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.
Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”
Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”
Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
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-SPECIAL MUSIC-
“Nobody Told Me”
Timmy Smallwood
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-THE MESSAGE-
“It Was In the Bread”
Pam Lee-Miller
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying”
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
LORD, SEND YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE;
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
SEND US LOVE, SEND US POW’R, SEND US GRACE.
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-SHARNG JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying”
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
LORD, SEND YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE;
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
SEND US LOVE, SEND US POW’R, SEND US GRACE.
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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-
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-COMMUNION MEDITATION-
“Piano Medley”
Timmy Smallwood
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-OFFERING-
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-IN GRATITUDE-
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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-
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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Love to Tell the Story”
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY
OF UNSEEN THINGS ABOVE,
OF JESUS' RADIANT GLORY,
OF JESUS' ENDLESS LOVE.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY,
’CAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE;
IT SATISFIES MY LONGINGS
AS NOTHING ELSE CAN DO.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
AND WHEN I AM IN GLORY
I’LL TELL THE OLD, OLD STORY
OF JESUS’ ENDLESS LOVE.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
MORE WONDERFUL IT SEEMS
THAN ALL THE GOLDEN VISIONS
OF ALL OUR GOLDEN DREAMS.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY,
I TELL IT NOW TO YOU
BECAUSE I WANT TO SHARE IT,
’CAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
AND WHEN I AM IN GLORY
I’LL TELL THE OLD, OLD STORY
OF JESUS’ ENDLESS LOVE.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
IT'S PLEASANT TO REPEAT WHAT SEEMS,
EACH TIME I TELL IT,
MORE WONDERFULLY SWEET.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY,
FOR SOME HAVE NEVER HEARD
THE MESSAGE OF GOD’S MERCY
FROM GOD'S OWN HOLY WORDS.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
AND WHEN I AM IN GLORY
I’LL TELL THE OLD, OLD STORY
OF JESUS’ ENDLESS LOVE.
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Love to Tell the Story”
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY;
AND WHEN I AM IN GLORY
I’LL TELL THE OLD, OLD STORY
OF JESUS’ ENDLESS LOVE.
. . . . . . . . . .
-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