Grace Presbyterian Church
Meeting in the Chapel at Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome
Prelude “Largo” Antonio Vivaldi arr. S. Drummond Wolff
Call to Worship (Based on John 20:19-31)
One: Christ is risen! He greets us with a word of peace.
All: We welcome the risen Christ! We worship and adore him!
One: Christ is risen! Locked doors and doubting hearts cannot keep him away.
All: We welcome the risen Christ! We worship and adore him!
One: Christ is risen! He comes to bless us with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
All: We welcome the risen Christ! We worship and adore him!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 398 * “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (in Unison) Isaiah 26:19-20
Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. and the earth will give birth to the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.
Time With Children
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
Savior God, forgive our doubts and disbelief. You show up in our lives, yet we fail to notice you and demand more proof. We expect more when you have already given us enough. Forgive our lack of faith. Forgive our lack of gratitude. Redeem us. Restore us. Resurrect us for life in Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Praise Be To God in Song * “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen. (sing 3 times)
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Lesson John 20: 19–29
Message The Risen Lord: Peace, Power, and Purpose Linwood Bagby
Hymn 316 * “Breathe on Me Breath of God”
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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on 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 Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Call to Offering
Offertory “Hallelujah to the Risen Lamb” Traditional arr. Charlene Moore Cooper
Doxology * Lasst uns erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer concluding with 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn 368 * “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”
Announcements and Benediction
Mark your calendars:
Sunday, Youth Group serving at Toni’s Kitchen today 3 PM-5 PM
Thursday, Church Rebuild Meeting, 10 AM on Zoom
Thursday, National Day of Prayer, 4-6 PM, Pastor Cindy and Dennis invite you to stop by the manse for an informal time of prayer and fellowship
Thursday, 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal at Union Cong Chapel
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Pastoral Care Coverage: Pastor Cindy Wilcox begins her ministry at Grace on Sunday, May 4. (Woohoo!) If you need pastoral care between Easter Sunday and May 4, we’ve got you covered! For non-emergencies, contact the church office (office@gracemontclair.org / 973-744-2565). For emergencies, call Ruth Liang, (973-699-6678), or Pat Walsh (201-572-2867).
Alison, our church administrator, will be on vacation April 28 through May 7. If you have business with the church office, such as a prayer request or an item that needs to go in the bulletin or the weekly email, contact Pat Walsh (201-572-2867 / clerk@gracemontclair.org). If pastoral care is needed, during that time, call Ruth Liang or Pat Walsh.
The next Friends of Grace community dinner is this Sunday, May 18, 5 – 6:30 at St John’s Episcopal. If you can provide salad, appetizer, entree or dessert to feed 30 guests, please let the church office know.
Food for the Little Pantry: Please consider picking up non-perishables on your next grocery trip. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
