Easter Sunday
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PRELUDE “Praeludium in E Flat BWV 552 from Klavier-Uebung III”
J.S. Bach
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT “Now the Green Blade Riseth”
French carol;
arr. Martin Shaw
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
(The congregation may rise in body or in spirit as the chimes are played.)
*PROCESSION OF THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
*HYMN OF PRAISE #232 “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!”
EASTER HYMN
Jesus Christ is risen today,
Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day,
Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross,
Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss.
Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing,
Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king,
Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave,
Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save.
Alleluia!
But the pains which He endured,
Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured,
Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king,
Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing.
Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above,
Alleluia!
Praise eternal as God’s love.
Alleluia!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host,
Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia!
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP
The Rev. Gregg Neel
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
This is the day:
when tears are wiped away;
shattered hearts are mended;
fears are replaced with joy.
This is the day the Lord:
rolls away the stone of fear;
throws off death’s clothes;
goes ahead of us into God’s future.
This is the day the Lord has made:
death has no fear for us;
sin has lost its power over us;
God opens the tombs of our hearts to fill us with life.
This is the day – Easter Day!
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
Let us worship God.
WELCOME
The Rev. Gregg Neel
INVITATION TO RECONCILIATION
The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
I do not have to tell you, but we need to remind ourselves, of how our actions, words, and inattention cause harm to others. Yet, this is the day, as on every day, when God calls us by name, filling us with grace, and making us whole. Let us bring all we have done to God, for mercy and hope. Let us pray, first in silence.
SILENT PRAYER
UNISON PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS
On this morning of hallelujahs, we must confess how human we are. We haven’t done any great evil, but we have failed to do good when we had the chance. We have not intentionally hurt anyone, nor have we offered healing to the broken. We easily accept the witness of the angel in the tomb, but find it difficult to share this good news with our friends and neighbors.
Bring us new life, Dazzling God. Where we are tired and stressed, give us the energy to serve your creation; transform our hardened hearts into fountains of grace; forgive us of all the damage we have done, and fill us with the joy of your Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, who gives us new life, we pray. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
On that first day, and the next, and every day until now and beyond, God turns, calls us by name, planting mercy and life into our hearts.
Alleluia! This is the good news!
Christ is our peace,
the peace which will heal the world.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen.
*PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
(Please rise as you are able to share the peace of Christ with one another.)
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
SCRIPTURE READING Luke 24:1-12 (p. 90)
The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN
The Rev. Junha Kim
(Rev. Junha will tell the Easter story using jelly beans and plastic egg. There will be a proclamation “He is risen!” At the conclusion of this time, children may return to sit with their families.)
ANTHEM “Hope”
Zachary J. Moore
Jeffrey Kaye, djembe; Aaron Peterson, shaker
Alleluia!
SERMON “Telling the Tale, the Story of Restoration”
The Rev. Gregg Neel
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #238 “Thine Is the Glory”
JUDAS MACCABEUS
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb.
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.
No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!!
Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu’rors, through Thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
PASTORAL PRAYER AND 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.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
(Today we will receive gifts for the One Great Hour of Sharing offering which supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and refugee aid;
envelopes are in the pew. Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you.
If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
OFFERTORY ANTHEM “Hail the Day that See Him Rise”
Charles Welsey
Aaron Peterson, trumpet
Tune: Llanfair
Arr. Victor C. Johnson,
an Afro-American Composer
Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia! to His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia! enters now the highest heaven. Alleluia!
There for Him high triumph waits; Alleluia! lift your heads, eternal gates. Alleluia!
He hath conquered death and sin; Alleluia! take the King of glory in. Alleluia!
Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia! Yet He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
See He lifts His hands above; Alleluia! See He shows the prints of love; Alleluia!
Hark, His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia! blessings on His Church below. Alleluia!
*DOXOLOGY – Hymn #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*HYMN #750 “Goodness Is Stronger than Evil”
(Sing twice)
GOODNESS IS STRONGER
Goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours; victory is ours
Oh, victory is ours; victory is
through God who loves us. us.
ours through God who loves us. us.
*BENEDICTION & RESPONSE “Hallelujah Chorus”
from Messiah
G. F. Handel
(Anyone in the congregation who so desires to sing is invited to come forward to the chancel
steps to join the choir in the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Sheet music will be provided.)
*POSTLUDE “Toccata from Symphony V”
C. M. Widor