Easter Sunday Bulletin, Apr 20 2025

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

April 20, 2025 • 10:30 a.m.

Easter

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Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Joe McSwain, Usher and Candle Lighter

Naomi Hanvey, Scripture Reader

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

______Fellowship Set-Up

Naomi Hanvey Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Entrance of the Light of Christ

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

God lives among us . . . all the time!

All the time . . . God lives among us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday, Honest Thomas

Lenten Book Study: Chapters from Speaking Christian Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

Wednesday: String-A-Lings 5:30 and Sing-A-Lings 6:30

Ding-A-Lings after Worship

 Community giving: Coats for Kids

Passing the Peace of Christ and Welcoming the Light of Christ

We sing and flower the cross. You are invited to share the blessing of peace with those around you as you place flowers on the cross.

Hymn: “Christ the Lord, is Risen Today” 233 (NCH)

1. Christ the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Mortal tongues and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, glad heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

2. Let the Victor’s people sing, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia! Dying once, Christ lives to save, Alleluia! Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

3. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids Christ rise, Alleluia! God has opened paradise, Alleluia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Christ, like Christ we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Community Prayer

Hymn: “Change My Heart” RB 50

Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you. You are the potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me; This is what I pray. Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Refrain: Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.

Prayers of Concern 

Refrain

Prayers in Silence 

Refrain

The Lord’s Prayer (brought to us from Louise)

A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer BookEternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

Response: Holy, Holy, Holy  277(NCH)

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “Give Thanks”

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, the son. (Repeat) And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (repeat)

Give thanks. Give thanks.

Dedication prayer:

Renewer of Life, bless these offerings of our time, talent, and treasure. May we live as your people overcoming hardship and rejoicing in new beginnings.  With trust in your Spirit, we pray. Amen

Listening for God


Message with Young Hearts

What is your favorite part of Easter?

Acts 10:34-43 NRSVUE Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

John 20:1-18 NRSVUE Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir,[b] if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,[c] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Message:  No Partiality

Silence

Announcement Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Hymn: “The Day of Resurrection” 245(NCH)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad; The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God. From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Christ who reigns eternal in resurrection light. We listen for the teachings once heard so calm and plain, for we, too, want to follow and raise the victor strain.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful! Let earth the song begin! The whole world keep high triumph, and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ again has risen, our joy that hath no end.

Benediction 

Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that

which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the

fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people.

Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The

Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.

Easter Sunrise Bulletin, Apr 20 2025

Easter Sunrise Worship Service

April 20, 2025, 5:45 am

Gathered around the fire, we remember the fire 

near which Peter denied Jesus three times.

Greeting

Pastor: Grace to you from Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come. Dear siblings in Christ, on this most holy morning when we proclaim the passage of Jesus Christ from death to life, we offer up our songs and prayers as a new dawn breaks. Through light and the word, we recall Christ’s death and resurrection, we share Christ’s triumph. 

Hear these words: 

"Death is swallowed up in victory. 

O death, where is your victory? 

O death, where is your sting?" 

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

Hymn: “Morning Has Broken” sung a cappella 

Words: Eleanor Farjeon, Music: Traditional Gaelic

  1.  Morning has broken like the first morning; Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

  2.  Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

  3.  Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning. Born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation; praise ev'ry morning, God's recreation of the new day!

Silent Meditation

Responsive reading based on Psalm 93

One: You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High who abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

All: We will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust." 

One: God  will save you from the fowler's snare  and from the deadly pestilence. 

 ALL: God will cover us with God’s feathers, and under God’s wings we will find refuge; God’s faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. 

 One: You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 

 ALL: Let us make the Most High our dwelling— even the Lord, who is our refuge- 

One: For God will command the angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 

ALL: We will call upon God, and God will answer God will be with us in trouble, God will deliver us. 

Prayer of Invocation

Powerful and loving God, you have raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God, raise us too. May fresh life burst among us like buds awakening to the spring. May shells of distrust and self-hatred that keep us from loving, be broken away so that new life can emerge. May new community spring up where fear has kept us from the stranger. Keep us patient in making peace and building justice. Teach us to trust the slow process from seed to stem, from stem to flower, from flower to fruit. Breathe on us with your Spirit, through the risen Christ. Amen

Hymn: “In the Bulb there is a Flower” sung a cappella

Words and Music: Natalie A. Sleeth

1. In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

2. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

3. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Blessing of a New Flame 

(flame taken from fire)

One: Let us pray.

All: Eternal God, giver of light and life, bless this new flame, that by its radiance and warmth we may respond to your love and grace, and be set free from all that separates us from you and from each other; through Jesus Christ, the sun of righteousness. Amen.

Lighting of the Paschal Candle

(Christ Candle is lit with flame from the fire)

ALL: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, 

illumine our hearts and minds.

Lighting of Memorial Candles

(At this time, all are invited to come forward and light a candle and speak the name(s) of those who have died from this life to be born into the next. You might also light a candle for the death of former ways or beliefs that have died from your own life).

Listening for God

One: Dear friends in Christ, we have begun our morning vigil. As we watch and wait, let us seek the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer!

All: Let the Word of God fill us as we hear the reading of the scripture.

Luke 24:1-12

 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.[e]

Sharing of Thoughts, Poems, and Insights

Easter Prayers

One: Gracious, living God, we come before you with open hearts. On this Easter morning we are thankful for life and for the victory of life over death. We are mindful of those who have left this life and we are mindful of how our lives have changed in this past year. Parts of ourselves have died away. Keep your promise of new life. Restore us and hear us as we offer you the prayers from our hearts.

(Anyone who would like to voice a prayer is welcome to do so now.)

Lord’s Prayer

First Raising of the Paschal Candle

(Joe McSwain carries the Paschal Candle into the narthex and all follow.)

The one carrying the candle raises it and says: “Christ our Light.”

All: Thanks be to God.

Second Raising of the Paschal Candle

(All enter the sanctuary)

One raises the candle and says: “Christ our Light.”

All: Thanks be to God.

Third Raising of the Paschal Candle

(All enter the chancel)

One raises the candle and says: “Christ our Light.”

All: Thanks be to God.

Easter Proclamation

(The candle set in its place)

One: Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!

Jesus Christ, our Light is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!

All: Rejoice, O Earth, in shining splendor, 

radiant in the brightness of your Sovereign! 

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Night vanishes forever!

One: Rejoice, O servant church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

My dearest friends, standing with me in this holy light, join me in asking for God’s loving presence to be ever among us. 

All: With full hearts, minds, and voices we praise the unseen God, the Eternal Creator, and your only begotten one, Jesus the Christ.

One: For Christ has claimed us as God’s own. This is the morning when Christians everywhere celebrate how God’s great love overcomes even the worst of this world. This is the morning when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.

All: O God, how wonderful your care for us!  How boundless your merciful love! The power of this blessed morning dispels all evil,  washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings peace, and humbles earthly pride. Morning is truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth

and humanity is reconciled with God!

One: Therefore, gracious Creator, in the joy of this morning, receive our praise. May this Easter candle be a pillar of fire that glows to your honor, O God.

All: Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and let the light in our hearts continue bravely burning to dispel the shadows! May the morning star that never sets find our flames still burning. In Christ, that morning star who came back from the dead, shed your peaceful light on all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever. Amen.

Hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” sung a cappella 

1. Christ the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!

Mortal tongues and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, glad heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

2. Let the Victor’s people sing, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!

Dying once, Christ lives to save, Alleluia!

Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

3. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Christ rise, Alleluia!

God has opened paradise, Alleluia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Christ, like Christ we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

UNISON BENEDICTION

Christ is Risen! 

We seek Him no more at the tomb. Creation is made new! 

We open our hearts to growth and joy. Christ is with us! 

We go out into lives transformed by God’s love. Christ is risen indeed!

Palm/Passion Sunday Bulletin, April 13, 2025

Palm/Passion Sunday

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

Palm/Passion Sunday, April 13, 2025 • 10:30 a.m.

___________________________________

Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Tom Cuilla, AV and Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Joe McSwain, Usher

Charlie Salt and Marvin Wilson, Scripture Reader

Diane Smith, Candle Lighter

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Sue Ferrozzo Fellowship Set-Up

_______ Fellowship Clean-up

Rev. Gen Heywood, Pastor

10:30am Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

10:30am    Worship begins

God is with us . . all the time!  All the time . . . God is with us!

Welcoming Our Lord!

We gather on Zoom, Facebook, and in person. Those in the sanctuary, we will have a palm parade from the sanctuary out to the church sign and back. For those with us at a distance, find a branch (bay leaf branch if you have a tree), scarf, or other way to remember the crowd that cheered on Jesus.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: Hosanna to the Son of David, the Sovereign of the World!

All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

Charlie Salt, Reader

Luke 19:29-40 

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king    who comes in the name of the Lord!Peace in heaven,    and glory in the highest heaven!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

BLESSING OF THE PALMS

Pastor: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Pastor: Let us pray.

All: Beloved Jesus, today we remember that you entered Jerusalem in peace and dignity, heralding a week of pain and sorrow. Be with us now as we follow. Remind us again that you have sealed the closeness of death and resurrection, of humiliation and exaltation. We thank you for these branches that become for us reflections of the past and visions of the future.  Bless them and us that their use this day may announce in our time that Christ has come, Christ is here, and Christ will come again. Amen! Come, Christ Jesus!

PALMS DISTRIBUTED

Pastor: Let us welcome the Christ!

All: Let us receive Christ with Praise!

Processional Hymns:

Our God is an Awesome God,

Who reigns from heaven above;

With wisdom, pow’r, and love.

Our God is an Awesome God.

Once we get to the front door we sing:

 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” 213 (NCH)

Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang, to Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed amid a cheering crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children slowed down the donkey’s gate.

"Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song is ours, we hail the great Redeemer and sing with all our powers. “Hosanna, Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice. Hosanna! In your presence forever we rejoice!”

Silence

Call to Confession

One: Let us return to God.

Prayer of Confession

ALL: Holy One, we have travel through this season of Lent, opening our lives to your transforming love. We offer to you all that we have done and all that we have left undone. We return our life to your way of mercy and justice. We place before you the truth of ourselves. Set us free from our regrets. Let shame have no power over us. Help us begin anew. Help us to return to you. We ask following the way of Jesus. Amen

Silent Confessions with God

Assurance

One: God longs for our return and holds nothing against us.

All: We thank God with humble hearts.

Community Prayer

Hymn: “Change My Heart” RB 50

Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you. You are the potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me; This is what I pray. Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.

Prayers of Gratitude 

Refrain: Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.

Prayers of Concern 

Refrain

Prayers in Silence 

Refrain

 The Lord’s Prayer (brought to us from Louise)

A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer BookEternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

Response: Holy, Holy, Holy  (NCH)

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! All your works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Offering Hymn: “Give Thanks” RB 7

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, the Son. (repeat)

And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (repeat)

Give thanks. Give thanks.

Dedication prayer

Holy One, you came among us and your Spirit is with us still. We thank you with humble hearts. May our offerings of time, talent, and treasure help to make your vision of a just and compassionate world be glimpsed in us. Amen

Listening for God

Choir: Holy Ground

Marvin Wilson, Reader

Luke 23: 1-49 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3 Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

18 Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

All: When Jesus Wept 192 NCH

When Jesus wept a falling tear 

In mercy flowed beyond all bound

When Jesus groaned a trembling fear

Seized all the guilty world around.

26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in[k] your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

ALL:  Were you there 229 (NCH) verses 1 and 2

1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land[l] until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed,[m]and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

Choir: Sanctuary

Message: “From Joy to Deep Sorrow” 

Silence

Meditation in Music

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Easter! 

Sunrise 5:45am and All Family 10:30am 

Bible/Book Study Monday at 7pm 

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

Strin-A-Lings 5:30 pm Wednesday

Sing-A-Lings (a.k.a.Choir) 6:30pm Wednesday

Our Lord’s Last Supper, Thursday gather 5:30pm start 6pm

 Community giving this month: Coats for Kids

One Great Hour of Sharing – donating to global helping ministries.

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

Our last Sunday to bring forward rocks that symbolize the barriers and burdens that keep us from embracing God’s steadfast love.

*Hymn: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded 226 (NCH) verses 1 and 3

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, your only crown: how pale you are with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish which once was bright as morn! 3. What language shall I borrow to thank you, dearest friend, for this your dying sorrow, your pity without end?  May I be yours forever, and though my days are few, O Savior, let me never, never outlive my love for you!

Benediction 

Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that

which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the

fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people.

Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. The

Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

Community Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion.