April 5, 2026 Easter

April Monthly Mission

Dear friends at St. Paul’s,

I will share the two most recent changes at Crossfire.  When the food stamps shut down, our growth at Crossfire grew, averaging 30 new families daily.  It became apparent that we must look for a solution to be able to keep up with the growing needs.  Our parking lot was always overfilled, with people riding around trying to find a place to park, even though our volunteers park off site, and take a shuttle.

We explored various options, such as opening a second grocery pantry in another part of town.  We tried to work something out with District 20 but discovered that they did not want to partner with us because we are faith based.  When that deal collapsed, we asked God to show us what to do. It was two days later that we saw the old Family Dollar Store, only a mile east on Austin Bluffs, had gone on the market for sale, way below the market value.  If we moved the clothing and thrift store items out of our current building, it would not only free up parking spots but would also enlarge our current space for groceries and our growing educational needs.  We purchased that building and after doing the needed permits, stocking and setting up, we are scheduled to open it up on March 21.  Our hours there will be Tuesday through Saturdays from 10:00 to 4:00.  We hope to keep the missional emphasis there in various ways.  The proceeds will help offset the $30,000 per month food purchases that we are currently making.  It has a prayer center.  We are trying to keep the prices affordable.  We hope to reach out with educational craft demonstrations.  Guests facing tragedy situations may apply for help for their clothing and household needs.  And it is very different that your average thrift store, come and see.

The second big change is our educational outreach.  We are currently offering these educational programs with several classes in each series—Super Saver Saturday Frugal Living Series, Putting your Best Foot Forward Series for Career Development, Cooking Series for Frugal and Nutritional Living, Financial Management Series, and Sewing Workshops.  We offer sampling with recipes on Wednesdays to show our guests ways to use the food resources available and we do a written outreach Thrifty Tips for Trying Times.  We will eventually be able to use the old thrift store area for our increased class size.
Blessings to you all and thank you again for your prayers and support.

Leslie Miller, Co-Founder
Crossfire Ministries

Resurrection Story: Raised
Easter Sunday

?️ Gathering at the Tomb ?️

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts
 
Call to Worship
Rev. David Petty
 
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: Christ is risen indeed!
 
Hymn
 
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
UMH #302
1. Christ the Lord is
risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in
chorus say, Alleluia!
 
Raise your joys
and triumphs high,
Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens
and earth reply,
Alleluia!
 
2. Love’s redeeming
work is done,
Alleluia!
Fought the fight,
the battle won,
Alleluia!
 
Death in vain
forbids him rise,
Alleluia!
Christ has opened
paradise,
Alleluia!
 
3. Lives again
our glorious King,
Alleluia!
Where, O death,
is now thy sting?
Alleluia!
 
Once he died
our souls to save,
Alleluia!
Where’s the victory,
boasting grave?
Alleluia!
 
4. Soar we now
where Christ has led,
Alleluia!
Following our
exalted Head,
Alleluia!
 
Made like him,
like him we rise,
Alleluia!
Ours the cross,
the grave, the skies,
Alleluia!
 
The Collective Story of Resurrection

Threshold Moment
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: We find ourselves here today, and we know the story. But what does a fantastical resurrection story have to do with us? The ultimate message is this: no matter how dead you feel inside, or how dead your life dreams may feel, God is making a way for you! Today we kick off our “Resurrection Stories” series with the Story of all Stories and the reason why there is always hope. Can you turn your life around? Can you find new life when everything feels lifeless? Can light shine in what feels like a dark tomb? Yes. Yes. Yes!
 
David: Mary Magdalene made her way to the tomb, not expecting to see the stone rolled away from the entrance…
Twinkle: We sometimes simply accept the dead-ends of life,
and expect that closed doors are closed forever.
 
David: She ran back to get Simon Peter and another disciple, thinking that Jesus’ body had been stolen, taken away…
Twinkle: Expecting the worst is often our first thought.
 
David:  They ran to the tomb and went inside, seeing the linens left behind…
Twinkle: We sometimes see only the evidence that backs up our worst fears,
that feeds our imagined terrors.
 
David: The two disciples went home but Mary stayed at the tomb, crying…
Twinkle: Trying to escape our pain, we sometimes leave it too soon, not allowing love to show us an upside to the story.
 
David: A voice from behind Mary inquired after her weeping
but she did not recognize it at first…
Twinkle: When we are discouraged, it is difficult to recognize the Good News:
that we are not alone and that we are not at the end of our stories…
 
David: She exclaimed, “Teacher!” and after seeing it was indeed her very-alive friend,
she ran to tell the disciples “I have seen the Lord!” …
All: We open this day to the possibilities still in play,
that new beginnings can happen in the midst of what feels like endings, 
and resurrection from death-dealing forces is possible.
 
David: This is a Word of Life for the people who long for it.
All: Thanks be to the Living Word.
 
– based on John 20: 1-18

*Hymn
He Lives
UMH #310
WORDS: Alfred H. Ackley, 1933
© 1933, renewed 1961 The Rodeheaver Co
 
1. I serve a risen Savior,
he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living,
whatever foes may say.
 
I see his hand of mercy,
I hear his voice of cheer,
and just the time
I need him,
he’s always near.
 
Refrain
He lives, (he lives)
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)
he lives, (he lives)
salvation to impart!
You asked me how
I know he lives?
He lives within my heart.
 
2. In all the
world around me
I see his loving care,
and though my heart
grows weary,
I never will despair.
 
I know that
he is leading
through all the stormy blast;
the day of
his appearing
will come at last.
 
Refrain
He lives, (he lives)
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)
he lives, (he lives)
salvation to impart!
You asked me how
I know he lives?
He lives within my heart.
 
3. 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;
none other is
so loving,
so good and kind.
 
Refrain
He lives, (he lives)
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)
he lives, (he lives)
salvation to impart!
You asked me how
I know he lives?
He lives within my heart.
 
Announcements/The Key to Peace
Mystery Box

?️ Proclaiming Resurrection ?️
 
Prayers of the People
Rev. David Petty
Leader: When you came in today, you were given a key. Easter is not just a Sunday, it is a “week of weeks;” in other words, there are seven more Easter Season Sundays that end on Pentecost Sunday. Over the course of those weeks, we will be telling more Resurrection Stories about real people who faced death-dealing circumstances and found new life. When we end this series on Pentecost, the scripture that day will tell us that Jesus said, “I give you the keys to the kin-dom of heaven.” Just as we work to bring heaven on earth, we can also expect that resurrection is possible within our own life-times. We can be resurrected from despair over many things. It is not easy, for sure. But we are not alone and we already have in our possession the key to new life… anytime.
And so as we enter our prayer time today, let us hold these keys close, inviting the possibility of renewed life to approach any closed doors in our hearts…
 
Leader: Finally, we call upon the resurrected Christ to once again say to us “I give you the keys to the kin-dom of Heaven,” and we take a moment to contemplate the things we’d like to unlock in our lives, unbinding us and setting us on the road to our own resurrection story.
 
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 trespasses, 
as we forgive those 
who trespass against us.

Lead us not
into temptation 
but deliver us 
from evil. 
For Thine is the Kingdom, 
and the Power 
and the Glory forever.
Amen
 
Scripture Reading
John 20:1-18
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
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. 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.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb, 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. 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.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’ ” 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.

Testimony to Resurrection
Raised
Rev. David Petty

?️ Responding to Resurrection ?️
Communion

Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey,
and set before us the way of life.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
 
People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
By your great mercy we have been born anew
to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead
and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
Once we were no people, but now we are your people,
declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ,
who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always,
in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
On the day you raised him from the dead
he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
 
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
 
All: Amen.

Opportunities to Live Resurrected
Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Offering
Exultation for Easter
By Arnold Sherman
Sanctuary Choir
Brass & Organ

Doxology
Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow
UMH #94
 
Praise God, from whom 
all blessings flow; 
Praise God, all creatures 
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 
Praise God, the source 
of all our gifts! 
Praise Jesus Christ, 
whose power uplifts! 
 
Praise the Spirit, 
Holy Spirit! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Alleluia!

?️ Unlocking Resurrection ?️

Hymn
Crown Him with Many Crowns
UMH #327
 
1. Crown him with
many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly
anthem drowns
all music but its own.
 
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as
thy matchless King
through all eternity.
 
2. Crown him
the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious
in the strife
for those he came to save.
 
His glories now we sing,
who died, and rose on high,
who died, eternal
life to bring,
and lives that
death may die.
 
3. Crown him
the Lord of peace,
whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole,
that wars may cease,
and all be prayer and praise.
 
His reign shall
know no end,
and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of
paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.
 
4. Crown him
the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
those wounds,
yet visible above,
in beauty glorified.
 
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast
died for me;
thy praise and glory
shall not fail
throughout eternity.
 
Benediction
 
Whatever binds you, whatever locks you up,
whatever keeps you from the life for which you were created…
can be opened wide…
… for we believe our stories can be rewritten each and every day.
We know it isn’t this easy or quick, but let this be a vision of your life unlocked –
your life resurrected.
And now, may you go into the world,
unlocking new life in all the ways you discover you can,
for yourself, for others, for the world.
And may the God who created you to be raised up,
the Christ who showed you what resurrection looks like,
and the Spirit who is transforming your life even now,
be with you now and evermore.
Amen.
 
Postlude
Hallelujah Chorus