EASTER LITURGY - April 9, 2023

PRELUDE                  Stephanie Shorden
GREETING               Rev. David Petty

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                            CLM Twinkle Gordon
Leader: Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Alleluia!
People: He was dead and is alive forevermore!
Leader: Where once we saw only death, we now see new life - eternal life - resurrected life - HE IS RISEN!
People: HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!

*HYMN                     Christ the Lord is Risen Today v1-4             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 thy 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!

*HYMN                     Easter People Raise Your Voices v1-3            UMH #304
1. Easter people raise your voices
Sounds of heaven in earth should ring
Christ has brought us Heaven's choices
Heavenly music let it ring
Alleluia. Alleulia.
Easter people let it sing

2. Fear of death can no more stop us
From our pressing here below
For our Lord empowered us
To triumph over every foe
Alleluia. Alleluia.
On to victory now we go
3. Every day to us is Easter
With its resurrection song
When in trouble move the faster
to our God who rights the wrong
Alleluia. Alleluia.
See the power of heavenly throngs

MYSTERY BOX – Rachel Petty                    

PASTORAL, SILENT, AND LORD'S PRAYER                Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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 to 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.

SCRIPTURE                 Matthew 28:1-10          CLM Twinkle Gordon

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow.  4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay.  7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”  8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.  9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Leader: may the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, o lord our rock and our redeemer.

MESSAGE                  The Butterfly Effect: Being Easter People     Rev. David Petty

CANTATA     “The Easter Story” by Tom Fettke, Thomas Grassi            Sanctuary Choir
1. Sing of Christ, Proclaim His Glory
2. Ride on King Jesus
3. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
4. What a Savior
5. Dimensions of Love - (Offertory)
6. My Redeemer Lives / Glory Hallelujah!
7. I Cannot Tell
8. Sing of Christ, Proclaim His Glory Reprise

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR EASTER             CLM Twinkle Gordon
We believe in one Almighty God,
Creator of the universe,
Whose love surpasses all understanding,
And whose power is manifest in every breath of life.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
the Son of God,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Whose life on earth embodied love and sacrifice,
And whose teachings guide us toward the path of righteousness.
He was killed for who he was and what he taught.
He endured pain and suffering and knows our pain and suffering
He died and was buried.
But on the third day, he rose again.
He is present with God and sent us his Holy Spirit
to be with us and work through us.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the divine presence within,
Inspiring, guiding, and transforming us,
Uniting us in love and empowering us each day.
We believe in the universal Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
We are the people of God.
We are St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
A community of Christians in Colorado Springs for more than 130 years.
We are Celebrating the love of God,
Following the teachings of Jesus,
and Living in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

*BENEDICTION                  Rev. David Petty

*POSTLUDE               Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah”

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ,
and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
and Lord of lords,
and He shall reign,
and He shall reign for ever and ever,
for ever and ever,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign for ever and ever, for ever and ever.
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!