Easter Sunday
April 17, 2022 | 10:00am
The Rev. Alexander Arthurs, Pastor| Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it. | N.T. Wright
GATHERING
Prelude: Christ the Lord is Risen Again | Wyton
Introit: A Hymn of Resurrection | Walker
Welcome
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Today is the day mystery unfolds.
We glimpse it at the dawning of light.
We yearn to hear our Lord calling us:
sister, brother, sibling.
Today we recall again God’s trustworthy promise:
The tomb is empty!
The Lord is risen!
The enemy of death is destroyed!
We delight, saying: alleluia!
We wonder, singing: alleluia!
We are witnesses shouting: alleluia!
We are witnesses rejoicing: Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you
In thought, word, and deed,
By what we have done,
And by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us; that
We may delight in your will,
And walk in your ways,
To the glory of your Name. Amen. Amen.
To the glory of your Name. Amen. Amen.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Hear this good news! The Lord is alive!
The risen Lord destroys death,
Conquers sin,
And wipes away all shame.
Receive this wonderful news:
In Jesus Christ, you are redeemed, renewed, and restored.
Thanks be to God!
The Law of God: Galatians 5:16-23
*Gloria Patri | #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Ain’t No Grave | arr. Angerman
Shame is a prison as cruel as a grave. Shame is a robber and he’s come to take my name.
Oh, love is my redeemer lifting me up from the ground.
Love is the power where my freedom song is found.
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down.
When I hear that trumpet sound, I’m gonna rise up out of the ground.
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down.
Oh, fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue.
Fear is a tyrant, he’s always tellin’ me to run.
Oh, love is resurrection and love is a trumpet sound.
Love is a weapon, I’m gonna take my giant down. Refrain:
Oh, there was a battle, a war between death and life.
And there on a tree the Lamb of God was crucified.
And he went on down to hell, he took back every key.
He rose up as a lion and he’s settin’ all the captives free. Refrain:
There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down!
Prayer for Illumination
Risen Jesus,
Send your Holy Spirit to calm our hearts,
quiet our minds,
and soften our spirits,
so that we may hear your still small voice.
Amen.
First Reading: Acts 10:34-43
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: Alleluia, Alleulia! Give Thanks
Second Reading: John 20:1-18
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: Christ is risen! | Pastor Alex
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering On The Third Day | Pote
Jesus was crucified. He died and was buried. Jesus was crucified.
On the third day Christ arose. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the father Almighty.
He will come to judge the living and the dead, his kingdom will have no end.
Christ is risen from the dead, he is risen as he said, he is alive, Alleluia!
Christ has conquered death and sin, died for us our souls to win, he is alive, Alleluia!
On the third day, Christ arose!
Prayer of the People (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
Rejoicing in God’s promise of new creation, let us pray to the Maker of heaven and earth, saying: God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . . Make us faithful witnesses to the resurrection, proclaiming the hope that is ours in Christ for the sake of the world he came to save. God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . . Bring justice and peace to all the nations, so that the lamb and wolf may feed together and all may enjoy the fruit of their own labor. God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . . Put an end to the prejudice and partiality that divide neighbors from one another. Help us to seek what is good and right for all. God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . . Redeem them from the power of death, so that they may tell your mighty work and celebrate your steadfast love. (names read) God of new life, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, keep us working and praying for the coming of your holy realm of peace, when we will share abundant life with you; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: Thine Is the Glory
Benediction
Postlude: Toccata | Van de Weghe
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:
Sunday, April 24 - Gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, May 1 - eggs
Sunday, May 8 - Gallon(s) whole milk
We are changing our Online Giving System to a more efficient and church-friendly platform. If you would like to continue giving online or would like to set up online payments, please click the “Give Now” button below to set up your online gifts. If you have any questions or need help setting up payments, please contact the church office. We are so grateful for your flexibility as we make this change. Your generosity drives our mission forward!
• Email: office@peapackreformed.org • phone: (908) 234-2733 •
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED