Easter Sunday
April 18, 2025 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Temporary Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.” -Luke 24:1-3
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude The Wondrous Cross | Mason/Kraus
Introit Vigil | La Voy
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
This day is not like any other day.
Today we slow down. Today we take it all in.
Today we rest in good news.
This day is not like any other day.
Today we are singing. Today we are full to the brim.
Today joy cannot be contained.
This day is not like any other day.
Today the stone was rolled away.
Today the women saw the empty grave.
Today we know—death does not win.
This day is not like any other day.
Alleluia! Amen.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise When I Survey (An Easter Reflection)
Call to Confession
Family of faith,
it is our tradition to have a prayer of confession each week—not to harp on ourselves
or to drum up guilt, but because we believe God is not done with us yet.
So please join me in the prayer of confession, because God is always listening and
God’s grace is always full to the brim.
Prayer of Confession
God of new life, we are a mixed bag. We want to be full to the brim with hope and joy, but often we overflow with comparison and doubt. We want to embody the resurrection, but often we’d rather stay the same than to begin again. We want to have the courage to be like the women on that Easter morning— to run and speak truth, but often we are weary of courage and uncertain of our own voices. Forgive us for all the ways we remain unchanged. Break into our hearts. Overflow here. With hope we pray, amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Family of faith, if there is life after death, then you can be certain—
there is life after mess.
There is life after mistakes.
There is life after doubt.
There is new life freely given, and that life is for you.
You are forgiven, loved, and claimed.
May we live full to the brim in response.
Thanks be to God, and let it be so.
Alleluia! Amen.
The Law of God:
*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 Resurrection Te Deum | Dengler
Prayer for Illumination
Holy God, we so often long for more. We want more than the hamster wheel life of to-do lists and errands, meal prep and alarm clocks.
We want more than comparison and competition.
We want more than certainty that drowns out curiosity.
We want more than fear that leads to violence.
We want a life that is teeming with alleluias.
We want a life overcrowded with hope.
We want a life congested with good news.
We want a life jam-packed with forgiveness.
We want a life bursting with laughter.
We want a life so full that the stone just has to be rolled away.
So today we pray— break the dam. Dust the cobwebs from our ears.
Clear space in our minds to hear you clearly. Speak to us as only you can. It’s what we long for. We long for you. Gratefully we pray, amen..
First Reading:
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: The Lord Went to a Dinner
Second Reading: Luke 24:1-12
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “An Expansive Life” | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
We believe in a God who can astound us—
a God who created the mountains of Colorado,
the stars on a summer night, and the green of Ireland.
We believe in Jesus, whose example changes us—
an example of love for those on the fringes,
healing for the sick, and welcome for the lonely.
We believe that Jesus was abandoned by his friends,
wounded, mocked, and killed by the state.
And in a garden, three days later, we believe that life began again—
the stone was rolled back, as death lost its sting.
Ever since that day, we believe the Spirit has been inviting us into an expansive life—
a life not measured by wealth or accolades, but a life full to the brim with joy,
overflowing with laughter, saturated in hope, and decorated with good news.
Death has lost its sting.
We believe, and are set free. Thanks be to God, amen.
Offering Jesus is Risen from the Dead | Larson
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
*Communion Hymn You Satisfy the Hungry Heart verses 1,3,5
Invitation to The Table
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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.
Words of Institution
One: The body of Christ is broken for you.
One: The blood of Christ is shed for you.
Prayer After Communion
Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal kingdom. Be with all who are in grief and with all who need healing. Bring us through the trials ahead, and wrap us in the comfort of your love. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
SENDING
*Hymn Thine is the Glory
Benediction
Congregational Response Christ is risen! Earth and heaven Nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation Where the world is still in pain
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!
Postlude Resurrection | Phillips
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!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
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