Call to Worship
(John 20:19-23 NRSV - in 2 voices)

1- Though this is the Sunday after Easter, remember:

2 - Every morning is Easter morning from now on.

1 - Every day is resurrection day!

2 - So listen to another portion of the story of our salvation.

1 - (pause a moment) "When it was evening on that day,
                                       the first day of the week,

2 - and the doors of the house where the disciples had met
                  were locked for fear of the Jews,

1 - Jesus came and stood among them and said,

2 - "Peace be with you."

1 - After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

2 - Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

1 - Jesus said to them again,

2 - "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

1 - When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

2 - "Receive the Holy Spirit.

1 - If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;

2 - if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

1 - (pause a moment) May our risen Lord come in Spirit and stand among us now.

2 - Open the door of your mind and heart and welcome him.
    

Opening Prayer

O living Christ, 
         come to us in the glory of your risen power;
         come to us in the humility of your wondrous love.
Come and reign among us!
Let new life course through our veins,
         new love bind us together,
         and new vision spur us on to follow you forever.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. AMEN

Hymnal #677
The Iona Community, Scotland,
The New Book of Christian Prayers,
© 1986, Tony Castle. (edited by Tony Castle).
Crossroad/Continuum Publishing Company.
     

Scripture
(1 John 1:1-3 NRSV - in 2 voices)

1 - "We declare to you what was from the beginning,

1 - and truly our fellowship is with the Father
                                         and with his Son Jesus Christ."

2 - Remain standing, and "Proclaim the tidings near and far,"
                                                 #282 in your hymnal.
     

Unison Confession

Lord Jesus,
         blind I am, do thou enlighten me;
         naked I am, do thou clothe me;
         wounded, do thou heal me;
         dead, do thou quicken me.
I know of no light,
         no physician,
         no life, except thee. AMEN

Hymnal #700
by Menno Simons, 16th c., "Meditation on the 25th Psalm,"
from The Complete Writings of Menno Simons,
translated by Leonard Verduin, ed. J.C. Wenger,
© 1956 Herald Press, Scottdale, PA 15683.
     

Special Music
"Written in Red"
by Gordon Jensen

click here to listen to a clip (real audio) of this song

In letters of crimson God wrote his love,
on a hillside so long, long ago.
For you and for me, Jesus died
and love's greatest story was told.

I love you, I love you, that's what Calvary said.
I love you, I love you, I love you, written in red.

Down through the ages, God wrote his love,
with the same hands that suffered and bled -
Giving all that he had to give.
A message so easily read.

I love you, I love you, that's what Calvary said.
I love you, I love you, I love you - oo-oh!
Precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow
No other fount I know,
Nothing, nothing but the blood, the blood of Jesus.

I love you, I love you, that's what Calvary said.
I love you, I love you, I love you, written in red.
   

Sharing our tithe or other offering

         Together, we bring to the Lord our hopes and our fears, our joys and our sorrows, our praise and our requests. We also bring a portion of what God has first given to us to use and share with others. As brothers and sisters living together in unity, may all of our offerings be pleasing to the Lord.

Will the ushers come forward now, to serve.
    

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the moment

Benediction

Remember what the Risen Christ said to his fearful disciples
         on that first resurrection day:

"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
(John 20:21 NRSV)