welcome to st. peter's united church of christ! · 1 welcome to st. peter's united church...
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Welcome to St. Peter's United Church of Christ!
As you join us for worship, we'd like to share with you a request and
some information. The request is that you please write your name and
address in the black pew pad and pass it toward the center aisle some
time before the Offertory. Make sure later arrivals get to sign, too! If you
are visiting with us, we also invite you to fill out one of the "Welcome"
fold-overs, found in the pew rack and drop it in the offering plate.
Thanks!
The information we want to share with you is:
Nursery: We have an attended Nursery year-round. An usher will be glad
to direct you to it or the usher will take you and your children there. It is
air-conditioned in the summer months.
Restrooms: Restrooms can be found by going through the doorway right
next to the pulpit, going up the stairs and down the hall at the top of the
stairs. Or you can go down the same staircase and turn right at the foot of
the stairs (they are near the coat racks you will pass).
Hearing Assist, Large Print & Children's Bulletins: We do have
infrared hearing devices available for your use during worship. Just ask an
usher for one and then please return it afterward. We also have large
print and children's bulletins available each Sunday; again, just ask an
usher.
Chair Lift: We have an electric chairlift in the eastern stairwell (this is
through the doorway by the pulpit). Someone from the church is there to
operate it before and after each service.
Contact Information: Our office phone number is (847) 673-8166
Our website is: www.stpeteruccskokie.org
Our email is: [email protected]
Our Pastor’s email is [email protected]
Additional information about St. Peter’s can be found in brochures in the
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St. Peter's United Church of Christ
Oakton Street and Laramie Avenue, Skokie, IL
www.stpeteruccskokie.org
847-673-8166
OUR ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
April 12th, 2020 10:00 AM
Easter Sunday
WELCOME GUESTS!
* Indicates all who are able are invited to stand
PRELUDE: “Up From the Grave He Arose"
THE RINGING OF THE BELLS
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: Christ is risen!
Congregation: Christ is risen indeed!
P: Praise God, who brings life out of death and
hope out of despair.
C: Praise God, who has raised Jesus
Christ from the dead.
P: Praise God, who gathers up the fragments
left by human destruction and creates new
possibilities.
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C: Christ has risen!
P: Christ has risen indeed!
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*HYMN: “The Day of Resurrection” #165
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*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
If, at times we deny You: God, forgive. If, at times, when the risks of discipleship are high, We are nowhere to be found: God, forgive. If, at times, we wash our hands of responsibility, God, forgive. If, at times, We cast our lot with powerful oppressors And seek to buy freedom with silver; God, forgive! If, at times, Fear keeps us from witnessing to Your truth, Or prejudice keeps us from believing it, God, forgive. In the bright light of Easter morning Our sin is exposed But Your grace is revealed. Tender God, we are bold to come before You And ask You to forgive us. Help us to leave behind our foolish doubt So that with joy we may witness to Your awesome deeds In Jesus the Risen One And in whose name we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
“Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing
over the transgression of the remnant of Your possession?
God does not retain God’s anger forever, because God
delights in showing clemency. God will again have
compassion on us, and will tread our iniquities under food.
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You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah
7:18, 19).
Friends, believe the Easter gospel: Jesus was born for us,
lived, taught, healed, broke down barriers for us,
challenged injustice for us, suffered, died and rose again
for us, that we might know the depths of God’s mercy and
the death-defeating heights of God’s power. In Jesus
Christ crucified and risen, God’s love washes away our sins
and gives us a new quality of life nothing else can craft. In
laying hold of this is good news, let the Easter assembly
affirm . . .
All: Christ was given,
Christ is risen,
And we are forgiven!
Alleluia! Amen.
*HYMN: “This Easter Celebration”
(Sing to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation.”
Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
Carolyn gives permission for free use of this hymn by
churches.)
This Easter celebration is not like ones we've
known.
We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone.
We're distant from our neighbors— from worship
leaders, too.
No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.
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No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead
the way.
O God of love and promise, where's joy this Easter
Day?
With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the
place
we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.
Our joy won't come from worship that's in a
crowded room
but from the news of women who saw the empty
tomb.
Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to
see—
who heard that Christ is risen, and then, by grace,
believed.
In all the grief and suffering, may we remember
well:
Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of
hell.
Each Easter bears the promise: Christ rose that
glorious day!
Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.
We thank you that on Easter, your church is
blessed to be
a scattered, faithful body that's doing ministry.
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In homes and in the places of help and healing,
too,
we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.
THE SHARING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jenn Schneider
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Mike Ryan
The Prophet: Daniel 12: 1-4
The Gospel: Matthew 28: 1-10
MUSICAL MEDITATION “O Filii et filiae”
HOMILY “Redeemed by the Resurrection”
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*HYMN “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” #167
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THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Exhortation and Invitation
Sursum Corda:
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts!
C: We lift them up to the Lord!
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Sanctus (Singing, #521)
Prayer of Consecration
The Words of Institution
Participation
CLOSING PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S
PRAYER (‘debts’)
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*HYMN “Thine is the Glory”
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*BENEDICTION (with a Celtic flavor):
P: May all the joy and excitement of this day go with
us.
C: May the power of Christ’s resurrection go with
us.
P: May the good news of this wondrous day go with us.
C: May the promise and hope of Easter go with
us.
P: May we in the days ahead, sing, pray, live, love, act
and serve all for the glory of God. For Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! A joyous Easter to all.
Amen. Go forth!
RINGING OF THE BELLS
*POSTLUDE: “Crown Him With Many Crowns”
FOR WORSHIP TODAY
MINISTER Rev. Richard Lanford
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ben Westphal
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you to everyone who played a role in putting
this, and the Holy Week services together, most of
whom are part of the Worship and Music Committee.
There was a lot of preparation, recording, writing, editing and
directing going on behind the scenes and this would not
happen without these offerings. And of course we thank all
of you who are worshipping with us in this uniquely faithful
way! Whenever and wherever you do!
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About Communion: All Christians and seekers after God
are invited in to partake of the Lord’s Supper here regardless
of denominational background. We practice open
Communion. We do, however, ask our own St. Peter’s U.C.C.
young folk to first go through the Communicants Class (6th
grade). This is our 2nd time celebrating the Lord’s Supper in
this virtual way; the prayer of consecration extends to all who
participate wherever you are and whenever you partake of
the service (thank You, Holy Spirit!). When prompted, please
take whatever bread you have set aside for yourself and
anyone with you, take and eat; when it’s time for the cup,
please do the same with whatever you have put in your cup
at home (juice, wine, water, etcetera).
Today’s brief pastoral prayer following the Lord’s Supper
will not incorporate birthdays or anniversaries, so in this
space we wish happy birthdays this week to Dorothy Taylor
(today #99!), Marcia Hilliard, Ken Itter, Bill Graddy, Catherine
Steegmueller and Bonnie Loach. Marking an anniversary
later this week are Juanito and Analise Banoyo. Blessings to
all of them!
The Lenten Soup-n-Study of Genesis 11 finishes this
coming Wednesday at 6:30 / 7 PM.
The Church Council would be meeting next Sunday
after worship. Perhaps we are going to hold it via Zoom
meetings. In case that’s true, and even if not, will those
responsible for submitting reports please do so during this
week, the earlier the better! Thank you.
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Thank you very much to all of you who contributed to
our gathering of items for our Easter Egg Hunt! It’s
really appreciated. Unfortunately because of the pandemic
and following safe practices, the Hunt (like the Easter
Breakfast) had to be cancelled despite our best efforts to
reformat it for the benefit of our neighborhood. We will keep
everything that will keep for next year!
As far as we know no one in our membership or
extended church family is hospitalized at this time.
Lois Jarmuth is no longer at The Brookdale in Des Plaines.
Tune in next Sunday because the story is far from
over! Be part of it!
St. Peter’s donations are needed now more than ever!
You can mail them in and now you can easily donate online
through PayPal. Go to www.paypal.me/stpeteruccskokie.
Thanks so much!
MAY EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED EASTER SUNDAY
AND SEASON!
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
PRESIDENT Jenn Schneider
VICE-PRESIDENT Judy Paige
TREASURER Mandy Steegmueller
SECRETARY Carolyn Kuechler
FINANCIAL SECRETARY Marcia Hilliard
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SCRIPTURES FOR THE CONGREGATION
April 12, 2020 EASTER
Our first reading is from the prophet Daniel, chapter 12,
verses 1 through 4. There are few references to life beyond death in
the Hebrew Scriptures but here is one of them, in the setting of the
end times.
DANIEL 12:1-4
"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your
people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has
never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that
time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written
in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the
sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars
forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the
book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back
and forth, and evil shall increase."
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MATTHEW 28:1-10
1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was
dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the
tomb. 2And 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. 3His appearance was
like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the
guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the
women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus
who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he
said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell
his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is
going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my
message for you.”
8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and
ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly 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 to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”