ORDER OF WORSHIP - April 27, 2025

John T. Redman, CRE
Apr 23
4 min read

APRIL 27, 2025 10:30 AM

SECOND SUNDAY IN EASTER

**Kindly stand if you are able

PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 150)

Leader: Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!

PEOPLE: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Leader: Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!

PEOPLE: Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

Leader: Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

PEOPLE: Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

INVOCATION

Lord, you bring the dawn of each new day; we praise your name in the promise of new life. You scatter the clouds of darkness so our eyes can see the truth of your love. Through Jesus, you replace the finality of death with an affirmation of life without end as we worship in his name. Amen

OPENING HYMN “I Love to Tell the Story” Red #498

ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW MEMBER

Today we welcome Deborah Newman to our membership by Affirmation of Faith.

CALL TO CONFESSION

We are imperfect creatures who cannot help but fail despite our best intentions. Let us gather closer to our God as we pray together beseeching a greater understanding of our faith.

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

Loving God, you dry the tears of those who weep and bring hope and comfort to all who mourn. We cannot hide from your presence; our needs are all known to you. We are an open book to you who created us. Help us to awake to the assurance of Easter and be more attuned to your mercy and forgiveness as we journey ever closer to you and to our redeemer Jesus. Amen.

(a moment for silent personal confession)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Friends, even as he defeated death Jesus brings us a new hope for our lives. By the grace of God and the Love of Jesus, we are forgiven.

**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)

**PASSING OF THE PEACE

**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – A New Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of earth and the eternal heavens and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Messiah, who was with the Lord since before creation began and was sent to walk and dwell among us to show the way to Heavenly Grace and Eternal Life. He suffered at the hands of his fellow Jews and under the decree of Pontius Pilate as he was crucified, died, and buried.

He arose at the moment of Resurrection in defeat of death to show the way to our Lord’s Forgiveness, the Communion of sharing our love for others, under the healing wings of the Holy Spirit and lighting a pathway to the Life Everlasting through that mystery that we know as faith. Amen.

**HYMN OF PRAISE “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” Red #77

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

O Lord, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before us; through Jesus Christ, Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 25: 6-9 Debby & Paul Hill

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Acts 5:27-32

GOSPEL READING: John 20: 19-31

SERMON MESSAGE I Have My Doubts About That John Redman, CRE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH

And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:

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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS:

Let us all consider what we have been blessed with and how we can best share it with those in

greater need, even as we gift our church for its greater work to the Glory of God and the undying love of Jesus. Amen.

OFFERTORY “We Walk by Faith”

**DOXOLOGY Traditional

** PRAYER OF THANKS

Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

HYMN OF PARTING “He Lives!” Red #248

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright” Mary Lee Farris, Piano