Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org April 5, 2015 8:15 and 10:30 am Easter Day God, sink your generosity deep into our lives so that the world may be made Easter new, without greedy lack, but only wonder without coercive need, but only love without destructive greed, but only praise without aggression and evasiveness... all things Easter new... - Walter Brueggemann
All children wishing to help with un- shrouding and carrying in communion elements, please meet Heather Gast in the narthex by 8:10/10:25 am. Prelude Jesus Christ is Risen Today Robert A. Hobby * Call to Worship Resurrection starts with the cry of grief, an empty place, a familiar voice. Christ has risen. Waiting for us to take notice. Christ has risen. Waiting for us to respond. Christ has risen. Christ has risen indeed! * Hymn 232 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today EASTER HYMN * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession God of the empty tomb, we come to this joyful Easter with eyes focused on the lilies; guide our timid eyes to the cross. Remind us again of the tomb, filled and now empty. Remind us again of Mary's tears; of sorrow and now joy. Remind us again of Peter's words, denial and now telling. God of the empty tomb, grant us the grace to accept both the cost and the joy of following you. Amen. * Assurance of Forgiveness Hallelujah! Christ has risen! Christ has risen, Indeed! Hallelujah! Christ has risen! Christ has risen, Indeed!
Response * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Prayer for Illumination Festive Alleluia [The Choir will teach the response; the congregation will join each time it is repeated] Gospel The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! John 20:1-10
Gospel The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Matthew 28:1-10 Sermon Shaken Mark Ramsey Silent Meditation * Hymn 240 Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks ALLELUIA NO. 1 Our Life Together (Please sign the Friendship Pad located in your pew) Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Prayer of Dedication Offertory Anthem Alleluia Ralph Manuel * Doxology
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Invitation to The Table Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise! The Lord s Prayer 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 The Bread And The Cup (gluten free) At 8:15, please come forward for communion as directed by an usher. Prayer At 10:30, we will have communion stations in the front and the back of the sanctuary. As guided by an usher, please move to the stations by the middle aisle and return by the side aisles. Please alert an usher if you would rather be served in your pew. * Hymn 233 The Day of Resurrection! LANCASHIRE * Charge and Benediction * Congregational Response [Hymn 591] Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! HALLE HALLE [Choir will introduce the response. The Congregation will join and sing as directed] Postlude Thine is the Glory arr. Kenneth J. Grinnell, Jr. * Please Stand in Body or Spirit. We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imagination! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns they prefer in referring to God.
Our Life Together Thank You! Head Usher: Rick & Beth Philipsen; Betsy Wilson Liturgists: Mary Lou Nash The Flowers are given by Brad Addicks and Brian Buchanan to the Glory of God and in Celebration and Honor of Owen Gurney, son of Rebecca and Evan Gurney, on this day of his baptism. Capital Campaign UPDATE April 2 Over the past few months, our congregation has been engaged in a capital campaign to obtain three- year financial commitments in order to address several capital needs of our church. As of today, 152 pledges have been returned for a commitment total of $1,201,074. We have now reached the third of four goals with only $1.5 million ahead. It has been a tremendous success. If you have not returned a commitment, please take a commitment card and envelope (in the pews) and drop in the offering plate today. Or, you may mail your commitment to the church office. Thank you in advance for what you will do to put us over the top! Grace has always responded to the needs of this church. We give God the praise for how our people have responded. Serve Room In the Inn April 12-19 Volunteers & Donations Needed Narthex Pritchard Park Breakfast Ministry Sunday, April 19 Narthex Annual Blood Drive April 19 Narthex Register NOW Annual All- Church Service Day NEXT Saturday, April 11 9am- 12pm Erwin Middle School RSVP to Nancy Quick by Monday, April 6 for Childcare To sign up please email Nancy Quick. Contact Heather Gast or Luke Shealy. Presbyterian Women Sunday, April 19 Special Offering To benefit the Community of St. Therese of Lisieux (Memphis, TN) and Bethesda Christian Community Center (Barranquilla, Colombia). These two projects support women who are overcoming oppressive situations. Nickel- A- Meal Collection Sunday, April 26 Youth News Sunday, April 5 NO Youth Group (Spring Break) Marketplace, AD VBS Needs Youth Volunteers June 22-25 9am- Noon We are happy to sign off on any volunteer hours that you need! Please sign up and direct questions to Heather Gast.
Care Prayer List Betty Huesemann (Liz Huesemann's mother); Frank Wilson (Martha Kisiah's nephew); Jamie Blackburn (Laura Tompkins' friend); Linda Albin (Les & Susan Stradley's friend); Jeff Riedesel (Steve Riedesel's brother); Ruth Cannon (Steve & Florence Riedesel's son's mother- n- law); Stephen Billings (Anna Thomas' uncle); Ruth Johnston (Ginnie Stevens' friend); Joseph Casey (Gordon & Robin Gaiser's grandson); Dr. Doug Michael (Ginnie Stevens' friend); Matt Lyles (Fred & Heather Hudson's friend); JoDell Hawthorne (Donna Robertson's cousin); Heath & Peggy Rada (Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly); Richard Simons (George and Gerry Simons' son); Atticus Cooper (Max Cooper & Jessica Newton's son); Al Williams; Sandy Jividen; Janet Bondurant; Jack & Betty Smith; Lorraine Formato; Dana Victor Little; Mimi Aldridge; Bettie Pritchard; Sarah Harwell; Mary Ellen Horne; Serge Kalvahuna Next Sunday s Education For All Ages 9:15 AM ADULT EDUCATION [Contact Rebecca Gurney with questions] Pressure Points (Library) Explore thorny 21st century church issues in a safe, interactive, non- judgmental environment, where differing viewpoints and life experiences enhance our spirited conversations! The Bertha Lewis Class (Sun Room) This class explores the biblical texts used in worship each Sunday with lively discussion and warm friendship. These discussions prepare us for worship, where the same text guides the content of prayers, selection of hymns, and the sermon. The Journeys Class (Jerusalem Room) The Journeys class is currently discussing what we as Christians actually believe and how we might best articulate that belief. First up: The Apostle s Creed. CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION [Contact Heather Gast with questions] Preschool The Empty Tomb (Luke 24: 1-12). TPZ We will be exploring "House on a Rock" through Bible Games, Science and Cooking. Middle School Mark and Kristy will be with us to answer our tough questions and play a round of Bible baseball. Next Sunday, April 12, 2015 Second Sunday of Easter Worship Service at 8:15 AM - A Service Of Readings, Prayers And Hymns Education Hour at 9:15 AM Worship Service at 10:30 AM Heath Rada, PCUSA General Assembly Moderator, preaching (10:30 ONLY) Hope Abounds - Always [Romans 8:28-39]
CALENDAR Sunday 5 Easter Day 8:15 AM Worship 10:30 AM Worship Monday 6 Office closed Tuesday 7 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:00 PM VRQ dinner Wednesday 8 11:00 AM Wed. Bible study 7:00 PM Chancel choir Saturday 11 8:00 AM Asheville Symphony artist s competition 9:00 AM All church service day @ Erwin Middle School Sun- Sun 12-19 6:00 PM Room In the Inn Sunday 12 8:15 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education hour 10:30 AM Worship 5:00 PM Youth Group - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Festive Alleluia: Copyright 1999 Birnamwood Publication (ASCAP) A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO All rights reserved. Printed in the USA 1.800.647.2117 www.morningstarmusic.com