1 East from Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York Welcome Easter Sunday on the Great South Bay Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ With Thanks to Sayville Ferry & Captain Mike Jayne April 1, 2018 Meditation What dies at the hands of corrupt authority, blind arrogance and insatiable violence is raised up by the hands that laid the foundation of the earth. ~ Joseph H. Gilmore Hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Mortal tongues and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, glad heavens, and earth reply: Alleluia! Love s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids Christ rise, Alleluia! God has opened paradise, Alleluia!
2 *Call to Worship Every journey is filled with the Divine. Here, are we, in the midst of God s creative breath and the Divine before all our senses. On this Great South Bay of beauty and power and of Love we await in awe, as did those on the first of days, the promise of light and life and God s radiant embrace. We come, All, in the midst of this wondrous Easter-God, Whom neither space not time can weary. Come! Hallelujah, you say! And, let us worship God together. Gospel Reading: John 20:1-18 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, They took the Master from the tomb. We don t know where they ve put him. Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus body had been laid. They said to her, Woman, why do you weep? They took my Master, she said, and I don t know where they put him. After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn t recognize him. Jesus spoke to her, Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for? She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him. Jesus said, Mary.
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, Rabboni! meaning Teacher! 3 Jesus said, Don t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to Abba. Go to my followers and tell them, I ascend to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: I saw the Master! And she told them everything Jesus said to her. Hymn: Morning Has Broken Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the Word Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven Like the first dewfall on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where His feet pass Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the Word Passing of the Peace Distribution of Flowers Decoration of the Cross
Prayer From a Mortal Point of View by Joseph H. Gilmore 4 From a mortal point of view, resurrection is one of the things you do best, Creator God, Farmer God, Grandmother God, Laughing God, Redeemer God. If you don t mind our saying so, rolling back stones; stunning the guardians of death; stationing startling angels, upending expectations which lean, full weight, on yesterday; disappearing around corners of imperial decrees and holy dogmas, then raising up, laughing, in the flowers on Pilate s porch these are truly Brer Rabbit maneuvers on a briar patch earth. If you don t mind mortals saying so, you are surely a virtuoso performer, making the music of resurrection unaccompanied. At this music hope rises to dance, despair lifts its weary head, justice hears again a forgotten rhythm, and the legions of those dead to the world wake to wonder. And these risings, and this beguiling song of life are what may yet transform our grievous history to a garden of noble choice, graceful forbearance, unending gratitude, and a hospitality which can be entered from any of the Four Directions. Do not leave this world for any other, we beseech thee. Practice resurrection here. Roll back the stones beginning with the one in front of me. Blessed art thou, Easterish God In a feverish world.
5 Casting Our Burdens in Love Benediction and Sending Forth Hymn: Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing Fill our hearts with joy and peace; Let us each, Thy love possessing Triumph in redeeming grace. O refresh us, O refresh us, Traveling through this wilderness. Thanks we give and adoration For Thy gospel s joyful sound; May the fruits of Thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound. Ever faithful, Every faithful To the truth may we be found. So that when Thy love shall call us, Savior from the world away, Let no fear of death appal us, Glad thy summons to obey. May we ever, May we ever Reign with thee in endless day. Breakfast at Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ In the Vestry (Main Church Entrance) 131 Middle Road! Please join us!
6 So You Know You Are Welcome Bible Talk on Mondays and Tuesdays Mondays at 11:45 AM; and Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Vestry All are welcome! Confirmation Class has been scheduled for September 2018 - June 2019 and will follow the 2018-2019 Sayville Public School Year Calendar. Please share with Ray anyone you think would be interested in joining this class. While the earliest age for attendance is thirteen, it has a lot to do with the individual and where they are in their interest and development. More to come! Beyond the Comma with Rev. Bob Chase Join us on Saturday, April 21 st, as Rev. Bob Chase, UCC Minister and Founding Director of Intersections International leads us in a discussion based on his "unique experience, domestically and internationally, in building bridges across lines of difference in our complex world." We will also be discussing his latest book, Beyond the Comma, available at www.amazon.com. H.I.M.S. is returning! On Friday, April 27 th at 7:30 PM, back by popular demand: H.I.M.S. will entertain in a night of song and fundraising in support of Hope House Ministries! Mark the date! More to come! echimestv.com! Have you watched our worship online? Karl has! And so have many others. Because of the generosity of many, including Priscilla Knapp and a grant in honor of her brother Kim Swezey, we have been broadcasting our worship since September 10, 2017. You can watch live or afterwards by going this link: www.echimestv.com. Stop & Shop Cards are available at coffee hour each week. They make great gifts and are great way to purchase your groceries while supporting Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ. Newsletters: Are you receiving our weekly newsletters: echimes and Justice Chimes Newsletters? Let us know: ray@sayvilleucc.org. Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ 131 Middle Road, Sayville, NY 11782-3101 631-589-1519; churchadmin@sayvilleucc.org www.sayvilleucc.org; www.facebook.com/sayvilleucc Heather Corcoran, Church Administrator; echimes Editor Ray Bagnuolo, Pastor ray@sayvilleucc.org 631-827-8611 Thank you for being with us today. Peace. Shalom. Salaam. For the ways of peace are many. Namaste Please contact Heather if you have questions or need any additional help.