( Man of Steel used with permission by Abhinay Omkar) Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. Mike Tyson, boxer www.colonialucc.org 913 362 7735 April 5, 2015 11:00 a.m.
The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ Building Heroes Easter Sunday Worship Service 1 Please silence your electronic devices in preparation for worship. * Please rise in body or spirit We Gather as God s People Gathering Music Finale from the "Resurrection Symphony" Mahler Choral Introit Easter Alleluia Marriott Welcome and Announcements (Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.) * Opening Hymn #233 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today * Call to Worship Mark 16 Leader: Sisters and brothers, hear the Good News! People: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus dead body. Leader: Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.they were saying to each other, Who s going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us? When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!)
People: Leader: People: Going into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right side; and they were startled. But he said to them, Don t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn t here. Look, here s the place where they laid him. Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you. Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Christ is risen! Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! 2 * Song of Praise #257 Alleluia! Gracious Jesus! (Verses 1 & 3) Alleluia! Gracious Jesus! Yours the scepter, yours the throne! Alleluia! Yours the triumph, yours the victory alone! Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus, out of every nation you ve redeemed us by your blood. Alleluia! Gracious Jesus! Bread of angels, you on Earth our food, our stay. Alleluia! Here the sinful flee to you from day to day. Intercessor, friend of sinners, earth s Redeemer, plead for me, and the songs that sound in heaven will repeat your gracious plea. * Sharing God s Welcome (Greet everyone in the hope of peace and friendship.) Children s Conversation (Children of all ages are welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Conversation, children are welcome to remain to worship or to participate in our Easter Egg Hunt.) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
We Hear God s Word 3 A Word Proclaimed Pastor Aaron Roberts Everyone Has a Plan... Mark 14:29 31 Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else stumbles, I won't." But Jesus said to him, "I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. But Peter insisted, "If I must die alongside you, I won't deny you."...till They Get Punched in the Mouth Mark 14:66 72 Peter was below in the courtyard. A woman, one of the high priest's servants, approached and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared at him and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't understand what you're saying." And he went outside into the outer courtyard. A rooster crowed. The female servant saw him and began a second time to say to those standing around, "This man is one of them." But he denied it again. A short time later, those standing around again said to Peter, "You must be one of them, because you are also a Galilean." But he cursed and swore, "I don't know this man you're talking about." At that very moment, a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered what Jesus told him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down, sobbing. 52 Days Later A Hero Arises Acts of the Apostles 2:14 Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! Express your thoughts via social media at #ColonialUCC.
A Word Given in Our Holy Meal Communion Prayer Pastor: We give thanks and rejoice that Jesus so clearly and courageously inspired heroic imagination. We rejoice that Jesus lives on, as we all will, in the reality we call God. People: We believe that death is not the end, but rather a transformation into new possibilities. Nothing that exists can be completely destroyed. Pastor: A star exploding or a leaf falling: both offer new possibilities and will live on in ways unknown to stars and leaves. People: What seemed lifeless now abounds with life, new possibilities and delights. We, too, experience new possibilities arising from our failures or disappointments or what has come to an end. Pastor: We give thanks for all the influences in our lives that have helped us see beyond the present and have called us to live in hope and trust that goodness is stronger than evil. People: We give thanks for Jesus of Nazareth who inspired us to put our hope and trust in the Spirit of Life and Love moving in the depths of our being. Pastor: On this Easter, we take bread, as Jesus took bread, and we remember, as Jesus remembered, the constant presence of the Spirit of Life and Love. People: We break and share this bread, as Jesus broke and shared it. We share it as our pledge of openness to the Spirit in our midst. Pastor: We take wine and drink, as Jesus invited his friends to drink. People: As Jesus invited his friends to drink, mindful of a relationship of love and trust between ourselves and the Spirit of life. Believing, as Jesus believed, that beyond pain and darkness and death, life in the spirit continues in ways beyond our imagining. Pastor: For the journey that life has been. People: Amen. Pastor: For all that life is for us now. People: Amen. Pastor: For all that the future holds. People: Amen. 4
Pastor: People: And for the mystery of life beyond death. Amen. 5 Consecration and Sharing of the Bread and Cup (Drink the cup as you are served as a sign of God s particular love for you as the choir sings Canon of Praise by Robert Petker. Hold the bread until the end of the hymn, and we will eat it together as a sign of our unity in Christ.) Prayer of Thanksgiving May our hearts be filled with wisdom and spirit so that we may listen to the Spirit, the Voice Within that always guides us toward our sacred self and what is best for us. Amen. We Respond with Thanksgiving and Prayer Call to Offering and Offertory I Know That My Redeemer Lives * Doxology (#780 adapted; tune Old Hundredth) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen. Lani Smith * Prayer of Dedication We dedicate what we have given in the name of Jesus, because: He modeled for us how to live in the Truth and stand up for justice. He conveyed to us the importance of love and compassion. He had the extraordinary capacity to recognize the divine potential in all human beings. May we learn his Way. Amen. Time of Prayer Prayers of the People Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each expression, the Pastor will say: Lord, in your mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. Praying in Silence
Our Lord s Prayer ( Our Father is the traditional way this prayer begins. You are invited to use whatever name for God you find most meaningful (Father, Mother, Creator, God, etc.). Together our names for God create a beautiful chorus.) 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. 6 We Depart to Serve * Hymn #240 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today * Renew Our Covenant (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the promise of our covenant.) We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God s help we will honor Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of Christ throughout the world. * Choral Benediction Hallelujah Chorus Handel * Postlude Carillon Vierne Liturgist: Deloras Pemberton Children s Conversation: Marilyn Uppman Communion Servers: Linda Moses, Rosalie Henry, Howard Lee, Rich Kromnacker Greeters: Martha and Bruce Wofford Head Usher: Chester Bender Ushers: Marylee Battaglia, Chester Bender, Bill Yohn, Ken Werne
7 EASTER LILIES 2015 We Give Thanks for the Contributions of: Honey Barnekoff In memory of Carl Migliazzo Mary Baumgart and family In memory of Norm Catherine Bowser In memory of John Bowser, Eugene and Grace Myers Jack Davis In memory of Barbara Davis Jack Davis In memory of Mr. & Mrs. H. Darling Jack Davis In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Davis Art and Marianne Foster In memory of our parents Richard and LaVonne Grossman In honor of our grandchildren, Kelly Reed, Kristina and Ashton Barrie and Nicholas Herbst In memory of Sally Snail (mother)
8 Barrie and Nicholas Herbst In memory of Phyllis Jackson (mother in law) George Hixon s Family In memory of George Hixon Howard, Sally, Stacy and Hayden Huggins In memory of Mary Grace and Ray Morgan Huggins family In memory of Gordon Huggins Stacy Huggins In honor of Grant Michael Donnelly Pauline E. Jorgensen In memory of Kenneth David Jorgensen Ron Keehn and Louann Rinner In memory of Elna Rinner and Robert & Regina Keehn The Knoll family In honor of a new grandchild, arrival date April 20. The Knoll family In memory of Jarrett Knoll Anne Mann In memory of Russell Mann Linda J. Moses In loving memory of my husband, Thomas Ray Moses
9 Linda J. Moses In loving memory of Harold & Dolcie Offer and Wesley & Sybil Moses Janice M. Neustrom In memory of my parents, Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Fronkier Parkinson family In memory of Marsha Parkinson Deloras Pemberton In memory of Beaty Pemberton Frank Robertson In honor of Danny Brown Marty and Lynn Sample In memory of Joe Sample Susie Stroud In memory of my dear husband, Tom Susie Stroud In memory of my daughter, Teresa Marion Taylor In memory of my brother, Bill Rayburn Tim Taylor In honor of Marion Taylor Susie Uppman In honor of Jerry and Marilyn Uppman Vonda Van Pelt In memory of Micky Henry
10 Lin Vaughn and family In memory of John Vaughn and our parents Jane and Jim Whiles In honor of Elena, Sadie, Amelia, and Rowland Ruth Wollenberg and the Jackson family In memory of Glen Wollenberg Sharon and Bill Yohn In honor of two college graduates: Elliott C. Yohn and Nicholas A. Jones
11 Keys to Everyday Heroism To be a Hero in Waiting : 1. Be a Deviant Don t worry about what other people think or label you. Don't be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God's will is what is good and pleasing and mature. (Romans 12:2) 2. Act when other people are passive or inactive or indifferent. 3. Act socio centrically for the good of others instead egocentrically. Don t let the opportunity to be a hero slip by. There are practical spiritual practices that can greatly help to prepare you. Perhaps the greatest practice is learning to slow down to be mindful, and not just reactive. Have you ever seen paramedics EMT s approach an emergency? They don t run. They move with purpose and thought. The best paramedics are everyday heroes who are 1) fully present in the moment, 2) pause to consider alternative responses, and 3) select the preferred approach. If these are practices you would like to develop in yourself, talk to Pastor Aaron. The world needs more heroes in waiting!
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