Prelude: Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain - Held Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, Alleluia - Willan Easter Morning - Caryn Rivadeneira, Lisa Capozzoli Choir Anthem: Resurrection Chorus Welcome - Peter Semeyn, Lead Pastor Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Responsive Reading - Gregg DeMey, Director of Worship Amen, Amen He Is Lord Greetings - Lisa Capozzoli, Director of Care & Community Prayer The Apostles Creed Crown Him With Many Crowns/Christ Is Risen Message: TRANSFORMATION - Peter Semeyn, Lead Pastor John 20:1-18 Prayer of Response Announcements & Offering Jesus Paid It All 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Easter Sunday Worship - March 27, 2016
The Doxology Sending & Blessing Postlude: Christus Resurrexit - Young Musicians - Doug Bardolph, Jack Cassidy, Gregg DeMey, Jake Groenewold, Kyle Olson, Cindy Vos; Choir Director - Marve Wolterstorff Sunday worship services are streamed live and archived for viewing on the web via LIVESTREAM (new.livestream.com/ecrc). TODAY AT ELMHURST CRC The word for Easter is TRANSFORMATION". The hopes of Jesus' disciples had been dashed.they had watched their friend, their Rabbi, the possible Messiah, be crucified and buried. The darkness that engulfed the land on Friday afternoon was a metaphor for their lives and their future. Mary went to the cemetery and found an empty tomb. She reported her findings to Peter and John who had to go see for themselves. This added insult to injury. First they had killed Jesus, then they purportedly had stolen his body. The risen Christ later appeared to Mary who reported the reality of the resurrection to the disciples. Just as Christ had been transformed from death to life, Jesus' followers lives were transformed by the fact of the resurrection. The resurrection transforms all of life: our perspective, our values, our hopes and dreams! NEXT WEEK AT ELMHURST CRC Last week we celebrated Easter, he is risen! In the weeks to come, we'll be studying the book of James (who was Jesus' brother!) in the New Testament in order to help guide us into living our lives in the light of the resurrection. In this first week, we'll consider what James says about suffering and Christian maturity. You can read James 1:1-11 to prepare for this worship service. OUR CHURCH FAMILY We extend our sympathy to Nathan Diepstra & family and Chris Kocol & family as they mourn the loss of their grandfather, Andrew Diepstra, on March 20. ANNOUNCEMENTS Easter Week Devotional Experience: Our Discipleship team has crafted a weeklong series of devotions to help your family celebrate Jesus Resurrection for the week following Easter (also known as spring break). Each devotion includes a Bible reading, some spiritual reflection, and a brief activity. You can sign up by texting the words "ecrc.easterweek" to 292929. Pastor Gregg DeMey will begin a two-month Sabbatical following Easter Sunday that will conclude the week following Memorial Day. This Sabbatical is intended to provide a period of rest and creative renewal. Pastor Gregg intends to use much of his Sabbatical time to write and arrange music for congregational singing as well as enjoying some time traveling with Sarah and their children. Please pray that this Sabbatical season will be restful, fruitful, and of lasting benefit to both our congregation and the DeMey family. The Rehoboth High School Choir invites you to a time of worship entitled "Be Longing" on March 30 at Elmhurst CRC at 7 pm. The concert explores the reality that we are a longing people, and that we find our joy in belonging to Jesus Christ and the body of Christ. The choir will be joined by students from Westside Christian School. A free will offering will be taken to help with the construction of a new Rehoboth High School building. At 5:30 pm Rehoboth students and staff will be serving Navajo Tacos in the Garden Room at Elmhurst CRC. A $7 donation is suggested for each meal.
Join us for the Youth Missions Dinner on April 6 from 5-6:45 pm. A delicious Italian dinner will be prepared by some of Chicago's finest budding chefs! Bring your appetite. Cost is by donation. Funds raised will support our high school students headed to Honduras this summer to work alongside All God s Children (AGC). AGC works with orphanages and homes for the hurting. They will build, play and pray with children, and show God s love in so many ways. You re invited to attend a free Mental Health Workshop on April 9 in the Garden Room from 8:30 am-5 pm. Hosted by NAMI DuPage, this worship is designed for adults who would like to gain a basic understanding of what different mental illnesses and addictions are, how they can affect a person's daily life, and what helps individuals experiencing these challenges work toward recovery. Register online at elmhurstcrc.org/events. Save the date: Join us on April 9 for our free parenting seminar, BE THE PARENT: Seven Choices You Can Make to Raise Great Kids. Hosted by Kendra Smiley, MS, a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, church and community leader, and former teacher, you ll hear practical advice and learn biblical wisdom for becoming a more effective parent and raising great kids. Childcare available. Register for the seminar and childcare at elmhurstcrc.org/events. You are invited to attend our next Single Mothers Support Group (SHE) meeting on April 10 at 12:15 pm. Our speaker, Attorney Laura Kern, will address the topics of your rights when going through a divorce, child support, domestic violence, and legal services available from government agencies, providing information that will be helpful to everyone. Come with your children to our luncheon and bring your friends. Children will be dismissed at 1:15 pm for appropriate age activities. For information contact jane.loerop@elmhurstcrc.org. PrimeTime invites seniors (55+) on a day long trip on April 12 to Starved Rock State Park. We'll leave ECRC at 9:30 am, enjoy an Italian buffet lunch at the Starved Rock Lodge followed by a concert by "the Tenors 3." These professionally trained tenors will present a delightful program of Opera, Broadway and Italian favorites infused with a touch of comedy. The $65 fee covers bus coach transportation, driver tip, buffet lunch and concert. Only 20 spaces remain, sign up at the table in the lobby or contact Bert or Celia DeJong at 630-530-2924 or dejong66@comcast.net. Reservations are guaranteed when payment is received. If you would like to donate items for the Spring College Exam Goodie Boxes you can sign up at the information center. Donations are due April 17, and will be packed and shipped on April 20. Items may be left in the storage room in the kitchen. Questions? call Kathy Feringa @ 630-728-3368 or e-mail jnkf@sbcglobal.net. Single Mothers Support Group (SHE) is in need of clothes to be distributed to the children of single mothers at a meeting on May 1. If you have clothes to donate, sizes infants through teens, please leave it in the lower level of church by the living tree. Please identify bags of clothes by sizes. Thank you for your generosity as you begin cleaning the closets in preparation for spring. Please join us for our next New Member Class: Journey to the Center of the Church. Classes will be held Tuesday May 24, May 31, and June 7, 2016 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Garden Room. To register please contact our church office at 630-600-5100. Childcare provided for infants to age 3. Please let us know by May 17th if you need childcare. The children s worship staff is looking for dedicated people who want to share the love of Jesus with our children. They need Small Group Leaders at both services (pre-5th): The lesson and everything you need is provided. You lead the activities that connect their hearts to the story. One on One Buddies at second service (pre-3rd): Provide one on one assistance to a child who needs extra help and encouragement. If you re interested in volunteering for Preschool & Kindergarten contact Ashley Slinkman at ashley.slinkman@elmhurstcrc.org; for 1st-5th grade contact Kara Hackert kara.hackert@elmhurstcrc.org. 2016 Short Term Missions Trip will be November 1-7 in the Dominican Republic. We will be partnering with our long-term supported missionaries Max and Kina Van Til. All skill levels are needed! We will be working alongside locals building a ministry center as well as getting a deeper understanding of what God is doing with our missionaries in the Dominican Republic by visiting
with local pastors, participating in Sunday worship and seeing youth involved in outreach to the Cane cutter villages. We are planning to fly non-stop on Southwest and stay in a hotel. Interested? Or to learn more contact Dan Barak at 630-530-4791 for further details. Have a job you need done around the house? Yard work, painting, cleaning, or that pile of dirt moved from here to over there? Let the youth group do the work for you as your support us in our Honduras Mission trip this summer! Sign up at elmhurstcrc.org/events, email studentministries@elmhurstcrc.org or call the church at 630-600-5100. This year our student mission trip will be to Comayagua, Honduras to work alongside the organization All God s Children (AGC). AGC works with orphanages and homes for the hurting. We will be doing building projects, spending time playing with the children, and teaching them about God s love. Partner with us today! Mandatory Covenant Education Plan meeting for Parents: Parents who would like to participate in the 2016-2017 Covenant Education Plan must attend one of the following meetings to held in the Gathering area on the second floor: Sunday, April 10, at 10:30 am and immediately following the second service Wednesday, April 13, at 7 pm Sunday, April 17, at 10:30 am and immediately following the second service Only one parent must attend. If you have any questions, please contact Mimi Stanton at mimistanton@comcast.net. COMMUNITY Timothy Christian Schools (located at 188 W. Butterfield Rd, Elmhurst) will be hosting an open house on April 12 at 7 pm. All prospective families with children Preschool through High School are welcome to attend. The event will begin in the high school Learning Commons for a brief presentation and then attendees will break off into tour groups. You will learn about their expansive curriculum, many extra-curricular activities, as well as the new building addition, Project Impact! Please contact Dan Quist at 630-782-4043 with any questions. HOLY WEEK The week begins with Passion or Palm Sunday and ends with the three days (also called the Triduum, from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Easter Day) which mark Jesus trial, death, and resurrection. It is Holy Week. This week we recall the drama of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his final week with his disciples, his actions in the temple, his trial, the Last Supper, his agonizing last hours, his crucifixion, the uncertainty of Saturday, and the joy of Sunday morning. March 24, 2016 Maundy Thursday 8:30 am, 12:30 pm, & 6:30 pm On Maundy Thursday we remember the last supper celebrated by Jesus and his twelve disciples. In these three 20-minute miniservices we will recount the dramatic action of Jesus as he washed his disciples feet. These worship services will be held in the Garden Room and conclude with the celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion in obedience to Jesus command to do this in remembrance of me. March 25, 2016 Good Friday/Tenebrae 7 pm Tenebrae is the Latin word for shadows. This solemn service of worship recalls the passion of Jesus through scripture and song as the power of darkness and shadow seemingly grows. The Elmhurst CRC Choir will lead us in worship as we listen, remember and meditate on the seven last words of Jesus spoken from the cross. March 27, 2016 Easter Sunday Morning 9 & 10:30 am On Easter Sunday we will celebrate the most miraculous event in world history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Our two identical services will feature inspiring music and a powerful message of hope. Jesus has defeated our greatest enemy,
death. Therefore there is nothing that we face in life that should paralyze us with fear or cause us to lose heart. Join us for this engaging hour of worship. Nursery for children 0-36 months is available at Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. Children s Worship for children pk-5 th grade at all Sunday Services. Sunday, 3-27-16 9:00 am Easter Service 9:00 am Men s Fraternity 9:00 am Children s Worship, 3 yrs- 5th 10:00 am Coffee & Community 10:30 am Easter Service 10:30 am Children s Worship, 3 yrs- 5th 11:30 am Coffee & Community Monday, 3-28-16 7:00 pm Engagement Elders Tuesday, 3-29-16 Wednesday, 3-30-16 6:00 pm Prayer Time 7:00 pm Rehobeth Choir 7:30 pm College Men s Group WEEK AT A GLANCE Thursday, 3-31-16 9:00 am Men s Bible Study Friday, 4-01-16 Saturday, 4-02-16 8:30 am Prayer Group Sunday, 4-03-16 9:00 am Blended Worship 9:00 am Men s Fraternity 9:00 am Children s Worship, 3 yrs- 5th 10:00 am Coffee & Community 10:30 am Contemporary Worship 10:30 am Children s Worship, 3 yrs- 5th 11:30 am Coffee & Community 5:30 pm Student Ministries WELCOME We re glad you re here. NEW? We would love to meet you. Please fill out a welcome card and place it in the offering basket. Join us for coffee in the lobby after the service. Stop by the Information Center and let us know you re new. SUNDAY SERVICES 9:00 am Blended Worship Service 10:30 am Contemporary Worship Service
CHILDREN Nursery is available for children 0 to 36 months old. Children s Worship (10:00) meets for children 3 years old through 5th grade in the lower level RESOURCES Assisted listening devices are available from an usher or sound booth at the rear of sanctuary Large print bulletins are available in the Worship Center inside the doors PRAYER PARTNERS Prayer partners are available after each service to pray with in the west rear of the Worship Center GROW AND SERVE ADULT MINISTRIES: Find opportunities to grow and serve in Small Groups, Coffee Break Community Bible Study, Men s Fraternity, MOPS, GROW, SHE, Prime Time (55+) and more. STUDENT MINISTRIES Grow together, enjoy relationships, be encouraged and empowered with our student ministry programs; Maximum Velocity (6-8th grade) and The EDGE (9th-12 grade) CHILDREN S MINISTRIES We love children, and want to help raise up children that love God and serve him. From Nursery (0-3 years old), Little Lambs (3-6 years old), Pathfinders and Cadets (1st-8th grade boys), to GEMS (1st-8th grade girls), and much more. More growing and serving opportunities online at elmhurstcrc.org Pastors: Rev. Peter Semeyn - Lead Pastor, Dir. of Outreach - 630.600.5029 peter.semeyn@elmhurstcrc.org Rev. Gregg DeMey - Associate Pastor, Dir. of Worship - 630.600.5030 gregg.demey@elmhurstcrc.org Complete announcements are at elmhurstcrc.org/this Week or scan the QR code below.