Bulletin – Sunday, April 20, 2025 – Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
On this Easter morning, welcome to worship at Windsor Park United Church! We’re glad you could join us today!
Announcements
Call to Worship / Candle Lighting
One: Christ is risen.
All: He is risen, indeed!
One: In Christ’s resurrection, God has spoken.
All: This indeed is God’s world!
One: God’s power is stronger than the earthly powers.
All: God’s way of peace and justice will ultimately prevail.
One: This is the news that we have been waiting for.
All: Christ is risen.
One: He has risen, indeed.
All: Hallelujah!
The Christ candle is lit
One: Christ is risen.
All: He has risen, indeed. Hallelujah!
One: Let us pray:
All: O God of the universe, yours is the glory. Your heartbeat echoes in our heartbeat. Your breath is our breath. Your vitality pulsates in us and throughout this vast universe. You are the creator of the universe. In you, we live and love and rejoice in the gifts of life. We thank you and praise you for the gift of Easter resurrection that we may put our ultimate trust in your goodness and gracious love. In the name of the risen Christ, we pray. Amen.
(Won Hur, Ebenezer U.C. Gathering L/E 2023)
Hymn – “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (VU #155)
Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
Our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
Who did once upon the cross, hallelujah!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, hallelujah!
Unto Christ, our Heavenly King, hallelujah!
Who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
Sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!
But the pains which he endured, hallelujah!
Our salvation have procured; hallelujah!
Now above the sky he’s King, hallelujah!
Where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah!
Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
Praise eternal as God’s love; hallelujah!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
Praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus Christ, we know that when we become disconnected from you, our lives become parched and unfruitful. We act in our own best interest. We focus on ourselves and our families.
When we listen to you, our lives include others who will enrich us and give meaning to our commitment to you. On this Day of Resurrection, we pray to consciously slow down and strengthen our ability to focus on you. May we become the fruit of your mercy, your love, and undying life.
Silent Confession
One: Lord, have mercy upon us.
All: Christ, have mercy upon us.
One: Lord, have mercy upon us.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And God will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; God will swallow up death forever. 8 Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of God’s people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited, so that God might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in God’s salvation.
Hymn – “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks” (VU #179)
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
Firstborn of all creation.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and is risen.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
We have been crucified with Christ,
Now we shall live forever.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
Come let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-49
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Anthem – “He is Risen”
He is risen! He is risen!
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Let the song ring out through all the earth:
“Our Saviour’s risen today!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
For the chains of death can hold Him no more.
Let us praise His Name. Let the earth proclaim:
“He is risen!”
He is risen! He is risen!
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
On this happy morn a miracle come to those who truly believe.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
For a new and glorious day has begun.
Let the bells ring out, let the people shout:
“He is risen!”
For Christ the Lord has been victorious
Freeing us from death and sin.
Now a new life waits before us.
All on earth is born again.
Come rejoicing, come rejoicing.
Raise your voice, raise your voice in praise.
He is risen! He is risen!
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Let the message ring throughout the world;
“He lives this Easter day!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing a joyful alleluia.
Let us celebrate the wonderful news.
Let the anthems ring, let the people sing:
“He is risen!” He is risen! Alleluia!”
Sermon “Who do You Choose to Believe this Day?”
1 John 3:1 (NIV)
“See what great love God has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
Anthem – “Come, People of the Risen King”
Come people of the risen King who delight to bring Him praise.
Come all and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, O church of Christ, rejoice!”
Come those whose joy is morning sun and those weeping through the night.
Come those who tell of battles won and those struggling in the night.
For His perfect love will never change and His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days with the certain hope of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, O church of Christ, rejoice!”
Come, young and old from every land, men and women of the faith.
Come, those with full or empty hands, find the riches of His grace,
Over all the world His people sing, shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries through every age,
“Our God is all in all!”
Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, O church of Christ, rejoice!”
We Respond to God’s Word
An Invitation to Share
Offering Sung Response – “What Can I Do?” (VM #191)
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.
Offering Prayer
Prayers of the People
Prayer Jesus Taught Us
All: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “Because You Live, O Christ” (VU #178)
Because you live, O Christ, the garden of the world has come to flower,
The darkness of the tomb is flooded with your resurrection power.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O Sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying,
Our cages of despair no longer keep us closed and life-denying.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the rainbow of your peace will span creation,
The colours of your love will draw at human kind to adoration.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Commissioning
Benediction
Sung Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!” (VU #974)
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
