April 5, 2026 | Easter Sunday
Call to Worship
PRELUDE “Were You There?” Erin Dougherty
HYMN “Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed” #832
RESPONSIVE PRAYER Horatius Bonar
Pastor: The Angel said, “He is not
here!” This is the only
place such news could be
Good News.
People: “Christ is here” was good
news at Bethany, when
Lazarus lay in the tomb.
Pastor: “Christ is here” was good
news in Nain, where the
widow’s son lay on the
funeral bier.
People: “Christ is here” was good
news at Magdala, when
Mary was possessed by
seven devils.
Pastor: But “Christ is not here” is the
Good News from Joseph’s
tomb. He is not here. He is
risen, just as He said!
All: He is risen! He is risen
indeed!
WELCOME
PRAYER of INVOCATION From Acts 4:12
MINISTRY of MUSIC “I Will Sing . . . “ Valerie Marvin
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Colossians 3:1-10…
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetous-ness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. ◆
PRAYER of CONFESSION The Scottish Collects, 1595
Father of mercies, You do not delight in the death of a sinner—extend your compassion upon us, and wash us from all our sins that we have committed against Your holy Majesty since the time we entered the world; create in us a clean heart, and strengthen us continually with the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we—being fully consecrated to Your service—may set forth your praises, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior, Amen.◆
ASSURANCE of PARDON from Eph 5:25-27
Hear these words of comfort from the Apostle Paul:
Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Friends in Christ, rest assured in the victory of the Risen Christ and over sin, death and Satan, that you stand forgiven in the sight of God. Amen. ◆
HYMN of RESPONSE “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” #825
Life of Worship
PROFESSION of FAITH “Great Truths . . . ” #823
BAPTISM Elizabeth Kempf
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY #334
PRAYER of DEDICATION
JUDSON KIDS “Lo! In the Grave He Lay”
CHILDREN’S TIME
PASSING of the PEACE
RIGHT HAND of FELLOWSHIP
Ministry of Sacrament
COMMUNION HYMN “Because He Lives” #826
INVITATION to the LORD’S SUPPER
WORDS of INSTITUTION
The BREAD and the CUP
(All who look to Christ and His cross alone for
salvation are invited to join us at the Lord’s Table)
Ministry of the Word
SONG “Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts to heav'n and voices raise:
Sing to God a hymn of gladness; sing to God a hymn of praise.
He, who on the cross a victim for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glory, now is risen from the dead!
Now the iron bars are broken, Christ from death to life is born,
Florious life, and life immortal, on the holy Easter morn!
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer by His mighty enterprise;
We with Him to life eternal by His resurrection rise!
Christ is risen, we are risen! Shed upon us heav'nly grace,
Rain and dew and gleams of glory from the brightness of Thy face,
That we, with our hearts in heaven, here on earth may fruitful be,
and by angel hands be gathered, and be ever, Lord, with Thee!
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION St. Ambrose
SCRIPTURE Matthew 28:1-6 p. 992
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
SERMON “A Borrowed Tomb”
SONG of RESPONSE “Gloria Patri” #331
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
