Easter Sunday * April 20, 2025
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Brad Lambrecht
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Pastor Jill
*INTROIT Easter Anthem, W. Billings
*CALL TO WORSHIP Evelyn Henrickson
One: Please stand in body or spirit until the Passing of the Peace
One: My dear friends, we have known grief. We have known loss. We have known the long road, tired and winding. We have whispered prayers on bended knees. We have stared at the sky, empty of stars. But today—
Many: today we know hope.
One: Today we know life.
Many: Today we know the sound of Alleluias.
One: Today we know that death does not have the last word.
Many: Today we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
One: It is Easter. May hope find you. And may you know, deep in your bones,that today is a new day.
Many: Alleluia! Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Blk #240, Vs 1-5
Carter Gamm, Trumpet
*CALL TO CONFESSION Evelyn
Faithful friends, today is a joyful day! If I were to ask you what parts of today’s service feel joyful, you’d probably say the music, the passing of the peace, the flowers in the sanctuary. You might say the children’s sermon, or the crowded room. But it’s unlikely that any of you would name the prayer of confession, because the prayer of confession has a reputation for being somber and serious.
But perhaps the prayer of confession can feel like a fresh page. Maybe the prayer of confession can allow us to start again. When we move closer to God, we are always met with grace, mercy, and abundant love. And my friends, that is joyful. That feels like Easter, doesn’t it? So join me in the prayer of confession.
It’s a joyful day. That joy doesn’t stop here. Let us pray:
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Evelyn
One: The Gospel of Luke says: “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told the apostles of the resurrection. But these words seemed to the disciples an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb.”
Many: Forgive us, God, when good news lands in our lap and we refuse to believe it. Forgive us, God, when grief and fear crowd out any room in our hearts for hope. Forgive us, God, when we dismiss the stories of others and minimize the voices of our neighbors.
One: In a world that teeters between grief and hope, show us how to be like Peter.
Many: Show us how to hold onto hope. Show us how to run toward you. Amen.
*WORDS OF FORGIVENESS Evelyn
One: Family of Faith, At first, the disciples didn’t believe that Jesus had risen. They stayed locked in an upper room, shaking and afraid. Peter was the only exception. Fortunately, Jesus loves us on our best days and our worst days.
Many: God’s grace exists for us when we are hopeful and when we’re grieving, when we’re shouting and when we’re silent, when we’re full of faith and when we’re full of fear. God’s grace exists for us on the best days, the worst days, and every day in between. Thanks be to God for this good news! Alleluia! Amen.
*GLORIA Blk 236
Halle halle hallelujah
Halle halle hallelujah
Halle halle hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah x 2
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
GOD SPEAKS TO US
CHOIR ANTHEM Awake! Arise! Go Forth!, Besig & Price
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE Isaiah 65:17-25 Evelyn
17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days or an old person who does not live out a lifetime, for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
READING FROM THE GOSPEL Luke 24:1-12 Pastor Jill
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here but has risen.
6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered Jesus’s words,
9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
HYMN OF PREPARATION In The Bulb There Is A Flower, Blk #433, Vs 1-3
SERMON Everything In Between: Grief & Hope
Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Brad Lambrecht
WE RESPOND TO GOD
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
One: In the dark before dawn,
Many: we believe that God is alive.
One: In the midst of our grief,
Many: we believe the Spirit is at work.
One: In the chaos of our broken world,
Many: we believe that love is on the loose.
One: For no stone could keep God at bay,
Many: and no violence could keep God’s love from us.
One: So today we sing,
Many: Alleluia!
One: For somewhere in between our belief and doubt,
Many: hope lives.
One: Christ has died,
Many: and Christ has also risen.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS, PASTORAL PRAYER, & THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be Done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE, GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Pastor Jill
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY Blk #565, verse 3
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred and to spread the Gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing as we heed Christ’s ageless call.
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, honoring you by loving all.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*CLOSING Hymn Because You Live, O Christ, Blk # 231 Vs 1-3
*BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
May you know that the world is bigger than two sides.
May you trust that you are made in the image of God, and therefore, you contain multitudes.
So may you move through this world with an open heart, with a curious mind, and with the confidence that you do not go alone.
God is with you in the mountains, in the valleys, and everywhere in between. Believe that good news–and go in peace.
BLESSING RESPONSE Joyful Joyful Blk 4, v 1
Liturgy is written by Rev. Sarah Speed from Everything In Between series by A Sanctified Art. www.sanctifiedart.org
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY April 20, 2025
Sunday April 20Easter
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday April 21
10-11 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
2:-7 Voice lessons
Tuesday April 22
12-4 Elder network
Wednesday April 23
5:15 Choir Practice
Thursday April 24
9:00 Walking group@Church
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Sunday April 27
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
6:30 Just One event, doors open 6 pm, DMS
Easter Celebration
He is risen. We will enjoy great music and reflect on the theme “Grief & Hope.”
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
Pastor Jill is available throughout the week for pastoral care, conversation, or coffee! She is typically in the office on Tuesday mornings—and other times as well. It is always best to schedule a time if you want to talk. She can be reached directly at jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or (319) 361-0737. Shetypically takes Fridays off.
Newsletter Deadline
The deadline for the Church Visitor (newsletter) is April 21.
Choir Rehearsal
The choir will meet on Wednesday April 23 at 5:15.
Just One
Just One is a youth-focused event featuring author Sam Eaton, a hip-hop concert, and resources for mental health and suicide prevention. We, along with Alexandria United Methodist Church, Calvary Lutheran and First Lutheran are sponsoring this suicide prevention event. Please spread the word!! The event is April 27 at 6:30, at the Discovery Middle school, doors open at 6 pm. To reserve your free ticket go to : justonealexandria.eventbrite.com
Graduation Sunday is coming up
Do you have a child, grandchild or great grand child who is graduating this spring or has graduated this year? Please send the office their names, a picture and future plans they may have? We will recognize our graduates on May 18.
Worship Service volunteers needed
We need readers, ushers, greeters, tech staff and coffee fellowship servers through the end of the year. Sign up is at the back of the sanctuary.
One Great Hour of Sharing
We participate in 5 conference wide offerings. We collect this offering during the month of April. The United Church of Christ uses this offering to fund comprehensive development programs in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, food security, microfinancing, and women’s empowerment. By partnering with Global Ministries and international response networks, OGHS maximizes its impact. Your contributions help meet urgent needs while addressing the root causes of vulnerability, ensuring long-term, sustainable solutions for affected communities.
Virtual Giving Options: Online and Text
Check out our updated website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com. Click on the word “Give” at the top of the screen. You can also text (844)987-4483 to give to our general fund. Please contact the office if you need help setting up a giving account online using our provider, Churchtrac.
Bountiful Basket
Bountiful Basket is collecting for Someplace Safe in the months of April and May.
Community Events and News
National Poetry Month
Come celebrate National Poetry Month at Evansville Arts Coalition’s Annual Poetry Night, April 24. It is at 111 Main St, Evansville, MN 56326. Door Open at 6:30, reading starts at 7 pm. Share a favorite poem or something you’ve written. Open to all poetry lovers, young or old. More information at www.evansvilleartcenter.org
Harvest Pack 2025
St Mary’s School is hosting this event this year, taking over from the Forada Lions. It is FRIDAY, April 25th from noon-8 pm.
If you are interested in volunteering, please go to this link to register https://www.stmaryalexandria.org/event/harvest-pack-2025-april-25/ or contact the church office 320-763-3341
Earth Day Hymn Sing
First Lutheran is again hosting a hymn sing on April 26 at 7:00 pm. Come with your voice to sign hymns of creation.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
We are also a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and honor the dignity of each person created in God’s image. All are welcome here.
