Fourth Sunday of Easter April 26, 2026
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Marc
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
CHORAL INTROIT Psalm 23 M. Goetz, arr J. Ray
*CALL TO WORSHIP Bonnie Bina
ONE: We are an Easter people, and we give thanks daily for the presence of new life.
ALL: Christ has risen and we continue to follow.
ONE: Jesus was dead but is now calling us forth to live into the Good News of resurrection.
ALL: Christ has risen and we continue to follow.
ONE: Through sunshine and rain clouds, through changes and differing ways of being church, we still celebrate and worship.
ALL: Christ has risen and we continue to follow.
ONE: Christ has risen indeed; and we see evidence of the resurrection everywhere.
ALL: Let us sing praises as we worship our living God.
*OPENING HYMN God of Change and Glory Black #177
*INVOCATION Pastor Marc
*CALL TO CONFESSION Bonnie
As we gather each week, there are things that we realize that we have done or left undone, or that God might be calling us to be apart of. Let us take a moment in silence to acknowledge those things and how they may cause separation for us from our neighbors… or our true selves… or maybe we might even think they separate us from God. Let us be in silence
*SILENT PERSONAL REFLECTION (at least 30 seconds)
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Bonnie
O life-giving God, sometimes we forget that we are Easter people. Forgive us when we do not see the potential in things we would just like to simply discard. We confess we often like to take the easy way and just bury things that might take too much energy to revive. Open our hearts and minds. Heal our spirits and forgive us, we pray. Amen.
*WORDS OF GRACE
*ACT OF PRAISE Halle, Halle, Halle Black #236
(sing through twice)
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
GOD SPEAKS TO US
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Marc
PROPHETIC READING Bonnie
Ezekiel 37:1-10
1The hand of the Lord came upon me, and brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2The spirit led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3The spirit said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4Then they said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9Then the spirit said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10I prophesied as commanded, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
CHORAL ANTHEM For the Beauty of the Earth B. Red
EPISTLE READING Bonnie
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as God chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
SERMON “Resurrection Happens… Pastor Marc
Dry Bones and Risen Bodies”
RESPONSE HYMN Black #351
I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER & PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO the OFFERING
OFFERTORY MUSIC Diane Alveshere
*DOXOLOGY TUNE: St. Anne, WORDS: Mary Luti
Today, the kingdoms of despair
In wreckage fade away;
Now Hope her victory declares:
God’s love has won the day.
*DEDICATION PRAYER Pastor Marc
WE TAKE GOD’S WITNESS OUT
*PARTING HYMN Forward Through the Ages Black #377
*BENEDICTION Pastor Marc
*CHORAL BLESSING Let it Breathe on Me M Lewis-Butts
Congregation to join choir, Blk #288, vs 3
*POSTLUDE MUSIC Diane Alveshere
We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, https://tinyurl.com/firstcongalex or Cable Channel #181 (each weekday). Our service is broadcast on KXRA 1490 AM at 11 am the second Sunday of the month.
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY April 26, 2026
Sunday April 26
9:15 Choir
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Book discussion group
Monday April 27
10:00 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
2-7 Voice lessons
5:15 Group Spiritual Direction
Tuesday April 28
11:00 Sabbatical activities committee
12-4 Elder network coffee group
Wednesday April 29
4-6 Labyrinth Open
5:15 Choir rehearsal
5:30 Children’s program small group
Thursday April 30
9:00 Walking group@Church
4:30 Holy Happy Hr
Next Sunday May 3, Communion
8:30 Band practice
10:00 Worship in person and online First Sunday Music
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:30 Book discussion group
Sabbatical Pastor Contact Information
Rev. Marc Blakesley is called to serve this church ½ time.
Email: marc@firstcongregationaluccalex.com
Cell Phone: 612-325-1467 (voice/text)
Follow Pastor Jill’s Sabbatical
Pastor Jill is on her renewal leave until August 2nd. If you would like to follow along with her journey, you can go read her journal at https://substack.com/@alongjillsjourney. If you “subscribe” (do not pay as it’s free), you will be notified when posts are made.
The Book Study Group
The book group is meeting today, April 26, and it will be the group’s last meeting. The book is Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang. Join us for our group book study exploring faith, civic life, and the call to love our neighbors. We will be discussing the remaining chapters. Please come prepared to discuss what this book has meant and are there actions that the reading and participating in discussion are leading you to.
Come walk our Labyrinth: A path for Contemplative Prayer
The labyrinth will be open on Wednesdays beginning April 1 from 4-6. Anyone at church or the greater community is warmly invited to participate. The labyrinth is a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit, and a mirror of the soul. May it serve as one of these, and more, for you.
Small Group Parent and Caring Adult Education
The Faith Formation Groups will be meeting in the building for the first time on Oct 29 beginning at 5:30. You are welcome to attend these groups.
Choir rehearsal
The choir rehearses on Wednesday at 5:15. They also rehearse the Sundays they sing at 9:15 am. The choir sings in worship on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month through May.
Wow Wednesday
Wednesday, May 6th will be our first session of Spiritual Renewal we are calling WOW Wednesdays, which is made possible through our Lilly Grant for Clergy and Congregational Renewal. It is FREE, even dinner. Sign up on the table in the sanctuary so we know how much food we need. We will begin with dinner at 5:15 PM and our learning time will begin around 6:00 PM and last no longer than an hour. Pastor Marc will engage us in a discussion about the practice of creating sacred space in the places we live. We will play with our imaginations in what we see as holy and/or sacred. Consider bringing an object or a book or art that you find meaning in and that may be used in grounding you in personal connection with the Divine.
Angel Care Team April/May
Joan Holverson and Lori LaBrasseur are the Angels for April. As May begins, Nikki Froemming and Cathy Johnson will take over visits. Please let the office know if you would like to be visited or know someone who needs a visit.
Worship Volunteers Needed
We have sign ups at the back of the sanctuary for volunteers interested in ushering, greeting and providing coffee fellowship. You are free to sign up for as many as you wish at a time. If you are interested in tech, let someone at the tech desk know and we can train you on the job.
Lost Hearing Aid
A Hearing aid was found on the sidewalk. If you are missing one it is in the office.
Advent Lanterns
There are still 5 lanterns in Pastor Jill’s office loaned by the congregation. All are red and are along the north wall of the office. If you haven’t picked your lantern up yet. It should be there.
Bountiful Basket
The Bountiful Basket is designated for Someplace Safe—suggested items are on the basket. We will collect for Someplace through May.
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.
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Stuart Henrickson 05/04
Curt Schimmelpfennig 05/07
Sydney Gauthier 05/08
Donna Myers 05/09
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Upcoming Events or Community Events
Douglas County Senior Housing Tour, April 30, 8:30-12:30
Is a change of housing in the future for you or a loved one? Hosted by Douglas County Senior Services along with Douglas County Social Services and Horizon Public Health, you will learn about some of the choices in the Alexandria area (senior apartments, 55+ housing communities and assisted living communities). After a short informational session at the Public Works Conference Room (526 Willow Drive), we will board a school bus and visit 2 senior housing sites. The bus will have wheelchair accessibility. The Care Campus will present information about their Evansville and Brandon sites before we get on the bus; and then we will tour Edgewood Vista and Grand Arbor in person. Enrollment is $5.00. People can enroll at Alexandria Community Education online or call 320-762-3310.
Evening Prayer Services
All are welcome to join the First Lutheran Care for Creation Team for a time of music, scripture, and prayer on May 17 at 5:00pm. The purpose is to pray for the world, for peace, for all leaders, for creation, and for God’s presence in our lives.
ALZHEIMER & DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Join us at the Public Works Dept. meeting room (526 Willow Dr) on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 3-4:30. Please contact the facilitator Stephanie Aasness at 320-766-1856, to learn more.
Knitting Group Fundraiser
Currently a group of knitters meets Mondays 11-1 at Rancho Viejo’s back room. They also meet on Tuesday evenings (5-8) next to RAW & Co at 110 6th Ave E, Suite B. This location has stairs. The group are knitting Red Resistance Hats as part of a mutual aid fundraiser.
WOW Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays
During Pastor Jill’s renewal leave, we have planned activities for the congregation that will encourage them to reflect, be creative and build our faith. Once a month we will have an activity on Wednesday and a Saturday. Our first Sabbath Saturday is a Drum Circle workshop beginning at 1 pm. Drums provided, attendance is the only requirement for participation. Snack provided. Watch for signups for all of the WOW Wednesdays and Sabbath Saturdays.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
This congregation is 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.
