The Great Lord’s Day of Lord’s Days, April 9,
in the Lord’s Year 2023
Easter Day Service of Christ’s Resurrection
Χριστός ανέστη! (Christos anesti!) Christ is risen!
Αληθώς ανέστη! (Alithos anesti!) He is risen indeed!
VISITORS – HAPPY EASTER!!! Thank you for joining us. We very much appreciate your presence, and we hope you feel at home with us. If you have any questions, please ask. We hope to see you again soon.
Email – wardhillchurch@gmail.com Look us up on Facebook, Twitter, and wardhillchurch.org!
Please speak bold words and sing italicized words.
The asterisk* indicates that you are encouraged to stand, if able.
Brass Prelude Easter Hymn Christ the King Brass
Organ Prelude Anne D. Smith, organ
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
* Hymn 277 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today EASTER HYMN
Invocation
Confession of Sin: Gracious God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have promised to receive us when we come to you. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you or our neighbors as we should. Forgive us, O God, and grant that in the Holy Spirit we may live and serve you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness: If you have repented of your sin and turned in faith to Jesus Christ, I can declare through Christ’s atoning death and life-giving resurrection that you are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
New Life in Christ: If you love God, keep his commandments. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Response (Hymn 267, verse 1) LANCASHIRE
The Day of Resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad, the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God. From death to life eternal, from this world to the sky, our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory.
O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall show forth your praise.
* Gloria Patri (Hymn 735) GLORIA PATRI (GREATOREX)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Passing the Peace of Christ Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
The peace of the Risen Christ be with you. And also with you.
Brass Interlude Llanfair Christ the King Brass
Welcome and Announcements / Scripture Memory and Catechism
Choral Anthem Hodie – N. Sleeth Ward Hill Church Choir
Prayer of Gathering (Collect for Easter Day): Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for the Reading of the Holy Scriptures
Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2,14-24 The Word of the Lord.
Colossians 3:1-4 Matthew 28:1-10 Thanks be to God.
Hymn 276 Up from the Grave He Arose CHRIST AROSE
Sermon – “Confirming the Good News of Peace”
The Apostles’ Creed – hymnal page 845
Prayers of the People, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Offertory (Hymn 729) HERR JESU CHRIST
All things are thine; no gift have we, Lord of all gifts, to offer thee; and hence with grateful hearts today, thine own before thy feet we lay.
* Doxology (Hymn 731) OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
* Hymn He Lives! ACKLEY
I serve a Risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care, and though my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast, the day of His appearing will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find; None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Benediction: May God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless you now in the hope of the resurrection, and may you return to the world transformed by His life-giving power. Amen.
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
Postlude
The Ward Hill Church Bell Ringer – Easter Day
Lectionary and Hymns for Next Sunday, April 16, 2023
Season: Eastertide–50 days from Easter to Pentecost (Apr 9–May 28, 2023)
Color: White – for the glory of Christ’s resurrection life
Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of St Thomas, April 16
Lectionary: Acts 2:14a,22-32; Ps 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
Hymns: 266 – Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain; 272 – O Sons & Daughters, Let Us Sing; 427 – Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands; 450 – So Send I You
Monthly Prayer Focus for April
Local Church Focus: Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe, Ward Hill – Fr Vart Gyozalyan, pastor; Missions Focus: Barnabas Ministries
Community Resources – Food, Clothing, Shelter, & Other Help
www.communityactioninc.org/phocadownload/resource_guide_english_october_2017.pdf National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988
Refugee Ministries: Interserve USA (interserveusa.com); Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Greater Boston Refugee Ministry (www.egc.org/refugee)
Global Crisis Help: World Relief – worldrelief.org; Information on Persecuted Christians: Open Doors USA –opendoorsusa.org
Pray for Turkey and Syria – worldrelief.org
Monthly Scripture Memory for April
Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) – 9 Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Weekly Catechism: Outline of the Faith
Q. What is the great importance of Jesus’ suffering and death?
A. By his obedience, even to suffering and death, Jesus made the offering which we could not make; in him we are freed from the power of sin and reconciled to God.
Q. What is the significance of Jesus’ resurrection?
A. By his resurrection, Jesus overcame death and opened for us the way of eternal life.
Lord’s Day Schedule for through May 7
Service – 10 am (Lord’s Supper observed on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month)
Fellowship & Study – 11 am to 12 noon * Communion
Apr 16 Easter II* – St Thomas Apr 30 Easter IV – Good Shepherd
Apr 23 Easter III May 7 Easter V*
Ward Hill Church of Christ the King 