In-Person, Sunday Morning at 9:30 am

or

Recorded Worship Service



March 31, 2024

To access, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons

"What Difference Does Easter Make"

Order of Worship

Easter Sunday

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST


Prelude

"Christ Is Alive "

UMH #318


Welcome


A Time to Make Connections


Gathering Words


Liturgist: Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People:  He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Liturgist: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has given us new life and hope. God has raised Jesus from the dead. Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia.


Introit

    “He Is Alive”

Buryl Red

Adult Choir & Praise Band


Opening Hymn

  “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” 

  UMH #302 (vs. 1-4)


Call to Worship


Liturgist: The darkness is gone!

People: Bright light floods into this new day of hope.

Liturgist: Those who went to the tomb received good news.

People: Christ was not there!

Liturgist: Christ is risen in our hearts and our spirits!

All: 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!


Liturgist: Let's Pray

Opening Prayer


Loving, Powerful God, joy floods over our souls on this day! Christ is risen! Fear is vanquished! Open our hearts and our spirits to receive fully the joy which has been given for us! Let us celebrate the victory of Christ and the hope for the future! Amen.


Children's Time

Courtney Till


Blessings of Coins for Lent


Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer


Prayer Response

He Is Lord”

UMH#177

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD


Scripture Readings: John 20:1-18


Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.


Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  


Message in Music

“What He's Done”

Kristian Stanfill, Tasha Cobbs

Leonard, Anna Golden, Jacob Sooter

Praise Band


Message

    “What Difference Does Easter Make” 

  Pastor Seok-Hwan

We Respond

 

Offertory

 “There Is a Redeemer”

by Melody Green

Ellis Till, vocalist, and Courtney Till, pianist

 

Doxology

 UMH #94

 

*Offertory Prayer

With gratitude and joy, O God, we bring forth these gifts and ask for your blessing. Live in and through these gifts and the ministries of this church, that we may bring new life into a world ready to embrace the spring.


Closing Hymn

      “He Lives”   

UMH#310


The Blessing and Sending Forth 

Dance, celebrate, sing, and shout for joy! Christ is Risen and He goes before us, into this world of fear and pain. He has called us to bring the Good News of healing and hope, of redemption. Go in peace, and feel the presence of the Risen Lord with you, now and forever. AMEN.


Response 

 “Hallelujah Chorus” (The Messiah)   

by G. F. Handel

Adult Choir


Postlude

 "Toccata in F Major"

     Charles-Marie Widor


In-Person Services


Liturgist: Nancy Burns

Usher/Greeter: Nancy Keelan

Projection: Sharon Lipp

Organist: Matt Cron

Sound: Ron Aldenberg


Our Mission Statement

“God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.”


Our Openness Statement

“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.”

Please click here for “A Statement of Our Openness”.

www.umcw.org

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