| Minister: the Rev. Dr. Steven Davis Organist/Choir Director: Henry Remiz Children & Youth Programmer: Moira Robertson Office Administrator: Arleane Ralph Custodian: John Herscheid April 5, 2026, 10:00am Easter Sunday |
WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE: “Offertorio” (D. Zipoli)
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
HONOURING THE LAND
THE LIGHTING OF THE RAINBOW CANDLE
THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
INTROIT: “O Death, Where is Thy Sting” (E. Turner; sung by choir)
WE APPROACH GOD
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Hallelujah!
All: Christ is risen!
Leader: He is risen indeed!
All: Hallelujah!
OPENING HYMN: “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today” (#157 – Voices United)
OPENING PRAYER
God of life and power, on this Easter morning we gather in awe and joy, for through the resurrection of your Son you have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life for all. Draw us into your presence as we come with thankful hearts, lifting before you both our praise and the needs of a troubled world, trusting in the future you are bringing to birth. Merciful God, we confess that we have not always lived as Easter people. We have contributed to the brokenness of the world – being too certain to truly listen, too attached to things instead of people, and too fearful to respond to the suffering around us. Forgive us, we pray, through Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. Renew us by your grace, that we may walk in newness of life, and as grateful and humble people, on this Easter morning we sing your praise through the words Jesus left to those who follow him:
THE LORD’S PRAYER (sung; #959 – Voices United)
Our Father 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 for ever. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
WE LISTEN FOR GOD
HYMN: “Joy Comes With The Dawn” (#166 – Voices United)
A TIME WITH THE KIDS CHURCH: “So What’s The Deal With Eggs And Bunnies?”
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-10 (read by David Keith); Acts 10:34-43 (read by the Rev. Davis)
HYMN: “The Day Of Resurrection” (#164 – Voices United)
SERMON: Two Thousand Years Later
WE RESPOND TO GOD
M&S VIDEO: Easter 2026 – The UCC Foundation
RECEIVING THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY HYMN: Improvisation followed by “Grant Us, O God, The Grace of Giving” (#540 – Voices United)
BLESSING OF THE OFFERING
O God, we now present to you these gifts as signs of our gratitude and our renewed commitment to living as He would have us live and as a way of allowing St. Mark’s to continue, through all its ministries and missions, to be a vital part of offering support to the community beyond these walls. Use what we bring, who we are and who we will be for the works of your Kingdom, where life always triumphs, and where darkness never reigns. In the name of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!
MINISTRY OF MUSIC: “King All-Glorious” (G. Vail)
200TH ANNIVERSARY SLIDE
THE WORLD THIS WEEK SLIDES
PASTORAL PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “Thine Is The Glory” (#173 – Voices United)
WE SERVE GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE
COMMISSIONING
Minister: Christ is risen! Victorious over sin! Triumphant over death!
People: We will live in the power of the risen Christ, offering his victory to the world!
Minister: The risen Christ goes ahead of you into places of brokenness, into struggles for justice, into the work of peace and reconciliation.
People: We will follow where Christ leads! With joy and courage, we will live the resurrection today and in the days to come!
BENEDICTION
CHORAL CLOSING: “The Risen Christ” (#168 – Voices United – verse 1 – sung by congregation)
POSTLUDE: “Fanfare” (N. Lemmens)
Thought for the Day
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Music reproduced with permission under licenses:
OneLicense A610919 and CCLI license #11269798
