Worship
9 & 11:15 a.m. every Sunday
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First Presbyterian Church
17 Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Worship Guide
Maundy Thursday (6:30 April 17)
Prelude: Karen Holl, Organist
Welcome and Statement of Purpose
Meditation: “Our Lord subdued His might and constrained it, that His living death might give life to Adam. He gave His hands to the piercing of the nails, in place of the hand that plucked the fruit; He was smitten on the cheek in the judgment hall, in place of the mouth that had eaten in Eden. Because Adam let slip his foot, they pierced His feet. Our Lord was stripped naked, that He might clothe us in modesty; with the gall and vinegar He made sweet the bitterness that the serpent had poured into mankind.”
– Ephraim the Syrian
“What Wondrous Love is This” – Margie Robison, Harp & Meredith Groff, Cello
Call to Worship: (Isaiah 55:1-2 & 6-7)
One: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
All: Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
One: Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
All: Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS (101) / COME TO SAVE US
Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Genesis 3:1-9 (p.3)
Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
One: Since the Garden, God has been calling to us, “Where are you?” Since the Garden, humans have been hiding in shame. Let’s stop hiding and bring our sins to light.
All: Our God, you created the world and called it good. You created man and woman in your image and called them very good. But we have been deceived by half-truths and false promises. We have tasted temptation, and it is bitter in our mouths. We thought our desire for forbidden fruit would bring us wisdom, but it brought us only the curse of pain and death. Please cover us in your love. Take away our sin. Restore our relationship with you, our God.
One: 1 Corinthians 15 tells us: For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
All: Amen!
THE LORD’S SUPPER – Communion Songs – CHRIST OR ELSE I DIE / THERE IS A FOUNTAIN
Gospel Lesson: Mark 14:32-43 (p.1008)
Homily: “Watch and Pray”
The Prayers of the People
GO TO DARK GETHSEMANE (97)
Benediction
6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise on Court Square
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (Based on Revelation 11)
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
The kingdom of this world has become
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ,
and He shall reign forever and ever!
We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!
SONG OF RESURRECTION, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
CONFESSION OF FAITH (Based on Heidelberg Q 45, Q1)
One: Christ is Risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
One: How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?
All: First, by his resurrection Jesus has overcome death, so that we can be made right with God. Second, by his power those who believe are resurrected to a new life. Third, Christ’s resurrection guarantees that we, too, can be raised from death to life and live with God forever.
One: And so, because of Christ’s resurrection, what is your only comfort in life and in death?
All: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
One: Christ is Risen!
All: He is risen, indeed!
PRAYER
SONG OF PRAISE, “In Christ Alone”
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
SCRIPTURE READING, Matthew 28:1-10
MEDITATION, Jesus is Alive. Do you Believe?
SONG OF RESPONSE, “Let this Heart Not Wander”
Let my eyes see nothing, Let my eyes see nothing
But Your glory, my Lord
Let my eyes see nothing, Let my eyes see nothing
But Your glory, my Lord
Let this heart not wander, Let this heart not wander
From Your mercy, my Lord
Let this heart not wander, Let this heart not wander
From Your mercy, my Lord
May I always linger, May I always linger
In Your presence, my Lord
May I always linger, May I always linger
In Your presence, my Lord
I will ever praise You, I will ever praise You
You are worthy, my Lord
I will ever praise You, I will ever praise You
You are worthy, my Lord
CLOSING BLESSING
9 a.m. Easter Contemporary
Prelude: “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” arr. Burkhardt Karen Holl, Organist
Gathering Song: DOXOLOGY (GOD BE PRAISED)
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: (Revelation 5:9-13 excerpts)
One: Christ is Risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
One: Jesus, you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
All: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
One: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
All: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
One: Because Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
One: Let us worship Him!
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY / RESURRECTION HOPE / GOD SO LOVED
First Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28:1-10 (p.989)
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness:
All: Lord, in the face of your resurrection you tell us to remember but we confess that we forget. You tell us to believe but we confess we doubt. You tell us not to be afraid, but we confess we very much are. You tell us to go and tell the good news to all creation, but we confess that in word and deed we keep it to ourselves. You tell us to die to sin and live to you, but we confess we so often reverse this. But Lord, you also tell us that through your death and resurrection we can be forgiven, and that sin no longer has mastery over us. So, Lord we ask your forgiveness, and we ask your Spirit to empower us to live into the resurrection life you have won for us. Amen.
One: Friends, hear the good news of the gospel from 1 Corinthians 15: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! And Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER
LET THIS HEART NOT WANDER
Children’s Sermon
Sermon: “Alive in Christ”
Scripture: Romans 6:1-14 (p.1116)
Closing Songs: WHAT HE’S DONE / AIN’T NO GRAVE
Benediction
11:15 Easter Traditional
Prelude: “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” arr. Burkhardt Karen Holl, Organist
Gathering Hymn: COME YE FAITHFUL, RAISE THE STRAIN (115)
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: (Revelation 5:9-13 excerpts)
One: Christ is Risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
One: Jesus, you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
All: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
One: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
All: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
One: Because Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
One: Let us worship Him!
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY (113) / CHRIST IS RISEN, SHOUT HOSANNA! (104)
First Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28:1-10 (p.989)
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness:
All: Lord, in the face of your resurrection you tell us to remember but we confess that we forget. You tell us to believe but we confess we doubt. You tell us not to be afraid, but we confess we very much are. You tell us to go and tell the good news to all creation, but we confess that in word and deed we keep it to ourselves. You tell us to die to sin and live to you, but we confess we so often reverse this. But Lord, you also tell us that through your death and resurrection we can be forgiven, and that sin no longer has mastery over us. So, Lord we ask your forgiveness, and we ask your Spirit to empower us to live into the resurrection life you have won for us. Amen.
One: Friends, hear the good news of the gospel from 1 Corinthians 15: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! And Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER (p.16)
THINE IS THE GLORY (122) vs. 1,3
Sermon: “Alive in Christ”
Scripture: Romans 6:1-14 (p.1116)
Closing Hymn: THE DAY OF RESURRECTION (118)
Benediction