PreludeNow the Green Blade Rises

Michael BurkhardtDr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, organ

Laudate Dominum (Praise the Lord) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,

arr. Stephen DeCesareStrings and Organ

Welcome & Announcements

Call to WorshipRev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg

one: This day is like every other day.all: Alarm clocks beeped.

Covers were removed. Coffee was brewed.

Weary bodies came to life.one: And yet this day, is like no other day—all: For the sun rose,

and we knew it was a miracle. The tomb was empty,

and they knew it was love. one: So again and again we say—

all: The longest night is over. Death has lost its sting.

Jesus is among us. Alleluia! Amen.

one: Again and again and again— All: Alleluia! Amen.

Opening Hymn Easter People, Raise Your Voices

UMH 304 John Nollsch, Song Leader

Easter people, raise your voices, sounds of heaven in earth should

ring. Christ has brought us heaven’s choices; heavenly music,

let it ring. Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

Fear of death can no more stop us from our pressing here below. For our Lord empowered us to

triumph over every foe. Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

Easter SundayApril 4, 2021 | 9:00 am Worship

Informational graphics and Easter Memorial at

the end of worship guide.

Worship AttendantsRev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg, Lead Pastor

Rev. Jonathan Heifner, Associate Pastor of DiscipleshipDr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, organ and piano

Dr. Timothy Hein, Director of Handbell MinistriesJohn Nollsch, Song Leader

Tom Wolle (violin), Anna Wolle (violin), Mike Peiffer (viola), Cheryl Krewer (cello) – String Quartet

Chris Langston, Kyle Langston, Michelle Langston, Melanie Chervik – Tower Bells Quartet

Mary Azelborn, Virtual Choir Technology AssistantKevin Lodge, Worship Technology Director

Laura Azelborn, Slide PresenterMaury Anderson, Videographer

Bob Lee, Audio

Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster to our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confessionone: Beloved Community,

before God and before you, my family, I confess:

I have seen the sun rise and withheld my praise.

I have seen my neighbor suffer and withheld my aid.

I have seen love extended and chosen to walk away.

I have seen divisions deepen and managed to remain unfazed.

all: We hear you. We see you.

You are forgiven. God’s love is like the sun.

No matter how lost we are in the night,

Day after day, the light will find you.

Rest easy. You are held in God’s warmth. one: Thanks be to God. Amen.

all: Now we must pray. Beloved friend, before God and before each other, we confess: We have seen the sun rise and

withheld our praise. We have seen our neighbors suffer

and have withheld our aid. We have seen love extended and

chosen to walk away. We have seen divisions deepen

and managed to remain unfazed.

Words of Forgiveness one: I hear you.

I see you. You are forgiven.

God’s love is like the sun. No matter how lost we are in the night, Day after day, the light will

find you. Rest easy. You are held in God’s warmth.

all: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, amen.

Prayer for Illumination There are a million ways

that you speak to us, God of the garden and God

of the empty tomb. You speak to us in rituals, both formal and organic—

In drops of water on foreheads, In vows said at the altar, Through pieces of bread dipped in ordinary wine,

And through shared candlelight on Christmas Eve.

You speak to us in nature— Your artistry showing up

in starry nights, In the smell of pine,

In rushing water and in most every sunrise.

You speak to us through our relationships—

The comfort of a loved one, The laughter of our friends, The security of those who

support us and cheer us on. You speak to us in so many ways, and we are grateful for them all.

However today, we just need one. That would be enough.

So lean down and breathe life into these sacred texts.

We are craving to hear your word like never before.

We are craving to understand, to see ourselves in the story.

We are craving proximity to you. There are a million ways

that you speak to us. Today, we just need one.

With hearts full of gratitude we pray, Amen.

Hymn of PreparationThe Day of Resurrection

UMH 303

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad; the passover

of gladness, the passover of God. From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ

hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Lord in

rays eternal of resurrection light; and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain, his own

“All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin! Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ the

Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

Gospel LessonMark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of

James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus’

dead body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. They were saying to each other, “Who’s going

to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been

rolled away. (And it was a very large stone!) Going into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right side; and

they were startled. But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed! You are

looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

He has been raised. He isn’t here. Look, here’s the place where they

laid him. Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going

ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” Overcome with terror and dread,

they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone,

because they were afraid.

HomilyAgain & Again: The Sun Rises

Response to the Word: Affirmation of Faith

We know the fear of the upper room. We know the feeling of hard days

and long nights. We know the grief of the tomb,

And the particular ache of saying goodbye.

We know the pain of Good Friday, And we know the darkness before

dawn. And still, And still,

We believe. We believe that again and again,

The sun will rise. Again and again,

God will draw near. Again and again,

We will march toward justice. Again and again,

The tomb will be empty. Again and again, Love will win.

Again and again, God will lead the church.

Again and again, And again and again,

We will be loved. The journey will not be perfect.

We will need to rise before dawn. We will need angels along the way.

But again and again, The sun will rise.

We believe. Amen.

Prayers of the People

OfferingCanonic Processional

(I Know that My Redeemer Lives)Lon Berry

Virtual Sanctuary Choir

Invitation

The Peace of ChristMorning Has Broken

arr. Kevin McChesneyTower Bells Quartet

The Great ThanksgivingUMH 12; TFWS 2257 (b, c, d)

one: The Lord be with you.all: And also with you.one: Lift up your hearts.

all: We lift them up to the Lord.one: Let us give thanks

to the Lord our God.all: It is right to give

our thanks and praise.one: It is right, and a good

and joyful thing,always and everywhere to give thanks to you,Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.

one: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of

heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!

Blest is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection,

you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery

to sin and death,and made with us a new

covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us,

he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,gave it to his disciples,

and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.Do this in remembrance of me,”

When the supper was over, he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

“Drink from this, all of you;this is my blood of the

new covenant,poured out for you and f

or many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you

drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so,in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,we offer ourselves in praise

and thanksgivingas a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ’s offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died, Christ is risen;

Christ will come again.Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts of bread and wine.Make them be for us the

body and blood of Christ,that we may be for the

world the body of Christ,redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other,and one in ministry to all

the world, until Christ comes in final victory

and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,with the Holy Spirit

in your Holy Church,all honor and glory is yours,

almighty Father, now and forever.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!

The Lord’s PrayerOur 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever.Amen.

Sending HymnChrist is Risen

UMH 307

Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days.

Christ is risen! Hush in wonder; all creation is amazed.

In the desert all surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.

Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.

Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of

despair. Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do

and dare. Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend; Jesus is our

strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.

Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same. Break the bread of new

creation where the world is still in pain. Tell its grim, demonic

chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!” God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna everyone!

Benediction

PostludeToccata in Difficult Times

(Christ the Lord Is Risen Today)Paul A. Aitken

Publishing Credits: The liturgy is reprinted with permission from The United Methodist Book of Worship, © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House. A Sanctified Art “Prayer by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.”

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-714641; CCLI 435430 and CRL030829.

• Dean & Gale Beer in memory of family and friends• Gayle & Kate Buroker in memory of Chuck Brokaw and Ann Buroker • Jeanne Campbell and family in memory of Alan & Miriam Campbell and Megan Campbell• Sally Carson & family in memory of Edward W. Carson• Carol Curry in memory of her husband and best friend, Ken Curry• Oliver & Melissa East in memory of Justin Ilg• Dale & Judy Fitzgibbons in honor of Happy Easter: He has Risen!• Bob & Penny Gilchrist in memory of their parents• Brad & Jade Hart in memory of their parents• Ed & Becky Holstrom in memory of their parents• Family of Pauline Howard in memory of their beloved mom, and of her 98th birthday on April 4• Bryan & Stephanie Ilg in memory of Justin Ilg• Larry & Sherrie Ilg in memory of Justin Ilg• Tasia Ilg in memory of Justin Ilg• Marla Nikodim in memory of her husband, Gary Nikodim • Wes & Nancy Nygren in memory of their parents and siblings• Rich & Mary Jane Overmann in memory of their parents William and Harriet Morris and Vincent & Julia Overmann • Linda Robinson in memory of her dad, Gerald Gill• Jan Russell in memory of Marj, Jack, Jim and Tim Russell• L.J. & Holli Schneekloth in memory of their daughter, Tiffani• Don Schollenberger in memory of Edna Hartman Reynolds, Jean Hartman Lewis, Dr. John L. Hartman, Bess Hartman DeVault, and Floyd C. Reynolds• Don & Marilyn Thomsen in memory of their parents: Ruby & Allen Hinckley and Andrew & Ella Thomsen and their brothers: Loren Thomsen and Duane Hinckley and in honor of Judy Schatz• L. Duane Weber in memory of Susan Weber

Easter MemorialsApril 4, 2021