AN ORDER OF WORD AND TABLE FOR
EASTER DAY
April 21, 2019 | Easter
First United Methodist Church
John and Jennifer Collins, Co-Pastors
601 North Cedar, Abilene, Kansas 67410
785-263-2623 — http://www.abilenefirstumc.org
WELCOME TO THIS WORSHIP SERVICE
If you’re willing to fill one out, attendance inserts are available from the ushers.
Please note that bold type indicates congregational participation. An asterisk (*) indicates that you are invited to stand as you are able.
“H” stands for The United Methodist Hymnal, “F” stands for The Faith We Sing, and “W” stands for Worship and Song.
TO THOSE WITH SMALL CHILDREN
- Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t feel you have to suppress those wiggles in God’s house.
- Consider sitting toward the front where it is easier for your little ones to engage.
- Quietly explain the parts of the service and actions of the pastors, musicians, and leaders.
- Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn by mimicking you.
- If you have to leave the sanctuary with your child, feel free to do so, but please come back. As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.”
TO THE CONGREGATION
- Remember that the presence of children is a gift of hope for the future.
- Remember that the way we welcome children in worship directly affects the way they think about the church, Christianity, and even God.
- Let children know that they are at home in God’s house.
- A smile of encouragement is always welcome to parents with small, active children.
FEEL FREE TO REMAIN SEATED
If, for any reason (health, comfort, personal preference, etc.), you need to or would prefer to remain seated during the hymns please do so. Don’t give into peer pressure. You be you!
Gathering of the Congregation
Greeting One Another
RE-GATHERING* — Christ the Lord is Risen Today — H-302
Announcements
Prelude and Lighting of Candles
CALL TO WORSHIP
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading — Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
HYMN* — Christ is Risen — H-307
Children’s Message
Special Music [8:15] — I Will Rise
Choral Anthem [10:30] — Mighty to Save
Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
HYMN* — Lord, I Lift Your Name on High — F-2088
Scripture Reading — John 20:1-18 (NRSV)
1 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’ 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 hold on to 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.
Sermon
BAPTISM — [8:15] Easton James Heger
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I commit myself to God,
the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I set my heart upon Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I place my trust in the Holy Spirit,
the holy church universal,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen.
RESPONSE — Gloria Patri — H-70
Prayer of Confession
Silent Prayers of Confession
Words of Assurance
A Stewardship Moment
Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings
A Special Offering for UMCOR School Kits
(If you are a guest this morning, please feel no obligation to give. This is simply one of the ways we worship God.)
Offertory Solo [10:30] — I Will Rise
RESPONSE* — Doxology — H-94
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING — F-2257
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 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.
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP*
The body of Christ given for you. Amen.
The blood of Christ given for you. Amen.
Prayer Following Communion
HYMN* — Up From the Grave He Arose — H-322
Dismissal with Blessing*
Postlude*
**Meaning: Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
EASTER LILIES
In memory of Blanche Hansen and Peggy Hansen by Carl Hansen
In memory of Merle and Jane Schnell by Danny, Wendy, Jacoby, Maya and Tucker Robinson, and Nancy VanDeCreek and family
In memory of Ron Bolliger, and Felix and Mary Bolliger by Sandy Bolliger
In memory of Dale Dautel and Carly Gassman by Mark, Anita, Dustin, Megan, Harper, Emma, Brady, ShaunI, and Trace Larson
In memory of Family and Friends at FUMC by Les and Marie Thornton
In memory of Henry Boberg
In honor of Eva Boberg, and Joe and Joanna Clemence by Jon, Cecilia and Joy Clemence
In memory of Doris Rogers and Rose Marie Rogers by Keith Rogers
In memory of Orville Oard, Ben and Mabel Oard, and Delbert, and Pauline Pyke by Mary Jane Oard and Family
In memory of Jerry Sleichter by Sandy Sleichter and Family
In memory of Melvin Cox and Monty Cox by Steve and Laura Cox and Betty Cox
In memory of Jesse Robinson by Danny, Wendy, Jacoby, Maya and Tucker Robinson
In memory of Mykel Nicole Clemence by Mike and Sandy Clemence
CALLA LILIES
The Calla Lilies on Palm/Passion Sunday were In memory of Wendell Gugler by Nancy Gugler
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please note: prayer concerns will be listed in a bulletin for four (4) weeks unless the church office is notified otherwise.
FIRST UMC MEMBERS AND FRIENDS: Mike Engle, Mary Haun and Lisa Page. Those grieving the loss of Ruth Dieter.
COMMUNITY PRAYER CONCERNS: Paul Brown (J. Hoffman’s uncle), Don Soeken (D. Wyatt’s brother), Rich Fleagle, Jackie Brown (J. Hoffman’s sister), Addison Cook, Kim Goodman, and Cody Breeden,
THOSE WORSHIPING FROM HOME: Ruth Alt, Velma Becker, Joe Clemence, Steve Crump, Daisy Dester, Walt Hartman, Neva Heck, Helen Kappel, Ray Power, Marla Rutz, Donna Smith, & Martha Zutavern.
THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES: Greg Austin, Tim Barns, Kayla Berven, Billy Brockman, Matthew Brinker, Ross Covington, Jessica and James Green, Gavin Hanna, Cameron Hoskins, David Hoskins, Ryan Kriesch, Samuel Miller, Arthur Sprouse, and James L. Wise, Jr.
DISTRICT PRAYER CALENDAR: Today we pray for the Chapman United Methodist Church and their Pastor; Connie Wooldridge.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPDATING THE CONTACTS DIRECTORY
We’re updating the paper contacts directory that we put out in 2017. There are four options for four different kinds of people:
- For those whose names and contact information are already in the directory and the information hasn’t changed you don’t need to do anything.
- For those whose names and contact information are already in the directory, but the information has changed, we need you to fill out a new form (on the back of the attendance insert). Only the information on the new form will be published.
- For those whose names and contact information are not in the directory, but want to be included this time, we need you to fill out a form (on the back of the attendance insert).
- For those who don’t want to be in the directory, you don’t need to do anything, but you will also not receive a copy of the directory.
NURSERY
A nursery is provided for children during each service. It is located in Room 205 near the south entrance to the church. If you need assistance locating the nursery, our ushers and greeters will be happy to direct you.
BAPTISM OF EASTON JAMES HEGER
This past Sunday (April 14, 2019) we welcomed our newest member Easton James Heger, the son of Heather James and Michael Heger. He was baptized at the 8:15 worship service.
SPECIAL OFFERING FOR SCHOOL KITS
The Mission and Outreach Committee voted to send school kits to UMCOR for distribution to those in need around the world (including refugees). That’s the cause to which today’s special offering is going. We’ll also collect supplies for local students later this summer.
RICK SAYLOR TO PREACH
Rev. Rick Saylor will be filling the pulpit for Jenny and John on May 19, 2019. Jenny and John will be out of town.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Abilene First UMC will again provide camp scholarships to all children and youth of the church attending a United Methodist Camp in 2019. As has been the practice in the past, the church will pay one-half of the camp registration fees. For reimbursement; you can bring proof of camp registration in to the church office or simply email: office@abilenefirstumc.org. You can learn more about the United Methodist Camps from brochures available in the narthex or by visiting http://www.greatplainsumc.org/camps.
SAVE THE DATE
Vacation Bible School will be held June 24-27, 2019 (Monday through Thursday) here at First United Methodist Church. This year’s theme is “To Mars and Beyond.” Kids from Pre-K to 5th grade are welcome to attend from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
CONFLICT CAN BE GOOD by John Collins
Many of you joined me in using the Lenten Devotional book titled Get Over Yourself, God’s Here by Kate Moorhead. One of the passages I most needed to read was the one in which she was commenting on Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and wrote: “Conflict can be holy. Conflict is not bad; it is an agent of change.”
NURSERY
A nursery is provided for children during each service. It is located in Room 205 near the south entrance to the church. If you need assistance locating the nursery, our ushers and greeters will be happy to direct you.
WE’RE ON THE RADIO AND STREAMING ONLINE
If you can’t make it to church, but would like to listen to one of our services live, simply tune into KABI 1560 AM AT 10:30 a.m. If you have a computer but not an AM radio, you can stream the KABI broadcast live at http://www.kabithegeneral.com. To supplement this we’ve also added video (with audio) streaming at http://www.pscp.tv/AFUMC/follow.
EMAIL UPDATES
Jenny and John use a service called TinyLetter to send out blog posts by email every day or so. This way you can keep up with the blog simply by checking your email inbox. You can also reply with an email of your own and let us know what you think. You can sign up at tinyletter.com/jcollins11.
INTERESTED IN MEMBERSHIP?
Are you interested in joining the Abilene First United Methodist Church as a member and making a formal commitment to God, the church, and yourself? If so, please talk to one of the pastors in person or using the pastoral contact information found in the bulletin.
SEVEN STANZAS AT EASTER by John Collins
I really like John Updike’s poem, “Seven Stanzas at Easter,” because Updike does a great job of emphasizing the importance of the real and concrete nature of the resurrection. (Jesus’s body was the first example of incorruptible physicality—the stuff of the new creation.) Here’s the poem:
Make no mistake: if He rose at all
it was as His body;
if the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules
reknit, the amino acids rekindle,
the Church will fall.
It was not as the flowers,
each soft Spring recurrent;
it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled
eyes of the eleven apostles;
it was as His flesh: ours.
The same hinged thumbs and toes,
the same valved heart
that—pierced—died, withered, paused, and then
regathered out of enduring Might
new strength to enclose.
Let us not mock God with metaphor,
analogy, sidestepping, transcendence;
making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the
faded credulity of earlier ages:
let us walk through the door.
The stone is rolled back, not papier-mâché,
not a stone in a story,
but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow
grinding of time will eclipse for each of us
the wide light of day.
And if we will have an angel at the tomb,
make it a real angel,
weighty with Max Planck’s quanta, vivid with hair,
opaque in the dawn light, robed in real linen
spun on a definite loom.
Let us not seek to make it less monstrous,
for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are
embarrassed by the miracle,
and crushed by remonstrance.
— John Updike, “Seven Stanzas at Easter.”
CHURCH CALENDAR
Online Calendar at https://abilenefirstumc.org/calendar/
WELCOME TO THIS WORSHIP SERVICE
Please note that bold type indicates congregational participation. An asterisk (*) indicates that you are invited to stand as you are able. “H” stands for The United Methodist Hymnal, “F” stands for The Faith We Sing, and “W” stands for Worship and Song.
OUR VISION
A church of open hearts, open minds, and open doors.
OUR MISSION
To make disciples of Jesus Christ.
CLOSING CREDITS
Angie Hoerner, Pianist
Chuck Brussow, Trumpeter
Braden Adams, Drums
Cora Vinduska and Mia Hoffman, Acolytes
Lisa Turnbull and Steve Schwarting, Liturgists
Ward Turnbull and Liz Collins, House Sound
Joy Clemence, Radio Sound
Brenna Riffel and Audrey Unruh, Slides
Clark Williamson, Director of Music Ministries
Wendy Robinson, Director of Children and Youth Ministries
Jennifer and John Collins, Co-Pastors
CONTACT INFORMATION
John and Jennifer Collins, Pastors
Phone: 785-263-2623
Email: john@revcollins.com and jenny@revcollins.com
Wendy Fielder, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 785-263-2623 — Email: office@abilenefirstumc.org
