Middlebury United Methodist Church
Sue Leggett, Greeter
Neal Fisher, Liturgist
John-Eric Colley Robinson, Praise Song
Dr. Kevin Parizo, Organist
Rev. Myungso Lee, Pastor
middumc@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday
Please click here to join Zoom Worship on Sunday.
Audio/Video Settings in a Zoom Meeting:
1. Join Audio
Join by Computer Audio: To use the computer microphone (if applicable) and speakers click on "Computer Audio" and then "Join Audio Conference by Computer".
Join by Phone: To use your phone click on "Phone Call" and then dial the number listed.
In the phone call you will be prompted to enter the "Meeting ID" and "Participant ID".
2. Mute/Unmute Microphone
To turn your microphone on/off, click on the microphone icon in the bottom left of your screen.
or
3. Start/Stop Video
To turn your camera on/off, click on the camera icon in the bottom left of your screen.
or
Gathering of the Community
Welcome and Announcements
You may find announcements on the last page of this bulletin.
Celebration
If there is something in your life that you feel grateful for, please share the news and make an offering to the Celebration Fund, to help people in our community who are in need.
Praise Song Up from the Grave He Arose UMH #322
1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose,
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior;
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
Call to Worship
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!
Glory and honor, dominion and power, be to God for ever and ever.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Opening Prayer
Holy and Living God, like a tomb’s darkness that gives way to light, open us this day to newness of life; open us to your love, to your acceptance, to your forgiveness, to your peace; open us to one another, and to the possibilities you have in store for us. Give us hope for the future and a passion for life here and now. We pray in the name of the One who destroyed death, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Opening Hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today UMH #302 (vs. 1-4)
1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2. 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!
3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
4. 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!
Prayers of the People
This is my prayer.
This is our prayer.
Prayer of Confession
We have to admit it, Lord, that we had our doubts. We have heard the Resurrection story and for so many years it has remained just a nice story. But this time it is different. This time we have walked the path with Christ. We have journeyed through the wilderness and valleys, to the mountaintops to the courtyard, the garden and the cross. Now you bring us to the empty tomb and to the joyous news of the truth of Christ. Forgive us when we so easily doubt the truth of his resurrection. Forgive us when we feel we have to have absolute proof of everything. Your love in Jesus Christ is all the proof we need. You conquered death and sin, you brought us to new life. We praise your holy name and sing our unending song of hope and thanksgiving. Christ the Lord is risen today. Alleluia. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Come into the light of God’s love! Christ is risen! Death has been swallowed up in victory! Know beyond all doubt that God’s love is always with you, surrounding you, leading you, comforting you. Be at peace. Amen.
Passing the Peace of Christ
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love of Jesus with the word “Peace be with You!”
Response of Faith
Scripture Reading 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. 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.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb, 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. 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.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’ ” 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.
All: Thanks be to God!
Message
Hymns of Response Crown Him with Many Crowns UMH #327
1. Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him
as thy matchless King through all eternity.
2. Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
3. Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
4. Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;
thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
The Lord’s Table
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.
God of glory, the rising sun praises you; the light of day proclaims your goodness. You create light out of darkness, and you create your people out of the dust of the dearth. You bring slaves out of Egypt to freedom, and you bring Christ out of death to life. Wonder of wonder, you raise us with Christ! You bring new life to us, miraculous and beautiful. And we are made into the Body of your Risen Christ. Therefore as risen people we sing your praise with all Creation:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are all who come in your name and blessed is Jesus, your Christ. He brought healing where there was brokenness, love where there was fear, and life where there was death. He shone with your light, light that the darkness could not overcome. He was crucified, but the life in him was eternal and could not be taken; you have raised him from the dead.
On the night in which he gave himself for us Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood, poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant, which is the forgiveness of sin.” As long as we break this bread and share this cup we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as 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.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup, that they may be for us the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, that we may be the Body of Christ, crucified and risen with Christ, made new for new lives, by the eternal power of your love. God, may your will be done on earth now by all your church, the Body of Christ. Praise to you, Mother, Son and Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.
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.
Partaking of the Elements
Prayer after Communion
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have fed us with the body of the risen Christ, the bread of life, life that is eternal, and deeply beautiful. By the grace of these gifts, may the power of resurrection be within us. Send us out into the world, unafraid, to give of ourselves; to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you, in the name and the Spirit of the risen Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Offering Our Gifts and Tithes
Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Radiant God, whose love endures forever, we gather today in the light of resurrection hope, offering these gifts as a response to the abundant grace we have received. In this period of spiritual renewal, may our giving reflect the joy of the empty tomb and the promise of life everlasting. Transform our offerings into acts of love that bring light to the world, just as Christ’s light dawned in our hearts. We dedicate these gifts to your service, trusting that, in your hands, they will bring forth new life. Amen.
Into the World
Sending Hymn He Lives UMH #310
1. I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living, whatever foes may say.
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer;
and just the time I need him, he’s always near.
[Refrain]
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.
2. In all the world around me I see his loving care,
and though my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that he is leading through all the stormy blast;
the day of his appearing will come at last. [Refrain]
3. Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find;
none other is so loving, so good and kind. [Refrain]
Benediction
Postlude
Our worship is over. Our service begins.
We are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
+ Happy Easter! Thank you for bringing beautiful flowers to celebrate Easter together at church. May we all rejoice in the good news of the Risen Christ, surrounded by their beauty. Please take your flowers home after the service and continue celebrating the joy of the Resurrection throughout the Eastertide!
+ Next Sunday, we welcome guest preacher Marsha Hoffman, who will deliver the sermon. Pastor Myungso will be away for the week.
+ The Craft Group meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 10 AM in the fellowship hall.
+ Please leave your non-perishable food donations for the community in the box at the narthex.
+ We ask for your continued prayers for healing, comfort, peace, and strength for our families, friends, and neighbors. Please keep Ann and Len R., George & Margaret K., Lydia J., Joyce M., and Shirley W. in your thoughts and prayers.
+ Prayers for peace, healing, and unity in our nation.
+ Prayers for protection, reconciliation, and peace in places suffering from war, such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and neighboring countries.
+ If you would like to share your prayer requests, please send your requests to middumc@gmail.com.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, Prayer of Confession, and Words of Assurance from Ministry Matters; Prayer of Thanksgiving from Discipleship Ministries; The Lord’s Table from Unfolding Light; Music Clearance: CCLI License # 11232251