Scripture lessons for April 12

We move into the Season of Easter with scripture lessons from 1 Peter 1:3-9 and John 20:19-31.

Easter Sunday at Glenville UMC

Welcome to Glenville UMC!

Easter joy on display!

Kraig S. is today's reader

Pastor Charles shares the sermon

Gloria's birthday week

Roy B. made a new plaque for Easter!

Joys:

+Praise God for our ability to safely worship together on this Easter morning.

+Praise God for the missing pilot that was found safe in Iran.

+Praise God for Gloria S.' birthday this week.

+Praise God for Rodger and Judy’s new additions to their family; their granddaughter had twin girls.

+Praise God for Addie’s gift of beautiful lilies and flowers to adorn the sanctuary.

+Praise God for planted flowers, plants beginning to show signs of growth, new life.

+Praise God for Mike D. and Rodger & Judy L. worshipping with us today.

+Praise God for the beautiful weather we are enjoying today.

+Praise God for the faithful service of our beloved pianist, Renae H., for Mike R. who served as usher, and for Kraig S. who served as today's Scripture reader.

Concerns:

+Praying for Nancy B.’s great niece Gen who is dealing with a medical challenge and for all who love and care for her.

+Praying for the Sharp’s dear friend Paul who is dealing with pneumonia.

+Praying for travelling mercies for Shelley G. and Sid T.

+Praying for Sarah S. who is facing a medical challenge

+Praying continues for Craig R., Judy C., Donna D., and Karnella S. who are dealing with medical challenges.

+Praying for all who are impacted directly and indirectly by conflict in the world.

+Praying for peace.

Bulletin for Easter Sunday

“O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s faithful love endures forever!”      – Psalm 118:1 (NRSV)

Call to Worship (written by Hippolytus, 190-236 A.D.)    

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate.                                                                Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen. 

Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing.                                                         Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty. 

Christ is Risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers,                                  Glory and power are His forever and ever.

Hymn: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," #302

Easter Confession (written by Greg Scheer)

Christ has risen, and we have risen to new life with Him. Yet we must confess the ways we have continued to remain in our tombs of sin and death. Living Lord, when we stand before the empty tomb, we don’t always feel the joy of resurrection. We feel fear, doubt, and distrust. We feel empty. Forgive the fear that paralyzes us at the brink of new life. Forgive our doubt of Your love. Forgive our distrust of Your surprising, joyous plan. Fill our emptiness with Your glorious light. Raise us to abundant new life for the glory of Your name. 

Words of Assurance: Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Sisters and brothers, Christ has forgiven our sins. Christ calls us to new life. Christ will lead us into righteousness! Amen!

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                               

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 28:1, 9-10 & Mark 16:1-2, 9

Hymn: “He Lives,” #310

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:8-10 & John 20:1-2, 17-18

Sermon: “The Apostle to the Apostles”

Hymn: “Up From the Grave He Arose,” #322 

And so, we wait

 

What are we celebrating this week?

“Good Friday is not the dark that must unconditionally give way to light. It is not hibernation that carries within itself the seeds of life. It is the day when the God-become-human, the Love-become-person, is killed by humans who want to become gods -- when the Holy One of God, i.e., God himself, dies, really dies–by his own will and yet by the sin of humankind—without a seed of life staying in him. 

Good Friday is not like winter –a state of transition, no, it really is the end. Not about immortality does Easter speak, but of resurrection, resurrection from the death that really is death with all its terrors and monstrosities, a death of body and SOUL, of the whole human being. And here only one thing alone can help—God’s act of power out of his eternity. Resurrection comes by God’s act of power alone. That’s the Easter message!”

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Where did Good Friday get its name?

Our name for the Friday before Easter, "Good Friday," is most likely related to the English and the Dutch, the only two languages that use this term, which etymologists say is likely an alteration of the Germanic word, "Goddes," meaning "God's" or "Holy." That term does not mean "good." The day is called Holy Friday in nearly all other languages in the world.  

A similar process happened with the English word "goodbye," which was formed over time as a contraction of "God be with ye." English speakers are no more saying that "it's good to see you go" when they say goodbye than they are calling the day of Christ's crucifixion good when they call it Good Friday. Holy, yes. Good? Not so much.    

Good Friday, or Holy Friday as most of the rest of the world calls it in their languages, proclaims God's purpose of loving and redeeming the world even in the face of human rejection and cruelty through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a day that is holy and makes us holy because God was drawing the world to God's self in Christ. 

This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

A blessed Holy Thursday

The fellowship was wonderful

Plenty to go around

Shelley G. reads from Mark 14

Pastor Charles & Joyce S. celebrate communion

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming

Our church family gathered on a rainy evening to break bread and to worship together as we recalled the institution of the Lord's Supper and hear the Passion Narrative in Mark's account of the gospel.

The scripture reading, Mark 14:1 - 15:47, was read in segments by Kraig S., Shelly G., Gloria S., Belinda A., Roy B., Sandy D., Korla S., Bob S., and Ed S.

Thanks also to Renea H. for offering the music tonight.