We return to the evening of the resurrection day, and Jesus is with his disciples, and he is… hungry! Joy, and disbelief, and wonder abound.

Join us on this day when we both return to our Sanctuary for worship as a community, and we also begin streaming our worship services live on Sunday mornings.

In an abundance of care for one another, we will require pre-registration for worship, masks covering the nose and mouth for those over the age of 2, and social distancing for all who wish to attend. It is a day of unbelievable joy for us as a congregation. We look forward to seeing you!

Worship Bulletin is below….

Third Sunday in the Easter Season

Union Presbyterian Church

April 18, 2021

God’s Story and Our Story: Unbelievable Joy

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Rev. Jeff Kellam               Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude                                                                             Heather Ingraham, Organ

Announcements                                                                                Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude                                                                             Heather Ingraham, Organ

Welcome                                                                                            Rev. Pat Raube

Invocation                                                                                         Rev. Jeff Kellam

Lord of life, by walking through the valley of the shadow of death, you conquered the grave. By being lifted on a cross, you draw all peoples to you. By being raised from the dead, you restore to humanity an everlasting hope in God’s reign of justice and love. Throughout these fifty days of Easter we proclaim the marvelous mystery of death and resurrection, that your love may be poured out into the world. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Hymn  # 299 W & R            “That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright”

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave,  you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Heal our hearts and lives, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen. 

Assurance of God’s Grace

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. May the God of love, who heals our wounds and binds up the brokenhearted, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in grateful and abundant life. Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

Scripture           1 John 3:1-2

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

Children’s Message Prayer                                                              Rev. Pat Raube

Dear God, Thank you for all kinds of families.  Thank you for families who show us that love is love. Thank you for your family, the church. Thank you for calling us your children. Thank you for lavishing us with love. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture           Luke 24:36b-48

Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. 

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Response          Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

                                    Thanks be to God!

Meditation                 “Joy, and Disbelief, and Wonder”            Rev. Pat Raube  

Anthem            

Prayers of the People

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer Response # 311 W & R “Now the Green Blade Rises,” Verse 4

Call for Offering

Doxology

Time of Self-Offering/ Prayer of Dedication

Hymn # 292 W & R             “Because You Live, O Christ”

Benediction     

May the one who greeted his disciples breathing peace, fill us with peace. 

May he send us out into this beautiful and broken world,

also breathing, working for, and creating peace.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the sweet communion of the Holy spirit be with each and with all of us, this day, and forever more. Christ is risen! Peace be with you. Thanks be to God. 

Amen.

Postlude