Easter Sunday: "Called By Name"

Sunday, April 9, 2023
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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The celebration of Easter—for Christians, our remembrance of God’s raising Jesus from the dead—is the most important celebration of the church year. In the raising of Jesus God declares the divine power over sin and death. Christ is alive!

Please join us in our beautiful sanctuary to mark this great day—or from home or the road, if you are not able to join us in person. With words and music, with joy and wonder, we give thanks for God’s overwhelming love. You are invited!

Easter Sunday: “Called By Name”

Psalm 118:1-2; 14-24; John 20:1-18

April 9, 2023  

Union Presbyterian Church  

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

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

Prelude       Choir   

“Easter Song,” Anne Herring, John F. Wilson

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

(sung two times)

Hear the bells ringing,

They’re singing that we can be born again.

Hear the bells ringing,

They’re singing, “Christ is risen from the dead!”

The angel up on the tombstone said,

“He is risen just as He said.”

Quickly now, go tell His disciples that

Jesus Christ is no longer dead!

Joy to the world,

He is risen, Alleluia!

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship    Rev. Jeff Kellam

The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes,
leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.

Alleluia! The Lord is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Alleluia! The Lord is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Alleluia! The Lord is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Hymn #123 PH

“Jesus Christ is Risen Today”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as God's love; Alleluia!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Easter Prayer (unison)  

Brightness of God’s glory and exact image of God’s person, whom death could not conquer nor the tomb imprison: as you have shared our frailty in human flesh, help us to share your immortality in the Spirit. Let no shadow of the grave terrify us, and no fear of darkness turn our hearts from you. Reveal yourself to us this day and all our days, as the first and the last, the Living One, our immortal Savior and Lord. Amen.

Words of Assurance  

Hear the good news of God’s promise:

I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.

Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are made whole.

Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Sharing of the Peace 

The voice of our beloved calls us by our name,

inviting us to know perfect peace.

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you. 

Let us offer one another a sign of peace. 

Scripture Reading Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good; 
     God’s mercy endures forever! 

Let Israel now declare, 
     “God’s mercy endures forever!” 

The Lord is my strength and my song,

and has become my salvation.

Shouts of rejoicing and salvation

echo in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!”

The right hand of the Lord is exalted!

The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!”

I shall not die, but live,

and declare the words of the Lord.

The Lord indeed punished me sorely,

but did not hand me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness, 
     I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. 

This is the gate of the Lord; 
     here the righteous may enter. 

I give thanks to you, for you have answered me 
     and you have become my salvation. 
The stone that the builders rejected 
     has become the chief cornerstone. 
By the Lord’s has this been done; 
     it is marvelous in our eyes. 
This is the day that the Lord has made; 
     let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube 

Music: “This Is the Day,” Les Garrett

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

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.

All: We do not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.  

Thanks be to God!  

Sermon “Called By Name”

Affirmation of Faith

1 Corinthians 15:1-6; Mark 16:1-9; Matthew 16:16; Revelation 22:13; Colossians 1:15

This is the good news

which we have received,

in which we stand,

and by which we are saved,

if we hold it fast:

that Christ died for our sins,

according to the scriptures,

that he was buried,

that he was raised on the third day,

and that he appeared,

first to the women,

then to Peter and to the Twelve,

and then to many faithful witnesses.

We believe that Jesus is the Christ,

the Son of the living God.

Jesus Christ is the first and the last,

the beginning and the end;

he is the firstborn of all creation. Amen.

Anthem Choir

“Sing an Easter Alleluia,” Mary McDonald

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Night had turned to day; the stone was rolled away.

Yet Christ was not there; the tomb was bare;

His body was taken away!

Mary knelt and cried, when a stranger by her side

Said, “Mary, don’t weep, I no longer sleep.

My spirit will arise!”

Sing an Easter alleluia! The stone’s been rolled away!

Christ Jesus who died, was crucified,

Has risen this glorious day!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Alleluia! Sing alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Christ has overcome! The victory has been won!

The grave has lost its deathly sting

In Christ, the risen one.

Lift your voice and sing alleluia to the King!

All glory and praise to Jesus we raise;

Forever his praise we sing!

Sing an Easter alleluia! The stone’s been rolled away!

Christ Jesus who died, was crucified,

Has risen this glorious day!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Alleluia! Sing alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Alleluia! Sing alleluia! Sing an Easter alleluia!

Sing alleluia!

Prayers of the People 

We offer our prayers through Christ, who is risen from the dead, who lives and reigns forever, and prays for us in heaven.

Through Christ, we pray for the church…

Let us be people of joy, living witnesses

to the power of the resurrection

and the good news of your grace and peace.

Living God, Hear our prayer.

Through Christ, we pray for the earth…

From the dust of the damaged earth,

raise up your new creation,

full of beauty, wonder, and glory.

Living God, Hear our prayer.

Through Christ, we pray for all nations…

Let the message of your saving power

spread throughout the world:

that the dominion of death is no more.

Living God, Hear our prayer.

Through Christ, we pray for this community…

Let the doors of this church be opened wide

as we go forth in love and service

and others come in to find a home.

Living God, Hear our prayer.

Through Christ, we pray for loved ones…

Give hope to those who wait for good news.

Turn their mourning into dancing,

and their sorrow into joy.

Living God, Hear our prayer.

Holy God, creator of all,

the risen Christ taught from scripture

of his death, resurrection,

and ascension into your glorious presence.

May the living Lord breathe on us his peace,

that our eyes may be opened

to recognize him in breaking bread,

and to follow wherever he leads,

who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional Version) 

  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  #489 W & R

“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying,” Ken Medema

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to you children praying,

Send us love, send us power, send us grace.

Call for Offering 

In the spirit of the first believers, we are called to share our goods in common and contribute to the needs of the poor with glad and generous hearts. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.

*Doxology  

 “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” Brian Wren    

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;   

Praise God, all creatures high and low.   

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:   

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.     

Prayer of Dedication 

Almighty God, you who raised Jesus from the dead, we thank you for the blessings of this glorious day. We ask that you accept our offerings, made with humble hearts, and that you direct how they might be used to bring your hope and love to the world you love. We pray in the name of the Risen One. Amen.

Hymn #108 PH

“Christ is Alive,” Brian Wren

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
To distant years in Palestine,
But saving, healing, here and now,
And touching every place and time.

Not throned afar, remotely high,
Untouched, unmoved by human pains,
But daily, in the midst of life,
Our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

In every insult, rift and war,
Where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
And lives, where even hope has died.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring
Good news to this and every age,
Till earth and sky and ocean ring
With joy, with justice, love and praise.

Benediction

Postlude Chris Bartlette, Colin DeLap   

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” Joel Raney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.      

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.     

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal  