Our passages take us to a time before the crucifixion, when some religious leaders are focused on their suspicions of eternal life, while Jesus is focused on the love of God.

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Easter 4: Resurrection Issues

Psalm 119:97-103; Matthew 22:23-33

April 26, 2026 

Union Presbyterian Church 

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

Liturgist: Joan Kellam Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Prelude Chris Bartlette

Welcome

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! ~Psalm 118:24

Announcements          Joan Kellam

Prelude Chris Bartlette
“When Morning Gilds the Skies,” J.B. Taylor

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship

O God who created the heavens and stretched them out,

we praise you!

You made the earth and all that lives here:

we praise you!

You give breath to all creatures and your spirit to your people:

we praise and thank you, O God!

That the eyes of the blind be opened,

the poor hear the good news,

the captives be brought out of darkness,

the wealth of the world serve the good of all,

your Kingdom come, O God;

Your will be done!

Then let us sing God a new song.

With joy let us honor our Maker.

* Hymn # 244

“This Joyful Eastertide”

(Public Domain)

This joyful Eastertide,
Away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the Crucified,
Has sprung to life this morrow.
Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain.
But now has Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest
And for a season slumber
Till trump from east to west
Shall wake the dead in number.

Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain.
But now has Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen.

Death's flood has lost its chill
Since Jesus crossed the river.
Lover of souls, from ill
My passing soul deliver.

Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain.
But now has Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen.

* Call to New Life

Let us open our hearts to the hope of healing, not only of our own hearts and lives, but of the whole world.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

Over time, over space, over matter, over thought,

you are our God, in all and through all.

The noises of war are loud in your ears,

as is the cry of a newborn child.

You share the excitement of those pioneering research

as well as the last breaths of those nearing death.

And in Christ, all the pain and potential in the world

are held together in the hope of healing.

Be present to us here, gracious God,

and let your Spirit open us to glimpse that fairer world

which you intend for us and for all people. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Hear and believe these words of Jesus:

Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace. Come and follow me.

Glory to the Creator who gives us life.

Glory to Jesus whose love remakes us.

Glory to the Spirit, companion on our journey.

Glory be to God. Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share with one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Psalm 119:97-103

How I love your teaching!

All day it is my meditation.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is always with me.

I have more understanding than all my instructors,

for your decrees are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

for I observe your precepts.

I restrain my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

From your decrees I do not turn away,

for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “I Long for Your Commandments” (Hymn #64)

(Public Domain)

Anthem Choir

“When in Our Music God is Glorified,” Harriet Ziegenhals

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

When in our music God is glorified,

And adoration leaves no room for pride,

It is as though the whole creation cried: Alleluia!

How often, making music, we have found

A new dimension in the world of sound,

As worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!

So has the Church in liturgy and song,

In faith and love, through centuries of wrong,

Borne witness to the truth in every tongue, Alleluia!

And did not Jesus sing a Psalm that night

When utmost evil strove against the Light?

Then let us sing, for whom He won the fight: Alleluia!

Let every instrument be tuned for praise!

Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!

And may God give us faith to sing always: Alleluia!

Scripture Matthew 22:23-33

The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother shall marry the woman, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and without having offspring, leaving the woman to his brother. The same for the second, and the third, to the seventh. After everything the woman died. In the resurrection, then, for which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.” Jesus answered them, “You all are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, rather they are like angels in heaven. And about the resurrection of the dead, have you all not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is God not of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “Resurrection Issues”

Affirmation of Faith Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things…

and the God of peace will be with you.

[Wireless Mic for Chris ]

* Hymn # 70

“What Does the Lord Require of You?”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

What does the Lord require of you?

Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.

To seek justice and love kindness

And walk humbly with your God.

Prayers of the People 

Creator of this world and all its people,

we are glad that all things are held in your hands.

You have not left us alone.

And we celebrate the work of your Spirit

encouraging people the world over

to work for justice and peace,

to speak for the voiceless,

and always to anticipate that the best is yet to come.

Blessed be your name.

If, however,

we have driven a wedge between piety and peacemaking,

erected a wall between prayer and politics,

associated the purposes of heaven with the violent desecrations of earth,

God of justice,

show yourself.

If we have offered to false gods

the devotion you alone deserve;

if we have dismissed the Gospel as irrelevant to the world,

God of justice,

show yourself.

If we have dumbed down your Word

and domesticated your Spirit

because we wanted an easier faith and a tamer dove,

God of justice,

show yourself.

Wherever in our nations

the poor are endangered,

the sick are neglected,

prisoners are refused redemption,

and strangers among us are suspected,

God of justice,

show yourself.

Wherever in our world

the lust for profit undermines the longing for peace;

or the greed for power overrides the need for fairness,

God of justice,

show yourself.

In the prison visitor and the mediator,

in vigils for peace and protests to protect the earth;

to all who fear for the future of children,

to those who long for a different day,

God of justice,

show yourself.

Collect

We pray in Jesus name, and in the words he taught us,

The Lord’s Prayer  (Unison) 

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 # 587

“Alleluia!” Fintan O’Carroll, Christopher Walker

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 606

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

(Public Domain)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

Praise God, all creatures here below:

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 246

“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.

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.

Women and men, in age and youth,
Can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
And find the way, the life, the truth,
Revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

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

“Doxology,” Mark Hayes

Used by permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.     

The Call to Worship, the Prayer for Wholeness and Peace, the Words of Assurance, and the Prayers of the People are all taken and/or adapted from the Iona Abbey Worship Book, The Iona Community, Scotland.

Scripture Translations are from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise noted.

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Easter 4: Resurrection Issues