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April 9, 2023 | Resurrection of the Lord

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Events and Announcements

Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week.

Preludes

• “EASTER HYMN (Meditation),” Arr. Michael Bedford
  This is an uncharacteristically meditative setting of EASTER HYMN by Michael Bedford. But perhaps it captures the wonder, awe, and quiet joy of Mary when she encountered the resurrected and risen Lord that Easter morning.
• “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain,” Arthur Sullivan, arr. Paul Davis
• “This Joyful Eastertide,” Arr. Charles Evans
• “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” Arr. Calvin Hampton
  You might need to listen carefully to this exuberant arrangement of Jesus Christ is Risen Today by Calvin Hampton to catch the hymn tune. The tune is presented in fragments throughout the prelude, culminating with a big statement at the conclusion.

Call to Worship

Beloved church,
behold the victory of our God:
Jesus, our Lord, has conquered the grave.

Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed!

Sin and death shall reign no more.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Let this space resound with joy.
Christ is risen!

Come, let us worship God!

Processional Hymn #232, “JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY”

1 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

2 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!

3 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!

4 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!

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession (together)

Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been raised from the waters of baptism to share in your glorious resurrection.

We have not lived as Easter people. We are unsure of your promise, confused about your will for our lives, often afraid in the face of danger, and reluctant to trust the good news as good.

Keep our minds on your reconciling love. Whenever we are overwhelmed by the power of evil, reveal again to us your triumph over the destructive power of oppression.

Forgive us our sin and let our lives be a testimony to your grace. Fill us again with the joy of your salvation.

Silent Prayers

Assurance of Pardon

Listen, church:
God who raised Jesus from the dead has not given us over to death.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

Response of Praise: Hymn 582, “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

1 Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

2 World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Life in Community

Thank you for joining us for worship! Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week. If you’re joining us for the first time or would like to learn more about Catonsville Presbyterian, you’re welcome to share your email with us. We’ll send some information that will help you get connected.

Children’s Message

Anthem: “Christ Is Alive,” Hal Hopson

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.

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn #233: “The Day of Resurrection”

1 The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad,
the Passover of gladness,
the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from sin’s dominion free,
our Christ has brought us over
with hymns of victory.

2 Let hearts be purged of evil
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light,
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and hearing,
may raise the victor strain.

3 Now let the heavens be joyful;
let earth its song begin;
the round world keep high triumph
and all that is therein.
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes of gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord has risen,
our joy that has no end.

Sermon: “Seeing is Believing”

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Call to Offering

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Offertory: “GOd’s Right Hand and holy Arm,” Arr. K. Lee Scott

God’s right hand and holy arm have won the victory.

Christ being raised from the dead shall die no more.
Death has no power over Him; He lives to God.
God’s right hand and holy arm have won the victory.

Why seek the living now among the dead?
Recall His promise unto you; He lives again.
God’s right hand and holy arm have won the victory.

Gone is death’s victory, gone is death’s sting,
God gives to us the victory through Christ our Lord.
God’s right hand and holy arm have won the victory.

Christ being raised from the dead shall die no more.
Death has no power over Him; He lives to God.
God’s right hand and holy arm have won the victory.

Doxology #607, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Almighty God, by your grace, accept the fruit of our labor
and the offering of our lives in union with our risen Lord
who lives and reigns with you forever. Amen.

Hymn #505: “The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing”

1 The trumpets sound; the angels sing;
the feast is ready to begin.
The gates of heaven are open wide,
and Jesus welcomes you inside.

Refrain:
Sing with thankfulness
songs of pure delight.
Come and revel in
heaven’s love and light.
Take your place at the
table of the King.
The feast is ready to begin;
the feast is ready to begin.

2 Tables are laden with good things;
O taste the peace and joy he brings.
He’ll fill you up with love divine;
he’ll turn your water into wine. (Refrain)

3 The hungry heart he satisfies,
offers the poor his paradise.
Now hear all heaven and earth applaud
the amazing goodness of the Lord. (Refrain)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation to the Table

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy God, Holy One, Holy Three!
Creator of the cosmos,
Breath of heaven,
Lover of us all, you are our praise, our life, our joy.

You are there through desert wanderings and willful murmurings,
rebellious running and tears of complaint.

You are there when sorrow becomes our daily food;
you rescue us from ruin, anoint us with blessing, and make us whole.

You are the song our souls love to sing:

Rising sun,
Soaring Spirit,
Radiant Lord,
you are there in stable and temple,
river and hillside, cross and tomb and even beyond the grave.

You are there in shining glory,
overcoming death and welcoming us to life.
You meet us in the breaking of bread,
you pour out the wine of salvation;
you feed us with grace and overwhelm us with love.

By your Spirit, make these gifts your body and blood.
By your Spirit, make us one with you and with each other.
By your Spirit, make us strong that we might share
your love with your blessed and broken world.

Fount of mercy, source of justice,
dearest Friend,
bind us to you and send us out to seek and serve and sing your praise
until you gather us up in glory and bright unending song.

And hear us as we offer the ancient prayer that remains ever-new:

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.

Words of Institution

Sharing the Meal

The Lord’s Table is open to everyone. Jesus invites us to come in our faith and in our doubt to share in this joyful feast of the kingdom of God. Communion will be shared by intinction. Please approach the table down the center aisle and return to your seat by way of the side aisles.

Prayer of Gratitude

Hymn #238: “Thine Is the Glory”

1 Thine is the glory,
risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory
thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment
rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes
where thy body lay.

Refrain:
Thine is the glory,
risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory
thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us,
risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us,
scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness
hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth;
death hath lost its sting. (Refrain)

3 No more we doubt thee,
glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without thee;
aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors
through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan
to thy home above. (Refrain)

Benediction (Responsive)

Receive the good news: Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia!

Tell the good news: the power of death has been defeated.
Alleluia!

Live the good news: we are free to love as he has loved us.
Alleluia!

For Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!

May the Triune God—
Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end—
send you out to love the world.
May it be so!

Postlude

Fugue on the theme of the Soissons Cathedral Carillon, op. 12, Maurice Duruflé

Today’s postlude is a fugue on the theme of the Soissons Cathedral Carillon. The Soissons cathedral, located in northern France, is one of France’s most ancient towns. Composer Maurice Duruflé wrote this piece after hearing the carillon bells at the cathedral. In a fugue, the tune (or subject) begins in one voice and is continued in subsequent voices. You will hear the carillon tune repeated in the soprano, alto, tenor and even in the deep notes of the pedal. The joyful ringing of the carillon bells and the inexorable surge in dynamics make this an ideal Easter postlude. 

Participants

• Dorothy Boulton, Associate Pastor
• Keith and Kathy Glennan, Ruling Elders, video production
• Wendy Johnston, Organist and Assistant Director of Music
• Greg Knauf, Director of Music
• Kenneth E. Kovacs, Pastor
• Melissa Lambdin, Communion server,
• Vickie Lord, social media support
• Dottie Marshall, Ruling Elder, sanctuary set up
• Peercy family, ushers
• Cynthia Schwanz, Communion server

Brass Quartet

• Matt Pisarcik, trumpet
• Davide Nekula, trumpet
• Daniel Sperlein, trombone
• Chris Greco, trombone

Sources

• Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).
• Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071