Bulletins are posted on the day prior.

Sunday, April 19
APRIL 19, 2026 • 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Worship Service

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Gather around the Word

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PRELUDE

Concerto in B-flat Major
G . F . Handel
I Allegro
II Adagio
III Allegro

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INTROIT

Halle, Halle, Halle
traditional Caribbean Melody
Halle halle halle-lujah!

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*DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

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*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Let us gather together with glad and generous hearts.
All: For many signs and wonders are being done among us.
One: Let us devote ourselves to our prayers and to the gospel.
All: Let us worship God!

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*HYMN #12
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might: thy justice, like mountains high soaring above, thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small. In all life thou livest, the true life of all. We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light.

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.

All praise we would render; O help us to see ‘tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of hope, God of joy, God of life,
we come to you as a people hungry for good news.
We have been so dead to miracles
that we have missed the hope you have promised us.
We have preoccupied ourselves with small things while overlooking the true joy you offer. We have been so concerned with making a living that we miss the new life you have given to us.
Forgive us, gracious God.
Open our eyes and our minds to receive your promises, and open our hearts and hands to share them freely.
We pray this in the name of Christ, our risen Lord.

Amen.

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DECLARATION OF PARDON

One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

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*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them “peace” or “the peace of Christ,” and encourage those online to text or email someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

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PSALTER
Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19

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One: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

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*GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE LESSON
Luke 24: 13-35

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled togetherand saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

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SERMON
Camille Cook Howe

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RESPONDING TO THE WORD

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*HYMN #234
Come, You Faithful. Raise the Strain

Come, you faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!
God has brought forth Israel into joy from sadness, loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters; led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

‘Tis the spring of souls today: Christ has burst his prison, and from three days’ sleep in death as a sun has risen.

All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying from the Light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor, with the royal feast of feasts comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection!

Neither could the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal, nor the watchers, nor the seal hold you as a mortal: but today, among your own, you appear, bestowing your deep peace, which evermore passes human knowing.

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*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed Interpreted (PCUSA)

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.

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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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.

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CALL TO OFFERING

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OFFERTORY ANTHEM

Alleluia          
Randall Thompson

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*OFFERTORY RESPONSE
Hymn #239 Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing

Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Prayer of Dedication

Generous God, you are our portion and our cup.
In you our hearts are glad, our souls rejoice, and our bodies rest.
Bless and multiply our offerings and pledges that they may bring the joy of your presence more deeply into the world. Amen.

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BEARING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

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*HYMN #256
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To him shall endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown his head; his name, like sweet perfume, shall rise with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessing on his name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns: the prisoners leap to loose their chains: the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King; angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen!

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*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

Amen
P.C. Lutkin

Go now in peace, and may God’s peace go with you.
Believe, and trust God’s holy word. Amen.

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POSTLUDE

Festival Toccata         
Percy Fletcher

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