A Service for the Sunday After Easter April 24, 2022
Prelude Instrumental “How Great is our God” by Chris Tomlin
performed by Mahe Vakauta, Harris UMC
Greeting & Welcome Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
Call to Worship The Rev. John Farley, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership
On this day and in days to come may we remember that there are times when God restates the joyful resurrection proclamation.
Abilities faded and forgotten are channeled toward new creativity-that’s resurrection.
Friendships once killed by frosty misunderstanding bloom again in warm reconciliation-that’s resurrection.
Hopes glimmering and gone are rekindled by expressions of caring-that’s resurrection.
Faith, dulled by lack of exercise, dances again to God’s everyday rhythms-that’s resurrection.
We worship the God whose resurrecting power lives on as does the Christ we serve! Let us worship together, wherever we are.
Special Music “House of the Lord” by Phil Wickham
Valencia UMC 10:30 Worship Band led by Christine Mocha
Old Testament Reading (in Spanish) Psalm 118:14-29
Ana-Haydeé Urda, Conference Hispanic Committee Chair
The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has punished me severely but did not give me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! We beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extoll you. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (NRSV)
Affirmation of Faith "Apostles' Creed, Ecumenical Version" (UMH 882, adapted)
Rev. Won-Seok Yuh, Harris UMC
Hawaii
Special Music “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”
Text: Psalm 23, paraphrased by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Music: American folk hymn, from Southern Harmony, 1835 performed by Laila Soakai (Youth) and Erick Ramirez (Music Director), Chris Preiksaitis (Piano), First UMC of Ontario
Prayer of Confession and Lord’s Prayer
Kimmie Stradling, Conference Young Adult Council & Camping staff
O God, we confess our lack of faith. Although we have called you the God of hope, we often feel lost, different kinds of crosses, in so many different places, that we wonder if there can ever be enough resurrections. We are reluctant to leave the tomb of our own ignorance and fear to claim the promise. We confess that our weaknesses and insensitivities stand in the way of new life in our world. We know that the world is full of suffering. Our brothers and sisters are nailed to crosses of war, pandemic, poverty and injustice. People close enough to touch are sealed in tombs of loneliness and despair. But we have failed to halt the crucifixion, to roll away the stone.
Moment of Silence
Words of Assurance
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The Gospel Lesson John 20:19-31
Rev. Sandra Olewine, South District
Superintendent
Message “Believing Is Seeing” Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter
Professor of Religious Studies, University of San Diego
and Associate Pastor, Westwood UMC
Special Music “He Has Made Me Glad” Gospel medley
performed by Exodus UMC San Diego Choir led by Dr. Christine Smith
Benediction and Sending Forth Bishop Grant J. Hagiya
Postlude “Fanfare” by John Cooke
performed by Ty Woodward, Santa Monica First UMC Organist