SUNDAY SERVICE OF CELEBRATION

APRIL 19, 2020 • 10 A.M.

ONLINE AT YOUTUBE

Our Mission:

to be a visible and prophetic presence in the church and in the world,

to steadfastly proclaim the radically inclusive love of God,

to be open to, and celebrate differences; to honor thinking for oneself,

to faithfully work for the inclusion of, and justice for all people, regardless of

age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, race or national

origin, or any particular element of a person’s total humanity, and for all of

God’s creation.

Worship Team

The Rev. Elena Larssen, Senior Minister Curtis Heard, Music Director, Piano Dr. Marc Dickey, Organ Carlos Carlos, Cantor Sanctuary Quartet: Megan O’Toole, soprano; Lisa Bode Heard, alto; Carlos Carlos, tenor; George Carson, bass Jerry Mitchell, Liturgist David MacEwan, Audio Tech Adreana Langston, Video Tech

Please join in where words are shown in bold type. Greetings and Sound of the Singing Bowl Prelude: Christ Hath Burst His Prison! (Fantasy on St. Kevin) by Gilbert Martin Dr. Marc Dickey

Call to Celebration and Prayer of Invocation - The Rev. Elena Larssen We demand to see the truth, the facts, the plain unassailable, undebatable, provable, measurable and ready to go. We want to be set free, we want to know what lies ahead, we want to plan. Doubting Thomas wanted proof that Jesus had risen, and proof he received. Lucky Thomas. But what if he had to live with doubt? All: Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. Amen. Hymn: This Easter Celebration, vv. 1 & 2 – Carlos Carlos, cantor; Dr. Dickey, organist

Welcome – Rev. Larssen Passing of the Peace – Chat function on YouTube livestream Children’s Time with Repeat-After-Me Prayers – Rev. Larssen Welcome Song – Carlos Carlos, cantor

Contemporary Reading “Doubt shall not make an end of you”

By Brian Patten Read by Jerry Mitchell

Doubt shall not make an end of you nor closing eyes lose your shape when the retina's light fades; what dawns inside me will light you. In our public lives we may confine ourselves to darkness, our nowhere mouths explain away our dreams, but alone we are incorruptible creatures, our light sunk too deep to be of any social use we wander free and perfect without moving or love on hard carpets where couples revolving round the room end found at its centre. Our love like a whale from its deepest ocean rises - I offer this and a multitude of images from party rooms to oceans, the single star and all its reflections; being completed we include all and nothing wishes to escape us. Beneath my hand your hardening breast agrees to sing of its own nature, then from a place without names our origin comes shivering. Feel nothing separate then, we have translated each other into light and into love go streaming.

Scripture: John 20:19-31 – Jerry Mitchell

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw him, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Ancestor sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Teacher!”

But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Teacher and my God!” Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

Special Music: Silent Noon, words by D. G. Rosetti, music by R. Vaughan Williams – Carlos Carlos, tenor Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: Your eyes smile peace. The pasture gleams and glooms ‘Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass. All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge. ‘Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass. Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:— So this wing’d hour is dropt to us from above. Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, This close-companioned inarticulate hour When twofold silence was the song of love.

Service of Prayer Joy and Concerns from the Community

To submit joys and concerns to the Prayer List, email the church office or Rev. Larssen.

Sound of the Tingsha cymbals The sounds of the cymbals call us to a time of silence and meditation.

A Moment of Silence Pastoral Prayer – Rev. Larssen Our Common Prayer

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the people of the earth! With the bread we need today, feed us. For the hurts we inflict on one another, forgive us. In the time of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For your reign is in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

Offering The Invitation Rev. Larssen Offertory: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, from Messiah, by George Frederick Handel, arr. Alphenaar – Dr. Dickey

We thank you for your generosity during these unusual times. Please make your gift online or mail a check to:

First Congregational Church 241 Cedar Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90802 Or give online at http://bit.ly/2BT1B4P

Doxology: Old Hundredth (Hymn No. 7) – Megan O’Toole, cantor

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God with all the hosts above; Praise God in wonder, joy and love.

Prayer of Thanksgiving - Rev. Larssen Sermon “So That You May Believe” Rev. Larssen

Hymn #249, vv. 1 & 2: Peace I Leave with You, My Friends Carlos Carlos, cantor Dr. Dickey, organist

Refrain:

Peace I leave with you, my friends, shalom, my peace, in all you do Peace I leave with you, my friends. I give to you so you can give to others, too.

To share God’s love is why I came, To show God’s kindness without end. Go now, my friends, and do the same, until I come again. Refrain Take my hand and be at peace; The spirit of our love I send, And with this love you will be free, until I come again. Refrain

Benediction - Rev. Larssen Benediction Response: God Be with You – Sanctuary Quartet God be with you till we meet again; By good counsel guide, uphold you, With a shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again God be with you till we meet again; Wings of shelter safely hide you, Daily manna still provide you; God be with you till we meet again. God be with you till we meet again; When life’s perils thick confound you, Put unfailing arms around you; God be with you till we meet again.

Postlude: Now Let the Vault of Heaven Resound (Lasst Uns Erfreun), Geistliche Kirchengesäng, arr. Johnson – Dr. Dickey

Please join us for Coffee Hour in the Choir Room via Zoom,

hosted by Curtis Heard Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96333556648?pwd=eXA4WFRENGIwZEgyUWdJd2huSVpwQT09

Meeting ID: 963 3355 6648 Password: 952946

Call in: 669-900-6833 or 346-248-7799

Subscribe to The Pilgrim, our weekly e-news, by contacting office@firstchurchlb.org.

Parish Joys

Ronda Holman reports that Taylor, the son of her friend and fellow C&M member KarenFay Ramos-Young, is out of ICU and recovering from Covid-19.

Parish Concerns

Please remember Frantina Acevedo; Kathy Young’s friend Larry; Kathy Young’s friend Janet upon the death of her husband; Julie Gholson’s sister and brother-in-law, Lizabeth and Michael Kaprielian; Cynthia Snell upon the death of her father; Karen Miller’s sister and brother-in-law, Susan & Lloyd Shipman; all those who struggle with addictions, and those who love them; Aida Porteneuve; and Micah Turner, deployed with the Army in the Middle East.

Get a Buddy through Congregational Care

During this unusual time, we are pairing people in a First Church Buddy system. If you would like to be a buddy and make a connection, please email the Congregational Care Committee: care@firstchurchlb.org.

Birthdays This Week

19 Claude Berry 20 Debra Buller, Jeff Ford 21 April Porteneuve 22 Dorianne Campbell-Graham, Kimel Conway 23 Melody O'Keefe, Dante Wilson 24 Christi Gomoljak, Jeff McFarland, Cynthia Snell

This Week at First Church All activities are on Zoom unless otherwise indicated.

Sunday, April 19 9 am Adult Education Koinonia Room Coffee Hour 10 am Service of Celebration of God’s Love – FCCLB YouTube Channel 11 am Choir Room Coffee Hour 11:30 am New Member Information Session 1:30 pm Drop-In Center - Patterson Hall 2 pm Youth Group

Monday, April 20 3 pm Board of Stewardship & Finance Meeting 7 pm Monday Night Live

Tuesday, April 21 6 pm Family Yoga with Cynthia 7 pm Urban Community Outreach Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 22 7 pm Sacred Practices Personnel Committee

Thursday, April 23 10 am Family Trivia with Claire 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Gathering

Saturday, April 25 6:30 pm Women’s Retreat

Sunday, April 26 9 am Adult Education Koinonia Room Coffee Hour 10 am Service of Celebration of God’s Love – FCCLB YouTube Channel 11 am Choir Room Coffee Hour 11:30 am Environmental Justice Forum Women’s Group 1:30 pm Drop-In Center - Patterson Hall 2 pm Youth Group

The Church Staff is primarily working from home. The Church Campus at 241 Cedar has a staff person onsite

from the Maintenance Department in the mornings, M-F, 9-12.

Rev. Larssen is available for phone counseling by appointment.