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Welcome to St. Peter's United Church of Christ!

As you join us for worship, we'd like to share with you a request and

some information. The request is that you please write your name and

address in the black pew pad and pass it toward the center aisle some

time before the Offertory. Make sure later arrivals get to sign, too! If you

are visiting with us, we also invite you to fill out one of the "Welcome"

fold-overs, found in the pew rack and drop it in the offering plate.

Thanks!

The information we want to share with you is:

Nursery: We have an attended Nursery year-round. An usher will be glad

to direct you to it or the usher will take you and your children there. It is

air-conditioned in the summer months.

Restrooms: Restrooms can be found by going through the doorway right

next to the pulpit, going up the stairs and down the hall at the top of the

stairs. Or you can go down the same staircase and turn right at the foot of

the stairs (they are near the coat racks you will pass).

Hearing Assist, Large Print & Children's Bulletins: We do have

infrared hearing devices available for your use during worship. Just ask an

usher for one and then please return it afterward. We also have large

print and children's bulletins available each Sunday; again, just ask an

usher.

Chair Lift: We have an electric chairlift in the eastern stairwell (this is

through the doorway by the pulpit). Someone from the church is there to

operate it before and after each service.

Contact Information: Our office phone number is (847) 673-8166

Our website is: www.stpeteruccskokie.org

Our email is: office@stpeteruccskokie.org

Our Pastor’s email is revlandford@aol.com

Additional information about St. Peter’s can be found in brochures in the

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St. Peter's United Church of Christ

Oakton Street and Laramie Avenue, Skokie, IL

www.stpeteruccskokie.org

847-673-8166

OUR ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR

April 12th, 2020 10:00 AM

Easter Sunday

WELCOME GUESTS!

* Indicates all who are able are invited to stand

PRELUDE: “Up From the Grave He Arose"

THE RINGING OF THE BELLS

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: Christ is risen!

Congregation: Christ is risen indeed!

P: Praise God, who brings life out of death and

hope out of despair.

C: Praise God, who has raised Jesus

Christ from the dead.

P: Praise God, who gathers up the fragments

left by human destruction and creates new

possibilities.

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C: Christ has risen!

P: Christ has risen indeed!

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*HYMN: “The Day of Resurrection” #165

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*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

If, at times we deny You: God, forgive. If, at times, when the risks of discipleship are high, We are nowhere to be found: God, forgive. If, at times, we wash our hands of responsibility, God, forgive. If, at times, We cast our lot with powerful oppressors And seek to buy freedom with silver; God, forgive! If, at times, Fear keeps us from witnessing to Your truth, Or prejudice keeps us from believing it, God, forgive. In the bright light of Easter morning Our sin is exposed But Your grace is revealed. Tender God, we are bold to come before You And ask You to forgive us. Help us to leave behind our foolish doubt So that with joy we may witness to Your awesome deeds In Jesus the Risen One And in whose name we pray. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing

over the transgression of the remnant of Your possession?

God does not retain God’s anger forever, because God

delights in showing clemency. God will again have

compassion on us, and will tread our iniquities under food.

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You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah

7:18, 19).

Friends, believe the Easter gospel: Jesus was born for us,

lived, taught, healed, broke down barriers for us,

challenged injustice for us, suffered, died and rose again

for us, that we might know the depths of God’s mercy and

the death-defeating heights of God’s power. In Jesus

Christ crucified and risen, God’s love washes away our sins

and gives us a new quality of life nothing else can craft. In

laying hold of this is good news, let the Easter assembly

affirm . . .

All: Christ was given,

Christ is risen,

And we are forgiven!

Alleluia! Amen.

*HYMN: “This Easter Celebration”

(Sing to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation.”

Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.

Carolyn gives permission for free use of this hymn by

churches.)

This Easter celebration is not like ones we've

known.

We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone.

We're distant from our neighbors— from worship

leaders, too.

No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.

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No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead

the way.

O God of love and promise, where's joy this Easter

Day?

With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the

place

we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.

Our joy won't come from worship that's in a

crowded room

but from the news of women who saw the empty

tomb.

Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to

see—

who heard that Christ is risen, and then, by grace,

believed.

In all the grief and suffering, may we remember

well:

Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of

hell.

Each Easter bears the promise: Christ rose that

glorious day!

Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.

We thank you that on Easter, your church is

blessed to be

a scattered, faithful body that's doing ministry.

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In homes and in the places of help and healing,

too,

we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.

THE SHARING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jenn Schneider

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Mike Ryan

The Prophet: Daniel 12: 1-4

The Gospel: Matthew 28: 1-10

MUSICAL MEDITATION “O Filii et filiae”

HOMILY “Redeemed by the Resurrection”

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*HYMN “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” #167

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THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Exhortation and Invitation

Sursum Corda:

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts!

C: We lift them up to the Lord!

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Sanctus (Singing, #521)

Prayer of Consecration

The Words of Institution

Participation

CLOSING PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S

PRAYER (‘debts’)

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*HYMN “Thine is the Glory”

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*BENEDICTION (with a Celtic flavor):

P: May all the joy and excitement of this day go with

us.

C: May the power of Christ’s resurrection go with

us.

P: May the good news of this wondrous day go with us.

C: May the promise and hope of Easter go with

us.

P: May we in the days ahead, sing, pray, live, love, act

and serve all for the glory of God. For Christ is risen!

C: He is risen indeed! A joyous Easter to all.

Amen. Go forth!

RINGING OF THE BELLS

*POSTLUDE: “Crown Him With Many Crowns”

FOR WORSHIP TODAY

MINISTER Rev. Richard Lanford

MUSIC DIRECTOR Ben Westphal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you to everyone who played a role in putting

this, and the Holy Week services together, most of

whom are part of the Worship and Music Committee.

There was a lot of preparation, recording, writing, editing and

directing going on behind the scenes and this would not

happen without these offerings. And of course we thank all

of you who are worshipping with us in this uniquely faithful

way! Whenever and wherever you do!

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About Communion: All Christians and seekers after God

are invited in to partake of the Lord’s Supper here regardless

of denominational background. We practice open

Communion. We do, however, ask our own St. Peter’s U.C.C.

young folk to first go through the Communicants Class (6th

grade). This is our 2nd time celebrating the Lord’s Supper in

this virtual way; the prayer of consecration extends to all who

participate wherever you are and whenever you partake of

the service (thank You, Holy Spirit!). When prompted, please

take whatever bread you have set aside for yourself and

anyone with you, take and eat; when it’s time for the cup,

please do the same with whatever you have put in your cup

at home (juice, wine, water, etcetera).

Today’s brief pastoral prayer following the Lord’s Supper

will not incorporate birthdays or anniversaries, so in this

space we wish happy birthdays this week to Dorothy Taylor

(today #99!), Marcia Hilliard, Ken Itter, Bill Graddy, Catherine

Steegmueller and Bonnie Loach. Marking an anniversary

later this week are Juanito and Analise Banoyo. Blessings to

all of them!

The Lenten Soup-n-Study of Genesis 11 finishes this

coming Wednesday at 6:30 / 7 PM.

The Church Council would be meeting next Sunday

after worship. Perhaps we are going to hold it via Zoom

meetings. In case that’s true, and even if not, will those

responsible for submitting reports please do so during this

week, the earlier the better! Thank you.

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Thank you very much to all of you who contributed to

our gathering of items for our Easter Egg Hunt! It’s

really appreciated. Unfortunately because of the pandemic

and following safe practices, the Hunt (like the Easter

Breakfast) had to be cancelled despite our best efforts to

reformat it for the benefit of our neighborhood. We will keep

everything that will keep for next year!

As far as we know no one in our membership or

extended church family is hospitalized at this time.

Lois Jarmuth is no longer at The Brookdale in Des Plaines.

Tune in next Sunday because the story is far from

over! Be part of it!

St. Peter’s donations are needed now more than ever!

You can mail them in and now you can easily donate online

through PayPal. Go to www.paypal.me/stpeteruccskokie.

Thanks so much!

MAY EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED EASTER SUNDAY

AND SEASON!

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

PRESIDENT Jenn Schneider

VICE-PRESIDENT Judy Paige

TREASURER Mandy Steegmueller

SECRETARY Carolyn Kuechler

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Marcia Hilliard

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SCRIPTURES FOR THE CONGREGATION

April 12, 2020 EASTER

Our first reading is from the prophet Daniel, chapter 12,

verses 1 through 4. There are few references to life beyond death in

the Hebrew Scriptures but here is one of them, in the setting of the

end times.

DANIEL 12:1-4

"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your

people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has

never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that

time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written

in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall

awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting

contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the

sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars

forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the

book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back

and forth, and evil shall increase."

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MATTHEW 28:1-10

1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was

dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the

tomb. 2And 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. 3His appearance was

like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the

guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the

women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus

who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he

said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then 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.”

8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and

ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said,

“Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and

worshiped him. 10

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go

and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”