12.04.15 Easter 2B English

Prelude:  Grand Dialogue (Louis Marchand)
Hymn:  O sons and daughters (Jean Tisserand/O FILII ET FILIAE, traditional French) PH
Call to Worship LL

One: The Word of life spoke:
All: so we could hear the angels' 'Alleluias!'
One: The Word of life reached out:
All: so we could touch the hope which heals us.
One: The Word of life walked out of death's dread tomb:
All: so we could follow him into life forever.

Song: The first one ever to see your face (Linda Wilberger Egan) 1982
Prayer of Confession

One:  Faithful Christ, we confess to You that our faith waivers and falls short.

All:  We allow doubts and fears to enter our lives and control our choices.

One:  We doubt the goodness of our brothers and sisters.

All:  We doubt our own ability to be of any help or hope to the world.

One:  We doubt the basics of our faith, that forgiveness is available, and that we through Christ also have the power and grace to forgive others.

All:  Christ, forgive us for our doubts and fears.

One:  Forgive us when we hold back instead of letting go.

All:  Call us to Your path of faithfulness. In Your name we pray.

—Silent reflection—

One:  We have an advocate with God, in Jesus Christ, who forgives us and restores us. We are called away from the path of sin into the path of hope and reconciliation. May we invite others on the journey.

All:  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Song of Praise:  Psalm 34, verse 1 (adapted John Bell/TALLA CRIOSDH, traditional Scots Gaelic) * **
Prayer of the Day

Holy and righteous God,
you raised Christ from the dead
and glorified him at your right hand.
Let the words of scripture,
fulfilled in Jesus your Son,
burn within our hearts
and open our minds to recognize him
in the breaking of bread. Amen.

Sh'ma Israel (Max Helfman)
Reading from Hebrew Scripture:  Deuteronomy 1:26-33 (non-lectionary) 
Alleluia (Indonesian) WCC

Gospel Reading:  John 20:24-29
Sermon:  Thomas: A doubter for our time
Affirmation of Faith Rev. Dr. Chuck Robertson

We have faith, not because we have seen, but because we have heard the word.

We believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Chosen One of God.

And through this faith, we have life in his name.

At times we are like Thomas—we have doubts and agonizing questions.

But in the end, God helps us to believe,

to be able to say of Jesus, now the risen Christ, “My Lord and my God!”

Amen!

Song:  If you believe and I believe (Zimbabwean)
Announcements
Offerings (regular and food)
Song:  I believe (Zehnder) ***
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn:  O sons and daughters


*A cappella, the congregation singing the two supporting parts and the soprano cantor singing the melody.
** seasonal songs (Easter)
***lyrics on the Zehnder website


Forces:
Soprano
Tenor/Guitar
Tenor/Bass Guitar
Organ/Piano