Quote for Reflection:

Testify!
Let your light shine!
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen! -We Listen for God’s Word-
May God bless you with enough foolishness Testify! Christ is risen! GOSPEL LESSON Mark 16:1-8
to believe that you really can Hear the good news! Christ is risen!
make a difference in this world, When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
Christ is risen indeed! mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go
so that you are able, with God's grace, OPENING PRAYER (in unison)
to do what others claim cannot be done. and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the
We praise you, Jesus, because Good Friday sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one
Franciscan Blessing met Easter Day and Life has won! (clap 1X) another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the
The grave could not hold Jesus! (clap 2X) tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was
very large, had already been rolled back.
Faith and love are stronger than death! (clap 3X)
-We Gather as God’s People- Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! (clap 4X) As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a
white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he
PRELUDES Rejoice! The Lord Is King arr. Benjamin Alleluia and Amen! (applause!) said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of
Fanfares on ‘Easter Hymn’ Arr. Lau Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.
PRAISE Shine, Jesus, Shine! FWS 2173 Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and
Easter Siyahamba FWS 2235b Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him,
WELCOME vs.1 We are marching in the light of God . . . just as he told you.’
This is the day: vs. 2 We are loving in the light of God . . . So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and
when tears are wiped away; vs. 3 Alleluia, Jesus lives today (4x) amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for
shattered hearts are mended; Alleluia, Alleluia, Oh! they were afraid.
Alleluia, Jesus lives today
fears are replaced with joy.
This is the day the Lord: ANTHEM The Angel Rolled the Stone Away
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
rolls away the stone of fear;
throws off death's clothes; Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE
goes ahead of us into God's future. All things break. And all things can be mended.
Not with time, as they say, but with intention.
This is the day the Lord has made: OPENING TO GOD So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
death has no fear for us; Jesus, You told us this would happen; The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
sin has lost its power over us; that we would know that death L.R.Knost
God opens the tombs of our hearts was not an ending,
to fill us with life. but rather a beginning.
This is the day - Easter Day! You promised that no tomb would hold You
and that we would see You again
-We Respond to God’s Word-
Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!
alive and glorified REFLECTION Easter Fools
HYMN Christ the Lord Is Risen Today UMH 302
But, we didn’t believe it – we still don’t HYMN Alleluia, Alleluia UMH 162
We still face the little deaths which fill our lives
CALL TO WORSHIP based on Acts 4:33
with fear and dread and despair.
“With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the COMMUNION FWS 2257 b-d
We still look away from Your resurrected glory
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” believing ourselves to be beyond the reach of Your grace & life
Easter people, testify! Christ is risen! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Testify, Church! Christ is risen! But, now in this place, we gather to be reminded OFFERING & DOXOLOGY
Testify! Christ is risen! Resurrection has happened – it happens still
With your voices!
Testify!
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen!
grace and life can find us anywhere, and bring us home
And so we worship, with joy and relief -We Are Sent Into God’s World-
With your love! Christ is risen! and with awe and trembling BENEDICTION
Testify! Christ is risen! RESPONSE Halle, Halle, Halleluja 2026a
Stand among us again now, Jesus
With good works! Christ is risen! and let Your life flood our weary and doubting souls. POSTLUDE Christ Burst the Bars of Death Lani Smith
 Essex Eats Out Schedule Here are people, places, & concerns folk have recently lifted
up. Please keep them in your prayers at home.
Apr 6 - 1st Cong. Apr - 13 - Holy Family Please call or email the church office to add to the prayer list.
Apr 20 - St James Apr 27 - EUMC

Birthdays & Anniversaries

April 2 - Alan Nye April 6 - Kathryn Parker
Ongoing Prayers
Tim
Lenore
Lifted Up Last Sunday
Judy - family of Katherine, who passed
away
Easter Fools
Michael Parker Gil - Kurt Armstrong
Keenan Allison - Zachary
Announcements
Arlitha Allison - end stages of ALS
Food Shelf Needs: Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, Mac &
Callie
Cheese, Canned Fruit Wes - David, son-in-law, with cancer
Grace Naylor
Barb - Deb, that she may find a new way
Cards & Calls: The following church members, who can no Anne Kennison of living
longer get out, would appreciate a card or a call - Grace Naylor, Gloria McKeen
Anne Kennison, Gloria McKeen, Mary Willard, Norma Heidi - Wendee
Mary Willard
Strickland, Nancy Bartlett. Mary - Graham’s teacher’s sister
Norma Strickland
Mitch on bicycle vacation April 2- April 26. Pastoral care will Judy & Diezela
be provided by Rev John Lucy (899-4288) through April 14, and Matthew C.
by Rev. Paul Eyre (878-5792) through April 26. There will be no
Pastor Office Hours at the Nest or Mansfield Bible Study during Elissa & Leif
Mitch’s vacation Greg
Paula DeMichele
Church Office Hours: Heidi will be in the office on Tuesdays &
Thursdays from 12-2 pm. Please call the church & leave a Don Strickland
message or email essex_umc@comcast.net and she will get back Ellie Uckele
to you during these times.

Calendar
Wed, 4 Apr: No Green Mountain Nursing Home Service j
Sun, 8, 15, 22 Apr: Worship Service, Dawn Hill-Fleury leads

Mon, 9 Apr: Monday Companions, Sharing Spiritual

Practices of Joy 7:00 pm at Eve’s.

Thu, 12 Apr: Thursday Companions, in Parlor, 2:00 pm

Essex Center United Methodist Church
Thu, 19 Apr: Food shelf Set up, 6:30 pm GSLC essex_umc@comcast.net tel. 878-8304
www.essexumc.com
Sat, 21 Apr: Food Shelf Distribution, 9:00 am Ministers: the entire congregation Lay Leader: Joshua Knox
Equipping Pastor: Rev. V. Mitchell Hay
Mon, 23 Apr: Monday Companions, Sharing Spiritual cell tel. 881-3268 (feel free to call) mitchellhay@comcast.net
Practices of Joy 7:00 pm at Eve’s. Office Manager: Heidi Evans
Thu, 26 Apr: Thursday Companions, in Parlor, 2:00 pm
Organ: Kathryn Parker
Guitar: Richard Randazzo
Piano: June Packard
Song Leader: Dana Thomas
Essex Center
Sun, 29 Apr: Church & Parsonage Spruce-Up Day
Projection: Sam Evans
Greeters: Eve Thorsen, Own Duff, Janet Bedard
United Methodist Church
Ushers: Art & Susan Bristol, Dawn Hill-Fleu
1 April 2018