Sunday, April 5, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
This week's bulletin art is a silkscreen print titled "The Easter Lily" by Florence V. Canon, 1935.
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
GREETING
He is risen.
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
PRELUDE - Voluntary on Easter Hymn, Hart Morris, Westminster Bells
CALL TO WORSHIP
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The life of Christ is the light of all people.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.
I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised. Alleluia!
+ HYMN 245 - Christ the Lord is Risen Today!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS - Hymn 588 Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia! (repeats)
All: Alleluia, alleluia!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Living God, with joy we celebrate the presence of your risen Word. Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit so that we may proclaim the good news of eternal and abundant life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING- Jeremiah 31.1-6 OT pg 733 (NRSVUE)
OFFERING
+ • Offertory - An Easter Celebration, Craig Courtney, Chanel Choir
CHOIR
O sons and daughters of the King, whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing. Today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia! The strife is o’er, the battle done; now is the victor’s triumph won! Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia! Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won! Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded graveclothes where Thy body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son,
endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won!
CONGREGATION (please stand and join the choir)
Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! praise eternal as God’s love. Alleluia! Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 28.1-10 NT pg 33 (NRSVUE)
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
SERMON - “He Is Going Ahead of You” - Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH- From Hymnal pg 34 - The Nicene Creed
+ HYMN 248 - Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Invitation
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Words of Institution
Communion of the People
The congregation is invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
COMMUNION ANTHEM - The Power of the Cross, arr. Hayes, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Here at this table we celebrate resurrection as you feed us with bread and wine. And as much as we might prefer to stay here in this protected place, you send us back to our work — only it is no longer the same work because we know you are with us and in us, shaping and transforming us to be your witnesses in the world. Nourished in body, mind, and spirit, may all that we say and do give you glory. Amen.
+ HYMN 826 - Lift High the Cross
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hallelujah Chorus, Handel’s Messiah
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
GREETING
He is risen.
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
PRELUDE - Voluntary on Easter Hymn, Hart Morris, Westminster Bells
CALL TO WORSHIP
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The life of Christ is the light of all people.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.
I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised. Alleluia!
+ HYMN 245 - Christ the Lord is Risen Today!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS - Hymn 588 Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia! (repeats)
All: Alleluia, alleluia!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Living God, with joy we celebrate the presence of your risen Word. Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit so that we may proclaim the good news of eternal and abundant life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING- Jeremiah 31.1-6 OT pg 733 (NRSVUE)
OFFERING
+ • Offertory - An Easter Celebration, Craig Courtney, Chanel Choir
CHOIR
O sons and daughters of the King, whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing. Today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia! The strife is o’er, the battle done; now is the victor’s triumph won! Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia! Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won! Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded graveclothes where Thy body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son,
endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won!
CONGREGATION (please stand and join the choir)
Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! praise eternal as God’s love. Alleluia! Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 28.1-10 NT pg 33 (NRSVUE)
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
SERMON - “He Is Going Ahead of You” - Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH- From Hymnal pg 34 - The Nicene Creed
+ HYMN 248 - Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Invitation
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Words of Institution
Communion of the People
The congregation is invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
COMMUNION ANTHEM - The Power of the Cross, arr. Hayes, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Here at this table we celebrate resurrection as you feed us with bread and wine. And as much as we might prefer to stay here in this protected place, you send us back to our work — only it is no longer the same work because we know you are with us and in us, shaping and transforming us to be your witnesses in the world. Nourished in body, mind, and spirit, may all that we say and do give you glory. Amen.
+ HYMN 826 - Lift High the Cross
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hallelujah Chorus, Handel’s Messiah