Order of Worship for Easter Sunday - April 20, 2025: The Last Enemy to be Destroyed Is Death

Call to Worship - Those of you joining us from home are invited to light a candle to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit

Invitation to Worship - Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow

Call to Worship

One: Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Many: Christ is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!
One: Easter people, raise your voices!
Many: Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
One: Now we are the ones to shout, “Where, O Death, is your victory?”
Many: Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia! Amen!

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today-Charles Wesley - El Dorado + United Women in Faith Choir

Superstar - El Dorado

Welcome - Stephen Folds

O Happy Day/My Sweet Lord - Edwin B. Hawkins/George Harrison - El Dorado

Passing of the Peace: Through the act of passing the peace of Christ, we offer our sincere desire to love our neighbor.
You are invited to greet one another in the live stream chat on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. 

No Class this week - Class will resume with Chapter 22 on April 30

Know Your Rights:

You have constitutional rights:

• DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.

• DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.

• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.

• If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.

• GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.

I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.

I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.

I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.

I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.

These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.

CALL TO PRAYER: The Old Rugged Cross - El Dorado

Prayers of the People - Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow

Joys and Concerns: Prayers of the People We believe that the best way to bear our burdens is to share them with one another. You welcome to share your joys and concerns so that our community can hold these things in our hearts as we lift them to God together. 

You are invited to share your prayers in the Facebook Live Chat, or on the YouTube Live chat.

Hebrew Bible Reading: Responsive Reading – Selections from Psalm 104
One: O Holy Creator, you are very great, clothed with the majesty of stars and the light of the
sun.
Many: You set the earth on its foundations so that it shall never be shaken.
One: You make springs that gush forth into the valleys, giving drink to every wild animal. By the
rushing streams, birds nest and sing among the branches.
Many: All the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
One: You cause grass to grow for cattle and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the
earth. Your sea creatures roam free and cavort in the deep ocean.
Many: All peoples and animals have a home and a purpose for living, by day and by night.
One: When you send forth your breath, your creation lives and the earth is renewed.
Many: We join with all creation in singing praise to our Creator. May our lives manifest your love
and care for all the universe.

Gospel Lesson - John 12:1-8, NRSV - Mary Anoints Jesus

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

One: This is the word of God for us, the People of God.
All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon: The Earth is the Lord’s, Tom Grode, Lay Leader, preaching

RESPONSE TO THE WORD - Resources and Strategies, Sara Munshin, United Women in Faith President

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, NRSV

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Gospel Lesson - Luke 24:1-12, NRSV, The Resurrection of Jesus

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

One: This is the word of God for us, the People of God.
All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon: The Last Enemy to Be Destroyed Is Death, Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow, preaching

Holy Communion

The Great Mystery of our Faith

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, 
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
for ever and ever. Amen.

MUSIC: In Christ Alone - El Dorado
Benediction

And remember:
God is with you,
God is for you, 
God refuses to be God without you. 
And may all of God’s people say: Amen!

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