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Prelude                                                      

Greetings

*Call to Worship  

Sing a new song!
A joyful melody of springtime glory and rebirth
Sing praise to our Still-Laughing Easter God
Who has rolled away the bindings of yesterday
Immerse your anxiety and despair in the fountain of new birth.
We place our visions and hopes on the table of wine and wheat.
For God has taken ordinary things.
And made them extraordinary.
All: Sing a new song!                                        

*Hymn of Welcome #365           Alleluia  Alleluia                            

*Opening Prayer (unison)

Holy God, as you have taken what we call an absurdity and turned it into possibility….. as you have coaxed us to sing springtime alleluias where once there was a gray dawn, as you have called us out of the tombs we inhabit into an undreamed of tomorrow, we praise you for this day! Come, Risen Christ, in newness and hope on this Eastertide day. Amen.

*Reading from Psalms 66

*Call to Confession                  

*Prayer of Confession (unison)                                          

You know better than we do, Amused God, what important people we believe we are. Believing we have to be serious all the time, we miss out on the joy of your creation. Choosing to feast on the pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in paradise. Clinging to the despair that is our best friend, we ignore Jesus. who can bring us home to your heart. Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work. Fill us with Easter's laughter; fill us with your healing joy; fill us with the love poured into us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

*Assurance of Pardon                                             

*Gloria Patri #579               Glory Be to the Father

*Passing of the Peace of Christ

*Prayer for Illumination  

Almighty God, we know that all Scripture is inspired by you and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to you may be proficient, equipped for every good work. As we hear the good news this Easter season, may we come to believe more and more that Jesus is the Messiah, your Son and that through believing we may have life in his name. Amen.

Scripture Readings   Genesis 18:1-15: 21:1-6, Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 and Proverbs 17:22

Scripture Response                  

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.       

Sermon            Holy Humor                    Rev. Tony DeLucia

Hymn of Response #370            Rejoice the Lord Is King

*Affirmation of Faith       Holy Humor Affirmation

We believe in God, who made us in His image.
We live, we love, we laugh, because we are like Him.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.
He had the last laugh on the devil when He rose from the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son.
Our counselor, our guide, our motivator – He is our joy!

*Call for the Offering   

*Doxology #815            Doxology

*Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Gracious and loving God, we bring our tithes and offerings to you in celebration and thanksgiving for the good news of Easter. Give us your wisdom and grace to use what you have given us for ministries of love and compassion that will share the love of Jesus Christ. Accept what we give in response to what you have so freely given to us, your indescribable gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer        Traditional Prayer

*Hymn of Sending #358    Because He Lives

*Charge and Benediction                                                                     

*Response to the Benediction #358        Because He Lives, refrain       

*Postlude                                                                           

 

April Birthdays

Chris Herron and Kim McPherson, 4/6
Dick Lugano, 4/8
Pastor Tony DeLucia, 4/11
Peggy Bahnsen, 4/22
Christian Cornell, 4/24
Let us know when we can celebrate your Birthday/Anniversary with you!!

Upcoming Events:

Bible Study -  April  15, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Spring Potluck after Worship - April 19, 2026
Newell Community Dinner - April 25, 2026,  Saturday at American Legion in Newell with: Chicken Parmesan, Pasta Salad, Italian Roasted Potatoes, Roll, and Dessert
Bible Study - April  29, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Communion - May 3, 2026
 

Prayer Requests of the Congregation

  • Cindy, Kim's sister - encouragement, strength, and healing
  • Daryl Clark - answers and a sound medical diagnosis
  • Fred - going through treatment
  • Matt Camlin - fighting MS
  • Zach - prayers that he continues to do well with cancer Tx
  • Johnny - diagnosed with terminal illness
  • Eliana - recovers from heart surgery
  • Jimmy - Peggy’s son-in-law, continuing prays
  • Debbie, Sue sister - fast healing and recovery
  • Janae - prayers to overcome personal struggles
  • Kim - prayers for a continuing to do well
  • Crystal - prayers at this time of difficulty
  • Vicky - prayers for postive medical diagnosis
  • Damon Indez - prayers for him in Kuwait, and those in uniform in the Middle East.
  • Gary Carpenter - passed away; family of the Graham family
  • Prayers for the people of Iran, Israel, and US Servicemen and Women being sent into the latest conflict.
  • All affected by the storms of nature and of life, especially by the paths of floods and other natural disasters.
  • The safe return of the Artemis crew.

Wider Church

  • Kevin Miller - suffered a mid-brain stroke. Please pray for his three sons and his sister who is caring for him
  • John Cameron who has gone into Hospice care. Prayers for his wife Joyce who is having health issues
  • Brittani Clark - pain in abdomen/ possible surgery
  • Prayers of peace in all the trouble spots in the world, including our own country.
  • Prayers for all who are killed and persecuted throughout the world in the name of religion.
  • To all who pray and feel their prayer goes unanswered. May they know God hears them, and the Church prays for them and continues to love them.