THE FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY
(Reformed in America)
110 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207-2231é
(518) 463-4449
Email: firstchurch@verizon.net
APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude: Prelude and Fugue in G Johann Sebastian Bach
Call to Worship
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This is the Good News— the tomb is empty. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This is the Good news—the light shines in the darkness
and the darkness can never put it out. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This is the Good News—once we were no people;
now we are God’s people. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
*Hymn 312 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today EASTER HYMN
Prayer of Confession
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 have been deaf to the cries of the oppressed and
indifferent to calls for peace.
Our selfishness has harmed your good creation.
Forgive us, God of mercy.
Help us to trust in the power of your Spirit
to change our lives and make us new,
that we may know the joy of life abundant
given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.
Assurance of Pardon
The Peace
Since God has forgiven us in Christ,
let us forgive one another.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
(The people exchange the peace with one another.)
*Hymn 602 Blessing and Honor (vs 1) Tune: o quanta qualia
Blessing and honor and glory and power,
Wisdom and riches and strength evermore
Give we to him who the battle has won,
Whose are the kingdom, the crown and the throne.
THE WORD OF GOD
The Prayer for Illumination
The First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 (pg 895)
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Lesson: John 20:1-18 (pg 882)
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon: “Christmas and Easter Christians”
The Prayer for Blessing on the Word
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn 319 The Strife Is O’er VICTORY
Offering
Offertory: This Joyful Eastertide (Hymn 328) Dutch carol arr. Alec Wyton
*Doxology (sung to the tune: lasst uns erfreuen
Now let the vault of Heav’n resound
In praise of love that now abounds,
“Christ has triumphed, alleluia!”
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear,
Repeat their song of glory here,
“Christ has triumphed, Christ has triumphed!”
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Adoring praises now we bring
And with the heavenly blessèd sing,
“Christ has triumphed, Alleluia!”
Be to the Father, and our Lord,
To Spirit blest, most holy God,
Yours the glory, never ending!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Text: Paul Stodach
Joys and Concerns of the Church
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Meaning of the Sacrament and the Invitation
*Hymn 314 The Lamb’s High Banquet (vss 1-2, 4-5) puer nobis nascitur
Communion Prayer
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.
Holy and right it is, ...
we worship and adore your glorious name.
Sanctus: (sung to the tune: easter hymn)
Holy, Holy, Holy God, Alleluia!
By the earth and heaven adored, Alleluia!
Our hosannas high we raise: Alleluia!
Christ, our savior's name we praise! Alleluia!
Most righteous God, …
We praise you, O God, for the gift of Jesus, your Son:
Dying he destroyed our death,
rising he restored our life.
We await his coming in glory.
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The Words of Institution and Communion
Communion Anthem: Magdalen, Cease from Sobs and Sighs Peter Hurford
Prayer after Communion
*Hymn 317 The Day of Resurrection LANCASHIRE
(If you wish to join in the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus from the balcony, please proceed there during the singing of the hymn. Join in from your seat, if you prefer.)
*Benediction
*Benediction Response: Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus George Frideric Handel
*Postlude: Symphony V: Toccata Charles Marie Widor
AW
*Congregation please stand
Worship Participants: Liturgist: The Rev. John Bowen; Preacher: The Rev. John Paarlberg; Organist and Choir Director: Mary Bon; The Choir of First Church; Guest Instrumentalists: Brent Wheat and Steve Weisse, trumpet; Richard Albagli, timpani.
Welcome to worship at First Church! The order of worship is based on the historic liturgy of the Christian church. Through the proclamation of the Word and the sharing of the sacramental meal we encounter the living God, who graciously heals and powerfully renews our lives. If you are a first-time visitor, please sign our guest book. If you have questions about our ministry, we encourage you to speak with a pastor or an usher. There is an elevator in our building, which makes every floor accessible.
Church Tour - Immediately following the service, church historian James Folts will conduct a brief historical tour of the church. You are invited to meet at the front of the sanctuary.
No choir rehearsals next week.
We invite everyone to join in singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Please feel free to join the choir in the balcony or remain in your pews. Copies of the music are available from the ushers.
The Easter Offering - The Board of Deacons has designated the 2008 Easter offering toward the support of our senior high youth in their summer mission trip and for a well project in Maasailand, Kenya.
Several of our sr. high youth and their advisors will be traveling to Machias, Maine, this summer. There they will join with nearly 400 other high school youth from other parts of the country in home repair projects for elderly, disabled and disadvantaged people in the area.
The Reformed Church in America is partnering with the Presbyterian Church in East Africa and the Maasai Mission to construct five modern wells in Maasailand, Kenya. The wells will make it possible for the Maasai people to irrigate land, grow crops and improve their diet. It will also enable families to devote less time to finding water for survival and more time to educating their children.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Elders, Ella Campbell, Erma J. Nelson, Joyce Recene, Le Roy Suess, Angelika Harrington, Gerard Harrington, and Timothy Whitbeck were received as confessing members of First Church. They will be welcomed before the congregation on Sunday, March 30th.
The Church’s Health Ministry - Sandy Cornwell, a member of the Community Reformed Church in Colonie, serves as a parish nurse for two Roman Catholic parishes. Next Sunday she will lead a post-service discussion about the parish nurse program and about how our congregation can practice good health and help care for others.
The Spring Rummage Sale, sponsored by the Kate Allard Group & the Senior High Youth Group, will be held Friday, April 11th, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 12th, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Donations should be dropped off at the church Saturday April 5th, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Please DO NOT bring items during the week, as the staff will not be able to accept them. If you need items picked up, please call Monica Marsh @ 374-1983 or Andy Mondore @ 482-2302.
Liturgical Banners and Flags - Have you noticed the flags hanging from the balconies? With an impressionistic star-burst of colors radiating from a pure white central orb, they bring a joyful sense of Resurrection power and glory. Thanks to a generous gift, the Commission for Worship, Music and Arts was able to commission these two flags from renowned New Jersey artist, Juanita Yoder. The flags were specially designed by Ms. Yoder based on her painting “Resurrection: Station of the Cross 15”. “Resurrection” is the last in a series fifteen of 4’ by 8’ paintings on silk painted for and hanging in The Church of St. Thomas More in Glendale, Arizona. Eventually these flags will hang outside our Pearl Street entrance. The Commission hopes that these flags will be part of a series of flags and banners beautifying the interior and exterior of our church building. As funds become available, we hope to add flags for other seasons including Pentecost, Advent, Christmas/Epiphany and Lent.
We need volunteers today to deliver Easter flowers to our homebound. Can you help? Flowers will be ready for delivery in the lobby after the coffee hour. We will need a little time to disassemble the cross and wrap the flowers, so feel free to linger over your coffee.
Please remember in your prayers this week: IN HOSPITAL: Dwaryn Skeeter (relative of the Lockridge family; Allentown, PA), Emil Schmidt (friend of Cheryl Gowie; Northwoods @ Troy), Jean Alecia (North East Ctr for Special Care; Lake Katrine), Virginia Kendall (St. Peter’s Rehab), Byron Howe (Eddy-Cohoes), Helen Ammerman (Good Samaritan), James Beerle (brother of Esther Atchinson; Daughters of Sarah). AT HOME: Richard Gardner, Lois Coons (mother of Mary Wallace), Mary Ann Selmer’s cousin, Karen; Henry Fox, Andrew Callens, Paul Vonie (father of Rebecca), Peter Monaghan, Art Coleman (friend of Ed Baskerville), Bob Alexander, Mavis Angus, Elsa Marie Kelp, Saluda Lownes (Northwoods @ Rosewood Gardens-Rensselaer), Joseph Tuite (friend of Star Haviland), Grace Franck (sister of Carol Hageman), Bob Whan, Alayne H. DiFranco (sister of Joline Mondore), George Beerle (brother of Esther Atchinson), Ruth Harrington (sister of John Haviland). OUR MISSIONARIES: Richard & Carolyn Otterness (Hungary), Bruce & Laurie Hawley (RCA volunteer services). IN THE ARMED FORCES / OTHER FOREIGN SERVICE: Randy White (son-in-law of Caroline & Carl Wirth; Iraq), Josh Wishmyer & John Wishmyer (cousins of Cheryl Gowie; Qatar), Jon Monaghan (Iraq), John Noisette & co-workers (friend of Ed Baskerville; Sudan), Mark Axtell (nephew of David & Marilyn Bradley; Iraq).
Su 23rd - Easter Sunday
- 10:30 AM - Worship
- 11:30 AM - Coffee & Conversation (Zimmerman Hall)
M 24th - 9:30 AM - Food Pantry open
Tu 25th - 12:00 PM - Bible Study
W 26th - 9:30 AM - Food Pantry open
- 12:00 PM - AA
- 7:00 PM - Long-Range Planning Delivery Team
Th 27th No Choir Rehearsals
F 28th - 9:30-11:00 AM - Extra Helpings pick-up
- 12:30 PM - Kate Allard Group
Sa 29th - 9:30 AM - Food Pantry open
Youth Group at Capital City Rescue Mission
Su 30th - 10:30 AM - Worship
- 11:30 AM - Coffee & Conversation (Zimmerman Hall)
- 11:45 AM - Church School; Post Service: The Church’s Health Ministry;
FC Readers (Pastor’s Study)
Please remember to turn off your cell phones and pagers upon entering the sanctuary.
