First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Sunday Morning Worship
Easter
Communion
10:00 A.M. April 5, 2026
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PRELUDE Christ Is Alive! Alleluia! Arr. Helman
Jubilate, Amen Arr. Hollis
Easter Bells Arr. Ryan
Celebration Ringers
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 136:1
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Allegro Vivaldi
Graham Royer, Trumpet
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Celebrate this day of days!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Let all creation be amazed!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Christ is Risen!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 238 Thine Is the Glory JUDAS MACCABEUS
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain: Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For the Lord now liveth; death has lost its sting. Refrain
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Refrain
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Savior God, forgive our life-alienating ways, our exclusion and judgment of others; the way we evaluate and compare. Forgive our death-dealing sins, our habits that demean and degrade, our addiction to violent and destructive behavior. Redeem us. Restore us. Resurrect us for life in Christ. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
“Jesus Christ is risen today…” In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
As God has forgiven us in Christ let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE Peace is Flowing Like a River TRADITIONAL
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
His love is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Ezekiel 36: 24-28
SPECIAL MUSIC Sound the Trumpet Patterson
Chancel Choir
Sound the trumpet, shout for joy! Let the song of praise begin. Come and worship Christ the Lord. Risen he lives again! Christ is risen, risen indeed! Alleluia! Blessing and honor and glory forever to Christ the risen Lord! Alleluia!
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 28: 1-10
(The Messenger)
MESSAGE Do Not Be Afraid Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN I Know That My Redeemer Lives DUKE STREET
I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives who once was dead; he lives, my ever-living head!
He lives triumphant from the grave; he lives eternally to save; he lives exalted, throned above; he lives to rule his church in love.
He lives to silence all my fears; he lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart; he lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day,
and that he appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God. Amen.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Responsive)
Easter people, come now to the table with Christ
For He is risen! He lives, and he presides at this feast!
Come, drink together from the cup of gladness!
For Christ is risen-risen as he said! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise to you, God of glory!...
… We too proclaim it, as with the angels of heaven we sing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Now, O God, with grateful hearts we remember Jesus.
~silence~
We remember that the women came, early in the morning, on the third day.
They did not find him among the dead.
We remember that his disciples met him on the road.
He opened the Scriptures, explaining everything, and their hearts burned within them.
They said to him, “Stay with us, for it is evening”…
…Make this bread and wine, the food and drink of everlasting life, body surrendered, blood poured out.
As we rejoice in the resurrection, give us love for each other, and make us servants of peace, until your new realm is revealed and every creature beholds it. We pray in the name of Jesus, who lives and presided at this table, our host and our feast.
Sharing of bread and Cup.
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory This Joyful Eastertide Arr. Corl
*DOXOLOGY 826 (Vs. 4) Lift High the Cross CRUCIFER
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore His sacred name.
So shall our song of triumph ever be: praise to the Crucified for victory. Refrain
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS (794) (Vs. 1, 2) O Savior, in This Quiet Place
AMAZING GRACE
O Savior, in this quiet place, where anyone may kneel,
I also come to ask for grace, believing you can heal.
If pain of body, stress of mind, destroys my inward peace,
In prayer for others may I find the secret of release.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Unison)
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 forever. Amen.
*HYMN 246 (Vs. 1, 2, 3, 5) Christ is Alive! TRURO
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine,
But saving, healing, here and now, and touching every place and time.
In every insult, rift, and war where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth, can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
And find the way, the life, the truth, revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age,
Till earth and sky and ocean ring with joy, with justice, love, and praise.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE