*Declaration of Faith
*Prayer of Praise and Adoration
With thanksgiving, praise, and joy, we worship you, marvelous God. How amazing is all your
creation! How glorious is this day of new life! Come among us now, we pray, to raise us up from our
fears and doubts and perplexity. We want to believe. We want to trust. We want to dare. We want
to live. Touch us today with a spirit of hope, that our discipleship may honor Christ.
*Response #576
Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
*The Passing of God’s Love and Peace
The peace of Christ be with you…. And also with you.
Apostles’ Creed
Our church states its faith and bears witness to God’s grace in Jesus Christ by using eleven creeds and confessions. In these confessional
statements the church declares to its members and to the world who and what it is, what it believes and what it resolves to do. These
confessional statements are subject to the authority of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. The following is the Apostles’ Creed, which in
its earliest form dates back to 180 AD. The word ‘catholic’ refers to the entire Christian church; ‘quick’ means living:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the
dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from
thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic
Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People & 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 forever. Amen.
Proclaiming the Word
We experience the Word of God.
Children’s Moment
Kathy Wells (9:30), Tim Wonder (11:00)
Prayer for Illumination
First Lesson
Psalm 118:19-24
This is the Word of the Lord… thanks be to God.
Anthem
Easter Hymn
O. T. p. 565
Offering of Tithes and Gifts
Sheldon Curry
Offertory
Chancel Choir
Salvation Is Created
Pavel Tchesnokov
Brass Messengers
Second Lesson
Matthew 28:1-10
This is the Word of the Lord… thanks be to God.
Sermon
Great Expectations
N. T. p. 33
*Doxology #592
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston
*Prayer of Dedication
Responding to the Word
We affirm our faith and commitment to the Word of God.
*Hymn #118
The Day of Resurrection!
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory.
Bearing and Following the Word
We declare the Word of God throughout the week.
LANCASHIRE
*Hymn #371
Lift High the Cross
CRUCIFER
You are invited to the chancel to join in singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Music is available on the organ and piano.
Chorus: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore His sacred name.
Our hearts be pure from evil, That we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light;
And, listening to His accents, May hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, May raise the victor strain.
Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod, The Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
(CHORUS)
Now let the heavens be joyful, Let earth the song begin,
Let the round world keep triumph, And all that is therein;
Let all things seen and unseen Their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy that hath no end.
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, Your death has brought us life eternally.
(CHORUS)
Each newborn servant of the Crucified Bears on the brow the seal of Christ who died.
(CHORUS)
So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory.
(CHORUS)
*Charge & Benediction
*Response
Postlude
Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah
Final from Symphony No. 1
MECHANICSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
300 East Simpson Street
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6596
www.mechpresby.org ● 717-697-0351 ● April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday • 8, 9:30, 11am
G. F. Handel
Louis Vierne
VISITORS: Welcome, we’re glad you’re here! The restrooms with baby changing stations can be found in the Gathering
Area just outside the Sanctuary doors. Children’s worship kits are located in the back of the Sanctuary. Worship aids are
available from the ushers. (Please remember to turn off the audio receivers after use.) Thank you!
If you have a prayer request you would like to share with the pastors, please fill out a card from the pew rack and hand it
to the usher during the first hymn. The Prayer Chain and staff pray for those you have mentioned and others
throughout the week. Please let us know of any changes.
This morning we welcome back Brass Messengers, a brass quintet from Messiah College, which includes: Matthew
Ruwe and Micah Ohlhausen, trumpets; Adam Strawser, horn; Matthew Beyer, trombone; and Samantha Stalter, tuba.
We express our thanks to all of the musicians and choir members for sharing their gifts of music on this glorious Easter
morning.
MIDI ENSEMBLE UNIT - We extend sincere appreciation to the families of David W. Petko, Stanley A. Walton and
James L. Zerbe for the gift of the MIDI Ensemble Unit. The unit has expanded the voices of our organ three times and
has added 258 stops, or voices. On many occasions during worship, these voices will be heard with the full ensemble of
the organ, adding depth and color. With the MIDI box, we now have expanded the swell choir, great, and pedal. We
even have two stops (32’ Contra Violone and a 32’ Contra Posaune). There are numerous trumpets, chimes, and bells
which were not on the original organ. On behalf of the Worship and Music Committee and congregation, we express
our thanks for the gifts given by family and friends in memory of David, Stanley and Jim which have provided this
wondrous gift of praise to the glory of God.
KNOWN TO BE HOSPITALIZED
Marie Carlock – Messiah Village, Hampden 6
Bob Middleton – Messiah Village, Wagner 32
Mary Roach – 1215 Oak Ave., Shady Side, MD 20764
HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL
William Fink
Debra Heeter
Forrest Eggleston – Holy Spirit 724
Marlene Rhine – ManorCare 107, Carlisle
Pam Rogers
Eleanor Prowell
Our Christian love and sympathy to Wayne and Judithann Yost and family on the recent death of Judy’s mother,
Francis Sheaver. Blessed are those who see the Lord face to face.
Pastors’ Community Hours – Pastor Mark will return to Bamboo Frozen Yogurt Café April 14. Pastor Kathryn will
return to Panera Bread on Rt. 15 in Camp Hill on April 23.
*Those who are able please stand.
Visitors, welcome, we are glad you’re here!
Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church is a marvelous mixture of God’s people. We are strong and weak, sad and
joyful, faithful and sinful, graced and searching, young and old, married, single, divorced and widowed.
Regardless of who we are, we need one another and we need to celebrate Jesus Christ who lives within us.
There is a table located in the back of the Sanctuary with more information about MPC
and someone to answer your questions.
Welcome & Announcements
Preludes
8:00
9:30 & 11:00
Brass Messengers
Brass Messengers
Hallelujah Chorus from The Mount of Olives
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Chancel Choir
*Call to Worship
Roll away every stone.
Brush away every tear.
Stand tall, all you bent low.
Dash to spread the news.
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
*Hymn #123
Ministers….. ................................................................................................................... All members of the congregation
Senior Pastor/Head of Staff………………………Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston……………..................... [email protected]
Associate of Pastoral Care………………………..…Rev. Myrtle E. McCall……………………………………[email protected]
Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults
Rev. Mark A. Allio ................................................. [email protected]
Pastor Emeritus……………………………………….Rev. Dr. Jay F. Walters ......................................... [email protected]
Director of Christian Education & Mission…….......Kathleen Wells ..................................................kwells@mechpresby.org
Director of Music…………………………………………. Daniel L. Dorty.................................................. [email protected]
Find us online! www.mechpresby.org • Twitter: @mechpresby • Facebook: Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church
Congregational responses are printed in bold type.
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
EASTER HYMN
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!
But the pains which He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as God's love; Alleluia!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!