Worship Rev. John McFayden, Vice President, Church Relations Rev. Frank Clark Spencer, President

Call To Worship Leader: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Leader: God is our refuge and strength, a present help in trouble. All: Therefore we will not fear! Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord! All: And shout with joy to the rock of our salvation!

Hymn “God Is Here” God is here! As we his people, meet to offer praise and prayer, may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share: Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts wait the coming of His Spirit into open minds and hearts. Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1979, rev. 1988, © 1979 Hope Publishing Company Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor, 1941, © 1942, ren Hope Publishing Company

Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; here are table, font and pulpit, here the cross has central place. Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech, here in newness and renewal God the Spirit comes to each.

Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd's flock and fold; here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us as of old. Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore what it means in daily living to believe and to adore.

Lord of all, of Church and Kingdom, in an age of change and doubt, keep us faithful to the gospel, help us work your purpose out. Here, in this day's dedication, all we have to give, receive; we who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe.

Opening Prayer and Confession (Unison) Almighty God, who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that we are unworthy of your redeeming grace. We have not fully believed your promises, they seeming too good to believe and we being strangers to such goodness. Blinded by our sorrows, we have not always discerned Christ’s presence with us. Disappointed of mind and dejected of spirit, our hearts have not burned within as we have heard his word. We have not believed fearlessly in his redeeming power and have been overcome by evil. But now, with penitence, we come to you, seeking your forgiveness. Mercifully forgive us our sins, and restore us to the joy of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Forgiveness Leader: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. All: Praise God! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Leader: The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

Message What are we afraid of? Rev. Frank Clark Spencer

Prayer of the Day

Hymn “Christ Is Alive” 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. Text: Brian Wren, 1968; rev Music: Music Sacra, c Text © 1975, rev Hope Publishing Company

Hymn “Christ Is Alive” Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving, healing, here and now, and touching every place and time. Text: Brian Wren, 1968; rev Music: Music Sacra, c Text © 1975, rev Hope Publishing Company

Hymn “Christ Is Alive” 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. Text: Brian Wren, 1968; rev Music: Music Sacra, c Text © 1975, rev Hope Publishing Company

Hymn “Christ Is Alive” 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.

Hymn “Christ Is Alive” 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