When Christmas and Easter Collide

April 24, 2022
Pastor Stacy Dickson
Worship

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Service of Worship

Air
G.F. Handel
Public Domain

Leader: Smiling is infectious. You catch it like the flu.
People: When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling, too.
Leader: I passed around the corner, and someone saw my grin.
People: When he smiled I realized I’d passed it on to him.
Leader: I thought about that smile. Then I realized its worth.
People: A single smile just like mine could travel the whole earth.
Leader: So if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.
People: Let’s start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Opening Hymn “God Bless Ye Merry Sinner” (Tune: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”)

1. God bless you merry sinner,
you’re forgiven it is true;
Remember Christ your Savior
has lived and died for you,
And lives again as King of Kings
of saint and sinner, too.

Refrain
Oh, tidings of Easter peace and joy,
peace and joy.
Oh, tidings of Easter peace and joy.

2. In Jerusalem at Calvary
that dismal Friday morn,
Amid the pain and suffering
eternal life was born.
It came with arms outstretched to us,
right through the curtain torn.

Refrain
Oh, tidings of Easter peace and joy,
peace and joy.
Oh, tidings of Easter peace and joy.

3. So sing an hallelujah,
for our Savior’s victory,
And shout to all Hosanna,
that we have been set free,
From sin and death and devil’s grip throughout eternity.

Refrain 2
We’ll have tidings of Easter peace and joy, peace and joy.
Glad tidings of Easter peace and joy.

God Bless You Merry Sinner
© 1999 Paul Lintern
Permission granted to use and duplicate words for congregational use.

Scripture Reading — Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Skit

Pastoral Prayer, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

Skit

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory Hymn “Hark! The Herald Angel Said”
(Tune: #240 – Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

Hark the Herald Angel said,
Why seek Jesus with the dead?
He’s not here, as you can see,
Grave cloths lie where he would be.
On your way now, tell the others,
Jesus will be with his brothers.
Sisters, too, he wants to see
on the hills of Galilee.
Hark the Herald Angel said,
He is risen from the dead.

Hark! The Herald Angel Said
©2004 by Paul Lintern.
Reprinted with permission.

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
© Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

On my own
what I have to give
doesn’t amount to much
in the light of all you have given to me
and in the face of so much need.

Put together as a congregation,
what we offer you here in love
becomes more,
not simply added together,
but somehow multiplied in its usefulness.

We ask you to bless our gifts
and with the addition of your blessing,
just as it was with the loaves and fishes,
there is enough for all.

Amen

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.a 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The womena were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the menb said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Sermon — Pastor Stacy Dickson
“When Christmas and Easter Collide”

Skit

Closing Hymn “Joy to the World” (Easter lyrics)
(Tune: #246)

1. Joy to the World, the Lord’s alive, Awake, rejoice and sing!
It’s just as He had said,
He’s risen from the dead.
Salvation now He brings,
Salvation now He brings,
Salvation, salvation now He brings.

2. Joy to the World, the empty tomb,
Proclaims a victory.
Of light compelling,
A great dispelling
Of darkness in the world,
Of darkness in the world,
Of darkness, of darkness in the world.

3. Joy to the World,
Our Savior reigns,
Let Heaven and earth proclaim
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Allegro Moderate Maestro
F. Mendelssohn
Public Domain