United Methodist Church of Cadillac

1020 East Division Street • Cadillac, Michigan

775-5362 • Fax 775-6475

Easter Sunday ✝ The Resurrection of our Lord

March 23, 2008 at Eleven O’clock in the Morning

“On the first day of the week, at early dawn,

the women came to the tomb,

taking the spices that they had prepared.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb . . .”

Prepared for mourning, they were called to joy instead.

May their witness give you hope.

THE GATHERING TO WORSHIP

PRELUDE MUSIC

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESURRECTION

“Resurrection Praise” Arr. Michael Barrett

*CELEBRATION HYMN..........................................................................................#302

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today”

*ENTRANCE OF THE LIGHT OF CHRIST...................................................by Acolytes

*EASTER AFFIRMATION

One: This is a new day! A day of marvels and miracles! A day to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled with too many worries and too little faith.

All: On this Easter morning, we hear the old folks saying Mary don’t you weep!

to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled

with too much criticism and too little affirmation.

All: Today, Martha, don’t you moan!

One: This is a new day! A day of marvels and miracles! A day to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled with too many questions and too few answers.

All: This is Easter morning; dry your tears and shout for joy! He is not dead. He is alive! God has conquered death and Jesus has canceled sin. This is, indeed, a new day!

One: For Christ is risen!

All: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*SHARING THE JOY OF THE RESURRECTION

A TIME OF WELCOME AND PARISH NOTES

THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAYING

PRAYER HYMN........................................................................................................#307

“Christ is Risen”

UNISON PRAYER

Jesus Christ, we greet you!

Your hands still have the imprint in them,

your feet are wet from the dew;

and with the memory of our names

undimmed by three days death

you meet us, risen from the grave.

We fail to understand how;

we puzzle at the reason why.

But you have come:

not to answer our questions

but to show us your face.

You are alive and the world can rejoice again.

Alleluia! Amen!

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD'S PRAYER.............................................................................................#895

THE READING AND PROCLAIMING OF THE WORD

EASTER ANTHEM.....................................................................................Chancel Choir

“The Day of Resurrection” Arr. Benjamin Harlan

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN

GOSPEL LESSON...........................................................................................NT pg 114

John 20:1-18

MESSAGE....................................................................................Pastor Thomas E. Ball

“What, Or Who, Are We Looking For?”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

ORGAN OFFERTORY

*EASTER DOXOLOGY..........................................................................Tune: Old 100^th

Praise God for this great gift of life,

In Christ is ended death and strife,

We praise the Spirit for this day;

And seek to follow Christ’s true way. Amen.

*PRAYER OF CONSECRATION...(in unison)

Loving God, your gift of resurrection reminds us that all we possess comes to us by your grace. May these gifts and offerings serve as a token of our love and gratefulness. May they be used to further God’s justice and love in the world. May we live in new life and share that life with others. Amen.

THE SCATTERING TO SERVE

*HYMN OF VICTORY.............................................................................................#310

“He Lives”

*SENDING FORTH

One: Let us go forth from this place, proclaiming the good news, sharing in and working for the resurrection in all the crucified places in the world. And may the blessing of God, giver of life; Jesus, the risen Christ and hope for new life among us and the Holy Spirit, power of new life at work in the world be with us all, now and always.

All: Alleluia! Amen!

*ORGAN POSTLUDE

Christ Is Risen!! Alleluia! Alleluia!! Alleluia!!!

"Learning to Love to Pray” seminar: Cadillac Christian Reformed Church is hosting a "Learning to Love to Pray" seminar on Saturday, April 19. This is a six hour time of prayer, teaching and worship to recharge your prayer life, become more aware of God's presence, and pray more powerfully. Breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, call CCRC at 775-5291.

Sunday Volunteer Ministry, March 30

Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson

11:00 a.m. - Collin Hinkston

Nursery: Jackie Bailey

Sermontime: Katy Huckle

Coffee Hour: Open

Power Point: Create & 8:30 - Dave Darrow 11:00 - Jackie Soltman

Greeters and Ushers 8:30 - Jack Boyd and Bedonna Davis

Greeters 11:00 - Judy Murdoch and Lepha Engler

Ushers 11:00 - Ron & Marilyn Truax, Jeff, Tonja & Ethan Hinkston

Opportunities for Ministry This Week . . .

Sunday, March 23 - Easter Sunday - The Day of Resurrection

Coffee Hour follows the 11:00 worship service

8:30 a.m. - First Service of Easter

9:30 a.m. - Mini-Brunch Served in Fellowship Hall

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School - Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

11:00 a.m. - Celebration Worship

Tuesday, March 25

7:15 a.m. - Prayer Group

7:00 p.m. - Evangelism and Membership Committee meets

Wednesday, March 26

11:00 a.m. - Friendship Chain meets

7:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 27

7:00 a.m. - Promise Keepers

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - ICC meets in the Corbin Room

11:30 a.m. - Prayer Group

6:00 p.m. - Methodist Men meet

Saturday, March 29

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Event in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 30 - Second Sunday of Easter

Coffee Hour follows both worship services

8:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

11:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - JD’s meet

The Christian Education Committee is searching for someone to take the position of Sunday School Superintendent. If interested, please contact Shelly DeCoeur or Pastor Tom at 775-5362.

If you were interested in The Prayers of Jesus study that was offered during Lent, but you were unable to attend the Sunday evening sessions, the Coffee Club Sunday School Class is the place for you! On April 6 at 9:45 a.m., we will begin the Prayers of Jesus study. The study is six weeks long and each lesson stands alone, so join us for a few or all of them. We will watch the DVD and have some great discussion. We meet on the south side of the Fellowship Hall. Come join in the discussion!

The Feast of Easter falls on March 23 in 2008. This is nearly the earliest possible date upon which Easter can fall. It is possible for Easter to land one day earlier, on March 22, but each of these early dates are extremely rare. This year, we will have the earliest Easter that anyone alive today will ever see! One of the factors determining the early date of Easter in 2008 is the leap year. Since February, 2008 had 29 days instead of the usual 28, the vernal equinox arrives a day earlier, on March 20 instead of March 21. It also so happens that the Full Moon in this month lands on March 21, earlier than in most years. Since March 21 is a Friday, the following Sunday is March 23, and it is on this date that Easter is celebrated in 2008. The earliest theoretical date for Easter is March 22, which would happen in a leap year if the Full Moon were the day after the equinox on a Saturday. This circumstance is very rare. Easter has not landed on March 22 since 1818 & will not fall on that date again until 2285. And Easter will not again fall on March 23 until 2160! So 2008 will be the earliest Easter for everyone alive today, since it will not fall this early again for another 152 years! So kids, be sure to tell your great-grandchildren about the early Easter of 2008!

We are having a wonderful winter season for skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling and sledding. This has been a boost to our Cadillac economy. Unfortunately, the rain, snow and ice have hindered our attendance on Sundays for worship. This in turn has hurt our offering plate in the new year; the Finance Committee is feeling the pinch. As we celebrate Easter today, let us think of a new and strong beginning.

On behalf of the Youth, I would like to thank everyone who attended the Gourmet Dinner and especially those who helped clean up afterwards. I really appreciate your generosity & your servant’s heart. A special thank you to Bill George, Larry Solce, Lynn Cummings, Bill and Sue Allen and Kathy Green. Debbie Pant

There will be no Confirmation Classes for the next three weeks. During this time, the Confirmands will be meeting with their mentors as they continue their faith journey. Confirmation Classes will resume on Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m.

Today’s Worship Ministry . . .

Liturgist: Judy Coffey

Organist/Pianist: Virginia Pulford

Acolyte: 8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson

11:00 a.m. - Drew and Lucas Marion

Nursery: Kevin and Patricia Bruner

Sermontime: Sue Allen

Coffee Hour: Worship Committee

Power Point: Create/ 8:30 and 11:00 - Jeff Hinkston

Greeters/ Ushers 8:30 - Ruth Peterson and Paul Helton

Greeters 11:00 - Jeff and Laura Marion

Ushers 11:00- Bill George, Peg Kirvan, Cathy Lilly, Kelly & Jake Ball

The flowers on the Lord’s table this morning are in honor of Jack and Alice Fitzgerald remembering their many years of faithful service to Christ, the church and the community and in thankfulness for their 30 years of friendship.

The message board for our Lenten Prayer Partners is available today for the BIG revealing. Thank you to all for sharing in this Lenten experience as we listened, reflected and received during Lent.

Following the 8:30 worship service, you are invited to join in a Easter Mini-Brunch in Fellowship Hall - complete with rolls, muffins, breads, juice, fruit, real and decaf coffee. A regular Coffee Hour will be served following the 11:00 am service.

Our Easter Offering will be divided between Tools of Hope and Blankets which provides blankets, tents & emergency supplies in the wake of disaster as well as material assistance, education, training, Bishop Judith Craig Children's Village, which aims to offer the love and upbringing deserved by children of God for Liberia's orphans, and our local Meals on Wheels program which helps to enable senior adults to remain as independent as possible by delivering nutritious meals to them in their homes. In this season of resurrection, may our offerings bring new life to those in need.