1. Welcome to New Hope United Methodist Church
April 8, 2018

2. Announcements Today, Young Adults, 11:20am, RM2
Youth, 5:30pm, Upstairs
Monday, Book Club, 5:30pm
Tuesday, Acts Bible Study, 11am, RM2
Wednesday, Chimes 6pm, RM3, Choir 7pm, Sanctuary
Thursday, Bring Joy Bible Study, 2:30pm, RM2
Fri. 13th – Sun. 15th, District Youth Retreat Camp Happyland
Sun., April 15th, Cherubs Choir, 11:15 am, Rm 11
Wild Game Lunch, 11:30am, Upstairs
Sun, April 22nd, Roadside Clean Up & Lunch, 11:30am, Upstairs

3. Bringing in the Light of Christ
Musical Prelude
Bringing in the Light of Christ

4. Introit
David & Steven Jett

5. *Call to Worship
One: Peace Be with You! As Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, so too does Jesus offer to us God’s very Spirit.
Many: Peace Be with You! We receive the very Spirit of God and celebrate that Christ is alive!

6. Christ Is Alive (1)
*Christ Is Alive
318
WORDS: Brian Wren, 1968, alt.
1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. His cross stands empty to the sky.
© 1975 Hope Publishing Co.

7. Let streets and homes with praises ring
Let streets and homes with praises ring. His love in death shall never die.

8. 2. Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine,

9. he comes to claim the here and now and dwell in every place and time.

10. 3. Not throned afar, remotely high, untouched, unmoved by human pains,
Christ Is Alive (3)
3. Not throned afar, remotely high, untouched, unmoved by human pains,

11. but daily, in the midst of life, our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

12. Christ Is Alive (4)
4. In every insult, rift, and war, where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

13. he suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, though ever crucified.

14. Christ Is Alive (5)
5. Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age,

15. till earth and all creation ring with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

16. Come and fill our hearts with your peace. You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Christ Is Alive (1)
*Come and Fill Our Hearts
TFWS 2157
Sung 3 Times
Come and fill our hearts
with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
with your peace,
Alleluia!

17. Children’s Time

18. Special Music
David & Steven Jett

19. Offering Our Gifts to God

20. Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow94
WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674; adapt. by Gilbert H. Vieira, 1978
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

21. Praise God, the source of all our gifts
Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

22. Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Christ Is Alive (1)
*His Eye Is on the Sparrow
TFWS 2146
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:

23. His eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
Refrain:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

24. I sing because I’m happy, for his eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

25. “Let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word I hear,
Christ Is Alive (1)
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:

26. His eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
Refrain:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

27. I sing because I’m happy, for his eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

28. when song give place to a sighing, when hope within me dies,
Christ Is Alive (1)
3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song give place to a sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:

29. His eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
Refrain:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

30. I sing because I’m happy, for his eye is on the sparrow,
Christ Is Alive (1)
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

31. Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer

32. Hymnal #895
Used By Permission. CCLI License #

33. 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.

34. but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
And lead us not
into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.

35. Scripture Reading
John 20:19-23
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 

36. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you
 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

37. Breathe on Me, Breath of God (1)
420
WORDS: Edwin Hatch, 1878 (Jn. 20:22)
1. Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,

38. that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

39. Breathe on Me, Breath of God (2)
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,

40. until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

41. Breathe on Me, Breath of God (3)
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,

42. till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

43. Scripture Reading
John 20:24-29
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.

44. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

45. Jesus Comes to Us in the Midst of Doubt & Disbelief
The Message
Jesus Comes to Us in the Midst of Doubt & Disbelief

46. A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada
883
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
By permission of The United Church of Canada

47. We believe in God:. who has created and is creating,
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.

48. We trust in God. We are called to be the church:
We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil,

49. to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

50. In life, in death,. in life beyond death,. God is with us
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.

51. Hymn of Promise (1)
707
*Hymn of Promise
WORDS: Natalie Sleeth, 1986
1. In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
© 1986 Hope Publishing Co.

52. In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

53. Hymn of Promise (2)
2. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.

54. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

55. Hymn of Promise (3)
3. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

56. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

57. *Blessing
Please join us for food and fellowship in the Hospitality Room following the service.