Easter Sunday
“The Capture of Christ” by Giovanni Cimabue, 1240-1302
Join us for Easter!
We’ll have a children’s celebration at 9:30 a.m. in the courtyard, followed by an egg hunt, wrapping up in time for everyone to join our Easter service at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. An octet of instrumentalists will accompany our Adult Choir in Easter songs. At the end of the service, all who know Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” are invited to join us in a great massed choir singing praise to the Lord.
To register your attendance online, click here.
“Christ is Risen. Christ is Risen Indeed.” By his grace, Jesus took away our sin – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That is what we celebrate at Easter. You are invited to help Annandale UMC proclaim that message through your support of our Easter Offering. Your donation can be made online at https://annandalechurch.com/eastergift , using your Easter Offering giving envelope, or simply placing a donation in the offering plate designated for Easter Offering. Thank you for your continued generous support of our Annandale UMC ministry programs.
The Easter Flower Cross is in honor of Alice and Peter Snitzer’s 50th Wedding Anniversary on April 20.
The beautiful flowers on our 2024 Easter altar have been placed by the following persons:
From Sarah Ackley in memory of Bill Parrish
From Grateful Annandale Members in memory of Neil Carter
From Cleve and Linda Askins in memory of Susan Sherer
From Sarah Bentsi-Enchill in memory of Patience Thompson
From Jerry and Laura Beyer in memory of their parents
From Mike and Sally Bizer in memory of their parents and grandparents
From Clay Carney in memory of his parents, Bob and Lou Carney
From Tracy Carney in memory of her father, Les Brownlee
From Betsy Clevenger in memory of Steve Reynolds
From Betsy Clevenger in memory of Neil Carter
From Mithila and Harry Elanko in memory of their parents
From Evie and Bob Herbst in memory of their parents
From Eldon Hildebrandt in memory of his parents, Carl and Della Hildebrandt
From Beckie Himes and Miranda Lansberry in memory of Zachary Himes
From Wilma Hoover in memory of her parents
From Shannon Klosterman in memory of Joyce Clark, her grandmother
From Jim and Judy McConville in memory of Freda and George Hill
From Jim and Judy McConville in memory of their parents and grandparents
From Glenn McLoughlin in memory of Joseph McLoughlin
From Rudy Meekins in memory of Lenia Meekins Fleming
From Rudy Meekins and Elaine Meekins in memory of Sue Meekins
From Rudy Meekins and Elaine Meekins in memory of Hazel Meekins Hare
From Bliss and Drew Miga in memory of Connie Peterson
From Bliss and Drew Miga in memory of Kenny Chambers
From Millett-King Family in memory of Richard L. Millett
From Millett-King Family in memory of Nina Fish
From Millett-King Family in memory of Clara Millett
From Millett-King Family in memory of Larry Millett
From Millett-King Family in memory of Cathy Zernhelt
From Millett-King Family in memory of Michael Robinson and Ed Himmelfarb
From Millett-King Family in memory of Helen King Hile
From Millett-King Family in memory of J. William King, Jr.
From Mike Moser in memory of Margaret Moser
From Marilyn Oliver in memory of Ed Oliver
From Marilyn Oliver in memory of her parents
From Schwarten Family in memory of Jim and Lila Mitchell
From Ginney Smelser in memory of Cora, Arther, and Jimmy Earley
From Ginney Smelser in memory of James, Ronnie, and Brie Smelser
From Peter and Alice Snitzer in memory of their parents
From Denny and Jennifer Stokes in memory of Burnett and Ramona Thompson
From Marcia Twomey in memory of Susan Foerney
From Jack and Jane Underhill in memory of their parents
From Jack and Jane Underhill in memory of Robert A. Underhill
From Marcia and Susan Williams in memory of their parents, George and Shirley Williams
From Marcia and Susan Williams in memory of their sister, Rena Williams
From Larry and Elaine Woods in memory of Hilda and Russell Woods
From Larry and Elaine Woods in memory of David Woods
From her children and grandchildren in honor of Vera Allen
From Mike and Sally Bizer in honor of our children’s families
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of Barbara Carter
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of Pam Jones
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of Jerry and Teresa Beyer
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of Bill and Debbi Iwig
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of Gerta Schutt
From Betsy Clevenger in honor of her children and grandchildren
From Wilma Hoover in honor of Marilyn Oliver
From Cyndi and Chris Jones in honor of all our homebound saints
From Cyndi and Chris Jones in honor of all our people on the prayer list
From Lydia Circle in honor of Sally Bizer
From Jim McConville in honor of Judy McConville
From Jim and Judy McConville in honor of Betsy Clevenger
From Jim and Judy McConville in honor of Elizabeth McConville
From Jim and Judy McConville in honor of Catie, Mark, Skyer, and Piper Padgett
From her children in honor of Linday McGee
From Elaine Meekins in honor of Rudy Meekins
From Patricia Millett and Bob King in honor of our children, David and Elizabeth King
From Patricia Millett and Bob King in honor of Stella Lauth
From Brenda Poole and Chris DiPetto in honor of our children, Gabriella, Jackson, Joseph, and Harrison
From Penny and Alex Schwarten in honor of the amazing people of the church who have become bonus grandparents, aunts, and uncles
From Peter and Alice Snitzer in honor of our children and grandchildren
From their children and grandchildren in honor of Alice and Peter Snitzer
From Marcia Twomey in honor of her children, Nicholas and Lauren
From her children and grandchildren in honor of Martha C. White
From her nieces and nephews in honor of Liisa White
From Katarina Worosello in honor of family, near and far
To reserve flowers for the altar in memory or honor of a loved one on Sundays for $30, contact helanko@annandale-umc.org, 703-256-8330, ext. 100. Flowers may be taken home after worship or left for shut-in members.
Order of Worship
Welcome
Introit: “An Easter Fanfare” - Giomo; Organ and Brass
Greeting and Introduction
Leader: Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ our Lord. My brothers and sisters in Christ: On this most holy morning in which Jesus Christ passed over from death to life, we gather as the Church to watch and pray. This is the Passover of Christ, in which we share in Christ’s victory over death. Let us pray…
All: God of life, through Jesus Christ you have bestowed upon the world the light of life. Sanctify this new fire, and grant that our hearts and minds may also be kindled with holy desire to shine forth with the brightness of Christ’s rising, that we may attain to the feast of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighting the Christ Candle
Leader: The light of Christ rises in glory, overcoming the darkness of sin and death.
All: Christ is our light!
Processional Hymn: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” - Hymnal #302
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Collect
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Children’s Story
Offering of the People
Offertory: Caroline Evans, piano
Doxology: United Methodist Hymnal #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Dedication
Our Father, accept these gifts of our commitment. Use the money to work your good will for the world. Let your Spirit hallow our work just as you hallow the bread and the wine; that in the use for which we bring them, they may be true signs of your gift of new life to us, and of our offering to you of our bodies and hopes.
As the grain was scattered upon the mountains and is gathered into one loaf, gather your church from the corners of earth to your one kingdom. And as the cup is one cup poured for all, pour us out as one gift to the world. In his name who is your gift and our hope, to be one God with you and the Spirit we here invoke, now and forever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 20.1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Anthem: “Thine Be the Glory” - arr. Cope; Adult Choir, Brass, and Percussion
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.1-11
Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
Sermon: Rev. Jason Micheli
Response to the Word: “He Lives” - Houghton and Cruse; Praise Team
More than a Baby in a manger
To whom nobles would humbly bow their knee
Or the young Man heaven knew as Savior
He is alive in me
More than the Man who walked on water
Or the One who caused blinded eyes to see
Greater than all the signs and wonders
He is alive in me
He lives He lives
Conquered the grave covered our sins
He lives He lives
Death couldn't hold the promise within
(He lives) (He's alive)
More than a Man who heard hosanna
From the same who cried crucify the King
Freely He gave as they demanded
Yet still He's alive in me
More than the Man mankind rejected
With nails in His hands and through His feet
The end told much more than they expected
For everyone knows in three days He rose
With power forever to redeem you and me
(Death where is your sting)
He's alive (grave your victory)
He's alive (Jesus holds the keys He reigns)
He reigns forever and ever
He lives He lives
He lives
Confession of Sin
Leader: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Comfortable Words
Leader: Hear God’s assurance of pardon to all who turn to him:
Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matthew 11:28
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15
If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2
The Peace
As pardoned people, extend the peace of Christ to one another
The Great Thanksgiving: Hymnal #17
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
...
Leader: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
...
Leader: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
...
Leader: All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
All: Amen, amen, amen.
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Prayer of Humble Access
We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord whose character is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
Communion Music: “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” - Praise Team
Wonderful merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh You rescue the souls of men
Counselor Comforter Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts
Have hopelessly lost the way
Oh we hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh our hearts always hunger for
Almighty infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh we're falling before Your throne
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh our hearts always hunger for
Announcements
Recessional Hymn: “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” - Hymnal #304
Easter people, raise your voices,
Sounds of heaven in earth should ring.
Christ has brought us heaven's choices;
Heavenly music, let it ring.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.
Fear of death can no more stop us
From our pressing here below.
For our Lord empowered us
To triumph over every foe.
Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.
Every day to us is Easter,
With its resurrection song.
When in trouble move the faster
To our God who rights the wrong.
Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.
Choral Response: “Hallelujah Chorus” - Handel
As is our tradition, anyone interested is invited to join the adult choir in singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”. So, if you have ever sung the “Hallelujah Chorus” before, we invite you to come up during our final hymn, and we will “raise our voices” in this timeless classic as one great, massed choir in honor of our risen Savior!
Benediction: Rev. Micheli
Leader: We are sent forth in the power of Christ’s resurrection.
All: Alleluia!
Leader: We are sent forth with the promise of the forgiveness of sins.
All: Alleluia!
Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: Amen.
Postlude: “Lift High the Cross” - arr. Tucker; Brass and Organ
Instrumentalists
Lane Myers, trumpet
Michael Rosie, trumpet
Joe Cradler, French horn
Dan Ord, trombone
Danny Mentzer, tuba
Denny Stokes, percussion
Kevin Taylor, timpani
Caroline Evans, piano
Elizabeth Miller, organ