WELCOME TO WORSHIP | Easter Sunday | April 20, 2025

a diverse, inclusive church experiencing and reflecting the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ

to each other and our community.

PRELUDE
Risen, Alleluia! | Allen Koepke
Chancel Choir
Risen, Christ the Lord is risen, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, sing ye heavens and earth reply; death in vain forbids him rise, Christ has opened paradise. Love’s redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia, let us sing! Where, O death, now is thy sting? Alleluia, Christ is King! Risen, Alleluia!

Allen Koepke | © 1988 CPP/Belwin, Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

WELCOME | Pastor Cathy Johns

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect

* CALL TO WORSHIP | Brian McComb, liturgist 
Today, we gather in the radiant joy of Easter morning! Christ is risen! The stone has been rolled away!

The grave could not hold Jesus – death has been defeated!

Darkness is gone! Brightness reigns!
God’s love has poured over us, bringing us joy and hope!

The risen Christ calls us to go and tell the world!

We are Easter people, called to proclaim the good news!

Hope is alive, love has won, and the kingdom of God is at hand!

Let our voices rise in praise, for Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

* GATHERING HYMN
Christ the Lord is Risen Today | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 302 (verses 1,2,3,4)
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!

Charles Wesley | © words and music: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

* OPENING PRAYER 
Loving God, on this glorious morning, we come with hearts full of joy, for the tomb is empty, and death has been defeated! Love has triumphed over fear. You have risen just as you said, and because you live, we too are alive with hope! We are a resurrection people, called to live in the power of new life. In the face of darkness, we proclaim your light. In a world of despair, we declare your hope. In the midst of brokenness, we trust in your redemption. Let the joy of this day fill our hearts, that we may go forth as witnesses of your grace, bearing the good news that Christ is risen indeed! Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE | Pastor Monique McBride

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH 

An Easter Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose mercy we are given new birth into a living hope through Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We believe in Jesus Christ whom death could not hold. He embraces all people, welcomes us as beloved sisters and brothers, and holds us in steadfast love and hope. We believe in the Holy Spirit that works in us, filling us with peace and power. The Spirit empowers us to go and tell others the good news: Jesus is alive and in our midst. Alleluia! Alleluia!

* GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Henry W. Greatorex | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MUSIC MINISTRY 
Rise Up Singing | Craig Courtney
Chancel Choir & Brubeck Brass 
There were no hosannas, no praises led the way. Gone the cries of “crucify”, the angry words of hate. A heavy stone of silence was laid across the grave, the Savior rose up singing when the stone was rolled away. Rise up singing, roll the stone away, rise up from the darkness, rise up from the grave. Rise up from the silence, rise up and set me free. Rise up singing, rise up in me. We shall not be silent but death is not the end, because he rose up singing, we too shall rise again. With the saints in chorus we shall rise and sing a song of alleluia to the risen king of kings. Alleluia!

Craig Courtney, Pamela Martin | © 2005 Beckenhorse Press, Inc.   | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:1-10 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

These are the words of God for us, the people of God. Thanks be to God

MESSAGE
His Healing Wings | Pastor Cathy Johns

OFFERING | Pastor Monique McBride
worshiping through the offering of our lives and gifts

·      Place offerings in the plates or wooden boxes

·      Give online at christchurchfl.org/give 

·      Text GIVE to 954.880.3885

·      Mail a check to Christ Church, 4845 NE 25^th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Connect cards may also be placed with your offering. Christ Church is a congregationally supported ministry. We thank you for your faithfulness as we reflect the love, hope and joy of Jesus to our community.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Jesus Lives! | David Lantz III
Chancel Choir & Brubeck Brass
Alleluia! Crown him Lord of all! Jesus lives he has risen victorious! Chains of death could not hold him! Shout for joy, Jesus Christ tore the bars away, now the crucified one lives again! With the whole earth together we sing, Jesus lives! Let the heavens rejoice, he is King! He inhabits the praise of his people. Lift his name, see his glory come down. Lamb of God, prince of peace, conquered death for us, resurrected king now wears a crown! Come and worship him now, Christ the savior; crowned with glory and honor, he reigns! Jesus lives, with his own sing a song of praise. He has given us life through his name. Let the heavens rejoice, he is king, and crown him Lord of all!

Susan Bentall Boersma, David Lantz III | © 2008 Beckenhorst Press, Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* 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.

Bourgeois & Ken | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MORNING PRAYER | Pastor Doug Johns

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, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

* HYMN OF COMMITMENT
He Lives | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 310 (verses 1,3)
I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living, whatever foes may say.
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer,
and just the time I need him, he’s always near.

(refrain) He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives. He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find;
none other is so loving, so good and kind.  (refrain)

Alfred Henry Ackley | © words & music: 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver. Renewed 1961 Curb Word Music | CCLI License # 487103

* SENDING FORTH

* RESPONSE
Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) | George Frideric Handel 
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world; is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever. King of kings forever and ever hallelujah and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah. And he shall reign forever and ever. King of kings forever and ever and lord of lords hallelujah. King of kings and lord of lords and he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!

George Frideric Handel | © words & music: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MUSIC FOR CLOSING
Toccata from Symphony 5 | Charles-Marie Widor | arranged for brass and organ by Richard Proulx
Chuck Stanley, organ; Brubeck Brass

Charles-Marie Widor | Richard Proulx | music: © public domain | Brass arrangement © 2006, World Library Publications, the music and liturgy division of J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* please stand in body or spirit.

Join us next Sunday for worship at 9am and 11am as our church lay leaders lead worship on Laity Sunday. 

Click here to read the dedications of Easter plants in honor or in memory of our loved ones.

For a complete list of all the ways to conect click here