WNCC Easter Worship Service

Download a PDF of the Order of Worship

Easter Sunday
April 12, 2020

Before Coming Together

As you gather for this Easter Service where we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, we invite you to create an altar table where you will worship.  After covering the table with some kind of cloth, you might want to include a cross, a lit candle, and symbols of new life like a sprig of dogwood blossoms, a butterfly, a shell or bowl of water representing baptism, and a picture of a newborn baby.

Welcome

Rev. David Hockett
Metro District Superintendent

Opening Music

St. Paul United Methodist

On the Third Day
Jesus was crucified
Jesus was crucified
He died and was buried
Died and was buried
Jesus was crucified

On the third day
On the third day
On the third day Christ arose
On the third day
On the third day
On the third day Christ arose

He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand
Of God the Father Almighty
He will come again to judge
The living and the dead
His kingdom will have no end

Christ is risen from the dead
He is risen as He said
He is alive, He is alive
Alleluia, alleluia
Christ has conquered death and sin
Died for us our souls to win
He is alive He is alive
Alleluia

Ah alleluia
Ah alleluia
On the third day
On the third day
On the third day Christ arose

Call to Worship

Rev. Bev Coppley
Northern Piedmont District Superintendent

Give thanks to the Lord!
God’s steadfast love endures forever!
The Risen Lord is our strength and our might,
And he has become our salvation.
The Lord is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 

Response

Rev. Emmanuel K. Boakye-Yiadom, All Nations United Methodist
Rev. In-Yong Lee, Rutherfordton First United Methodist
Pilar Perez, Hickory Grove United Methodist
 

Opening Prayer

Rev. Angela Pleasants
Catawba Valley District Superintendent
 

Opening Hymn

Martha Bassett and Jonathan Emmons, Centenary United Methodist

Ain't No Grave
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
When I hear that trumpet sound I'm gonna rise right out of the ground
Ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, look way down the river, what do you think I see?
I see a band of angels and they're coming after me
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, look down yonder Gabriel, put your feet on the land and see
But Gabriel don't you blow your trumpet 'til you hear it from me
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
Ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, meet me Jesus, meet me. Meet me in the middle of the air
And if these wings don't fail me I will meet you anywhere
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, meet me mother and father, meet me down the river road
And momma you know that I'll be there when I check in my load
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Affirmation from Romans 8:35; 37-39

Rev. Beth Crissman
Blue Ridge District Superintendent

Pastor: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword?
People: No! In all things we are more than conquerors through the One who loved us. We are sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thanks be to God! Amen.
 

Prayer For Our Communities Followed by The Lord's Prayer

Rev. Mike Bailey
Yadkin Valley District Superintendent

 

Moment of Gratitude

Dr. Carl Arrington
Appalachian District Superintendent

 

Scripture - John 20:1-18

Rev. Amy Coles
Assistant to the Bishop

 

Message

Bishop Paul L. Leeland
Western North Carolina Conference Bishop
 

Moment of Reflection

Rev. Laura Auten
Uwharrie District Superintendent

Closing Hymn

Myers Park United Methodist              

The Day of Resurrection
 United Methodist Hymnal #303
The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own "All hail!" and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful!
Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph,
and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen,
our joy that hath no end. 
 

Blessing and Benediction

Rev. Linda Kelly 
Smoky Mountain District Superintendent
 

Closing Music

Rev. Kyle Sigmon, FaithBridge United Methodist

Christ the Lord is Risen Today (He is Risen, Indeed!)
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
Sons and daughters and angels say, Alleluia! 
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 
 
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! 
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia! 
Where's thy victory, O thy grave? Alleluia!
 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
 
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! 
 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
 
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! 
 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen today!
 
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Christ the Lord is risen today!
 
 

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Thank you to everyone who participated in this collaborative service of worship for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.
 
Bishop Paul L. Leeland
Rev. Amy Coles
    Assistant to the Bishop
Dr. Carl Arrington
    Appalachian District Superintendent
Rev. Laura Auten
    Uwharrie District Superintendent
Rev. Mike Bailey
    Yadkin Valley District Superintendent
Rev. Bev Coppley
    Northern Piedmont District Superintendent
Rev. Beth Crissman
    Blue Ridge District Superintendent
Rev. David Hockett
    Metro District Superintendent
Rev. Linda Kelly
    Smoky Mountain District Superintendent
Rev. Angela Pleasants
    Catawba Valley District Superintendent
Melissa McGill
    Director of Communications
Aimee Yeager
    Communications Ministry Assistant
Eric Brown and Carly Martin
    Picnic Table Productions
All Nations United Methodist
Asbury Memorial United Methodist in Asheville
Centenary United Methodist in Winston-Salem
FaithBridge United Methodist
Hickory Grove United Methodist in Charlotte
Matthews United Methodist
Myers Park United Methodist
North Wilkesboro First United Methodist
Pine Grove United Methodist in Kernersville
Richfield United Methodist
Rutherfordton First United Methodist
St. Paul United Methodist in Winston Salem
West Market Street United Methodist
 

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“On the Third Day” 
Written by Allen Pote
© 1992 Hope Publishing Company
CCLI License No. 2714362
 
“Ain’t No Grave”
Written by Claude Ely, Jonathan Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs
© 2018 Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License NO. 2714362

“The Day of Resurrection” UMH #303
Words by John of Damascus
Translated by John Mason Neale
© 1989 United Methodist Hymnal
OneLicense No.  A-711660
 
“Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
(He Is Risen, Indeed!)”
© 2020 Kyle Sigmon Music
CCLI License No. 2714362