Metropolitan United Church
London Ontario, Canada
Sunday April 5, 2026
Easter Sunday
Organ Prelude: Music for Easter –
Western Brass Ensemble
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
Minister:He is risen!All:He is risen indeed!Minister:Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.All:We have an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.Minister:Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. The Kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.All: And he shall reign for ever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords. Hallelujah! Thanks be to God.
Processional Hymn
VU#157 – Christ the Lord is Risen Today – Easter Hymn
Opening Prayer
A New Creed: Let us declare our faith together:
We are not alone, we live in God's world.
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.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.SanctusHoly, holy, holy, Lord God AlmightyEarly in the morning our song shall rise to TheeHoly, holy, holy, merciful and mightyGod in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Welcome & Announcements.
The Training Choir – Alleluia! Come let us sing –
John Bertalot (Training Choir)
Circle Time –
Children's Prayer
Anthem: Joyful, Joyful we adore Thee
Jubilate BellsThe Holy Gospel of St. John 20:1-18
20Early 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 towards 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.
11 But 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 round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?' 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: Easter Choral – Samuel Barberv(with Brass)
VU#189 – Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise – Ascension (Monk)
Pastoral & Lord's Prayer
Call for the Offering
Offertory Prayer
O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom
We know that all we have received is from your hand.
You call us to be stewards of your abundance,
the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us
Help us to always use your gifts wisely
and teach us to share them generously.
May our faithful stewardships bear witness
to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Amen.
Doxology (VU#541)
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.
Motet: Ecce vicit Leo - Philips
The Scriptures – Matthew 28:1-10
28 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; 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 worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'
Message: "Shaken, Not Stirred"Rev. Dr. David McMaster
I get knocked but I get up again
VU#164 – The Day of Resurrection - Ellacombe
Choral Benediction -Hallelujah – George Frederich Handel
Commissioning & Benediction
Organ Postlude: Carillon Sortie – Henri Mulet
