South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ

THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ORDER FOR THE SERVICE

Second Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2006

Let the prelude be a curtain of music which brings us into the sanctuary to worship God.
 Let necessary conversation be gentle and the preparation we make together be prayerful.

PRELUDE    Sheep may safely graze J.S. Bach

WELCOME

     Announcements    Invitation & Call   Terry Ebner
                                                                  Amanda Brosnan & Georgia Rex
Introduction of Visitors and Guests
Exchange of Peace

     The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

     And also with you.

INTROIT         Now the green blade rises     French Carol

CALL TO WORSHIP     Psalm 16

In the afterglow of Easter, we gather again to call on our God.

You are our refuge, O Christ. In you is the Light of each moment. In you is the Life beyond mere living. In you is our wholeness and holiness.

Counsel us, O Christ, and our souls will rejoice!  Reveal yourself to us, and we will find rest. Offer your cup to us, and we will drink deeply. 

You are our refuge, O Christ. In you is the Light of each moment. In you is the Life beyond mere living.  In you is our wholeness and holiness.

Even in our doubts and fears, you move among us. You sit beside us and refuse to abandon us.

You are our refuge, O Christ. In you is the Light of each moment. In you is the Life beyond mere living.  In you is our wholeness and holiness.

* HYMN         Jesus Christ is Risen Today  # 187 blue

PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

Musical Offering     Risen Today      W. Cutter

           April Foley, Soprano & Laura Rex, Flute

SACRAMENT OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Christopher Michael Cannuscio, son of Jill and Michael Cannuscio

Congregational Response         (in unison)

On behalf of the whole Christian Church, we now receive Christopher into our love and care. We promise to uphold his and his parents in the fulfillment of their vows and to be a Christian community which encourages love for God and neighbor, and nurtures in their spiritual life a Christ centered faith, hope and joy.

Children in grades K-High School may move to their church school classrooms. Parents of children up to age 7, please go to your child's classroom after worship.

* HYMN Hail Thee, Festival Day!    # 120 red

SCRIPTURE       John 20: 19-31      (see insert)
                  

SERMON       A Powerful Mixture          Dr. Mutti

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE         

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS IN THANKSGIVING

  Invitation
  Offertory     This Joyful Eastertide  Dutch Carol arr. Wood
* Doxology       

* Dedication Prayer   

* HYMN  Christ is Alive!   #108 red

* BENEDICTION

* RESPONSE   Forth He Came at Easter   French Carol

POSTLUDE     Fugue in Eb Major St. Anne     J.S.Bach

* Those who are able may stand.

Participating in Today’s Service :
Greeters:  Anne & Roger Wiehe
Acolytes:  Taylor Ferris & Logan Poole
Deacon:  Linda Zimmerman

Youth:  Emily Blech

Scriptures For This Day        New Revised Standard Version

 JOHN 20: 19-31

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.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Scriptures For This Day        New Revised Standard Version

 JOHN 20: 19-31

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.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.