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April 5, 2026: Easter Sunday

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, April 5, 2026

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April 5, 2026

EASTER SUNDAY!!!!!

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Norine Baron

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

Scripture for meditation
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”…(John 20: 18a)

We Gather

PRELUDE: A selection of Easter Hymns

A Stewardship Second
The stone has been rolled away! Hope is unleashed in the world! Share with abandon!

WELCOME

SCRIPTURE READING: John 20: 1-18 (Resurrection)
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. So 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.”Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed,for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb,and 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.
They 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.”When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.Jesus 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.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).Jesus said to her, “Do not touch 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.’ ”Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE

HYMN: VU #187 “The Spring Has Come” v.1
The spring has come, let all the church be part of it!
The world has changed and God is at the heart of it!
New light, new day, new colour after winter grey. New light, new day, the spring has come, let all the church be part of it!

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.
In gratitude and respect,
The United Church of Canada gathers, worships, and works on Indigenous lands across Canada.

OPENING PRAYER: (adapted from Ted Loder)
God of such amazing surprises as put a catch in my breath and wings on my heart, I praise you for this Easter-Joy that calls for songs and sharing;
For the YES to life and laughter, to love and lovers.
For this kin(g)dom untombed and all barriers smashed;
For this resurrection madness that is wiser than us and full of your grace;
Create of us “A New Gospel” that dances with truth and unleashes love;
That pirouettes and lands in the arms and hearts of those most broken;
Who dare wander barefoot through forgotten dreams and shy hopes…This is the conspiracy of Easter- “He Lives!”

*OPENING HYMN:VU #155 “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”
1. Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
who did once, upon the cross, hallelujah!
suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!

2. Hymns of praise then let us sing hallelujah!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah!
who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!

3. But the pains which he endured, hallelujah!
our salvation have procured; hallelujah!
now above the sky he’s King, hallelujah!
where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah!

4. Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
praise eternal as God’s love; hallelujah!
praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Light of Faith

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Deep down in my soul,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Deep down in my soul,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Deep down in my soul,
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

We Listen

A New Creed (United Church of Canada)
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.

ANTHEM: “Introit for Easter” - J. Rainey

SERMON: “In the Key of Easter” Rev Brian Goodings

PASTORAL and LORD’S PRAYER

*HYMN: VU #703 “In the Bulb There is a Flower”
1. In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

2. There’s a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

3. In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
We have glimpsed the empty tomb and been touched by the mystery. So, like Mary, we cannot be silenced. We cannot keep our gifts to ourselves. We will receive the offering so our gifts can help spread the marvelous news.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
O God of the empty tomb and the quiet voice, we have walked in a world full of grief and despair. Touch our souls and lighten our spirits. Come, in power and mystery; draw us in to meet the risen Jesus. Bless what we have offered here, and help us find our voices to share the astonishing news. In the name of the Risen One, Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Donate”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer.
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

DEDICATION: VU #166 Chorus
Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb and
scatters the night with her song,
joy comes with the dawn

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU #173 “Thine is the Glory”
1. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where the body lay.
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

2. Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting.
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

3. No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION: VU #586 “We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection”
1. We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of new life in Christ.

2. We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all in circles of our love.