Bulletin – Sunday, April 19, 2026 – Third Sunday of Easter / Earth Day Sunday
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Third Sunday of Easter
Earth Day Sunday
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Lighting the Christ Candle
Announcements
Call to Worship
One: We are connected.
All: We are one in Spirit.
One: We are different, unique, yet
All: We are one in the Body of Christ.
One: We belong to one tree of Life.
All: We are one people on one planet called by God to be caretakers of the Earth.
One: Come, let us worship in unity and creation on this Earth Day Sunday
Please join in the singing of the hymn – “The Spring has Come” (Voices United # 187)
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!
The sun is warm, let all God’s children play in it!
The world expands, let’s spread the Gospel way in it!
New leaf, new thrust, new greening for the love of Christ.
New leaf, new thrust, the sun is warm, let all God’s children play in it!
The spring has come, new people are the flower of it.
Through wind and rain, new life is in the showers of it.
New bud, new shoot, new hope will bear the Spirit’s fruit.
New bud, new shoot, the spring has come, new people are the flowers of it!
Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Ever Abundant God, we open our hearts to you this day, and offer these truths. Today we live in the fear that encompasses us. Today we live today with prejudice that is right in front of us. Today we live with ignorance within us and around us. Today we live with the doubt that holds us back.
All: Help us, we pray, that we will find courage in unlikely places, Help us to discover the world with new and gracious understandings, Help us to move to those places were love is needed. Help us to have faith that you are with us.
One: Hear us, Holy One as we pray in silence.
Words of Assurance
One: Now receive this good news! God breaks down the partial nature of our commitment, And the fragile nature of our hope, through the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! For this and all God’s mercies we give thanks. Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed.
All: Thanks be to God! Christ is Risen. Christ is risen indeed!
Sung Response – “Alleluia” (More Voices #50)
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Invitation to the Passing of the Peace
Please offer one another the peace of Christ in a way that you feel comfortable and respects others’ space.
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Readings
The first Scripture reading is from Acts 2:14a, 17-23
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The second Scripture reading is from 1 Peter 1:17-23
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Please join in the singing of the hymn – ”The Church is Wherever” (Voices United #579)
The church is wherever God’s people are praising,
Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
Remember his story and walk in his way.
The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
The words of the Bible in gift and in deed.
Sermon
Anthem – “All I Have”
All I have I give to Jesus, all I am and all I hope to be.
There is nothing that I could give Him that would repay His gift of love to me.
All my praise I give to Jesus, ev’ry song I have to sing.
Through His name I live victorious, as I proclaim Him as my Lord and King.
Take my life and all it is; make it more completely yours.
Fill me now that I may live in your love forevermore.
Use me Lord, to do your Kingdom’s work; in your plan, Lord, let me have a part.
Make each day I live a tribute Lord, let your Spirit overflow my heart.
Help me find a place of service Lord, that I may show the way of truth.
All I am and all I hope to be, Lord, I give it all to you.
Take my life and all it is; make it more completely yours.
Fill me now that I may live in your love forevermore.
All I have, I give you Lord.
We Respond to God’s Word
Invitation to Share
Offering Sung Response – “He is Lord”
He is Lord! He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord!
Offering Prayer
Prayers of the People
The Prayer that Jesus Taught
One: Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray:
All: Our Creator who is like…..Our Mother and 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 and ever. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Spirit God, be our Breath” (More Voices #150)
Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.
Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us. When we know you are near
We grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.
Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.
Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.
Commissioning
One: Travel the road of life with love.
All: We will journey the paths of God.
One: Travel the road of life with faith.
All: We will journey with the risen Christ.
One: Travel the road of life with hope.
All: We will follow the Holy Spirit wherever it may lead.
Benediction
Sung Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen” (Voices United #974)
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
