Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or in person in the labyrinth. Bring a chair and Join us!
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Gathering Music (Listen carefully) Birds in the Woods
Welcome and Announcements Cierra Moss
Call to Worship
One: Give thanks to our Good God whose unfailing love lasts forever!
Many: Give thanks to our God whose unfailing love lives forever!
One: We gather together in the dawn of a new day. We look toward the tomb to seek the Enfleshed Word.
Many: The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty! Alleluia!
One: We find God alive in the searching, in the garden, in our hope-filled spaces.
Many: Alleluia. Christ lives and finds us with unfailing love!
Opening Hymn “Morning Has Broken”
Words by Eleanor Farjeon; Music is a Gaelic melody
1) Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh
from the Word!
2) Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.
3) Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning, born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation; praise every morning, God’s recreation of the new day!
Scripture Lesson John 20:1-8
Sermon “I Have Seen…” Dr. Keith Ray
Thoughts to Consider: While preparing for today’s worship gathering, I came across these words by Chris Barnes regarding Easter: “‘The question that Easter asks of us is not, ‘Do we believe in the doctrine of the resurrection?’ Frankly, that is not particularly hard. What the Gospels ask is not, ‘Do you believe?’ but ‘Have you encountered the risen Christ?’”
As progressives, where do we encounter the living Divine in our midst?
Let’s talk about it together.
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory “I Danced in the Morning”
Words by Sydney Carter; Music based on a Shaker tune
1) I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth.
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
(Refrain) Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
and I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
2) I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John.
They came with me and the dance went on. Refrain
3) I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame.
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and the stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die. Refrain
4) I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black.
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on. Refrain
5) They cut me down and I leapt up high.
I am the life that will never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. Refrain
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)
Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.
Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.
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Join us for our Potluck Brunch following service.
Easter Egg Hunt for all those Young at Heart!
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Calendar of Service -
April 7 - Dr. Keith Ray - Potluck meal; Potluck Hymn Sunday
April 14 - Sarah Woodard from CDCA
April 21 - TBD
April 28 - Dr. Keith Ray
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Adopt-A-Highway: NACCP Trash Collectors will gather on Saturday, 6 April at 9:00 AM to collect trash strewn along a one-mile stretch on each side of 4200 Liberty Highway. The more people we have, the less time we will need! If you have friends who might be willing to help, please invite them!
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Celebrate Earth Month 2024: Attend a Tree Rescue Workshop! Cynthia Warner will host a Tree Rescue Workshop at NACCP on Thursday, 11 April 2024, beginning at 9 AM. Some people rescue raptors; other people rescue mammals; Cynthia rescues trees! After years of engaging in tree rescue, Cynthia has been convinced to share what she knows with others. If you attend this workshop, you can celebrate Earth Month 2024 by rescuing a tree (maybe even 2 or 3 trees!) from being overtaken (and killed) by invasive vines.
This workshop is a joint endeavor by North Anderson Community Church (Presbyterian) (NACCP) and Peace Church, UCC in Clemson. If you would like more information about this workshop, contact Cynthia (cynthiakwarner@mac.com) or Laura (pastor@thepeacechurch.org). If this is all the information you need, just show up at 4200 Liberty Highway at 9:00 AM on Thursday 11 April to learn about (and practice) tree rescue!
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Sharon reminds us that the “One Great Hour of Sharing” special collections continue through Lent season. You may write “OGHS” on the memo line of your check or use the designated envelopes for cash donations.
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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!
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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)! Bring your non-perishable items to the church. This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.
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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP? Would you like to make this community your spiritual home? Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.
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Remember in prayer: Michael Little’s friend Becky; Shea Marsden; Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Jackie Moore; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.
NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions
and the journey to the answers.
Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com
Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford
Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622
Phone: 864-225-3575
Website: naccpchurch.org
Church News: naccpnews@yahoo.com
Instagram: northandersonccp
Facebook: NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian