CANDLE LITURGY
The disciples of Jesus struggled to identify the resurrected Jesus when he appeared to them. He was different, yet there. He walked through locked doors and ate fish and bread. Mary thought he was the gardener. Yet, they came to believe in his presence.
We light this Christ candle as the symbol of the resurrected Jesus we believe in and seek to follow.
     Used with permission from Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Bill Perry

SUNG RESPONSE: VU 157 “Christ the Lord is Risen today” Verse 1 seated
1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah!
all creation join to say; Hallelujah!
raise your joys and triumphs high; Hallelujah!
sing, O heavens, and earth reply: Hallelujah!

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
We come today as we are.
God welcomes all into the realm of love and acceptance.
We come with questions, doubts, and fears.
Jesus, resurrected, meets us where we are and offers us peace and the assurance of his continued presence in our lives.
Let us worship God, together sharing in the spirit of love and peace, gifted to us through Jesus, the resurrected Christ.
     Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Stephanie Richmond

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Our preparation for Easter, gracious God, is a crucifixion, a death, and the ending of Jesus' story. But the story didn't end; Jesus' tomb was discovered empty. The resurrected Jesus appeared at different times and in a variety of settings to his astonished, and yes, confused disciples. What was an absolute end, death, became the opening, the unfolding story of God's grace in our midst in Jesus Christ. We open ourselves to that unfolding in this time of worship today. Blow through us with your Holy Spirit, live-giving God.  Amen.
     Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Bill Perry

3. LEARNING TIME

4. HYMN VU 371 “Open My Eyes, That I May See”
1.  Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes,
illumine me,
Spirit divine!

2.  Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.

3.  Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.

5.  PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Risen Lord, speak to us this day, that our hearts may burn within us. Reveal anew the mystery and the power of your glorious resurrection.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON
Acts 2: 14a, 36 - 41
14 Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd: 36 Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross. 37 When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Friends, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Turn to God 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 This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.” 40 Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, “I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people.” 41 On that day about 3,000 believed his message and were baptized.

Responsive Reading Psalm 116 VU page 836
Refrain:  “How can I repay you, God, for all the goodness you show to me”

I love you, God, because you heard my voice when I made supplication,
because you turned your ear to me, when I called upon your name.
The cords of death entangled me, and the pangs of the Grave laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called upon the name of God:
'O God, I pray, save my life.'  Refrain

How can I repay you, God, for all the good things you have done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows in the presence of all God's people.  Refrain

Precious in the sight of God is the death of the saints.
O God, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your maidservant.
You have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows to God in the presence of all God's people,
in the courts of the house of God, in your midst, O Jerusalem.  Refrain

7.  REFLECTION:

8.  HYMN: VU 663 “My Faith Looks up to Thee”
1.  My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine.
Now hear me while I pray;
take all my guilt away.
O let me from this day be wholly thine.

2.  While life's dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread, be thou my guide,
bid darkness turn to day;
wipe sorrow's tears away;
nor let me ever stray from thee aside.

3.  May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire.
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire.

Luke 24: 13 - 35
“Jesus Appears to Two Disciples”
13 That same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about eleven kilometers from Jerusalem. 14 As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, 15 Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. 16 But they did not know who he was. 17 Jesus asked them, “What were you talking about as you walked along?” The two of them stood there looking sad and gloomy. 18 Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, “Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn't know what was happening there these last few days?” 19 “What do you mean?”Jesus asked. They answered: Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet, who pleased God and all the people. 20 Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. 21 We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free! But it has already been three days since all this happened.
22 Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, 23 but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn't see Jesus either. 25 Then Jesus asked the two disciples, “Why can't you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? 26 Didn't you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?” 27 Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets.[a] 28 When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther. 29 They begged him, “Stay with us! It's already late, and the sun is going down.” So Jesus went into the house to stay with them. 30 After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them. 31 At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared. 32 They said to each other, “When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn't it warm our hearts?” 33 So they got up and returned to Jerusalem. The two disciples found the eleven apostles and the others gathered together. 34 And they learned from the group that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter. 35 Then the disciples from Emmaus told what happened on the road and how they knew he was the Lord when he broke the bread.

10.  REFLECTION:

11.  HYMN: “Stay with Us through the Night”  VU 182
1.  Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the pain.
Stay with us, blessed stranger
till the morning breaks again.

2. Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the grief.
Stay with us, blessed stranger
till the morning brings relief.

3.  Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the dread.
Stay with us, blessed stranger
till the morning breaks new bread.

12. PRAYER OF YEARNING:
God of Easter hope when our gaze is cast within, it is easy to miss your presence in our midst. When we fail to recognize you on the road, touch our minds with your wisdom and truth, and set our hearts on fire with your holy love. During times of confusion and doubt, open our eyes to your life-giving presence, and rekindle our Easter faith.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

13.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
In the resurrection of Jesus, we find hope and an imperishable seed of faith. Risen with Christ, we are born anew.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

14.  HYMN: VU #158 “Christ is Alive”
1.  Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

2.  Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.

3.  In every insult, rift, and war,
where colour, scorn, or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.

4.  Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

5.  Christ is alive, and comes
to bring good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love and praise.

15.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Welcome Christ as a fellow traveler on the journey of life. As you share signs of his peace with one another, see his eyes looking back at you.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

MINUTE FOR MISSION - Published On: March 18, 2026
In Chipman, New Brunswick, along the Salmon River, community isn't just an idea-it's how life flows. For over 126 years, Chipman United Church has been woven into the heart of the town.
The congregation is small-mostly seniors with a handful of youth, four of whom now help lead worship-and the choir is modest. But the impact is anything but small. Each month, about sixty meals are prepared and delivered through the LIFT program, feeding children, seniors, and neighbours who can't leave home. The church hall hosts community groups and sports programs, and members pour hot chocolate at the Christmas parade. Service here isn't occasional; it's a habit. When some members could no longer attend in person, the church brought worship online. What was expected to reach twenty people drew thousands. Prayer requests now arrive by email, and a painting of the sanctuary is being turned into cards to remind those who feel alone that they belong. This is rural ministry: rooted, connected, and alive. Mission and Service helps sustain communities like Chipman, keeping churches at the centre of town life.
We can make a difference together. When we give to Mission and Service, we help ensure that churches like Chipman continue to feed, care for, and connect their communities. Donate today and be part of keeping this heart of the town alive.

16.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
What shall we return to the Lord for God's many gifts? What praises shall we sing to honor God's manifold blessings? In the presence of God's people, let us pay our vows to the Lord with heartfelt gratitude, as we present our morning offering.      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

17.  OFFERTORY: VU 540 “Grant Us, God the Grace”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

18.  OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
Loving God, you come to us in moments of grief when we have lost our ability to perceive your presence. Receive our thanks for meeting us on the road and for quickening our spirits. Receive our praise for opening your word to us and for enlightening our minds. May the gifts we bring before you now reflect the stirring of our hearts, as you heal the broken places in our lives. May the offering we bring forth stir the hearts of those in need of your mercy and your grace.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

19. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

20.  HYMN: VU 429 “May the Blessing of God Be upon You”
May the blessing of God be upon you.
May God's love light all your way.
May the grace of Christ enfold you
and peace around you stay.
May the Spirit of God dwell within you.
May you live in joy each day.

21.  BLESSING:
As you meet strangers on the road, learn to recognize Christ in your midst.
As our hearts burn within us, we will recognize his whispers to our souls.
As you experience Christ in the smile of another, share the love of God with one another.
As the scales fall from our eyes, we will see Easter miracles all around us.
Go with God's blessings.

Next Sunday:  Fourth Sunday of Easter
        April 26, 2026:
         Acts 2: 42 - 47   Psalm 23;
         1 Peter 2: 19 - 25;  John 10: 1 - 10.

1. SUNDAY, April 19, 2026  Third Sunday of Easter   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


2. SUNDAY, April 19, 2026  SUNDAY BRUNCH   11:30 AM   Wesley Hall  ALL ARE WELCOME!


3. TUESDAY, April 21, 2026  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room


4. TUESDAY, April 21 2026  Jubilation Handbell Ringers  If you are interested in ringing some bells, come out and give it a try;   6:30pm in the Choir Room.


5. SUNDAY, April 26, 2026  Fourth Sunday of Easter   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


6. SUNDAY, April 26, 2026  ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING   Meeting to follow regular church service   Sanctuary  Coffee, Tea & Muffins  ALL CHURCH MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!


7. WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2026  STEW SUPPER   4:30 - 7:00 PM   Wesley Hall  “Tickets Available at the door”  ADULTS:$20.00  COME ENJOY A HOMECOOKED MEAL
   SEE POSTER ON “HAPPENINGS” TAB FOR FULL DETAILS


8. WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2026  “MEETING OF THE OFFICIAL BOARD”   7:00 PM   Chairperson, Lorenzo Bacchetto  ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND