An Order for Worship

EASTER DAY

April 5, 2026

Abington Congregational Church                                                                 11 am

Minister                                                        The Reverend Bruce Hedman, Ph.D.

Organist                                                                                                Brenda Pike

 

The Preparation

Organ Prelude

Call to Worship (responsive):

Pastor:  Alleluia! Christ is risen!

PEOPLE:  THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

Pastor:  I am he that liveth, and was dead, saith the Lord;  and

behold, I am alive for evermore.

PEOPLE:  THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!  ALLELUIA!

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 182                                                                 Easter Hymn

“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

Prayer of Adoration (responsive):

Pastor:  Glory be to Thee, O Father Almighty, who as on this day didst

raise up thy Son from the dead and dost make us partakers of his victory over sin and death.

PEOPLE:  GLORY BE TO THEE, O CHRIST, WHO FOR US AND

FOR OUR SALVATION HAST OVERCOME DEATH, AND OPENED UNTO US THE GATE OF EVERLASTING LIFE.

Pastor:  Glory be to Thee, O Holy Spirit, who dost lead us into all

truth as it is in the risen Christ.

ALL:  BLESSED BE THOU, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT,

ONE GOD, WHO BRINGS LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THY GOSPEL, AND BLESSED BE THY GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER AND EVER.  FOR WE PRAY AS OUR SAVIOR  TAUGHT US, SAYING …

Lord’s Prayer (unison, using “debts):

Prayer of Confession (unison):

HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE APPROACH THY PRESENCE AND BEHOLD THY GLORY, WE REPENT OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.  WE ARE UNWORTHY OF THE WONDERFUL COMMUNION TO WHICH THOU DOST ADMIT US IN THE TABLE OF THY SON.  YET NOW,MOST MERCIFUL FATHER, HAVE MERCY UPON US.  FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS CHRIST, FORGIVE US ALL OUR  SINS.  DELIVER US, BY THY HOLY SPIRIT, FROM ALL UNCLEANNESS IN SPIRIT AND IN FLESH, TO THE GLORY OF THY HOLY NAME.  AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

 

 

The Offertory

Greetings and Announcements

The Offertory

Offertory Sentences & The Collection

*Doxology and Prayer of Dedication

 

The Proclamation of the Word

Collect of the Day

Old Testament Lesson                                                                  Jeremiah 31: 1-6

Epistle Lesson                                                                              Colossians 3: 1-4

Gospel Lesson                                                                                   John 20: 1-18 Sermon                                                                                                 Dr. Hedman

“The Resurrection”

Ascription of Glory

 

The Fellowship of the Table

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 283                                                         Eucharistic Hymn

“Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken”

*Nicene Creed                             Selection 52                                            p.  512

Invitation

Words of Institution

Sursum Corda, Proper Preface, and Sanctus (responsive):

Pastor:  Lift up your hearts.

PEOPLE:  WE LIFT THEM UP UNTO THE LORD:

Pastor:  Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

PEOPLE:  IT IS MEET AND RIGHT SO TO DO.

Pastor:     It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at

all times, and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.   But chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the very Pascal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath won for us everlasting life. Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying:

ALL:  HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS,

HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF THY GLORY;

GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD MOST HIGH.

Prayer of Consecration

Distribution of  the Elements

Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison):

ALMIGHTY AND EVERLIVING GOD, WE MOST HEARTILY THANK THEE THAT IN THY GREAT LOVE THOU HAST FED US AT THY TABLE WITH THIS SPIRITUAL FOOD, AND HAST ASSURED US OF THY GOODNESS TOWARD US:  AND THAT WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF THY SON, THE BLESSED COMPANY OF ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE, AND HEIRS OF THINE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.  AND WE BESEECH THEE, O HEAVENLY FATHER, SO TO ASSIST US WITH THY GRACE THAT WE MAY CONTINUE IN THIS HOLY FELLOWSHIP, AND LIVE HENCEFORTH TO THY GLORY; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WHO LIVETH AND REIGNETH, AND IS WORSHIPED AND GLORIFIED, WITH THEE, O FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 193                                                          Judas Maccabeus

“Thine Is the Glory”

*Benediction

*Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

To speak with Dr. Hedman please phone (860) 377-6190.

 

Prayer Concerns:

Michael Green

Donna Santerre

Heather O’Reilly

Don  Pike

Diana Byron

Paul Lango

John Carter

Jay Varga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALL WELCOME TO COMMUNION

 

Our Table is open to all Christians, and is not fenced by any denominational affiliation.  All baptized Christians who seek to live in love and charity with their neighbor and who hunger for the bread of life are cheerfully welcomed to share in our celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  As the plates and trays are passed, please hold the elements until all have been served, so that we may partake together.