May 4, 2025

Eastertide

Worship

Those Who Trust - 100 Portraits and Waterdeep

Welcome & Eastertide Vision

A big thank you to all who participated in our 5th annual Neighborhood Clean last Sunday on Embodiment Sunday.

The book of Acts paints a drastically different picture of the early community of Jesus followers. The resurrection of Jesus had such a dramatic and profound impact on them that it caused them to think differently about everything. Their newfound faith in the risen Jesus cultivated a spirit of generosity and compassion so great that it became unacceptable for anyone in the community to go without their needs being met.  Perhaps this is what Easter is actually all about, not theory but practice. It’s the bursting into this world of a new creation that plays by different rules, where love calls us to work for the flourishing of every single person and of the whole creation.

As we experience and are transformed by God's abundant love, we pattern our lives around Jesus's way, the way of love, and extend this to others.  

This Eastertide we will be hearing the voices among us we are patterning their lives around the way of Jesus through the Stories Among Us sermon series.

Opening Prayer

Risen Christ, you revealed yourself to Mary in the garden. 

Reveal yourself to us in the silence. 

You revealed yourself to Thomas when he touched the scars in your body. 

Reveal yourself to us in the pain of the world. 

You revealed yourself to the disciples as they walked the road to Emmaus. 

Reveal yourself to us as we walk this path of peculiar and distressing times. 

You revealed yourself to many as they met beneath the skies. 

Reveal yourself to us in the wonder of your Creation. 

Reveal yourself, Lord, we pray.

Amen. 

Worship 

God Will Heal Our Wounds - Common Hymnal 

Communion Reading

The table is set. Your people are gathered, and our hunger is great. 

Remember us now, as with grateful hearts we remember Jesus, the greatest of all your gifts to us. 

We remember that he was laid in a grave. A great stone sealed his tomb. 

We remember that the women came early in the morning, on the third day. They did not find him among the dead. 

We remember that the disciples met him, a stranger on the road. He explained the scriptures to them: their hearts were ablaze. They said to him, “Stay with us, for it is evening.” He went in with them and sat at their table. There he took bread and gave thanks for it. He broke it and gave it to them. They knew him when he broke the bread. 

Now, most gracious God, send your Spirit to bless this bread and cup, signs of his body and poured-out life. 

Bless us also, who share this meal so that, overjoyed by his presence, and nourished by his life, we may become servants of his peace until the New Day of justice comes, and every creature beholds it. All this we pray in his name, who taught us to say: 

The Lord’s Prayer  (in the words of the New Zealand Prayer Book)

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain Bearer, Life-Giver, Source of all that is and that shall be; Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe; The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world; Your heavenly will be done by all created beings; Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trial too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. 

Amen. 

Communion

Invitation for Connection

Announcements

Baptism Sunday, June 1st at 10 AM

Baptism is a practice of recognizing and responding to God’s abundant love and grace.  Regardless of a tradition of immersion, sprinkling or pouring of the water, Baptism is a gift of living water and welcome!

Interested in receiving the gift of Baptism? Email stephanie@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org

We are excited to announce a special youth group get-together on Wednesday, May 7th! We plan to enjoy a fun evening of bowling, food, and fellowship. Check your email inboxes for details.

CoderDojo is a free program for kids from kindergarten to 5th grade. It offers various stations with STEM activities. Children can freely explore any station that catches their interest. Mentors are available at each station to help them get started, allowing students to learn and explore on their own. The last CoderDojo of the school year will be on Wednesday, May 14th, from 3:30-5:30 PM.

Call for Volunteers Summer 2025!

Please consider volunteering this summer on the grounds team! We would love your help weeding, watering plants, and picking up trash around the church and Peace House. If you are interested, please reach out to Ashley Gorman at office@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org.

Today, we begin our 2025 Stories Among Us series. At Wellington Heights Community Church, we believe that God’s transforming and abundant love is revealed through the lived experiences of His people. Through our Stories Among Us series, we are intentionally offering individuals the creative freedom to share their unique journeys of embodying peace, justice, reconciliation, and hope. We trust each storyteller to speak from their heart, aligned with the spirit of the Good News and the mission of our community. Their voices will help us see more clearly how God is at work among us, inviting us all to live more fully into the resurrection life. May these stories awaken us to the beauty of the Way of God breaking in and inspire us to join with courage and joy in the stories unfolding around us. 

Next Sunday, check the digital newsletter for prompts to consider writing your story of faith and listen to the podcast to hear Stories Among Us! 

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 1:15-23, CEB

15 Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that 16 I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, 19 and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. 20 God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, 21 far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. 22 God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, 23 which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way.

Introduction of Nick LaPointe

Closing Prayer

God,

In the season of Eastertide, we come to you, celebrating new life all around us, celebrating the lives and stories among us who go against the grain of the present age.

We celebrate those among us, 

who simply keep our faith real,

Those who demand that we live out our beliefs, 

leaning into a faith that works towards justice and peace, 

reminding us that everyone belongs.

We celebrate the saints among us, 

whose courageous faith reminds us that the true Good News is risky and radical in the face of a world consumed with greed, love of power, and comfort.

God, these are Easter people

who walk, run, and stumble on the journey. 

We pray that wherever we are on this journey,

that you might open our ears and eyes

to your call, to be your love, wherever we are. 

May the beauty of the Good News, the Way of God breaking in, inspire and awaken us so that we eagerly join in the stories among us. Amen.

Worship

Those Who Trust - 100 Portraits and Waterdeep

Benediction

May we continue to create spaces of sacred belonging, where all stories are acknowledged and valued. May we be humble learners, committed to celebrating the diverse stories among us. As we leave today, may we continue to become and be beacons of God’s love and peace in our homes and communities.