Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

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Hampstead Congregational Church

April 5, 2026

Easter Sunday

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Prelude                                                                                                          Herb Tardiff  

Easter Proclamation

*Processional Hymn: 

Greetings and Announcements

Invocation (unison)                                                                                     Debra Sawyer

Good News God,
In the midst of deep sorrow and grief your angels appeared to the faithful women of Jesus’ company, bringing them news more awe-inspiring than they could imagine – Christ is Risen!
      Surely your angels can interrupt our lives, too, breaking into our losses and sorrows and offering a message of tremendous joy to change our lives.  Come this Easter morning, we pray, and fill us with the joy of the women disciples, the first witnesses to your resurrection, that our lives may also be renewed in hope and glory.  Let us roll back the stone of the grave and sing Alleluia once again!  In Christ we pray, Amen.

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 28: 1-10       NSRVUE                         Debra Sawyer                                  

   After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Children’s Message

Rolling Away the Stones – An Easter Affirmation

Sermon:   “The Angel on the Stone”                                        Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

GREENING THE CROSS & OFFERING 

This morning as part of our Easter celebration, we will be “greening the cross.”  This is a liturgical act about the transformation of the cross from a symbol of death, suffering, and injustice to a symbol of resurrection, new life, and beauty.  It is an expression of our Easter joy and our wonder in what God has done and what God continues to do.  We invite you to come forward this morning and to place a flower or two on the cross.  As you do this, you might consider a place where you have seen God’s resurrection power at work in your life or you might consider a place of brokenness where you would ask for God’s Easter power to enter in. 

      We invite you to make your offerings at this time as well.  And we have some Easter moving music.  We would ask that you come forward along the right-hand aisle and return back to your seats along the center or left aisle.       
                                                                            

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                     Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Hymn of Going Forth:  

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

May the tomb be just a stop
Reminding us that God’s reign knows no bounds
The realm of God’s possible knows no limits
God’s presence always remains
God’s protection endures
God’s glory radiates the day and the night
And the power of Christ lives in us.

May we go forth from the tomb
Renewed and rededicated to witness to this good news
To live the resurrected life in spirit and in truth
And to be the good news in the world God loves.

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.

Announcements…

Next Sunday continue the celebration of the Easter Season with us!  Bring a bell to ring as we continue to proclaim our “Alleluias!”  We will also celebrate Communion next Sunday.

  April 6^th Church Weekly Calendar