PLEASE NOTE: Livestream will not be available for EASTER SUNDAY, April 5, 2026 Regular livestream Sunday Services will continue on April 12, 2026
“REFLECTIONS”
THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU WORSHIP!
Order of Worship
APRIL 5, 2026
EASTER SUNDAY
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
ORGANIST / PIANIST: Ilene Wettergreen
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
OFFICE COORDINATOR: Jodi Hargreaves
SCRIPTURES READER:
PIANO/ORGAN PRELUDE
ACKNOWLEDGING TERRITORY:
We are gathered today to worship on land that is treaty 6 people. For thousands of years, they have lived on this land, honouring the Creator and living with respect for creation. We acknowledge their stewardship of the land and their relationship with the land and its plants and animals, and the lakes and streams with their life forms throughout the ages. We accept the responsibility we have to nurture and protect this legacy. Used with permission from Gathering: Lent/Easter 2023; Jeanne Wilson
WELCOME, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
CANDLE LITURGY: “Easter Hallelujah” by Emilia Bacchetto; lighting of Christ Candle by Theresa Bacchetto
1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
Death has no dominion. Death is done.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!
God is with us. We are not alone!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen! Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026 Richard Bott
2. OPENING PRAYER: God of Easter glory, the one who uplifts us for the days and weeks ahead, be a soothing presence in our lives. Give us the energy we need to be a people of service; provide us with the grace we need to be a people who show care and concern for others. Offer us the strength we need to support those who need our encouragement and love. Let us not forget that life is made full and vibrant when we recognize the need for a presence beyond ourselves, and you, O God, provide that presence whenever we open ourselves to you. With thanks for your guidance in the past and with anticipation for your presence in the future, we offer these prayers. Amen. Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026; Bill Steadman
3. LEARNING TIME: “The Story of Jesus' baptism”
4. HYMN VU 450 “Here at This Font”
1. Here at this font, Source of all life,
we bring a child for you to bless.
Met in our worship, may we know the gospel's way of happiness.
2. Pour out this water, fresh and clear.
Make it a sign of life and love.
Now, as at Jordan long ago, show your approval, Holy Dove.
3. Embrace this child with gentle arms,
as on that day in Galilee
you called the young, and showed to all the power of humility.
4. Guide church and parents in our task
to teach each child to walk your way.
May Christ's commandments be obeyed in all we think or do or say.
5. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM:
Words of introduction
The sacrament of baptism proclaims and celebrates the grace of God. By water and the Spirit we are called, claimed and commissioned: we are called God's own, given our identity as children of God; we are claimed by Christ, united with Christ, united with each other and the Christian community of every time and place; we are commissioned to Christ's ministry of love, peace and justice, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit for the work of the church in the world. On behalf of the congregation of North Battleford Third Avenue United Church, I present the following person for initiation into the body of Christ through baptism: Milley-Mae Tuck daughter of
Tyson Jerry James Tuck and Sierah Mae Lehaman
Do you desire to have your child baptized? Yes.
Profession of Faith: (questions to parents)
Do you profess your faith in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Yes.
Desiring the freedom of new life in Christ, do you promise to resist evil and to live in love and justice? Yes.
Will you support the life and work of Christ's Church? Yes.
Will you nurture your child, and together grow in faith? Yes.
Would the congregation please stand to pledge their support
and care to this family?
As a baptized and baptizing church, we commit ourselves
to support and uphold you within the community of faith.
May God grant us all the grace to live out our baptism.
Let us affirm our faith by saying together the New Creed found
on page 918 of Voices United. Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Pouring of Water
God be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to God.
Let us give our thanks to God. It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Let Us Pray:
Gracious and Holy One, we bless you for the gift of life, and
within it, the gift of water. Over its unshaped promise your Spirit
hovered at creation; by water comes the growth of the earth.
Through water you led the children of Israel to freedom; in the
water of the Jordan your Child Jesus was baptized. Now may your
Spirit be upon us and what we do, that this water may be a sign
for all new life in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Baptism (water, cross, and laying on of hands)
Miley-Mae, we baptize you in the name of the father,
and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Miley-Mae with the sign of the cross, you are claimed as Christ's forever. Amen.
I invite those present at this baptismal font to lay their hands on
Miley-Mae the power of the Holy Spirit work within you,
that being born of water and the Spirit you may be a faithful witness to Jesus Christ. Amen.
Presentation of certificate, bible and candle.
Would the household of faith, of the North Battleford Third Avenue United Church welcome Miley-Mae with joy and thanks giving. All who are united in the covenant of baptism are the body of Christ in the world. Go in peace. Amen.
6. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: Spirit of God, breathe your power into our hearts, that we may hear your word for us today. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
7. PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
With overflowing joy and boundless gratitude for new life in Christ, let us share the triumph of love over hate as we exchange signs of Christ's peace this blesse day. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
8. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
The stone is rolled away - we are released! The tomb is empty - we can be free! Christ is risen - life can be full! Thanks be to God.
9. PRAYER OF YEARNING: God of mystery and might, on a dawn shrouded in grief and pain, you surprise us with the light of your wondrous love. We come to the tomb expecting death, but find life instead. Take us back to that moment, when fear was healed by hope and death was banished by life. In the holy awe of Easter morning, may we sing out our joy, for Christ, our Lord, has risen today! Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
10. HYMN: VU 155 “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”
1. Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
who did once, upon the cross, hallelujah!
suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!
2. Hymns of praise then let us sing hallelujah!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah!
who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!
3. But the pains which he endured, hallelujah!
our salvation have procured; hallelujah!
now above the sky he's King, hallelujah!
where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah!
4. Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
praise eternal as God's love; hallelujah!
praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
11. INVITATION TO OFFERING:
From time to time, we receive gifts whose value we immediately know. Other times, we receive or give gifts the value of which can only be known within personal relationships. Equally, gifts may be acts of grace we can only receive and never repay. We bundle these thoughts together as we present our offering. Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026 Bill Perry
12. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
It is true. God's love is more powerful than we can comprehend. Holy Week proclaims: God's love is great. God's power is outrageous. Truly we are blessed, forgiven, and made new by God's powerful love. Thanks be to God! Used with permission from Gathering Lent Easter 2026; Elaine Bidgood Sveet
13. 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.
14. OFFERING PRAYER OF DEDICATION: We may have pondered the amount we decided upon for our offering for today and have many reasons for the final choice. Yet, there is no question that we want you, our God, to receive and bless it and us. In this way, may our personal discipleship and the life of our community of faith grow as an image of Jesus in action. Amen. Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026 Bill Perry
Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.
E-transfers can be sent to: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net answer to security question is: “payment”
15. SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION: Sacrament of Communion
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Communion Hymn VU 468 “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”
1. Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard. Refrain:
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2. Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Refrain
3. Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere! Refrain
Hallelujah, thanks and praise, ever-living God, worker of wonders, maker of miracles, author of all life and giver of life eternal! Out of chaos and fear you bring beauty and hope. Out of despair and death you create courage and new life. And so, with the risen Christ, who makes all things new by the power of his resurrection,
we join in the song of a new day, to sing your praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Let us remember together that vision of God's reign shown to us in Jesus at table: he shared food with followers and friends,
with saints and sinners, with crowds of thousands on the hillside,
and a few friends in an upper room. On the night before he died, he had supper with his companions.
He took a loaf of bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
“Take, eat. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then, he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he passed it among them, saying: “Drink this. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Through this loaf and cup, Jesus lives within us. In word and deed, Jesus lives among us.
Remembering your boundless love for us in Jesus Christ, we offer you our praise, as we proclaim the mystery of faith: We proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
We pray you, God of Love, send your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here, that we, and these gifts, touched by your Spirit, may be signs of life and love to each other, and to all the world. Help us to love as Christ loved. Knowing our own weakness, may we stand with all who stumble. Sharing in his suffering, may we remember all who suffer. Held in his love, may we embrace all whom the world denies. Rejoicing in his forgiveness, may we forgive all who sin against us.
Praise be to God, the Source of love!
Praise be to Christ, Love incarnate!
Praise be to the Spirit, Love's power! Praise be to God. Amen.
And so we pray as Jesus taught us Our Father.....Amen.
The bread which we break is our communion in the body of Christ.
The cup of blessing which we bless is our communion in the blood of Christ.
The gifts of God for the people of God. Amen. (the distribution)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you God. Grant that what we have done and have been given here, may so put its mark on us, that it may remain always in our hearts. Grant that we may grow in Christian love and understanding, and that ours may be lives of faithful action, in Christ's name. Amen.
16. 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.
17. BLESSING:
The limits of death are gone. Joy fills our hearts.
The disciples are renewed. We will follow the Way of Jesus faithfully.
The powerful are defeated. All who feel downtrodden are offered hope.
The faith community is inspired. Together we will change our small corner of the world for good.
As God's Easter people, we will be renewed. Thanks be to God. Amen. Used with permission Gathering Lent/Easter 2026 David Sparks
18. THREE FOLD AMEN
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Acts 10: 34 - 43
John 20: 1 - 18
Jesus Is Alive
Next Sunday: Second Sunday of Easter April 12, 2026: Acts 2: 14a, 22 - 32
Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1: 3 - 9; John 20:19-31.
“Archived Videos”
Note: Don't have a Bible? By Clicking on the button below, you can open a new window in an Online Bible. By entering the BOOK and CHAPTER, you will be able to look up the references in the sermon. Copy and paste will work as long as there is no other words between the book name and chapter number. Try it and Enjoy!
