Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 04-05-26

Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship

Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. April 05, 2026

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**For those with health concerns, masks and safe social distancing are suggested in the sanctuary, especially so when singing or responding in prayer! Masks are available at the rear of the sanctuary.

Easter Worship, Grafton Community Church, 04-05-26 with Holy Communion

Christ Is Risen, Hallelujah!

Musician Amy Cann

Soloists: Grace Thompson, David Naughton & Tricia Suriani

Guest Musicians: Pioneer Valley Brass — Music Notes on last pages

Gathering Music:

Prelude: Pioneer Valley Brass

Canzona per Sonare No. 2 (Giovanni Gabrieli c. 1590)

Two Trumpet Tunes and Ayre (Henry Purcell c. 1690)

Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Let us share a moment of silence to come before the Lord

*Hymn #216 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

1 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! All creation join to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2 Lives again our glorious king; Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Jesus died, our souls to save, Alleluia! Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

3 Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

4 Soar we now where Christ was led, Alleluia! Following our exalted head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

* Call to Worship

One: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Many: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
One: On this day, our God has acted;
Many: We will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!

* Unison Prayer

O God, who through Your Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of eternal life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from death to life by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus our victorious Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

* Response Hymn #215 “Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain” (verse #3)

Now the brightest season dawns with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus' resurrection.

All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License #21383697

Special Music: — Grace Thompson, soloist
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth from “Messiah” (G. F. Handel)

Scripture, 04-05-26:

John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.

The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,

and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;

and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

*Hymn #218 “Thine Is the Glory”

1 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

[Refrain:]
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing.
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. [Refrain:]

3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love.
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. [Refrain:]

Special Music: — Tricia Suriani, soloist

Alleluia from “Exsultate Jubilate” (Mozart)

Reflection: “Power of Resurrection” Pastor Bill Watson

Synopsis: The stone is rolled aside at the tomb’s entrance this morning. It’s an invitation to each of us to peer inside and discover what Christ’s Resurrection might mean to each of us individually.

*Hymn #234 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

1 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee
and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

2 Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

3 Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

4 Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me;
thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

Holy Communion — Pastor King

(Bread is passed)

*Taizé: Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life.

(Wine is passed)

*Taizé: Gloria tibi Domine, Domine.

Gloria a tibi Domine, Domine.

(See Music Notes for more on the Taizé tradition)

Offerings of the People — Pastor Watson

Offertory Special Music: — David Naughton, soloist

Because He Lives (Bill & Gloria Gaither)

You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function.)

*Response: Doxology with Pioneer Valley Brass

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God above the source of gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Offertory Prayer of Dedication — Pastor King

*The Benediction & The Lord's Prayer

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, the power, and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Postlude: — Grafton Community Church Choir with Pioneer Valley Brass & Organ

Halleluiah, Amen (Handel, Juda Maccabeus)

* Close of Worship — Pastors Watson & King

One: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Many: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Close of Worship Music — Pioneer Valley Brass

Royal Brass Music (Nicholas Guy c. 1620)
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho [A]

**During Close of Worship Music you may greet your neighbors in the sanctuary. Grab coffee and Hot Cross Buns near right side of the chancel. Children can begin the Easter Egg Hunt. Please use appropriate precautions for those with health concerns.* On Zoom, unmute your mikes and share greetings and the peace of your virtual space.

*Masks are available in the sanctuary for those wishing to use one.

Music Notes:

The Pioneer Valley Brass are: Dick Tandy on Trumpet – Bachelor of Music Education from UMASS. He performs with the Pioneer Valley Symphony and the Windham Philharmonic. He also sang Baritone with "The Grace Notes" Barbershop Quartet. Tabitha Greenlees on Horn – Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Royal College of Music (London, UK) and her Masters of Music in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory. She is the music director at Fitchburg High School, directing the band and annual spring musical, teaching AP Music Theory. Dana Tandy on Trombone – He grew up in a family of trumpet players, so when his father suggested the Trombone, he embraced the change. He also sang Bass with “The Grace Notes.” Susan Lemei on Tuba – Retired family physician. Prior to medical school, she received a Master’s degree in Music History and Criticism from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. Currently, she plays with Windham Philharmonic, the Keene Chamber Orchestra and as conductor of the Brattleboro American Legion Band. Pioneer Valley Brass has been performing since 1974. They have played concerts, church services, weddings, graduations, academic installations, river boat cruises and other festive occasions throughout New England.. Performance music covers all styles from the 1600's to today.

Taizé Tradition: In 1940 a protestant monastic named Brother Roger purchased a small farmhouse in the village of Taizé, a few miles north of Cluny on the border between Vichy and unoccupied France. For two years it served as a sanctuary for refugees until the Gestapo seized it. Roger returned to his native Switzerland to begin gathering an ecumenical fraternity and on Easter Sunday 1949 seven brothers committed themselves to a life of simplicity and community. Today their Church of Reconciliation draws over 100,00 young people a year and sponsors gatherings for as many worldwide. Through prayer, Bible study, communal work and shared reflection, the center fosters fellowship across Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and Protestant traditions. At the center of their shared worship are chants like the two we include this morning. Not hymns, not performance pieces, they are sung prayers meant to be repeated together as a guide into silence and contemplation. In Taizé's own services, they are always sung in many languages, often simultaneously.

Grafton Prayer List:

Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *Transgender people and their families *Those enduring times of stress *Those with PTSD & their families *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Arthur Park *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Sherry Brown & Family *Ed Gruelich *Flo & Tim Bosch *Ross Ludeman *The Olsson families. *Candace Damon & the Jacobson family

Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Denize Schemm *Family & friends of Helen Lanoie (mother of Andre Lanoie) * Family & friends of Bernard “Pete” Haley *Family & friends of Donna Rice *Family & friends of Galen Pinkham *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law) *Family & friends of David Fischmann (partner of Katherine Brown) *Family & friends of Estelle Pieth *Family & friends of Dave Robinson *Family & friends of Debbie Wright *Family & friends of Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Family & friends of Norm Robertson *Family & friends of Ginger Ludeman *Family & Friends of Lisa Cashetto (Lorrie Young’s sister-in-law) *Family & friends of Diana Toomey *Friends & family of Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father)

Extended Care:

*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255

*Addie Hall Vogel. Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255

*Judy & Chuck Dickinson, Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255

*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101

Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com

Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org

On Facebook: The Grafton Church

Alleluia! Celebrate Easter!

with Grafton Community Church