Table of Contents
The words in **black bold** are spoken or sung by the congregation. Please, no food or beverages are allowed in the Sanctuary. * Indicates when to rise in body or spirit.
UMH--United Methodist (Blue), TFWS--The Faith We Sing (Black), W&S--Worship & Song (Green)
Prelude
“Easter People Raise Your Voices”
#304 UMH
Welcome
Threshold Moment
P:Friends, this is a day when we celebrate the emergence of hope in a powerful way. Our faith narrative is one in which death, and all those things in life that feel like death, are overcome by new beginnings. And so we begin to "Emerge" today! The butterfly and its process of metamorphosis has a long history, even before it came to be a Christian symbol for death and resurrection. During the next several weeks, we will consider what it means to be a people who believe that transformation is possible – that we can move beyond the leaves we find ourselves on and turn into beautiful beings that can fly to new heights and see and experience the world in the sweetest of ways, tasting and perpetuating the nectar of goodness!
"Come Out!" · Mark Miller
Come out! Come out of your comfortable spaces.
Come, meet Jesus in the difficult places.
Questions for Metamorphosis
Liturgist:In the dark of the womb we wondered…
People:…what could be better than this warm and safe place?
Liturgist:Once we were birthed into this life, at times we wondered…
People:…could there be more than meets the eye?
Liturgist:In the dark of the tomb-times of our existence we wonder…
People:…is there life beyond these constraints?
Liturgist:When we hear the story of Jesus we wonder…
People:…is new life possible for me?
Liturgist:Then the love of the Divine reminds us,
All:"You too are my child. You can emerge to renewed life. Again and again." Amen.
Passing the Peace
Pastor:The Peace of Christ be with you.
All:And also with you.
Pastor:You are invited to pass the peace among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely.
Praising
“Gather Us In”
#2236 TFWS
Young & Young at Heart Time
Contemporary Reading
by Phoenix Moon
“The cocoon is not a prison — it is a birth. A sacred womb where the soul folds itself, dissolves, mends… until it remembers it was born to dance with the wind.”
COMMUNITY PRAYER ~ THE LORD'S PRAYER
Sung
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven, On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day, Give us this day
Our daily bread, Our daily bread
And forgive us all our sins, And forgive us all our sins
And lead us not, And lead us not
Into temptation, Into temptation
But deliver us from evil, But deliver us from evil
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
Forever, Forever
And ever, And Ever
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Ancient Readings
FIRST READING - PSALM 107 (NRSVUE)
O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and God delivered them from their distress; God led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.
Let them thank the Lord for steadfast love, for God’s wonderful works to humankind. For God satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry God fills with good things. God turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
The Holy One turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there God lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.
SECOND READING - MATTHEW 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.”
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 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.”
We Sing
“Up from the Grave He Arose”
#322 UMH
Message
“"Tombs and Cocoons"”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“Graves into Gardens · Elevation”
Offerings can be placed in the basket on the table, online at ukiahumc.org, or mailed to PO Box 323, Ukiah
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
#94 UMH
*MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT
Members of the Ukiah United Methodist Church accept the freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. We welcome opportunities to bring God's love to the world in as many ways as we can. We promise to uphold our beloved church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.
Communion Setting
#2257 a, b, c, d TFWSLiturgist:Bring all the places you’re weary, all the ways you’re restless. Bring your hunger for peace, your thirst for justice. Bring it all – and come! Jesus invites us to dine as friends! Come! God’s welcome feast is set for us, for all!
Pastor:It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Creator of All That Is. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life, imbuing us with all we need to navigate this life, to fly in the face of fear. When we doubt our ability to imagine our way out of despair, we have often turned away from you, instead of toward you. You have time and again delivered us from our captivity to hopelessness, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and have spoken to us through your prophets.
Pastor:And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Liturgist:Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. His life and ministry offered us a vision of the DNA of Love also instilled in us, waiting for us to transform into those who will follow him. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
Liturgist:When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.
Pastor:On the night before he gave everything, Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body, given for you. Every time you share it, remember me.” When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, and again gave you thanks and praise. He gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you. This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for all people, filled to overflowing with forgiveness for everyone. Whenever you share it, remember me.”
Liturgist:And so, we do remember – the movement of your powerful Spirit, and your amazing love in Jesus. As we eat this bread and share this cup, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. In God, with Christ, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, forever and ever.
Getting Strong
“God of Great and God of Small”
#3033 W&S
Opportunities for Ministry
Opportunities where you make a difference: A strong church has members who are actively taking part in ministry and service.
- ⤷Recycling:
- ⤷Mendo Labor Co-op: Our church sponsors a worker-led co-op connecting underemployed and unhoused workers with people needing help around the house or yard. We need church members willing to hire workers with patience as we get started and work out the kinks. Call/text Cheryl and Braven at (369) 216-1512 to be matched, or fill out the online form on mendolaborcoop.ukiahumc.org.
- ⤷The Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center: If you would like to donate to Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center, below is a list of needed items. All donations can be dropped at HRC M-F, 9-5 or to Trudy’s front porch at any time. Thank you to everyone who donates! Trudy•Items needed are: Adult underwear, socks, Men’s pants (size 32-38), Backpacks, Blankets, Sleeping bags, Razors, Dog food
Go For It!
South:Do all the good you can,
North:By all the means you can,
South:In all the ways you can,
North:In all the places you can,
South:At all the times you can,
North:To all the people you can,
All:As long as ever you can. Amen.
— John Wesley
Blessing
*STEPPING OUT
“One Love”
Bob Marley
WE ARE A WELCOMING & AFFIRMING CONGREGATION:
We welcome all persons into full participation in the life of the congregation regardless of age, gender identity, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, marriage status, or physical or mental condition.