Welcome and Announcement

Welcome to Hope United Methodist Church! We’re glad you’re here. Whether you are visiting for the first time or joining us again, we pray you experience God’s love, meaningful worship, and a warm sense of community. Below is information to help you follow along with today's service. Visit Hope Worship Page to view the digital printed bulletin.

We’re grateful you chose to worship with us and hope you feel at home at Hope!


Centering Words

Easter invites us to be ready to meet Christ, anywhere, at any time, in anyone.


Call to Worship

Easter people, we gather today as people who spent the week inundated with news reports, social media posts, and reels that inundated us with information, worry, and stress.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we carry the weight of being overwhelmed and anxious, wondering who we can believe.

We gather as people who long for peace, for God to break through and bring us clarity and hope once again.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we don’t always recognize when the Risen One comes alongside us, showing us the way where there seems to be no way.

We gather as people hoping to catch a glimmer of Resurrection, ready for our hearts to burn with the truth of the resurrected Christ.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we open our hearts to the possibility that God’s Resurrection life is closer than we think.

Easter people, God knows the burdens we carry, and God is faithful to meet us where we are with good news.

May the good news of the Resurrection astound us today as we come to worship God! Amen.


Opening Hymn - Christ Is Alive

1 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. His cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with praises ring. His love in death shall never die.
2 Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine, he comes to claim the here and now and dwell in every place and time.
3 Not throned afar, remotely high, untouched, unmoved by human pains, but daily, in the midst of life, our Savior in the Godhead reigns.
4 In every insult, rift, and war, where color, scorn, or wealth divide, he suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, though ever crucified.
5 Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age, till earth and all creation ring with joy, with justice, love, and praise.


Opening Prayer

O risen Christ, On the road to Emmaus, you were the disciples’ companion. Be at our side on the journey of faith on life’s pathways and at every encounter, engender our compassion, so that we may welcome others and listen to their stories. Kindle anew the desire to proclaim your Word. May it illumine us, and may our hearts burn to bear witness to it. May your Holy Spirit teach us the art of explaining scripture and open our hearts to recognize you. Grant us the courage to become vulnerable so that our siblings may know you through us and that we may know you through them. Amen.


Children's Time



Time of Prayer


Prayer Hymn - Just a Closer Walk with Thee

1. I am weak, but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee: Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

2. Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares? None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.
Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee: Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

3. When my feeble life is o'er, time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o'er to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore.
Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee: Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.


Choral Anthem - I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me



Prayer of Illumination

Risen Lord, speak to us this day, that our hearts may burn within us.

Reveal anew the mystery and the power  of your glorious resurrection.


Psalm 34:1-10

I will bless the Lord at all times; God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s name together!

I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Look to God and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed.

The poor cried out, and the Lord heard, and saved them out of all their troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear God, and delivers them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy are those who take refuge in God.

O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear God have no want!

The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.


Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.  Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 

Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.

When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.


Sermon - Astounded Us



Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;  And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;* the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.


Lesser Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and good and a joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

You deliver those who call to you from their fears, and save them out of all their troubles.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. He suffered for us that the promises of the prophets might be fulfilled for us.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here that our eyes be opened so that we might perceive your presence in our midst.

Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit to give ourselves for others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen


Offering

The story of our Life-giving God's generosity is infinite, deep, and awesome. We want to reach toward others the way God reaches toward us. Since God's love is sacrificial, we want ours to be as well. May God remove whatever separates us from being generous and break our hearts open so we can hear and love the broken-hearted among us, just as Jesus did. 

Give Now



Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!



Prayer of Dedication

Astounding God of the road and the table, you walk with us even when we don’t recognize you. You speak, and our hearts burn within us. You break the bread, and our eyes are opened. Today, we bring these offerings as signs of our gratitude and hope. May our giving reflect the joy of being found, the wonder of Resurrection, and the call to share good news. Use these gifts to kindle faith, feed the hungry, and proclaim your presence in every Emmaus moment. We give because we’ve seen you—alive, loving, and leading us still. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Closing Hymn - Open My Eyes That I May See

1 Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2 Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear; and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

3 Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere; open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!


Breakthrough Prayer

God of new beginnings and second chances. When your son, Jesus the Christ gave his life for us, the veil of separation was torn. Breakthrough all that would keep us separate from one another, from our neighbors, and from you that we may be one just as you and the Father are one. Lead us now into your beloved community where our identity is rooted in Christ alone. Amen.


Dismissal and Blessing


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