(Image: “Jesus Appears to Thomas” JESUS MAFA, 1973, Cameroon)

©Order of Worship for Sunday April 12, 2026

Second Sunday of Easter




For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here Link (Link opens in a new window) 

Prelude:………………..“Rule of Life”…………………..Greg D.
Words: 18th cent. Aphorism, attr. to John Wesley Music: Edward Bonnemere 
 
Coming of the Light:
 
Greetings:………………………….…………….……Lorri B.
 
Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
 
Call to Worship:…………………………………….Elizabeth B.
Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.

Opening Prayer: ………….……………..…Elizabeth B.
Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.
 
Opening Hymns:……“Christ Has Risen”  #2115 TFWS
Words: John Bell, Music: William Moore, Words © WGRG The Iona
Commmunity (Scotland), Admin. By GIA Publications, Inc.
 
1. Christ has risen while earth slumbers,
Christ has risen where hope dies, as he said and
as he promised, as we doubted
and denied.  Let the moon embrace the blessing;
let the sun sustain the cheer; let the world confirm
the rumor: Christ is risen, God is here!
 
2. Christ has risen for the people
whom he died to love and save; Christ has risen
for the women bringing flowers to
grace his grave.  Christ has risen for disciples
huddled in an upstairs room.  He whose word
inspired creation can’t be silenced by the tomb.
 
3. Christ has risen to companion
former friends who fear the night, sensing loss and
limitation where their faith had
once burned bright.  They bemoan what is no longer,
they expect no hopeful sign till Christ ends their
conversation, breaking bread and sharing wine.
 
4. Christ has risen and forever
lives to challenge and to change all whose lives are
messed or mangled, all who find
religion strange.  Christ is risen, Christ is present
making us what he has been -evidence of
transformation in which God is known and seen. 
 
Where the Spirit of the Lord Is#2119 TFWS
Words and Music: Stephen R. Adams
© 1973 Pilot Point Music, admin. By The Copyright Co.
 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace;
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love.
There is comfort in life’s darkest hour;
there is light and life, there is help and power
in the Spirit, in the Spirit of the Lord.
 
Passing of the Peace:…………………………….Phillip J.
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri:………“Glory Be to the Father#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
 
Sign of the Resurrection:…………………………….Diane C.

Giving of our tithes and offerings……..…..Phillip J.
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory:………………“Easter Joy”………………….Greg D.
Words: Stephen Andrews Music: Gregg Sewell
 
Offertory Response:…………The Doxology………..#94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
.
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 up-lifts!  Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Prayer After Receiving:……………………………….Phillip J.
 
Prayers of the People:…………………………………Phillip J.
 
Anthem:………….. “Hear My Words”………………..Choir
Words: Psalm 5 Music: Stephen Paulus © 1977 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
 
Sign of the Resurrection:……………………………….Lorri B.
 
Gospel Lesson:…………..John 20:19-31…………..Samantha M.
Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Hymn of Preparation:…“O Living God#3089 TFWS
Words: Ken Bible Music: Traditional USA folk tune; arr. Ken Bible
 
1. O living God, I long to see you lifted
up in all your glory, to
see you there in holy beauty.  O
Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you.
 
2. O living God, I long to praise you heart and
Voice, with all creation; to
worship you for tender mercy.  O
Lord, almighty God, Living Christ, I love you.
 
3.  O living God, I soon will see you face to
face, in all your glory.  I’ll
worship you in endless wonder.  O
Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you.
 
Sign of the Resurrection:………………………..Melrose D.
 
Closing Hymn:……“The Easter Song” #3090 W&S
Words: Anne Herring Music: Anne Herring © 2006 Latter Rain Music:
(ASCAP) admin. At EMICMS Publishing.com
 
1. Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing that
we can be born again!
 
2. Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing, “Christ
is risen from the dead!”
 
The angel upon the tombstone said,
“He is risen just as he said.  Quickly
now go tell his disciples that Jesus
Christ is no longer dead!”  Joy to the
World, he is risen!  Alleluia!
He’s risen!  Alleluia!  He’s
Risen!  Alleluia!
 
Dismissal with Blessing:…“Rule of Life” #3117 W&S
Words: 18th cent. Aphorism, attr. to John Wesley
Music: Edward Bonnemere 
 
Do all the good you can, by all the means you
can, in all the ways you can, in all the places
you can, at all the times you can, to all the
people you can, as long as ever you can. Amen.
 
Postlude:……………………………………………………Greg D.


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Join Avent Ferry UMC for our Annual Church BBQ Fundraiser. On Saturday May 2, 2026 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

  • Single BBQ Plates are $20.00 and include pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, cornbread, a dessert and a drink. (Vegan BBQ also available).
  • Family Dinner Package (3 Dinner Plate combo) are $50.00 and include pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, cornbread, a dessert and a drink. (Vegan BBQ also available).

You can add a tip if you would like by selecting the Regular + Tip option at checkout, which will add $2.00 to each dinner.

Thank you for your support!

Tickets can be purchased from any of our Church members prior to the event, on the day of the event, or online using link below: Buy Here (link will open in a new window)

Sunday April 12th Worship Service