Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday, April 19, 2026 – 3rd of Easter
We welcome Danah-Lee Krieger as our guest speaker today.
Words of Welcome and Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
As we light the Christ candle, we remember the light of Christ who meets us in scripture and leads us deeper than the surface of the words. In the teachings of Jesus, we hear again the call on which everything hangs: to love God and to love our neighbour. And in this season of spring, as the earth awakens and new life begins to bloom, may this flame awaken something in us as well, helping us to see more clearly, love more deeply and walk more faithfully in the way of Christ.
Opening Song/Introit Jesus, We Are Here MV 189
Jesus, we are here; Jesus, we are here;
Jesus, we are here; we are here for you.
Passing the Peace of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: Come into this space of grace and new beginnings.
All: We come, drawn by the light of Christ.
Leader: Come and hear again the red letter words of Jesus, words of mercy, justice and love.
All: We come to be shaped by his way.
Leader: As spring awakens the earth…
All: May God awaken our hearts.
Leader: Let us worship the One who is still speaking, still stirring, still making all things new.
All: Come, Let us worship God. Amen.
Hymn Come In, Come In and Sit Down (Part of the Family) VU 395
Refrain: Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
- You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain:
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family. Refrain
- God is with us in this place,
like a mother’s warm embrace.
We’re all forgiven by God’s grace,
for we are a part of the family. Refrain
- There’s life to be shared in the bread and the wine;
we are the branches, Christ is the vine.
This is God’s temple, it’s not yours or mine,
but we are a par of the family. Refrain
- There’s rest for the weary and health for us all;
there’s a yoke that is easy, and a burden that’s small.
Some come in and worship and answer the call,
for we are a part of the family. Refrain
Prayer of Approach
Holy and Loving God, As spring awakens the earth around us, awaken our hearts as well. As we gather in the light of Christ, help us to hear again the red letter words of Jesus, words of love, mercy, justice and grace. Meet us here in this time of worship and renew us with your presence. Open us to fresh insight, deeper compassion and the courage to follow the way of Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Scripture Reader Peter Raaphorst
2 Timothy 3:14-17
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Matthew 22:34-40
Hymn As Comes the Breath of Spring VU 373
- As comes the breath of spring
with light and mirth and song,
so does your Spirit bring
new days brave, free and strong.
You come with thrill of life
to chase hence winter’s breath,
to hush to peace the strife
of sin that ends in death.
- You come like dawning day
with flaming truth and love,
to chase all glooms away,
to brace our wills to prove
how wise, how good to choose
the truth and its brave fight,
to prize it, win or lose,
and live on your delight.
- You come like songs at morn
that fill the earth with joy,
till we, in Christ newborn,
new strength in praise employ.
You come to rouse the heart
from drifting to despair,
through high hopes to impart
life with an ampler air.
- You breathe and there is health;
you move and there is power;
you whisper, there is wealth
of love, your richest dower.
Your presence is to us
like summer in the soul;
your joy shines forth and then
life blossoms to its goal.
Sermon Objects In the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
Special Music/Music for the Young and Young at Heart
The Offering
We give thanks to everyone who continues to support TSA and our many ministries. Your gifts of support and encouragement mean a lot to us. You can get more information about making a donation by contacting the church office or by visiting our website. There are also many opportunities to volunteer in our different ministries. For all the gifts you share, for all the people you bless by your serving and giving as a disciple of Jesus, we give thanks.
Offering Song Know That God is Good MV 104
Know that God is good, (3x)
God is good, God is good.
Offering Prayer
Generous God, We offer these gifts in the way of Jesus, a way of love, generosity, justice and welcome. Bless what we bring, and let it bear fruit in this church, in this community and in the world around us. As spring awakens new life around us, awaken in us a deeper willingness to give, to serve and to love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Hymn God of the Bible (Fresh as the Morning) MV 28
- God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
you are our centre, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.
Refrain: Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change. (2x)
- God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empow’r us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart. Refrain
- Those without status, those who are nothing,
you have make royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights. Refrain
- Not by your finger, not by your anger
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way. Refrain
- Hope we must carry, shining and certain
through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
bonding us gladly one to the other,
till our world changes facing the Cross. Refrain
Pastoral Prayer
Loving and Faithful God, In this season of spring, we give you thanks for the new life rising around us, for longer light, for softening earth for buds on the trees and for all the quiet ways creation reminds us that hope is never lost. As the world around us awakens, awaken something in us as well. Where we are tired, renew us. Where we are fearful, steady us. Where we are closed off, open us again to hope and possibility and also to be compassionate and more loving.
We thank you for the gift of scripture, and for Jesus, whose words and ways keep calling us back to what matters most: to love you with all that we are, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. So today we pray for those who are hurting, for those who are grieving, for those who are anxious or alone and for all who need your comfort and care.We pray for this church, for our community and for the wider world. Where there is pain, bring healing. Where there is division, bring peace. Where there is despair, plant hope.
And keep shaping us in the way of Jesus, so that our lives may reflect his mercy, his courage and his love. We pray in the spirit of Christ, who taught us to pray together, by saying*
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Refrain: Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way
Leaning on the everlasting arms
O how bright the path grows from day to day
Leaning on the everlasting arms Refrain
What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms Refrain
Benediction
Go now in the way of Jesus, to love God and to love your neighbour. As spring awakens the world around you, may God awaken new life within you. And may the blessing of God, the light of Christ and the breath of the Spirit be with you now and always. Go now in peace, friends, Amen.
Choral Amen Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen! VU 974
