The Second Sunday of Easter
Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths.
- Say silently to God: I’m glad You’re here
- Say silently to yourself: I’m glad I’m here
- Now, say out loud to your neighbor: I’m glad you’re here
Call to Worship
Great is the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Worship Songs
Sound of Adoration
When we were lost ones
You were the Shepherd that carried us home
When we were prodigals
You ran to meet us with open arms
And we can’t hold back our praise
When we were refugees
You were the One who took us in
When we were enemies
You paid the price for all our sin
And we can’t hold back our praise
This is the sound of adoration
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the joy of all creation
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the Risen One
You conquered death and made a way
You sang our freedom song
Now we are dancing on our chains
And we can’t hold back our praise
By the cross, I am free
Your grace changes everything
I was blind, now I see
Your grace changes everything
My Hallelujah
Open up the doors again
Let the King of glory in
His Kingdom will never end
Oh, I know that You are good
Break the darkness with the light
All the earth let praise arise
Every dead place come alive
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You will have my hallelujah
You alone the highest name
All to You I surrender
Every breath I take
Make my life Your praise
Oh, Spirit of the Living God
Fire burning in my heart
I’m wide awake to who You are
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You are my strength when I am weak
You are my sight when I can’t see
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Oh, when I was lost, You rescued me
When I was bound, You set me free
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Prayer of Confession
God our Redeemer,
in raising Christ from the dead,
You show us that love is stronger than death.
Shape our lives through the resurrection,
to become people of faith, hope, and love.
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
All glory to You, O God.
Breathe Your Spirit upon us once again,
bringing the peace of Christ.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
We invite you to lift up a person or place around the world that God has put on your heart in the following way:
- “We pray for (name), who is (facing this concern)”
- And the church will respond out loud, “Lord, have mercy”
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Easter Offering: Please support our clean water tank initiative at Jardín de Niños Rebeca Muñoz Leyva (an early-education school in Tijuana) in partnership with the Borderlands Ministry of our presbytery. Please choose “Easter 2026” on Tithely to give!
- College Ministry Gathering: Next Sunday, April 19th after worship service! Please talk to our Director of Worship Engagement, Kathy Lee, for more details.
- Meal Packing Event: In partnership with Feeding San Diego, we will host a meal packing event after service on Sunday, May 3rd.
- Choose 1 recipe per batch of 12 kits (out of 6 different recipes)
- We’ll assemble the ingredients and share a meal from these recipes on 5/3
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Go in peace and go in joy;
Filled with wonder for this day.
Go in faith and go in love;
God will guide you on your way!
Worship Song
Open Space
Pull me in closer
Close to Your heart
May I be a pure reflection of all You are
Love that is patient
Love that is kind
And love that keeps no offences
or wrongs in my mind
Make me like Jesus
Make me like Jesus
You’re faithful to find me
Right where I am
Though even in my wandering You call me friend
And mercy receives me
and lifts me to my feet
And I’m caught up in the wonder and mystery
Of knowing Jesus
Of knowing Jesus
My heart is an open space
for You to come and have Your way
I’m open, I’m open
My heart is Your forever
My heart is Your forever
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 As for you, don’t you remember how you used to just exist? Corpses, dead in life, buried by transgressions, 2 wandering the course of this perverse world. You were the offspring of the prince of the power of air—oh, how he owned you, just as he still controls those living in disobedience. I’m not talking about the outsiders alone; 3 we were all guilty of falling headlong for the persuasive passions of this world; we all have had our fill of indulging the flesh and mind, obeying impulses to follow perverse thoughts motivated by dark powers. As a result, our natural inclinations led us to be children of wrath, just like the rest of humankind.
4 But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, 5 united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life—even though we were buried under mountains of sin—and saved us by His grace. 6 He raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly realms with our beloved Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King. 7 He did this for a reason: so that for all eternity we will stand as a living testimony to the incredible riches of His grace and kindness that He freely gives to us by uniting us with Jesus the Anointed. 8-9 For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing. 10 For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Practices You Should Know:
Resurrection
Pastor Dan
Discussion questions
- Get into conversation partners and discuss what resurrection means to you personally
- You don’t have to give the “right” theological answer
- Your answer might be different than 10 years or 10 minutes ago; just asking you to locate yourself in the present moment
- Now think about how you can practice resurrection based on what resurrection means to you
Worship Song
Have My Heart / Here’s My Heart
Here’s my heart Lord
Here’s my heart Lord
Here’s my heart Lord
Speak what is true
You love with no reservations
You’re not looking for perfection
And there’s no need in me pretending
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything
You deserve my full attention
Nothing less than my devotion
Oh, speak to me and I will listen
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You can have my heart
You can have my heart
Be the Lord of my emotions
Set me free from selfish motives
And search me ’til there’s nothing hidden
And I’ll give You everything
Yes, I’ll give You everything
My heart is Yours forever
My heart is Yours forever
Anchor & Hope Church 