March 27, 2016                                                                                                                                   Easter Sunday

 

 

Prelude                                                 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140                          Johann S. Bach

 

Call to Worship

 

Chalice Lighting

 

*Opening Hymn                                   #1000 Morning Has Come

 

*Covenant                                              Love is the doctrine of this church.

                                                                 The quest for truth is its sacrament,

                                                                  And service is its prayer.

                                                                To dwell together in peace,

                                                                To seek knowledge in freedom,

                                                                To serve humankind in fellowship,

                                                                Thus do we covenant with each other.

 

*Hymn of Praise                                   From all that dwell below the skies

                                                                Let songs of hope and faith arise

                                                                Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung

                                                                Through every land, by every tongue.

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Time for All Ages                                  Nowruz: The Persian New Year                                        Jila Tayefehnowrooz

 

Song of Blessing                                  Morning Has Broken                                                                 Eleanor Farjeon

                                                                 Morning has broken like the first morning,

                                                                 Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

                                                                 Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

                                                                 Praise for them, springing fresh from the word!

 

Life Together

 

Offering Speaker                                    Jacki Weber

 

Offering                                                   Alléluia Festif                                                                              Frédéric Debons

 

Easter Prayer

 

Silence

 

Sung Response                                   There’s a Wideness in Your Mercy                                          Calvin Hampton

                                                                There’s a wideness in your mercy like the wideness of the sea;

                                                                There’s a kindness in your justice, which is more than liberty.

                                                                 And the love we serve is broader than the measures of our minds,

                                                                 And the heart of the eternal is most wonderfully kind.

 

Selection                                                Angel Israfel: Whose Heart-Strings Are a Lute               Dominick Argento

 

Reflection                                               Kit Shaw

 

Selection                                                Alleluja, Regina Coeli , K. 108                              Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 

Easter Message                                                                                                                      Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

*Closing Hymn                                    #1068 Rising Green

 

*Benediction

 

Musical Response                             Halle, Halle, Halle                                                                            arr. John L. Bell

 

*Please stand in body or in spirit

 

Greeters:                                           Glen Howell, Kris Langabeer, Michael Young & Steve Young

Ushers:                                              Bonnie Brae, Tom Foretich, Jila Tayefehnowrooz & Ned Wright

Coffee:                                               Sheila Bjornlie, Nancy Howell, Leah Moore & Sylvia Young

Bookstore:                                         Mark Warkentin

 

Thank you to our guest harpists, Alison Bjorkedal and Allison Allport.

 

Alison Bjorkedal is a GRAMMY award-winning musician who teaches and performs in the Los Angeles

area. She has performed with the San Diego Symphony, Pasadena Symphony/Pops Orchestra, Long

Beach Symphony and Long Beach Opera. Named "excellent player" and "enterprising young harpist" by

the Los Angeles Times, Alison's notable chamber music performances include the world premieres of

works by William Kraft, Anne LeBaron, and Wadada Leo Smith. She is active in the television and

motion picture recording industry. Alison teaches at Pasadena City College and CalARTS.

 

Allison Allport’s harp music is heard on many albums including Muppets: The Green Album . Allison’s

other recording credits include soundtracks such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Star Wars: The Force

Awakens . Allison has performed many times with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, including their

production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen . Allison has also performed with the Los Angeles

Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony and Pasadena Symphony. Allison is on faculty at California

State University, Northridge and Idyllwild Arts Summer Program; she also maintains a private studio.

Current projects include recording on John Williams’s upcoming film score for The B.F.G. Allison also

serves as president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Harp Society.

 

Today, 60% of our offering will go to Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries provides hope,

training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women in Los

Angeles, offering an “exit ramp” from the cycle of violence, incarceration, and despair, empowering

them to develop the strength and skills to transform their lives and become contributing members of

our community.