A Note From Pastor Robyne
Dear Church Family and Friends
Below is an Eastertide Message from Bishop Easterling,
Living the Resurrection: A Call to Courageous Hope
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
-- 1 Peter 1:3 (CEV)
Grace and Peace to You in the Name of Our Risen Savior.
The tomb is still empty. The stone remains rolled away. And the risen Christ continues to meet us — not only in the safety of our sanctuaries and behind stained-glass windows, but in the ordinary places where doubt wrestles with faith, and fear tries to drown out hope.
As people of faith, may we always remember that Easter is not merely a historical event. Easter is not just a day or a season. Indeed, Easter is a way of being. Easter is a way of living. During this sacred season of Eastertide, we are invited to walk with the early disciples who, though stunned and scattered, found themselves caught up in the transforming truth of resurrection. Their grief became purpose. Their fear became proclamation. The very ones who once ran from the cross became ambassadors of an indestructible gospel.
That is the invitation to us today.
To be Easter people is to live with resurrection courage in a world that still crucifies truth and justice. It is to proclaim life in the face of death, to insist on joy in the presence of sorrow, and to be vessels of liberating grace even when the powers of this world demand silence and compliance.
This Eastertide, I pray we will lean into the long arc of resurrection living, not simply celebrating what Christ has done, but participating in what Christ is still doing. Christ is still raising up communities with justice, healing wounds with love, and calling forth new life from places thought barren and broken.
Beloved, may we never forget that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us -- in our ministry; in our witness; in our sacred resistance to all that diminishes God’s image in any person. Therefore, as we continue singing, “He is risen,” let us also proclaim that we will rise!
We will rise when justice is perverted. We will rise when power is abused. We will rise when human beings are treated as expendable. We will rise with the power of love that liberates and a faith that refuses to be silent in the face of suffering. May this season stretch us beyond comfort into compassion. May it embolden us not only to hope, but to hope out loud in our pulpits, our pews, our places of employment, our private chat rooms, and even in the public square.
For Christ is risen, yes. But Christ is also rising in every act of mercy, every cry for justice, and every soul that dares to believe that love really is stronger than death. May it be so.
Blessings and peace,
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area of The United Methodist Church
Order of Worship
Sunday April 27. 2025
10:00 am Worship Service
Easter Sunday
Opening Songs:
"God So Loved"
"Living Waters"
Call to Worship
Leader: Jesus said,
People: “Follow me.”
Leader: Jesus said,
People: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Leader: Jesus said,
People: “Forgive seventy times seven.”
Leader: Jesus said,
People: “Feed my sheep.”
Leader: In response, we say:
People: "Here’s my heart.
Leader: Take and seal it.
People: Seal it for thy courts above."
All: Let us worship God with all our hearts.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God,
Like Peter, we crawl out of the boat only to sink.
You tell us your truth and we push it away.
We ask about forgiveness and are surprised by abundance.
We profess our faith and deny it three times.
We run to the empty tomb and leave in silence.
Over and over again, we find ourselves wandering along the journey of faith. Tether us to your heart. Forgive our surprise, our denial, and our limited imagination. Call us out of the boat once more. We are eager to return to you. With humble hearts we pray, amen.
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in a God who shows up in our lives—
surprising and catching us off-guard in the best of ways.
We believe in a God who cares for God’s people—
a shepherd who longs for her sheep to be fed and tended.
We believe in a God who took on flesh—
a God whose love changed the world as we know it.
We believe that this here-and-now God invites us out of the boat,
calling ordinary people like Peter, like us, into a life of service and community. And so we give our hearts. We give our whole hearts and nothing less. Amen.
Children's Time
UMH #128 "He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought
Prayer of Illumination
God of second chances
and God of new life,
we have spent our days wandering.
Like Peter, we have had milled about
through nearly every state of faith.
We have had courageous days
and convicted days,
learning days
and questioning days.
We have had days where we run to you,
days for diving out of the boat,
days for deep joy,
and days where the pain of the world feels too close to bear.
So as we bring our wandering hearts to you,
we ask that you draw us in.
Allow this story to spark something new in us.
Allow this story of grace to give us pause
and pull us in.
We are listening.
Amen.
Sermon Series: Wandering Heart
Message: "Here's my Heart"
Scripture: John 21:1-19
Pastor: Rev. Robyne Mayer
UMH #344 "Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore"
Giving our Gifts to God.
UMH #95 "Doxology"
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Prayer:
Holy, Holy God, we bring our tithes and gifts to you this morning, confessing that often it is shallow faith that keeps us from truly embracing a generosity worthy of your blessings. Like the disciples after your Son’s resurrection, we rely on our eyes to see and ignore the truths that are spoken in our hearts. Like Thomas, we want to see and touch before we can believe that you can redeem this mess-of-a-world we live in. Grant us insight that goes beyond vision, and may we offer ourselves totally to your work of redemption. In the holy name of your resurrected Son, we pray. Amen.
Closing TFWS #2022 "Great are You Lord"
Announcements
Free Chair Aerobics
12:15-1:00pmWednesday April 30th, May 7th May 21st Register for the free Wednesday classes here: https://form.jotform.com/tmgraw18/chair-aerobics-formClasses led by Ida KirkendollIf the above link doesn't work, please register on our Facebook page or call the church 302 335-3304
Sermon Series Coming Soon "Season of Rest"
In this four-week series, we explore the profound importance of rest in our lives. We start with Elijah's experience of divine rest, learn how to find a healthy balance of rest, work, and play, understand the rhythm of rest modeled by God, and affirm that God has given everyone the gift of rest to be embraced. Week 1: Release into Rest 1 Kings 19:1-9Week 2: A Rhythm of Rest Ecclesiastes 3:1-13Week 3: What Kind of Rest: The Science Behind Rest | Genesis 2:1-3Week 4: The Gift of Rest Leviticus 25:1-19
VBS for Seniors May 13-15
Orchard Church is excited to offer a Vacation Bible School for Senior Adults. These three days are intended to refresh and renew the souls who participate through discussion, activities, and Bible study. We will explore the concept of prayer using the book, Lord Teach Us to Pray by Margie Burger. Lunch and Books will be provided for all participants.Mark the dates - May 13,14,1511am-1:00pmSign up below or call the church to register (302) 335-3304https://form.jotform.com/231695705775165
Send Us Your Prayers
Prayers of joy or prayers of lament, please let us know how we can pray for you! Send your prayers to [email protected] with the subject line "Prayer Request".
Online Offering & Tithe
To support our ministries through monetary donations, please use the link below to give online.
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The Letters of Paul to Philemon
Bible Study Wednesday April 30, 10 am and 7pm
Food Distribution
5/31/25 Regular Distribution6/28/257/26/258/30/259/27/2510/25/2511/29/2512/27/25
How to Prevent Being Scammed!
Wednesday June 11th, 12:00pm -How to Prevent Being Scammed! Our speaker will be Master Corporal Alfonse Jones. A light lunch will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Cardio Drumming Free Classes at Orchard Church
Tuesday & Thursday 5:45 pm.Sat 8:00 amClass runs about 45 minutes to 1 hourAges: 16 and upNo health requirements