Easter Gathering

Digital Connection Card - Tell us about yourself & get connected!

Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made
I see the stars I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art
Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art

And when I think that God His son not sparing
Sent him to die I scarce can take it in
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art
Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art

Then Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
And take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim my God how great thou art

Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art
Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art

Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art
Then sings my soul my savior God to thee
How great thou art how great thou art

How great thou art how great Thou art

Brothers and Sisters,

The night is over! The morning is here!

Christ is risen, risen as He said!

Sadness has vanished! Tears are no more!

Death has fled! Life is victorious!

This is the day the Lord has made:

We rejoice! We are glad in it!

Come, assemble for the Feast of Life,

the Feast of the Kingdom of God!

Let us worship Him now!

How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts

How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
'Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps

How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion's hill
The one who knows there's no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world could offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are
Oh, there's no place better than where You are

God and Father, great and holy
Fearing not, we come to Thee
Fearing not, though weak lowly
For Your love has set us free

And by the blue sky bending over
By the green earth's flowery home
Teach us Lord the angel chorus
You are Love and love alone!

You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are

Though the worlds in flame should perish
Sun and stars in ruin fall
Trust in Thee our hearts should cherish
Oh Lord be our all in all

With Your name the heavens praising
Angels hymn no sweeter tone
Than the songs our hearts are raising
You are Love and love alone

You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are

How perfectly
Our hearts are made for love
How perfectly
Our hearts are made for love
How perfectly
Our hearts are made for love

You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are

You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are Love and love alone
You are

Oh oh, oh oh
Oh, You are
You are, You are

At this time, we would like to take a few moments to pass the Peace of Christ. Please greet one another.

Foundations and Elementary are dismissed.

CONNECT CARDS

If you're visiting this morning and would like to learn more about Gateway, please fill out the 'Connect' card in the seatback in front of you and drop it in the black box at the back of the room. One of our pastors will follow up with you to answer any questions you have or help you understand the next steps at Gateway.

And we'd love to pray for you, so be sure to fill out the prayer request card and drop it in the black box as well.

NEW ATTENDERS COFFEE

Also, if you’re new to Gateway or just starting to get connected, we’d love to invite you to our New Attenders Coffee happening next Sunday, right after the service. It’s an informal chance to meet some of our leaders and learn more about the church.

GRAND OPENING

Next, we invite you all to join us on Thursday, April 30, from 4-6pm as we celebrate the renovation of this space. There will be a ribbon-cutting at 4:15pm with city officials and Gateway supporters, along with tours and refreshments. It will be a great time to meet our neighbors, so we encourage you to come if you can. All are welcome!

THE WEEKLY

Lastly, we have more events on the horizon, including a trivia night, serve days, another round of small groups, book clubs, artist fellowship events, and much more—so be sure to subscribe to Gateway's email newsletter and download the Church Center app to stay in the loop. You can learn more on our website at thegatewaychurch.com.

We are going to enter into a time of giving. If you would like to give at this time, there are a couple of ways available to you:

- Visit our website at thegatewaychurch.com to give online.

- Or you can grab an envelope and drop it in the black offering box at the back of the room.

Please join me in reading our generosity liturgy.

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Holy Father, there is nothing I have that You have not given me.

All I have and am belong to You, bought with the blood of Jesus.

To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice,

is the way of the world that You cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord;

who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds.

Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word;

Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us.

I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous.

It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world.

Please stand with me for the reading of God's Word. Our passage today comes from Matthew 28:1-6:

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

This is the word of the Lord
(All: Thanks be to God)
You may be seated

Communion is available in the baskets at the end of each row. Contains juice and wafer (gluten-free option available).

What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died, to buy my pardon
An empty tomb is there to prove my Savior lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

And then one day, I'll cross that river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I'll see the light of glory and I'll know that He reigns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

May the living God

who raised Jesus from the dead,

bless you and keep you

and make you shine with joy.

May God raise up new life in you

and give you peace,

for the sake of Jesus, Lord of Life!

Tell the world. The Tomb is empty!

Death has been defeated!

And life is found in Him!

Christ is risen!

He is Risen indeed!