Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick

Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick
       Open to the Spirit… Eager to Welcome… Ready to Serve.
                         SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER 
                                         April 12, 2026                                  

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS  
PRELUDE             “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart”                 
   CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                                   
One:  Great is the mystery of faith:
Many:  Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
One:  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?
Many:  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
One:  Christ is risen!
Many:  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!
PRAYER    
* HYMN  611                                "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” 
* CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                                                                                                                                    
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  
Eternal God, your Word teaches us that whether we live or whether we die, we are yours.  Forgive us for forgetting your gracious promise of life.  We live in fear, thinking death has the final say.  We follow our own ways rather than your life-giving path in Jesus Christ.  Help us put our trust in you, our God, who has the power of life over death.  We believe, Lord;  help our unbelief.  In the name of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead never to die again, we pray.  Amen.
(Moment of personal confession)
* WORDS OF ASSURANCE
One:  The scriptures teach: “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Many:  We confess that Jesus is Lord and we believe and celebrate the good news that God raised him from the dead.
One:  Trust in this promise:  In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
Many:  Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!
* RESPONSE:  Hymn 438     “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me”    (v. 1)  
       Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
       Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed be of sin the double cure, 
cleanse from guilt and make me pure.
TIME FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION                                                                                                                                                                                     
SCRIPTURE READING:                                                                                                                   
  ACTS 2:141, 22-32                                                                                                                                            
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them…
… "Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say:  Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know -- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.  But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.  For David says concerning him,
'I saw the Lord always before me, 
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;  
moreover my flesh will live in hope.  
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, 
or let your Holy One experience corruption.  
You have made known to me the ways of life;  
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'   
"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.  Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, 
'He was not abandoned to Hades, 
nor did his flesh experience corruption.'  
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.
I PETER 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
JOHN 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord."  But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."  
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe."  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
SERMON                                                                                                                                         Elder Cade Arnold
* HYMN 232                                        “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”          
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH:  “Jesus Christ”                                            (from the Confession of 1967 – 9.08)
In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all.  Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows.  He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women.  But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people.  His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes.  Many rejected him and demanded his death.  In giving himself freely for them he took upon himself the judgment under which all men stand convicted.  God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord.  The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: (concluding with the Lord’s Prayer)
   … Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread;  and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;  and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.
OUR OFFERING
   * THE DOXOLOGY:  Hymn 606  “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;  praise him all creatures here below;  
     praise him above, ye heavenly hosts;  praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 
* HYMN 246                                 “Christ Is Alive!”
* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION   
One:  Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.  As you go, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All:   Alleluia!  Amen.
* CLOSING:   Hymn 306     “Blest Be the Tie that Binds”   (v.1)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
* indicates places to stand, if you are able
THE SESSION
                                   Nancy Buchanan                                            Karen Shanks                                            Bill Beckett                
               Bill Heinsch    *                                                   Dianne Speicher                                                         Trish Jolley*
               Martha Weaver                             Debby Wilson*                                                           Trudy Rauch
                                                       Vickie Rhea – Clerk of Session
* = serving second term (and therefore cannot be re-elected)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING to worship with us here at Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick. If you are visiting with us today, we are delighted to welcome you as our guest. We hope that today’s service
is meaningful for you. If you would like to know more about making Calvary Church your church home, please speak to one of the elders on Session (listed above).
ELDER OF THE MONTH:  The elder of the month for April is Vickie Rhea.  Her cell phone number is 931-248-5513 and her email address is rvrhea@hotmail.com.
TODAY, WE WELCOME BACK TO CALVARY CHURCH ELDER CADE ARNOLD.  Cade is a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church, Cookeville;  he is serving on the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, and he is the Presbytery’s liaison to our Pastoral Nominating Committee.  Cade is also a student at Dubuque Theological Seminary. 
TODAY, FOLLOWING WORSHIP, there will be a CALLED SESSION MEETING.  The members of the Session are urged to stay for this meeting.
YOGA will meet on Monday mornings, at 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15th, THE SESSION will meet at 5:00 p.m.
THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 17th, THE BIG LICK CHILI SUPPER AND AUCTION will take place in our new building!  Supper will begin at 5 p.m., with the auction starting around 6 p.m.  You can leave your contributions for the auction in the new building at any time. 
NEXT SUNDAY, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS will continue its four-week study of the resurrection and post-resurrection accounts from each of the four Gospels.  Bring your own Bible if you prefer a particular translation.   On Sunday, May 10th, the class will begin their study of “The Fruits of the Spirit,” using a new Sunday School book.
AND NEXT SUNDAY, Rev. Clarice Mitchell will be back as our worship leader. 

JOYS
Birthdays:
          TODAY                4/12                Sherril Rhea, Nick Burgess
      Mon.                 4/13                 Lynn Burgess
      Fri.                    4/17                David Rhea, Robert Bolin, Kaylee Mutchler
Anniversaries:       
   Tue.                    4/14                Richard & Karen Wyatt

CONCERNS
Cancer Patients:
Chuck Burgess
Janet Choate
Ted Gibson
Stan Gambill
Lee Heffner’s sister-in-law, 
Jim Martin
Jerry Nash
Casee Smith
Jerry Walker

Other Concerns
Beachboard’s granddaughter
Bill Beckett 
Evelyn Cox
Harold Hankins
Becca Hayes
George Haimbach
Heather Hazel
Lee Heffner
Bill Heinsch
The family of Nancy Hyder
Ruth Kerley
Aaron Lisic
LeAlan McFadden
Myra Moody
Linda Pollock
Don Pope
Brad Rhea
Darlene Rogers
Tony Settles
Susan Smathers
Ruth Smith
Irene Swafford
Kathy Tollett
Amanda Vincent
Martha Weaver
Continuing Concerns
Sharon Anderson
Mabel Blaylock
Buck Buchanan
Marvin Davis
Michael Jones
June McFarland
Sara Rector
Martha Tinch
Children in situations out of their control
Christians abroad in dangerous situations
Peace in the Middle East
People with mental health issues
Our PNC as they do their work
People dealing with the aftermath of     
      floods and snowstorms – particularly the
      people of Nashville.
Prayers for peace in Ukraine, and for all 
     those refugees displaced by the wars
(Bold letters = recently mentioned concerns)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:   
   LAST WEEK it was a joy to learn that BILL BECKETT, BRAD RHEA, and SARA BEACHBOARD’s GRANDDAUGHTER are all recovering well following their hospital stays.  LEE HEFFNER is doing better this week!  It was a joy to hear that Landen Wilson has been released from the doctor’s care.  He promptly went out and won a 5K track race!  And joy was expressed for the meaningful services held on Maundy Thursday and the Sunrise service Easter morning (even though we needed to be inside).  We had a DELICIOUS breakfast following the Sunrise service.  Also, the kids enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt on Saturday.
UPCOMING WORSHIP LEADERS:  The worship leaders for the next several Sundays are as follows:    
                   April 19th:  Rev. Clarice Mitchell
                   April 26th:  Elder David Wood
                   May 3rd:  Rev. Clarice Mitchell
                   May 10th:     Elder David Wood
THE PROCESS CONTINUES!  Last week, the PNC has asked the congregation to pray that God would open someone’s heart to accept our call to be our pastor.  If you have questions, feel free to talk to Judy Venable (443-285-1287), chair, or any of the other PNC members:  Vickie Rhea, Lindsey Thompson, Martha Weaver, or Bill Beckett.
WEBSITE REQUEST!  Our Church web address is:  Biglickpc.wixsite.com/calvary.  Jim Beachboard manages our website.  His contact information is: jbeach323@gmail.com  or 931-200-4386.