April 26, 2026

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                                 "Chant and Celebration"                                Douglas E. Wagner

                                                                                   Sanctuary Bells                                         

INTROIT                         "Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia!"                               Tanzanian Melody

WELCOME                                                                    Rev. Trip Porch

One: This is the day that the Lord has made

All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: In the darkest hour, when the night feels longest,

Many: we gather with a song still stirring in us.

One: When the world presses in and the walls feel close,

Many: we remember there is something in us that cannot be bound.

One: Come, bring your prayers, your breath, your voice.

Many: For even here, even now, God meets us in our singing.

*HYMN 641                         “When in Our Music God is Glorified”                                       ENGELBERG

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                            Robert Bird

God of truth, we confess that we do not always live as people who are free. We let fear close in around us. We measure our lives by what is going wrong. We forget the songs that have carried us before, and we grow quiet when we most need to speak or sing. We turn away from the suffering of others or accept systems that wound instead of heal. We hold tightly to what feels secure, even when it costs us something. Forgive us for the ways we have settled for less than the freedom you give. Open something in us again, that we might trust, sing, and live as people whose deepest life belongs to you. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON                                                        

*RESPONSE OF PARDON 240       “Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks”                     ALLELUIA NO. 1

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                                                  

One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

All:      And also with you.  

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

ANTHEM                               "Plowshare Prayer”                  Spencer LaJoye/arr. Nate Terry

                       Mary Rebekah Fortman, Skye Johnson, Marie Boozer soloists; Greta Zender, cello

GODLY PLAY

  Congregation: May God be with you there   

    Children: May God be with you here.              

Children’s Recessional 188       “Jesus Loves Me” vs. 1

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION                                                                  

SCRIPTURE        Acts 16:16-34    MSG

  One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time, the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.  

SERMON                                                                                 Rev. Trip Porch

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN  661                  “Why Should I Feel Discouraged (His Eye Is on the Sparrow)”                      SPARROW

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  followed by the Lord’s Prayer using debts and debtors.

TIME OF OFFERING   online giving is available at  www. indianolapres.org/give

OFFERTORY                            “Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace”                                                  Eric Thiman

                                                                                         Betsy Tullis, soloist                         

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE 609        “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION 

God of every good gift, receive what we offer today. Take these gifts and let them become more than what they are in our hands. Let them carry your freedom into places that feel bound, your mercy into places that feel hard, your song into places that have gone silent. Shape us, too, into people who give ourselves with open hands and steady hearts, trusting that even small offerings can be part of your transforming work. Amen.

*HYMN 538                      “Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises”          HALELUYA! PELO TSA RONA

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

CHARGE & BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE                       "Amen"                                                                 K. Lee Scott        

POSTLUDE                              "His Eye is on the Sparrow "                                                  arr. Kathryn Carpent      

  Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452