Online Resources
Friday, March 20th, Governor JB Pritzker issued a “stay at home” order in response to COVID-19. We invite you to stay connected with us during this time. Worship resources are available each week to sustain and strengthen our faith.
Sunday, April 19th Resources
Christ is Risen! Celebration and study of the resurrection continues.
“Jesus Reigns” Skit Guys Video
“Faith, Doubt, and Authority to Believe” Rev. Yvonne Gilmore
Kids present the Easter story
Opening Prayer
Risen Lord, standing among us, we give thanks for the LIFE which comes even in the face of death. Gather us in spirit, even if we’re not able to gather in the flesh. Bind us to God and to one another through your love, which took you to the cross, the grave and to resurrection joy. Amen.
Prayer of Compassion
Surprising God, we come to Easter through the long Lenten journey in which you have called us to examine our inner lives. Lord, please surprise us again, as Jesus surprised his disciple Thomas who feared and doubted. Remind us that the signs of Jesus’ resurrection are all around us.
We remember this day, friends and strangers who suffer from illness and loss, O Lord. Help us to be a presence of comfort for them; for those who are lost and alone, alienated from family and friends, we ask that you empower us to reach out in compassion, offering appropriate help that will lift them into new life with you. We pray for all anywhere who are in situations of danger, war, and strife. We pray that your peace will be with them and that warfare and dangers will be vanquished by your good news; for our community, our nation, Lord, we ask that you give to the leaders compassion and wisdom, remembering that their lives rest in your care. And for ourselves, we ask for the extra measure of faith so that as doubts arise, we may meet them with confidence, and emerge as strong witnesses to your love. In Christ’s name, we offer this prayer. Amen.
Scripture – John 20:19-31
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him,
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”30 Jesus
performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Sunday, April 5th Resources
Sunday, April 5th Resources
2770 Montgomery Rd., Aurora, IL 60504
Phone contact: 630-898-7990
Fax: 630-898-7955
Email:gcccoffice@aol.com
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm