Welcome - April 26, 2026

Welcome to Hope United Methodist Church! We’re glad you’re here. Whether you are visiting for the first time or joining us again, we pray you experience God’s love, meaningful worship, and a warm sense of community. Below is information to help you follow along with today's service. Visit Hope Worship Page to view the digital printed bulletin.

We’re grateful you chose to worship with us and hope you feel at home at Hope!


Centering Words: Listen, our shepherd is calling us by name.


Call to Worship

Easter people, we gather to worship and to listen, to learn the sound, the feel, the cadence of the Shepherd’s voice.

We come seeking our Shepherd’s voice.

We gather to worship and to discern, to learn how to recognize our Shepherd’s voice amidst the chaos and noise of our lives.

We come seeking our Shepherd’s voice.

We gather to worship and to find shelter, to learn to trust our Shepherd’s voice to guide us to safety and provide for us in all things.

We come seeking our Shepherd’s voice.

Come, let us worship as we listen for the voice of Jesus who guides us, protects us, provides for us, and draws us together in community.

We come to worship as the family of Christ, a flock seeking and following our Shepherd’s voice. Amen.


Hymn Selections

Opening Hymn - Where Charity and Love Prevail (UMH 549)

Prayer Hymn - Just a Closer Walk with Thee (TFWS 2158)

Closing Hymn - Lord of the Dance (UMH 261)


Scripture Readings

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into God’s presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, who made us, is God.
We are the Lord’s; we are the people of God, the sheep of God’s pasture.


Enter God's gates with thanksgiving, and God's courts with praise!
Give thanks and bless God’s name!

For the Lord is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever; God’s faithfulness to all generations.



Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 

Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.

When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.


Sermon

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Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;  And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;* the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.


Offering

The story of our Life-giving God's generosity is infinite, deep, and awesome. We want to reach toward others the way God reaches toward us. Since God's love is sacrificial, we want ours to be as well. May God remove whatever separates us from being generous and break our hearts open so we can hear and love the broken-hearted among us, just as Jesus did. 

Give Now


Breakthrough Prayer

God of new beginnings and second chances. When your son, Jesus the Christ gave his life for us, the veil of separation was torn. Breakthrough all that would keep us separate from one another, from our neighbors, and from you that we may be one just as you and the Father are one. Lead us now into your beloved community where our identity is rooted in Christ alone. Amen.

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