EASTER VIRTUAL WORSHIP AT WPC
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles invites you to experience Virtual Sunday Worship. Please join us as we extend our Easter Sunday Worship in a new way online. Scroll the page to participate in Virtual Sunday Worship today.
WELCOME
Opening Prayer:
Holy God, author of all life, we celebrate today Christ’s resurrection. We celebrate life and light, joy and hope, peace and love, for these are the gifts made possible by Christ’s victory over sin, evil and death. The resurrection bears witness to your power to defeat all that opposes you. It affirms your good and holy purpose to rescue and restore all of creation. It proclaims your redemption plan for all the peoples of the world. It testifies to your active and ongoing work in our lives. The resurrection is our assurance that you can and will “make good” on your promise of eternal life. It is to that promise that we cling, trusting that there is nothing — neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation — that is able to separate us from your love which is made known to us through Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord.
Amen.
Opening Praise:
“Psalm 34” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (LIVE)
“Thank You” – Walter Hawkins & Donnie McClurkin
CHURCH NEWS & GIVING
Church News & Announcements:
“Hello” – from Pastor Rhoden’s family
Please continue to stay at home and stay safe.
“Stay-at-Home” Thursday Bible Study:
Please join the video conference online.
Join Pastor Rhoden for our at home bible study Thursday’s at 12:30. Simply copy the link. Please understand that you will be on camera so use these helpful tips so that we can all have a good experience.
Tips for a Good Zoom Gathering:
- Click the Zoom link early to familiarize yourself with the controls and iron out any kinks. The default setting for when you join the gathering is for your video to be on and your audio muted. You can change these settings once you’ve joined the meeting.
- Take care to mute yourself when you are not speaking. This cuts down on feedback and background noise. The hosts have the power to mute and will use it from time to time when appropriate. Also, be sure to unmute yourself when you speak
- Use the chat feature to ask questions. This cuts down on interruptions and helps the flow of the meeting.
- Take note of the multiple ways you can switch screen views. You can choose between a “brady bunch” view of many people on your screen or a “presenter” view of the active speaker filling your screen.
Zoom is new to many of us, but together we’ll figure out some of the technology kinks and we’ll bear with one another as we get the hang of using it.
Zoom link for Thursday, Bible Study at 12:30p.m. :https://zoom.us/j/874967171?pwd=VUZONGdocEtIalplZ3lsNzZ2Tlk3dz09
Meeting ID: 786 687 109
Password: 041675
or Join by Phone, Bible Study at 12:30p.m. :Phone: 401-542-3145
PIN: 554 203 307#
Prayers of the People:
God of glory, we gather to celebrate your victory over death and the power of sin. The empty cross and the promise of the resurrection are tangible signs of hope in our broken world. We pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who aren’t free to sing their alleluias out loud. We give thanks for those who glorify you this day in places where hope is in short supply — in countries recovering from natural disasters or torn by war. We pray for those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, who lack the strength to sing alleluia. We offer alleluias on their behalf, praying for healing so their voices can join in the joyful songs of praise. We give you thanks for the saints who have gone before us, singing in your heavenly choir, grateful for their lives of faith. Help us live as Easter people throughout the year; let our lives be signs of your unending love. We pray in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen!
Offering Song:
“Unspeakable Joy” – Douglas Miller
Tithes and offerings:
Offertory Prayer:
Our heavenly God, every good and perfect gift comes from you. We recognize that all we’ve been given is a blessing from our God, who loves us. As we bring our offerings to you this morning, we do so humbly. We know we wouldn’t have gifts to bring if it weren’t for your blessing and generosity toward us. And so we come to bless and give generously back to you. May our offerings be pleasing to you and come from pure and grateful hearts. And may all that we give be used to further your kingdom. In your holy name.
Amen.
SERMON MESSAGE
Sermonic Songs:
“Oh, It is Jesus” – Andrae Crouch
“Matthew 28” – Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers
Sermon:
“The Experts were wrong”
~ Matthew 28:1-10 ~
By Rev. Carlton Rhoden
SCRIPTURE READING
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WPCofLA Minister of Music (Live)
PASTOR RHODEN’S SERMON
CLOSING SONG
“Come to Me” – Dan Forrest from Beckenhorst Press
Closing Prayer:
And So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
MEET PASTOR RHODEN
Rev. Carlton A. Rhoden
Westminster Presbyterian Church / Los Angeles
Rev. Carlton A. Rhoden became the Pastor/Head of Staff of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in April, of 2014. Rev. Rhoden comes with a wealth of experience, having formerly served as Senior Minister of the First Baptist of Los Angeles from 2006 until 2013. Rev. Rhoden earned a Masters of Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley California in 2005. Upon graduation Rev. Rhoden was awarded “The J. Alfred Smith Sr. Award for Outstanding Ministry in the Black Church”. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Program class of 2005. Rev. Rhoden received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a minor in African American Studies from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 1999. While at Stockton, Rev. Rhoden was a member of the Men’s Basketball team, a member of Student Government, and pledged Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
He is also active in community organization, most recently with Oakland Community Organizations. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in this field and has provided advice and consulting for community organization groups from coast to coast.
Carlton is married to Nikki Thomas-Rhoden. Nikki holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. They have two children, CJ and Maya. Nikki is a Social Worker who has a great concern for children in need. She is a graduate of Richard Stockton College of N.J. (B.A.), and a Master’s of Public Administration from Cal State Hayward. She is currently employed at Penny Lane Centers as a Site Director of Wrap Around. She is devoted to her family and the ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church Los Angeles. Most importantly she is the best wife and mother a man and his children (Maya and C.J.) can have.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2230 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018.
We hope you enjoyed Virtual Sunday Worship.
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Morning, I enjoyed the Service and inspirational Hyms was very comforting for me. Many Blessings
Sherma T.
Brooklyn, NY
“Very Good Easter Sunday..!”
Dear Pastor rhoden,
Wonderful service! Thank you so much. This is a blessing!
David E.
David, many blessings and thank you for watching. Stay safe. He is Risen!
Christopher, Thank you for enjoying our Easter worship. Please stay safe.
Sherma, Easter Blessings. Thank you so much for watching.