Fauntleroy Church, United Church of Christ

Sunday Worship - April 19, 2026

Welcome to worship at Fauntleroy Church, United Church of Christ! We are so glad to have you with us today. Here are a few helpful notes and asks as you prepare to worship:

If you have a name tag in the wooden rack by the entrance, please wear it so others might know you by name. If not, let us know if you’d like one!
Mask-only designated pews are available at the back of the sanctuary, on the entrance side. We ask that all who sit there do wear a mask to honor the needs and comfort of others in that section.
Please remember to silence your cell phone during worship.
Our Sanctuary features a hearing loop system designed to enhance audio clarity for individuals utilizing hearing aids or cochlear implants. To connect, please adjust your device to the T-coil (telecoil) setting. Wireless receivers are also available at the rear of the Sanctuary.
Please be aware that we livestream our worship on our Fauntleroy Church YouTube channel. For the care and safety of children, our camera focus will be blurred during the Time with Children that recurs weekly. Parents should know that children still might momentarily be shown on our recordings if they come forward for music, communion or a role in leading worship.
If desired, Sunday school is available for ages four through eighth grade after the Time with Children (parent pick-up is on the fourth floor after worship).
If desired, childcare is available for babies through three-year-olds from the start of worship. Ask an usher to direct you to the childcare room.

*Asterisks invite those who are comfortable to please stand.

PRELUDE - Mayumi Tayake

WELCOME - Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

You will be invited to turn to your neighbors and greet them with the peace of Christ. The traditional greeting, should you engage it, is “The peace of Christ be with you” with a response of “And also with you.”

*CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) - Katherine Steen

Leader: Blessed Redeemer, come meet us here and join us in this time of worship,

RESPONSE: AND UNTIL WE CAN FINALLY RECOGNIZE YOU IN THE FACES OF OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

Leader: Come join us in this time of worship,

RESPONSE: AND UNTIL WE CAN SHARE YOUR PEACE AND THE GRACE OF YOUR BROKEN BREAD WITH NEIGHBORS AND STRANGERS.

Leader: Come join us in this time of worship,

RESPONSE: AND UNTIL WE CAN HEAR YOUR GOOD NEWS, AND IT IGNITES SO MUCH HOPE IN OUR HEARTS THAT WE CAN’T WAIT TO RUN AND SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!

*OPENING PRAYER

Companioning One, we get so turned around and turned inside-out sometimes. Come alongside us and reorient us toward you and your Way of love. Open our eyes, so we see the signs of your presence all around us; open our hearts, so we may receive your peace and love; and empower us to pass on to others the kindness and fellowship you share with us so freely now and always. Amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM “Give Me Jesus” - Zachary Fitzgerald, director

Arr. Trevor Manor. Published by Beckenhorst Press Inc. Used with permission of OneLicense.net Annual License with podcasting, No. A-727720.

In the morning when I rise, In the morning when I rise,

In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world, but give me Jesus

And when I am alone, oh, and when I am alone,

And when I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world, but give me Jesus

And when I come to die, oh and when I come to die,

And when I come to die, give me Jesus

A TIME FOR CHILDREN - Pastor Karyn

SINGING THE CHILDREN OUT (children may leave for Sunday School if they’d like)

Go now in peace, go now in peace.

May the love of God surround you,

Everywhere, everywhere, you may go.

SCRIPTURE READING Luke 24: 13-35 - Katherine Steen

On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?”

They stopped, their faces downcast. The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?” Jesus said to them, “What things?”

They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. 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 “Unbelievable Hope” - Pastor Karyn

HYMN “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”

African American Spiritual. Tune: African American spiritual. Harm. J. Jefferson Cleveland and Verolga Nix (1981). Used with permission of OneLicense.net Annual License with podcasting, No. A-727720.

I want Jesus to walk with me;

All along my pilgrim journey,

O I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, O walk with me;

When my heart is almost breaking,

O I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m in trouble, O walk with me;

When my head is bowed in sorrow,

O I want Jesus to walk with me.

SHARING OUR PRAYERS OF JOY AND CONCERN - Pastor Karyn

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)

Our Father/Mother/Creator, 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP MOMENT - Danielle Isbell

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY

From April through June, all cash offering collected during our worship services (unless otherwise marked/designated) will go to support sending local children and youth OUTSIDE our congregation to the YMCA’s Camp Colman or other Y camps (children of Fauntleroy Church already enjoy a legacy discount). If you do not have cash but would like to contribute to our church’s effort to support the Y, you can write a check with “CAMP COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP” on the memo line or you can donate online at www.fauntleroyucc.org looking for the CAMP COLEMAN SCHOLARSHIP BUDGET button. We’ll assume that checks with incomplete memo lines are intended for the church’s operating budget. Thank you to all who are giving! And thank you to everyone who, in addition to this offering, continues to support Fauntleroy Church with your annual pledges. You sustain our church, our collective impact, and our voice in this world. You make what we do together possible.

OFFERTORY “Simple Gifts” - Mayumi Tayake

Traditional Shaker melody. Arr. Jennifer Eklund. Permission for use.

*SUNG RESPONSE NO. 575, vs. 2 and 5 “O for a World”

By Miriam Therese Winter. Text ©Medical Mission Sisters, 1990. Used with permission of Medical Mission Sisters. Tune: AZMON C.M. (1839) Public Domain.

O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,

Where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.

O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,

Where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) - Katherine Steen

O God, every gift we receive comes from you. Every moment of our lives is filled with new possibilities because of you. We return this offering to you in gratitude and in wonder about all the love that could arise from it–and from us. Amen.

*CLOSING HYMN no. 41 “I Thank You Jesus”

Words and Music by Kenneth Morris. Music arr. Joseph Joubert © 1984, Martin and Morris, Inc.; admin. By Unichappell Music, Inc. Used with permission of OneLicense.net Annual License with podcasting, No. A-727720. Additional verse added.

1. I thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus,
Thank you, Jesus, my Savior God,
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

I thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus,
Thank you, Jesus, my Savior God,
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

2. Been my father, been my mother,
Been my sister, my brother, too;
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

Been my father, been my mother,
Been my sister, my brother, too;
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

3. You’ve been my bread, you’ve been my water,
You’ve been my life, my everything,
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

You’ve been my bread, you’ve been my water,
You’ve been my life, my everything,
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way.

*BENEDICTION - Pastor Karyn

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE

Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus,
Thank you, Jesus, my Savior God,
for you brought me, yes, you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way…

POSTLUDE - Mayumi Tayake

OFFERING: If you did not bring an offering with you today, we invite you to give at www.fauntleroyucc.org

Thank you for considering how you can support the work of this congregation.

As an open and affirming congregation, the members and staff of Fauntleroy Church are committed to fostering community among people of all races, cultures, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Leah Atkinson Bilinski, Senior Pastor

Karyn Frazier, Associate Pastor

Zachary Fitzgerald, Music Director

Mayumi Tayake, Accompanist

Sarah Ackers, Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator

Allen Lambert, Caretaker

Aimee Pinckney, Financial Assistant

Pat Gedney, Financial Assistant

Carol Gilderoy, Lead Sunday School Teacher

Carol Smith, Nursery Supervisor

Sebastian Dwyer, Nursery Assistant

Kyle Lorenzen, Office Manager & Worship Technician

Jackie Gould, Building Coordinator

Alfred Machacon, Event Coordinator

Thanks to the following volunteers, who make Sunday mornings happen:

Building Opener: Steve Garrett

Usher Team: Steve Garrett, captain; Terry Burgess, Josh Miller, and Wendy Morgan

Greeter: Wendy Cwinar and Celesta Bjornson

Sound Tech: Mike Goldfine

Liturgist: Katherine Steen

Nursery: Carol Smith and Sebastian Dwyer

Sunday School: Carol Gilderoy, Sue Smith

Coffee Hour: Patty Bodzioch and Baiba Morris

Opportunities for Engagement: TBD