Welcome to worship at Armstrong Chapel UMC. We’re glad you’re here.

This Confirmation Sunday, we celebrate new beginnings and bold faith as we reflect on “The New Life in Christ.” In Gospel of John 20:19–31, we see Jesus meet His disciples in their fear, speak peace into their uncertainty, and call them into renewed purpose. Today, we rejoice with those taking this next step in their faith journey, reminded that in Christ, doubt can become belief, fear can become courage, and every heart can be made new.

CALL TO WORSHIP: adapted from writing by Margaret Gay
LEADER: God holds out to us the promise of new life...
PEOPLE: Life unpredictable, unrehearsed!
LEADER: God call us to respond to this gift.
PEOPLE: We have new life in Christ!
LEADER: In worship we begin to accept this gift with humble and contrite hearts.
PEOPLE: Receive our worship and praise, O God of new beginnings

HYMN:  This is a Day of New Beginnings #383 UMH, vs 1-4 

This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit's daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostle’s Creed #881 UMH

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.

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 2:14a, 22-32 (NRSVEU)

14a But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them... 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through  him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One experience corruption28

You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,

‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’

32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

The Word of God for the People of God. 
Thanks be to God.

HYMN Breathe on Me, Breath of God #420, vs 1

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, 
that I may love what thou dost love, 
and do what thou wouldst do.

SCRIPTURE:  John 20:19-31 (NRSVUE)

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were 
shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.

The Word of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God. 

MESSAGE: Brandon Long

Faith. Confirmed.

HYMN: They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love #2223 FWS

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, 
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:

Refrain: 
And they’ll know we are Christians 
by our love, by our love; 
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, 
we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, 
we will walk hand in hand,
and together we’ll spread the news 
that God is in the land:
(Refrain)

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride:
(Refrain)

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come, 
And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son, 
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
(Refrain)

BENEDICTION: adapted from Ruth Card Duck

Point us toward actions, however small, which lead to a more hopeful future. As you raised Jesus from the dead, raise us to new life day by day.

In God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer we pray.
Amen

Thank you for sharing in worship. See you next week!

Blessings