Stout Memorial United Methodist Church 3329 Broad Street | Parkersburg | West Virginia | 26104 www.stoutmemorial.org | (304) 428 - 1179 | stoutmemorial@gmail.com Stop doubting and BELIEVE John 20:27,NIV April 12,2026 - Traditional Service 10:45AM Ministers The congregation Pastor Helen R. Oates Ministers through Music Terri Bush ~ Choir Director Bonnie Leonhart ~ Organist Ministers Though Service Andrew Mommessin ~ Sound Coordinator Sarah Sisson—Communications Director Danny Stemple—IT Specialist Order of Worship Second Sunday of Easter April 12, 2026 Welcome and Announcements Rev. Helen R. Oates Prelude Lift High the Cross Bonnie Leonhart Choral Introit Glory To God, Whose Mercy Shines On Me Chancel Choir written by Paul M. Vasile (Traditional liturgical text0 Call to Worship Fred Moore Easter people, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed! Yet we, like Thomas, may find questions bubbling up: How do we know? What’s the proof? Is Resurrection real? Within our questioning, Christ appears. We may find ourselves like the other disciples, witnesses of Christ’s resurrection who struggle to understand the doubt of others. Within our certainty, Christ appears. Whether you come to worship full of certainty or doubt, you are welcome here, for we are all participants in the story of God’s salvific work in the world, a story still unfolding all around us. We gather to worship, believing that in certainty and doubt, the resurrected Christ dwells among us! Amen. Hymn Up from the Grave He Arose UMH 322 Opening Prayer Fred Moore God of the risen Jesus, we praise you for the great love that you have shown to redeem us by sending your Son, Jesus. Help us today to embrace the New Life that the resurrected Christ is giving us. A Life beyond our doubts, faith over fear, courage over confusion, and belief over disbelief. As we worship today, help us to feel the presence of resurrected Jesus in our midst, reminding us of your love and our purpose. Amen. New Testament Lesson I Peter 1:3-9 Fred Moore The Young at Heart Joys and Concerns Morning Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. Anthem We Are Singing, For the Lord is Our Light Chancel Choir A traditional Zulu song arranged by Hal H. Hopson Gospel Lesson John 20:19-31 Sermon “Being is Believing” Pastor Helen Offertory Lamb of God arr. Hayes Bonnie Leonhart Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of Stout Memorial. Those joining us online can take time to give as well. Giving can be done on our website at www.stoutmemorial.org/give. Doxology UMH 94 Hymn In the Garden UMH 314 Prayer of Dedication Always Creating God, we thank you for the gifts of spring. For new green and yellow, the pinks and purple, colors sprouting all around. Receive these tokens of our discipleship and enable us to find new life and hope this Easter season. Amen. Benediction Postlude Let There Be Peace On Earth Bonnie Leonhart Congregational Appreciation The flowers on the altar this morning are given to the glory of God by Les and Jane Prichard in loving memory of their son, Dave. If you would like to help place flowers on the Altar, consider a donation to the flower fund. The altar guild would like to invite you to sponsor the altar flowers. Each vase costs $25. When you sponsor the altar flowers, you may do so in memory or in honor of someone or a special event or anniversary. Go to stoutmemorial.org/altarflowers for more information. The Stout Memorial Altar Flower ministry needs smiling faces to deliver Sunday flowers. Presenting flowers helps to create smiles. Our Mission: We exist to see all people find Hope, Healing, and Wholeness through Jesus Christ. Thomas Good old Thomas. We’re sure glad he is there. He saves us from having to ask these uncomfortable questions. We don’t have to carry the weight of our doubts all alone. He paved the way for us. He stood there in front of the remaining disciples, who were still glowing from their encounter with the Risen Jesus, and said, “No.” He said, “I’m not buying it. I don’t get it. I can’t see what you see.” And in so doing, he legitimized all those questions that race through our minds from time to time.