Preparation for Worship
On Good Friday, the powers of death had done their worst,
crucifying the One who was the Light of the world, so that even at midday,
darkness covered the whole land and the sun’s light failed (Luke 23:44-45).
But on Sunday morning, at deep dawn,
at the moment between darkness and daylight (Luke 24:1),
the women went to the tomb and discovered what they did not expect.
Prelude Low In the Grave He Lay – Hayes
Call to Worship
Leader: On this day we gather here to celebrate, because . . .
People: Jesus Christ is risen today!
Leader: On this day God has announced to the world that death does not have the last word,
because . . .
People: Jesus Christ is risen today!
Leader: On this day God has given us a vision of new possibilities, new realities,
and new ways of being, because . . .
People: Jesus Christ is risen today!
Leader: On this day God blesses us with the gift of new life, because . . .
People: Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia!
*Hymn of Praise Jesus Christ Is Risen Today #123
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as God’s love; Alleluia!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Prayers of Confession
God of light, love, and life, in raising Jesus from the grave, You shattered the shackles of sin
and death. Yet we confess that we have not allowed Your life-giving power to transform us.
Forgive us when we have not yet recognized Your face in each of our sisters and brothers.
Have mercy upon us when we failed to share Your bread with our fellow human beings.
Absolve us when we neglected to hear Your Word through the voices of new interpretations.
Redeem us by Your grace, and lead us from the tombs that confine us into the abundant life
that You prepare for us. Fill us with Your light, so that as Your disciples we may illumine the
world with the love of Jesus Christ our risen Lord, in whose name we pray. (Silent)
Assurance of Forgiveness (adapted from Isaiah 25:8-9)
Leader: The Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces and remove the reproach
of all people.
People: This is the One for whom we have waited so that we might be saved.
Let us rejoice and be glad in God’s salvation.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Reading of the Word Acts 10:34-43
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,
35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all.
37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John
announced:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;
how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.
39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.
They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,
41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses,
and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one
ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Reading of the Word Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for
Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, Where the angels ever sing.
Alleluia! see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed
he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”
8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet,
and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee;
there they will see me.”
Proclamation of the Word When Will Easter Be Over?
Anthem Morning Has Broken – Keveren
*Affirmation of Faith from A Declaration of Faith, 4.4
Jesus was dead and buried, but God raised him from the dead.
He lives as God with us, touching all of human life with the presence of God.
He lives as one of us with God.
Because he shares our humanity and has bound us to himself in love,
we have an advocate in the innermost life of God. We declare that Jesus is Lord.
His resurrection is a decisive victory over the powers that deform and destroy human life.
We maintain that ultimate sovereignty now belongsto Jesus Christin every sphere oflife.
Jesus is Lord! He has been Lord from the beginning. He will be Lord at the end.
Even now he is Lord.
Prayers of the People and an Alternate Form of the Lord’s Prayer
Our Lord, Who is in us here on earth,
Holy is Your name in those who share their bread and their song.
Your kingdom come, which is a generous land that flows with milk and honey.
Let us do Your will, standing up when all are sitting down,
and raising our voice when all are silent.
You are giving us our daily bread in the songs of creation and the miracle of the corn.
Forgive us for keeping silent in the face of inequality,
for burying our dreams,
for not sharing bread and wine, love and land, among us, now.
Do not let us fall into the temptation
of shutting the door through fear;
or resigning ourselves to hunger and injustice;
of taking up the same arms as the enemy;
but deliver us from evil.
Give us the perseverance and the solidarity to look for love,
even if the path has not yet been trodden, even if we fall;
so we shall have known Your Kingdom which is being built for ever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Give One Great Hour of Sharing
*Litany of Dedication “Super Six” Food Collection
Leader: God of fresh water and ample loaves, You break the cycles of scarcity and give
the fruits of the earth for the benefit of all creation, and we thank You for the
harvest from the fields and furrows that provide nourishment for every species on
the planet. As we dedicate these offerings of food, grant that these gifts would
offer sustenance to those in our community in need of daily bread.
People: God of kindness and compassion, You teach us that when we give food to the
hungry, we minister to You. Keep us always in the grip of Your grace so that
we, and the gifts of food we dedicate, may continue to serve as Your
instruments of healing in the world.
Leader: God of justice and generosity, You show us the path of life, and whether we walk
down the aisle of the sanctuary with our donations of food, or whether we are
preparing for the Hunger Walk, give us the strength and clarity of mind to pursue
the path that leads us to the kind of community that You desire for all humanity.
People: Lord of all hopefulness, through Your solidarity with the hungry, You
manifested the miraculous among us by feeding the multitudes with the
loaves and the fishes. Incorporate us to be part of Your miracle as we
dedicate the gifts of food that we have brought to Your table.
Leader: Bestower of life, because we want to serve those who hunger, as well as empower
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, reveal to us all who are
impoverished in any way, and lead us to reform any insufficient social systems,
so that we would hasten the day when all people may break bread together.
People: God of grace, You are the true Bread of life who inspires us to share from
our abundance. Bless and multiply these simple gifts so that we will work for
a world when there will be no more empty stomachs, empty hearts, or empty
lives, for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
*Hymn The Day of Resurrection! #118
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, From this world unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory.
Our hearts be pure from evil, That we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal Of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, May hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, May raise the victor strain.
Now let the heavens be joyful, Let earth the song begin,
Let the round world keep triumph, And all that is therein;
Let all things seen and unseen Their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy that hath no end.
*Benediction
Postlude Rejoice, The Lord Is King – Hayes