No entrance music; all enter in silence
WELCOME
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
*HYMN: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (232)
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
PASSING THE PEACE (you are invited to share the Peace of Christ as you feel comfortable doing)
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: Mark 16:1-8
1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-18
PRE-SERMON PRAYER
SERMON: A Belief-Filled Response
POST-SERMON PRAYER
ANTHEM
*LITANY OF AFFIRMATION:
Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears the Lord and does what is right is acceptable.
By the grace of God, I am what I am.
God raised Jesus on the third day and made him manifest to those God chose, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
By the grace of God, I am what I am.
God commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that Christ is the one ordained by the Lord to be judge of the living and the dead.
By the grace of God, I am what I am.
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
By the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
(Joys): Lord, we praise you. Thanks be to God.
(Concerns): Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace.
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE/THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO SHARE:
OFFERING/MUSICAL INTERLUDE
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN: Open My Eyes that I May See (451)
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*CHORAL RESPONSE
*POSTLUDE
*- those who can stand are invited to stand