04/11/2020
EASTER WORSHIP SERVICE
APRIL 12, 2020
10:00 AM
Easter Sunday
April 12, 2020
WELCOMING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING WORDS
Even in the midst of our Good Friday grief, a sparrow sings in the garden, heralding the morning, as sunlight kisses the dewy grass.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Shout for joy.
The tomb is empty.
Clap your hands.
Death is cheated.
Dance and sing.
Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed.
The night is far gone.
There is dew on the grass.
We walk with Mary to the tomb.
Lost in our grief, we feel abandoned . . . alone . . .
unaware that angels minister to us.
We weep with Mary,
for all hope seems lost.
The stone is rolled back.
Only his grave clothes remain.
Overcome by our loss, we feel abandoned . . . alone . . .
unaware that Angels minister to us.
A flicker of hope ignites in the soul . . .
wavering in the wind . . .
challenging the triumph of darkness.
Yet, surely there is no cheating death?
Gently, lovingly, angels question our tears . . .
for God is stronger than death.
Out of the shadows of the tomb,
the light of Christ shines forth in glory,
overcoming the darkness of sin and death.
In the depths of our souls,
the light of Christ brings us back
to the land of the living.
As the light of Christ dawns,
we find that we are not alone.
The light shines in the darkness
and the darkness did not overcome it.
HYMN # 657 “This Is the Day”
Leader: This Is The Day
All: This is the Day
Leader: That the Lord hath made,
All: That the Lord Hath made.
Leader: Let us rejoice
All: Let us rejoice
Leader: And be glad in it
All: And be glad in it
This is the day that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Leader: This is the Day
All: This is the day that the Lord hath made.
Leader: Give thanks to God
All: Give thanks to God
Leader: For our God is Good
All: For our God is Good
Leader: God’s Love endures
All: God’s Love endures
Leader: Forevermore
All: Forevermore
Give thanks to God for God is Good
God’s Love endures forevermore.
Leader: Give thanks to God
All: Give thanks to God
For our Lord is Good.
Repeat Verse 1
OPENING PRAYER
God of mystery and might,
your wondrous love
always seems to catch us off guard.
We come to the tomb
looking for death,
but find life instead.
As we behold the glory of our salvation,
take us back to that moment of discovery—
when grief and loss gave way
to a glimmer of hope.
Before we shout our alleluias,
remind us of the moment
when despair was transported
into glimpses of new possibilities.
In the holy awe of Easter morning,
we take a moment of silent gratitude
that Christ calls each of us by name.
(Moment of silence.)
Shout it from the mountaintop:
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Christ is risen indeed.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Receive our lament, Lord of Life,
for during your final days,
we turned away from you,
even after you shared table with us,
offering us the bread of heaven
and the cup of salvation;
and in your hour of greatest need,
we fell asleep while you prayed in the garden,
even after you urged us to keep the faith
to avoid the time of trial.
But we are here now, dearest friend,
remembering what it cost you
to know the joy we feel today.
May our lives reflect
the depth of our gratitude
to be known as your disciples. Amen.
WORD OF ASSURANCE
The one who raised Jesus from the dead,
offers us life and forgiveness of sin.
Rejoice in Christ our savior,
whose resurrection brings us life.
SCRIPTURE READING
John 20:1-18
The Resurrection of Jesus
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,[b] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
God is stronger than death.
Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.
Christ is stronger than death!
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
The Spirit is stronger than death.
Let everyone shout out:
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord!
God is stronger than death.
HYMN # 364“Because He Lives”
Verse 1:
God sent his Son, they called him Jesus;
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Verse 2:
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because he lives, all fear is gone
Because I know he holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
THE MORNING MESSAGE Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson
“What are you hearing?”
TIME FOR REFLECTION
Eric Maul Flutist“Meditation”
Composer J. Massenet
OFFERING PRAYER
God of grace and God of glory,
pour your power on your people this day,
that our lives may reflect
the gift we have received
through the resurrection of your Son.
Truly we see that you show no partiality,
offering abundance of life and fullness of grace
to all who turn to you in their need.
With deepest gratitude for your many gifts,
particularly the gift of your Son,
we offer you our tithes and offerings this day.
In the name of the resurrected one, we pray. Amen.
HYMN # 702“Sing with All the Saints in Glory”
Sing with all the saints in glory,
sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story,
To the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking
Soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God’s likeness we, awaking, know the everlasting peace.
Life eternal! Heaven rejoices;
Jesus lives who once was dead
Join we now the timeless voices
Child of God, lift up your head!
O to enter that bright portal,
See that glowing firmament!
Know, with Thee O God Immortal
Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.
BENEDICTION
From darkness and despair, we find hope and joy.
Christ is risen! We go forth in joy!
From doubt and betrayal, we find trust and faith.
Christ is risen! We go forth in faith!
From suffering and death, we find healing and life.
Christ is risen! We go forth to live!
Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed.
Alleluia.
