The recording available here is the entire Easter Worship service.
(Pastor Steve’s sermon begins about 26 minutes into the service.)
(Communion time was shortened to just a few seconds)
The Celebration of the Gospel
April 5, 2015 — Easter Sunday
“I have seen the Lord!”
— John 20.18
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE “Easter,” from Five Mystical Songs
Ralph Vaughan Williams (David Potts, Soloist)
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* GOSPEL PROCLAMATION John 20.1-19
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. 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.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
* ACCLAMATION
Christ emptied himself and became obedient to death,
obedient to death on a cross.
But Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
He is not among the dead anymore!
The stone has been rolled away!
The Crucified One is risen again!
He has come out of the tomb!
Christ has conquered by the cross!
All our hope is in him! Alleluia!
God has rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the dominion of God’s beloved Son.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! ALLELUIA!
GOSPEL John 20.11-18
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 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. 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.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my sisters and brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Abba and your Abba, to my God and your God.’ ” 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.
* HYMN OF PRAISE Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high: Alleluia!
Sing ye heavens, and earth reply. Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done; Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won: Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King! Alleluia!
Where, O Death is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
King of glory, Lord of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this: Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love! Alleluia!
CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
THE WORD IN SONG
Hallelujah, from Christus am Olberge (Christ on the Mount of Olives)
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Hallelujah unto God’s Almighty Son.
Praise the Lord, ye bright angelic choirs, in holy songs of joy.
Man, proclaim his grace and glory, Hallelujah.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy God, we thank you and praise you for the mystery of your grace. For on the cross Jesus your Christ bore all that separates us from you and from life; yet sin and oppression and suffering and death were unable to defeat him. By his glorious resurrection you have delivered us from the power of death. Gracious God, make us die every day to sin. Birth us anew, so that we may walk in newness of life with Christ, in the joy of eternal life and in the company of the Holy Spirit, O God, our Creator and Redeemer. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING 1 Corinthians 15.1-8
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.
* PSALTER Psalm 118. 1-2, 14-24
O give thanks to the Lord, who is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever!
Yes, God’s steadfast love endures forever!
The Lord is my strength and my song;
God has become my salvation.
Listen to the glad songs among God’s grateful:
The Beloved has a hand in our lives!
The Beloved has a strong and gracious hand in our lives.
Death can’t touch me now: I can live deeply,
I can fearlessly bear forth the love of God.
God created me fragile, and I am broken,
but God steadfastly gives me life.
Open my heart to gratitude, for this is the gate to God.
This gratitude, this wonder is the way to God.
I thank you, God, that you hear me and you save me.
The stone the builders rejected has become the keystone.
This is the Beloved’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
SERMON
* RESPONSE (1 Pet. 1.3; Eph. 2. 4-6 Rom. 6.4; Col. 3.3 Ps. 51.10)
Alleluia! Blessed be the God and Life-Giver of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Mercy God has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
God, rich in mercy, out of great love for us, has made us alive together with Christ,
and raised us up and seated us with Christ.
We have been buried with Christ by baptism into death,
so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God,
we too might walk in newness of life.
Gracious God, we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in you.
Spirit of Life, create us anew!
Create in us a clean heart, and put a new and right spirit within us.
Forgive our sin, and wash us clean in the water of new birth.
Heal us, redeem us, and set us free.
Spirit of Blessing, be our freedom and our life!
Through your risen Son grant victory over the enemies of life,
and crush beneath your children’s feet all evil powers.
Through your crucified and risen Christ, we pray for your church,
that, committing our spirit into your hands,
we may die and rise to newness of life.
Grant us the joy of your life-giving resurrection,
and make us by your grace a new and holy people. Amen.
* GOSPEL HYMN Christ the Lord Is Risen
1. Christ the Lord is risen! Christ the Lord is risen! Ye-su. (repeat)
2. He has conquered death…
3. Sin has done its worst…
4. He is Lord of all…
5. All the world is his…
6. Christ our lord is risen!…
7. Come and follow him…
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
___________We Share at Christ’s Table___________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing arr: Lani Smith
* COMMUNION SONG As a Seed Steve G-H
As a seed once dead and buried rises up to life anew,
we who love and follow Jesus give ourselves in love to you.
Called from death to life by Jesus, resurrected by your power,
joyful, we come bearing gifts, our hearts in glorious, blooming flower.
Christ, we gather at your table: dead and risen, glorious Son.
We, like grains of wheat once separate, now are raised and made as one.
Here we taste the resurrection, joy restored and life made new.
Fill us with your living Spirit, one in love and one in you.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good to give our thanks and praise.
We thank you God, for out of darkness you brought light.
Out of the dust of the earth you made us in your image.
You made Covenant to be our God,
and out of slavery you came and set us free.
You are the One who brought Christ out of death to life,
who brings life out of hopelessness, joy out of despair.
You bring us out of our small lives to share in your joy.
Therefore we sing your praise with all Creation:
[sung]
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Blest is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He loved and taught and healed, and by word and miracle
showed us your grace rising always out of our doubt and fear.
For his nonviolent acts against the power of oppression he was killed,
but you raised him up, affirmed his love, and brought him victory over death itself.
[The Blessing and Covenant…]
Whenever we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ, offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
[sung]
Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup
that they may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Raise up your Holy Spirit in us, that with Christ’s love living in us,
we might be the Body of Christ, raised to new life,
unafraid of death, with gentle courage to love the world
in the name and the company and the Spirit of the living Christ.
All glory and honor is yours, loving God, now and forever.
[sung]
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. May the Resurrection of Christ be food for our souls. May the living presence of Christ be light for our feet. Having fed upon the eternal life of Christ, we give thanks that death no longer has dominion over us. Send us into the world to proclaim the good news; to live lives of love and healing, made new by your grace; and to devote ourselves to the healing of the world, in the name of the crucified and risen Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
* SONG Thine Be the Glory
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where the body lay.
Refrain: Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb,
lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for our Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
Refrain
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
Refrain
* BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
[All who wish to join the choir for the “Hallelujah Chorus”
are invited to join the choir.]
RESPONSE Hallelujah from “Messiah” G. F. Handel
POSTLUDE Fanfare Jacques Lemmens
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the back corners of the room.]