Easter Sunday
March 27, 2016
The Celebration of the Gospel
“Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here, but has risen.”
–Luke 24. 5
—————— We Gather as the Body of Christ—————
PRELUDE 8:15: An Easter Rejoicing Robert J. Powell
10:30: “Easter” from Five Mystical Songs Ralph Vaughan Williams, David Potts, soloist
* GOSPEL PROCLAMATION Luke 24. 1-8
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
+
* RESPONSE
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 One.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! ALLELUIA!
* SONG Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is ris’n 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 you rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!
Christ now lives and so we sing! Alleluia!
Where, O Death is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Christ has died our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Bright with glory, Christ, our bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this: Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love! Alleluia!
————————— We Attend to the Word ———————
CHILDREN’S TIME
THE WORD IN SONG 8:15: An Easter Celebration arr. R. Benton (Easter Bells)
10:30: Hallelujah! Resurrection Day! Larry Shackley
PRAYER
God, we thank you for the mystery of your grace. On the cross Jesus bore all that separates us from you and from life; yet sin and evil and suffering and death were unable to stop him from loving us. By his glorious resurrection you have delivered us from the power of death and given us the power of love. Gracious God, 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.
GOSPEL Luke 24.9-12
Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told of the empty tomb to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
+
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.
Create in us a clean heart, and put a new and right spirit within us.
You have embraced all our hurt and our brokenness, and blessed us as we are.
You have taken in our powerlessness and given us love,
so that we may live with power and beauty
for the sake of mercy, healing and justice.
Spirit of Life, raise us to new life. Create us anew! Amen.
* SONG Aleluia, Alleluia
Refrain:
Alleluia. Alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name.
1. Jesus is Lord of all the earth. He is the king of creation.
2. Spread the good news o’er all the earth: Jesus has died and has risen.
3. We have been crucified with Christ. Now we shall live forever.
4. Come, let us praise the living God, joyfully sing to our Savior.
THE PRAYERS
PASSING THE PEACE
THE WORD IN SONG Worthy Is the Lamb Pepper Choplin
—————————We Share at Christ’s Table ——————
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Isn’t He? John Wimber, arr: Mark Hayes
* COMMUNION SONG Christ Is Risen
Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days.
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder; all creation is amazed.
In the desert all surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.
Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend.
Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna everyone!
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to our God.
Let us give thanks to Yahweh our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
God, we thank you, for you create us in love, and each moment you re-create us.
You create us in the image of your love, and claim us as your Beloved.
When we are lost and imprisoned you stay with us;
you overcome the forces of death and oppression, and set us free.
From our fear and the failure of our love you save us.
You raise us to new life, and accompany us toward your peace.
Therefore with all Creation we sing your praise.
[sung:]
Holy, holy, Holy God of power, heaven and earth are full of your love.
Blessed are all who come in your name.
Hosanna on high.
Blessed are all who come in your name and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He loved and taught, he healed and embraced the outcast.
He occupied all that separates us from you, accepted our suffering and our sin,
and poured out your love for us, even to death, for our sake.
He was crucified, but you raised him to new life.
[The Blessing and Covenant]
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’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again in love.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, that we may be the Body of Christ,
crucified and risen with Christ, made new for new lives,
by the eternal power of your love.
God, may your will be done on earth now by all your church, the Body of Christ.
Praise tour Mother, Son and Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.
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.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL
[Everyone is welcome at Christ’s table. We receive the bread
(which is soy, dairy and gluten free) and dip it in the cup (grape juice).]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have fed us with the bread of life, life that is eternal, and deeply beautiful. By the grace of these gifts, may the power of resurrection be within us. Send us out into the world, unafraid, to give of ourselves; to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you, in the name and the Spirit of the risen Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
————We Are Sent in Ministry to the World ——
* SONG Resurrection Light Steve G-H
Holy God, we sing your praises, and we give our thanks to you!
On this day of resurrection all things are created new!
Sin and death you have defeated, raising Christ from death to life.
All of life now shines, transfigured by your resurrection light.
In your mercy you have shattered every tomb we cannot flee.
From whatever binds and traps us you have set your children free:
free to live in every moment life that is a gift from you,
life unfettered, in your Spirit, life unbounded, always new.
Help us to receive this life that rises up and soars above.
Grant us courage for self-giving; grant us trusting, fearless love.
Help us lose the lives we cling to; with compassion and delight
give our lives, receiving new ones, bright with Resurrection light.
God, you raise us up in glory! How we overflow with praise!
Christ within us, rising, mighty, scatters light throughout our days.
Make our lives your Alleluia, ever growing, deepening.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Joyful, we shall always sing!
* BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
* RESPONSE Hallelujah from “Messiah” G. F. Handel
[All who wish are invited to sing.]
* POSTLUDE 8:15: Rejoice! Darwall’s 148th, arr: Anna Laura Page
10:30: Sortie Toccata Théodore Dubois