The Celebration of the Gospel
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
Christ is Risen. Christ is risen indeed!
______________We are Received as God’s Beloved ______________
PRELUDE
GREETING – Matthew 28.1-7
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Christ has been crucified, suffering with us in our mortality.
Christ has gone down into death,
bearing the burden of our sin, without returning evil for evil.
Christ has extended forgiveness to us, and shown us the way of love.
And in the power of love God has raised Christ from the dead. Alleluia!
And we who are baptized have been baptized with Christ into death,
so that as Christ was raised by the glory of God
we too might walk in newness of life.
Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
* SONG – Christ the Lord is Risen Today – Blue hymnal # 302
CHILDREN’S TIME
_____________ We Are Transformed by the Love of Christ_________
THE WORD IN SONG – It Is Well
PRATER
Loving God, in Christ the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. Even though the world came into being through the Word, the world did not recognize that word of love; and Christ was crucified. But your will is fulfilled, and your Word is made flesh again, raised from death, abiding among us eternally. Open our hearts to hear your loving Word to us now. By your Holy Spirit, may your Word be made flesh in our lives. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT – Colossians 3.1-4
Since you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds at a higher level, on essential things,
not on meaningless details.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ— who is your life— is revealed,
then you also will be revealed with Christ in glory.
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PSALTER – Psalm – 118.14-24
The Lord is my strength and my might; God has become my salvation.
There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me severely,
but did not give me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
GOSPEL – Matthew 28.5-10
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
SERMON – We are risen indeed
SONG – Spring now blooms Stee G-H
Early in the morning we come to the tomb,
bearing sins and sorrows, wounds and hearts of gloom.
But what is this? The stone is rolled away!
And the tomb is empty! Wonder and dismay!
* Then an angel greets us, speaking to our fear,
saying “Christ is risen. See, he is not here.”
Now our despair itself has passed away,
and we feel new life rise in the dawning day.
Christ now stands before us, living as he said.
Oh, what hope he brings us, rising from the dead!
Night was so dark, but with the rising sun
everything is changed now, in this grace-filled dawn.
We give God our spirits, buried just like seeds,.
and emerge forgiven, healed, made new and freed.
Sorrow and dread are changed to joy instead.
Spring now blooms, for Christ is risen from the dead!
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit__________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
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!
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE