Easter Sunday Worship Service
April 17, 2022
Prelude: Trumpet Voluntary by John Stanley (1712-86) – Charles Calhoun, keyboardist
*Greetings
Announcements
Wise Words from John Gaul
*Hymn: #169 – Vs. 1, 2, 3, & 5 – “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing”
*Opening of the Word
*Responsive Invocation:
Running, the disciples approached the tomb, that mysterious place of meeting. Death meeting life. Humanity meeting the Risen Christ. Believing.
Trembling, we approach the edge where death and life meet. Death, the unknown, meets new life. New life faces us with its possibilities and uncertainties. Trembling, we approach.
Easter morning we come face to face with Jesus, whom we had lost. We doubted, we feared, and now we wonder, as life returns to us from death.
From a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, through the last supper with the disciples, through the betrayal by Judas, through the crucifixion of Jesus, we have journeyed to Easter.
The stone which the guards used to seal the grave is now thrown aside.
Death is scattered. Face to face, the disciples saw that death had lost its power.
Surely, this is a day the Lord has made!
Rejoice! Life bursts through death. Because Christ lives, we live. Alleluia!
*Invitation to Prayer:
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.
God of all ages and of all peoples, the shadows and gloom of Good Friday have been dispersed by the light and color of Easter Sunday. We rejoice in your power that turns our sorrow into joy, our despair into hope, our defeat into victory, and evil into goodness. Help us on this Easter morning, O God, to burst out of the tombs that have trapped us: tombs of selfishness, greed, pride, prejudice, and endless resentment. By your freeing power, may a new life of divine grace and human love burst forth from each of us this Easter day. Amen.
We tremble, O God, in our awareness of your power to bring good from evil, new life from death. We have been so dead to miracles that we have preoccupied ourselves with lesser things and have too often overlooked the joy you offer us. We are sometimes so concerned with making a living that we miss the Life you offer every day. Open our eyes and our hearts to receive your gift; open our lips and our hands so that we might share it with all humanity, and in so doing participate in true life, which is the life eternal. 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
O Lord, open thou our lips:
And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.
*Praise ye the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
*The Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy; Lord God of hosts: Heav’n and earth are full of thy glory. Amen.
Scripture Readings: Mark 16:1-8; Daniel 12:1-4
Children’s Message
Solo: “Lord of the Dance” – Traditional Shaker Melody, Words by Sydney Carter, arr. by Mark Hayes —
Heather Garland, soloist
Spiritual Message: Three Women at The Tomb – Rev. Junchol Lee
Silent Meditation
Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Sacrament of Communion
Concluding Communion Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, by whose mercy we have been fed with heavenly gifts: Abide with us, O Lord, and fill us with your peace. Direct us in our way; uphold our going in our paths. Give us grace so to keep your commandments henceforth, that we may abide in your love forever. Amen.
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory: Elevation by Gaspard Corrette (1671-1733)
*Doxology
Praise God the Source of life and birth
Praise God the Word who came to earth
Praise God the Spirit, holy flame
All glory, honor to God’s name. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn: #176 – “The Day of Resurrection”
*Benediction
*Closing of the Word
*Sung Response: Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, According to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. Amen.
Postlude: Prelude from Te Deum, Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)