Easter Sunday Worship Service
This Sunday you can watch both Easter services right here, where it will stream live. <---Click this link
Easter Sunrise will start at 6:00am and our traditional Easter Service will begin at 10:30.
Opening Hymn #113 Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Call to Worship
This
is the Good News – the light shines in the darkness & the darkness will
never overcome it.
All: Hallelujah! Christ is risen.
This
is the Good News: once we were no people; now we are God’s people.
All: Hallelujah! Christ is risen.
This
is the Good News – the grave is empty & Christ is risen.
All: Hallelujah! Christ is risen indeed!
Let
us worship God with Easter joy!
Prayer
of Adoration
God of mystery and power, we have heard the Good News of Easter and we are glad to be caught up in its joy today. Your love fills us with expectation. Darkness will never overcome the light you shine in Christ Jesus. Just as Jesus spoke to Mary in the garden that first Easter day, you call each of us by name because you love us. We are so grateful for the hope we have in your resurrecting power, embracing us this day. So may we live our love for you gladly, today and every day, with our hearts full of Easter joy. Amen
Prayer
of Confession
God of mystery, we confess that
faith doesn’t come easy every Easter.
When we face loss in our own
lives, we sometimes lose track of the promise in Christ’s resurrection.
Sorrow can weigh us down.
Our challenges can feel like a
stone too heavy to roll away.
Forgive us, O God, and let the
joy of this day assure us
that the power of your love will
never let us go. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
St John records Jesus’ words: “I do not call you servants any longer, but I have called you friends. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Dear friends, Christ has laid down his life for us and invites us to love one another as he has loved us. Let us rejoice in his redeeming, resurrecting love as we acknowledge with grateful hearts:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Prayer for Understanding
Spirit of power and new possibility, open our minds to understanding,our hearts to loving, and our wills to carrying out the mission of the Risen Christ, God’s Living Word. Amen.
First Scripture Reading Acts 10:34-43
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Hymn #111 Good Christians All Rejoice and Sing
Second Scripture Reading Matthew 28:1-10
1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.7Then 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.” 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Prayer of Dedication
Generous God, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ and what that gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. In the name of your greatest gift, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
God of power and possibility,
you broke open the tomb that held our Lord.
Now break into your church
where your people are distracted by old quarrels, meaningless diversions, or
unhelpful divisions about mission and service.
Resurrect, renew and revive
your church!
God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
God of resurrection and new
life, you broke into the hearts of Jesus’ fearful friends. Now break into our
relationships with one another. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture
them. Where they are strained by old hurts and misunderstandings, or carelessly
taken for granted,
Resurrect, renew and revive
our life together!
God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
God of might and mercy, you
broke the schemes of those who stood in the way of your love. Now break into
the governance of your world. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for
justice and equitable sharing. Where laws are corrupt, or people suffer under
harsh rule,
Resurrect, renew and revive
the leaders of the world!
God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
God of healing and hope,
you broke the bonds of death which tried to shackle new life. Now break into
situations of illness, pain, grief, and loss. Wherever people are sick in body,
mind, or spirit, and wherever someone mourns the loss of any relationship or
dream,
Resurrect, renew and revive
our lives!
God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
God of Easter Renewal and
Resurrection, you have broken into our lives again this day. Break into all our
moments of celebration and joy. Give us gratitude, the impulse to share, and a
spirit of grace and understanding.
Resurrect, renew and revive
our souls and spirits!
God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
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