April 21, 2019
Easter Sunday
PRELUDE He is Alive, Alleluia (Jones)
GREETING
Pastor: Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
Congregation: He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said he would.
Leader: Run with me to the garden. See the place where our Lord was laid.
Congregation: He is not there, for he has risen, just as he said he would.
Pastor: Behold the empty grave. Rejoice! The stone is rolled away!
Congregation: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Leader: Alleluia!
Congregation: Alleluia!
Pastor: Alleluia! He is risen indeed!
All: Alleluia! He is risen indeed!
ANTHEM Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Mauldin) CHANCEL CHOIR
OPENING PRAYER
Pastor: We go to your tomb, O Christ, expecting to be met by the cold hardness of stone, sealing the death of hope. Instead, we find that the stone has been rolled away and you are not there! Help us to encounter your risen presence everywhere we go and live in the joy of Easter morn each and every day, through Christ, our risen Lord.
All: Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen!
(All who are able to do so comfortably, please stand)
HYMN with Chime Choir Accompaniment 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 him 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!
Soar we now where Christ has led -Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head - Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise - Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies - Alleluia!
CONFESSION OF SIN
All: God, we confess to you that while we know well, the story of your victory over the grave, it is not the story we always live. We are dragged down by all manner of death and fear suffocates us with the loss of dreams and hopes for ourselves, our families, our communities and our nation. Sorrow may wall us off like a grave too- isolating us with anger, frustration, and grief. On this Easter morning, we pray that you will fill us with "fear and great joy", so that, like those women who came to the tomb expecting death, we may instead find the radiant new life that is ever before us in the Resurrection! Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Christ is Risen! The stone is rolled away, the tomb found empty. Mary calls out, “I have seen the Lord!” We have seen Christ, too, in every helping hand, in every heartfelt gift, in every choice to restore life in this world. We are called to this new life, a life of forgiveness and reconciliation. You are forgiven; accept your forgiveness and know that God loves you and desires great joy for your life. Walk forward on this journey of faith, knowing your brothers and sisters are with you. Amen?
Congregation: AMEN and ALLELUIA!
HYMN OF PRAISE
Soar we now where Christ has led - Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head – Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise – Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies – Alleluia!
(The congregation may be seated)
A SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Acts 10:34-43
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 20:1-18
SPECIAL MUSIC They Could Not Troy Winemiller, vocal solo
SERMON Rev. Laura C. Bair
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: Christ is risen!
Congregation: He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Liturgist: God keeps God's promises, and we are filled with JOY on this Easter Sunday morning.
Congregation: New life is ours! Hope is ours as well!
All: Let us respond to God's great works and God's great gifts in our life together, as the church, by sharing what we have been given.
OFFERTORY Joy Dawned on Easter Day HARMONY
(All who are able to stand comfortably are asked to do so)
DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal, #550
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
All: Loving God, we thank you for this Easter Day – with its promise of new life and new opportunities. Use us, this money, and our gifts to love and serve you, and to witness to Christ whom you raised. ALLELUIA! AMEN!
(The congregation may be seated)
ANTHEM Jesus is Alive and Doin' Well Children/Youth Choir
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor: There was joy on that first day of the week, when Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to Mary Magdalene, and later, on that same day, sat
at a table with two of his disciples, and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Congregation: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Male and female, young and old, come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, to gather about Christ’s table.
Pastor: This is Christ’s table and it is open to all who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’s people.
THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Living God, on this most joyous day we offer our thanks and praise to you, Creator of heaven and earth; Creator and Lover of all humanity. Even when we turned away from you, you never rejected us. You spoke words of mercy and love through the prophets; promising that you would love us forever with an everlasting love. And so, we join our voices with all the company of heaven and earth singing:
ALL SING: SERAPHIC HYMN Hymnal, #522
Pastor: Holy God, this meal which we share today is a celebration of your love, which became known to us through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son – our beloved Lord. He graced lives with healing and hope, with compassion and power, and as if that weren’t enough, he gave his very life for us. On the night of his betrayal, as he sat at a table and broke bread with his friends, he said:
Congregation: “Take and eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Remember me, each time you do this.”
Pastor: After they had eaten, he took the cup, and said:
Congregation: “Remember me as you drink from this, for it is my life, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Pastor: It was the beginning of a new relationship with God. God of all power, breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the life of Christ and that we may make that life visible through our faithful witness to him and pray, saying:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
All: 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.
SHARING THE ELEMENTS
Pastor: We break this bread and take this cup so that we can all share in the life of Christ. These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Alleluia! Alleluia! Hymnal, #174
I Come With Joy Bulletin Insert
Let us Talents and Tongues Employ Bulletin Insert
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
All: This has been no ordinary meal. It has been one in which we have been fed and nourished with the life of Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord. May we go from here, refreshed and eager, to share that life with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
RECESSIONAL HYMN Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Strain Hymnal, #169
with CHIME CHOIR
BENEDICTION
Pastor: Go in peace to love and serve our Living Lord.
Congregation: We go in the power of Christ’s resurrection! Alleluia! Amen!
POSTLUDE Alleluia, Christ the Lord is Risen (Marks)
GREETING
Pastor: Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
Congregation: He is not here, for he has risen, just as he said he would.
Leader: Run with me to the garden. See the place where our Lord was laid.
Congregation: He is not there, for he has risen, just as he said he would.
Pastor: Behold the empty grave. Rejoice! The stone is rolled away!
Congregation: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Leader: Alleluia!
Congregation: Alleluia!
Pastor: Alleluia! He is risen indeed!
All: Alleluia! He is risen indeed!
ANTHEM Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Mauldin) CHANCEL CHOIR
OPENING PRAYER
Pastor: We go to your tomb, O Christ, expecting to be met by the cold hardness of stone, sealing the death of hope. Instead, we find that the stone has been rolled away and you are not there! Help us to encounter your risen presence everywhere we go and live in the joy of Easter morn each and every day, through Christ, our risen Lord.
All: Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen!
(All who are able to do so comfortably, please stand)
HYMN with Chime Choir Accompaniment 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 him 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!
Soar we now where Christ has led -Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head - Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise - Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies - Alleluia!
CONFESSION OF SIN
All: God, we confess to you that while we know well, the story of your victory over the grave, it is not the story we always live. We are dragged down by all manner of death and fear suffocates us with the loss of dreams and hopes for ourselves, our families, our communities and our nation. Sorrow may wall us off like a grave too- isolating us with anger, frustration, and grief. On this Easter morning, we pray that you will fill us with "fear and great joy", so that, like those women who came to the tomb expecting death, we may instead find the radiant new life that is ever before us in the Resurrection! Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Christ is Risen! The stone is rolled away, the tomb found empty. Mary calls out, “I have seen the Lord!” We have seen Christ, too, in every helping hand, in every heartfelt gift, in every choice to restore life in this world. We are called to this new life, a life of forgiveness and reconciliation. You are forgiven; accept your forgiveness and know that God loves you and desires great joy for your life. Walk forward on this journey of faith, knowing your brothers and sisters are with you. Amen?
Congregation: AMEN and ALLELUIA!
HYMN OF PRAISE
Soar we now where Christ has led - Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head – Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise – Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies – Alleluia!
(The congregation may be seated)
A SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Acts 10:34-43
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 20:1-18
SPECIAL MUSIC They Could Not Troy Winemiller, vocal solo
SERMON Rev. Laura C. Bair
OFFERING INVITATION
Liturgist: Christ is risen!
Congregation: He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Liturgist: God keeps God's promises, and we are filled with JOY on this Easter Sunday morning.
Congregation: New life is ours! Hope is ours as well!
All: Let us respond to God's great works and God's great gifts in our life together, as the church, by sharing what we have been given.
OFFERTORY Joy Dawned on Easter Day HARMONY
(All who are able to stand comfortably are asked to do so)
DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymnal, #550
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
All: Loving God, we thank you for this Easter Day – with its promise of new life and new opportunities. Use us, this money, and our gifts to love and serve you, and to witness to Christ whom you raised. ALLELUIA! AMEN!
(The congregation may be seated)
ANTHEM Jesus is Alive and Doin' Well Children/Youth Choir
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor: There was joy on that first day of the week, when Jesus Christ was raised from death, appeared to Mary Magdalene, and later, on that same day, sat
at a table with two of his disciples, and was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Congregation: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Male and female, young and old, come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, to gather about Christ’s table.
Pastor: This is Christ’s table and it is open to all who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’s people.
THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Living God, on this most joyous day we offer our thanks and praise to you, Creator of heaven and earth; Creator and Lover of all humanity. Even when we turned away from you, you never rejected us. You spoke words of mercy and love through the prophets; promising that you would love us forever with an everlasting love. And so, we join our voices with all the company of heaven and earth singing:
ALL SING: SERAPHIC HYMN Hymnal, #522
Pastor: Holy God, this meal which we share today is a celebration of your love, which became known to us through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son – our beloved Lord. He graced lives with healing and hope, with compassion and power, and as if that weren’t enough, he gave his very life for us. On the night of his betrayal, as he sat at a table and broke bread with his friends, he said:
Congregation: “Take and eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Remember me, each time you do this.”
Pastor: After they had eaten, he took the cup, and said:
Congregation: “Remember me as you drink from this, for it is my life, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Pastor: It was the beginning of a new relationship with God. God of all power, breathe your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the life of Christ and that we may make that life visible through our faithful witness to him and pray, saying:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
All: 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.
SHARING THE ELEMENTS
Pastor: We break this bread and take this cup so that we can all share in the life of Christ. These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Alleluia! Alleluia! Hymnal, #174
I Come With Joy Bulletin Insert
Let us Talents and Tongues Employ Bulletin Insert
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
All: This has been no ordinary meal. It has been one in which we have been fed and nourished with the life of Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord. May we go from here, refreshed and eager, to share that life with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
RECESSIONAL HYMN Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Strain Hymnal, #169
with CHIME CHOIR
BENEDICTION
Pastor: Go in peace to love and serve our Living Lord.
Congregation: We go in the power of Christ’s resurrection! Alleluia! Amen!
POSTLUDE Alleluia, Christ the Lord is Risen (Marks)
