The early church proclaims Christ's resurrection
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The first generation Christians did not hesitate to preach the good news of Christ's resurrection.
People:
They knew what they had seen; and they knew God had sent them to tell others what he had done in Christ.
Pastor:
God is still doing a mighty work through his church. We, too, must witness to God's redemption for our world.
People:
God give us strength and wisdom to share our resurrection faith with our world!
Collect
Eternal God, who raised your Son in glory, and who inspired your church to preach the good news: Use us as your messengers to proclaim the gospel truth; that people, dying in sin, may yet be restored to glorious living. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe Jesus' resurrecton ought to be told to the ends of the earth, Father. But our tongues are tied when we are asked to share our faith. Forgive us for the silence of our lips when others depend on us to interpret the Christian faith. Loosen our tongues, and use our lives to inspire others to look to Christ for salvation, that our friends may not be lost to sin by our negligence. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go Make of All Disciples"
"I Love to Tell the Story"
"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Sing with All the Sons of Glory"
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Theme:
Joy in Salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Thanks be to God our Father, who blesses us with new life by raising Jesus from the dead!
People:
With joy, we look forward to the rich blessings God has promised out of his great mercy.
Pastor:
Let us confirm our faith in Christ then, whatever may be our trials, assured that salvation is ours.
People: Whatever may test our faith, we are convinced of God's love, and will be true to him.
Collect
Heavenly Father, who fills us with joy over our new life you have given by raising Jesus from the dead: Keep us strong in the faith; that we may not become disheartened by trials or testing, forgetting our salvation is in Christ, our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Christ has been raised to life, Father, and through his resurrection you raise us to new life. That fills us with joy, Father, until our faith is tested. Then we lose hope, and our salvation does not make us rejoice. Forgive us when our faith is so superficial that it is easily threatened by difficulties in life. Strengthen our faith in your grace, that our risen Lord may keep us sure of the salvation he provides. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
"Rejoice, the Lord Is King"
"Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart"
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Gospel:
John 20:19-31
Theme:
Faith is believing without seeing
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The Christian faith is founded on the resurrection of our Lord, an historic and spiritual reality.
People:
We believe he arose from the dead, and raises us to new life which continues beyond the grave.
Pastor:
We who have not seen Jesus, believe because the early church believed what they saw and proclaimed in each generation.
People:
We believe what we have heard, because God through his Spirit has given us the faith to believe. Thanks be to God!
Collect
Almighty God: You raised Jesus from the dead and inspired the early church to proclaim your truth! Establish us in the faith; that our witness may help others to believe without seeing, and live by faith in our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are happy, Father, because we have believed without seeing. And faith has been real! But we cannot say we never have doubts. We have our moments when we need a special word to assure us. Forgive us when we question the source of our faith, and its validity. Continue to be in our midst, encouraging us, convincing us, and inspiring us; that our lives may be a growing and maturing experience in faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen"
"Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior"
"Strong Son of God, Immortal Love"
"Thine Is the Glory"
Pastor:
The first generation Christians did not hesitate to preach the good news of Christ's resurrection.
People:
They knew what they had seen; and they knew God had sent them to tell others what he had done in Christ.
Pastor:
God is still doing a mighty work through his church. We, too, must witness to God's redemption for our world.
People:
God give us strength and wisdom to share our resurrection faith with our world!
Collect
Eternal God, who raised your Son in glory, and who inspired your church to preach the good news: Use us as your messengers to proclaim the gospel truth; that people, dying in sin, may yet be restored to glorious living. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe Jesus' resurrecton ought to be told to the ends of the earth, Father. But our tongues are tied when we are asked to share our faith. Forgive us for the silence of our lips when others depend on us to interpret the Christian faith. Loosen our tongues, and use our lives to inspire others to look to Christ for salvation, that our friends may not be lost to sin by our negligence. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go Make of All Disciples"
"I Love to Tell the Story"
"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Sing with All the Sons of Glory"
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Theme:
Joy in Salvation
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Thanks be to God our Father, who blesses us with new life by raising Jesus from the dead!
People:
With joy, we look forward to the rich blessings God has promised out of his great mercy.
Pastor:
Let us confirm our faith in Christ then, whatever may be our trials, assured that salvation is ours.
People: Whatever may test our faith, we are convinced of God's love, and will be true to him.
Collect
Heavenly Father, who fills us with joy over our new life you have given by raising Jesus from the dead: Keep us strong in the faith; that we may not become disheartened by trials or testing, forgetting our salvation is in Christ, our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Christ has been raised to life, Father, and through his resurrection you raise us to new life. That fills us with joy, Father, until our faith is tested. Then we lose hope, and our salvation does not make us rejoice. Forgive us when our faith is so superficial that it is easily threatened by difficulties in life. Strengthen our faith in your grace, that our risen Lord may keep us sure of the salvation he provides. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
"Rejoice, the Lord Is King"
"Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart"
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Gospel:
John 20:19-31
Theme:
Faith is believing without seeing
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The Christian faith is founded on the resurrection of our Lord, an historic and spiritual reality.
People:
We believe he arose from the dead, and raises us to new life which continues beyond the grave.
Pastor:
We who have not seen Jesus, believe because the early church believed what they saw and proclaimed in each generation.
People:
We believe what we have heard, because God through his Spirit has given us the faith to believe. Thanks be to God!
Collect
Almighty God: You raised Jesus from the dead and inspired the early church to proclaim your truth! Establish us in the faith; that our witness may help others to believe without seeing, and live by faith in our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are happy, Father, because we have believed without seeing. And faith has been real! But we cannot say we never have doubts. We have our moments when we need a special word to assure us. Forgive us when we question the source of our faith, and its validity. Continue to be in our midst, encouraging us, convincing us, and inspiring us; that our lives may be a growing and maturing experience in faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen"
"Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior"
"Strong Son of God, Immortal Love"
"Thine Is the Glory"
