Easter
Worship
THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
Liturgical Aids
Call to Worship
We come to share and to shout good news.
Christ lives and so shall we!
Darkness has yielded to the light of a new day.
We stand in that light, dumbfounded yet with great joy.
For the gift of eternal life hangs in the balance;
And God has tipped that balance in our favor.
Alleluia! God's love is expressed in life!
Death no more shall reign - in us or in any child of God!
Invocation
Amid the beauty of an Easter morn, we come to this place of worship to make known our praise and our thanksgiving. For you, Lord God, stand before us as both Author of life and Restorer of life. So great is your love for us that when we horribly botch your gift of life, you are nonetheless present to forgive and to gift us again. This we see clearly in the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus. By means of his resurrection, we know that death cannot exercise dominion over us. We are freed to live a meaningful and purposeful life, a life of great joy and communion with you and with sisters and brothers united in your love. Our hearts thus overflow with gladness and with gratitude. May our witness to this new life be apparent to all - this day and every day. In the name of the Risen Christ do we offer this, our prayer. Amen.
An Easter Litany
The messengers of this new day run to tell us:
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
The tomb is empty; our hearts are full.
So has God gifted us with holy love.
Our mourning has been turned to dancing; our tears, to laughter.
Christ is risen! How glorious! Christ is risen indeed!
No longer captive to any lesser power, the prisoner has been set free.
So has God gifted us with holy love.
Death clothes are cast aside. Greetings of life bind up broken hearts.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! His words are for us.
The lowly are so lifted; the pretentious, brought low.
Such is the power and the working of holy love.
Thus is the promise of God fulfilled in our presence.
For we can see that Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.
So would we too be messengers to share the good news, wherever we go, in word and deed.
For we have holy love to share - and life. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 98)
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Offering Sentences
Joy and thanksgiving abound on this Resurrection morn. We express that from the heart in many a glad way. Our tithes and offerings too are a cheerful response to love and life and new beginnings. For they can be used to share the good news; they can bring God's love in very practical ways to persons in need of healing; they can awaken new life in the spirit. Let us so share our Easter joy!
Prayer of Dedication
Easter is not only a day. It is a verb. May these expressions of thanksgiving, O God, these offerings, through the presence of your love and Spirit, easter new beginnings in lives now burdened with doubt, disappointment, yes even despair. Such is the power of resurrection and new life that you share with us this day, and always. May we and the gifts we provide be channels through which this power can act - in life--changing and life--enhancing ways - this that the love of the Risen Christ be known to many others. Amen.
Benediction
The day is still young. Good news is to be shared. Let us go forth as renewed, enthusiastic children of God - to extend the reach of the long arm of God's love in many a helpful and needful way. All, in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen!
We come to share and to shout good news.
Christ lives and so shall we!
Darkness has yielded to the light of a new day.
We stand in that light, dumbfounded yet with great joy.
For the gift of eternal life hangs in the balance;
And God has tipped that balance in our favor.
Alleluia! God's love is expressed in life!
Death no more shall reign - in us or in any child of God!
Invocation
Amid the beauty of an Easter morn, we come to this place of worship to make known our praise and our thanksgiving. For you, Lord God, stand before us as both Author of life and Restorer of life. So great is your love for us that when we horribly botch your gift of life, you are nonetheless present to forgive and to gift us again. This we see clearly in the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus. By means of his resurrection, we know that death cannot exercise dominion over us. We are freed to live a meaningful and purposeful life, a life of great joy and communion with you and with sisters and brothers united in your love. Our hearts thus overflow with gladness and with gratitude. May our witness to this new life be apparent to all - this day and every day. In the name of the Risen Christ do we offer this, our prayer. Amen.
An Easter Litany
The messengers of this new day run to tell us:
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
The tomb is empty; our hearts are full.
So has God gifted us with holy love.
Our mourning has been turned to dancing; our tears, to laughter.
Christ is risen! How glorious! Christ is risen indeed!
No longer captive to any lesser power, the prisoner has been set free.
So has God gifted us with holy love.
Death clothes are cast aside. Greetings of life bind up broken hearts.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! His words are for us.
The lowly are so lifted; the pretentious, brought low.
Such is the power and the working of holy love.
Thus is the promise of God fulfilled in our presence.
For we can see that Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.
So would we too be messengers to share the good news, wherever we go, in word and deed.
For we have holy love to share - and life. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 98)
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Offering Sentences
Joy and thanksgiving abound on this Resurrection morn. We express that from the heart in many a glad way. Our tithes and offerings too are a cheerful response to love and life and new beginnings. For they can be used to share the good news; they can bring God's love in very practical ways to persons in need of healing; they can awaken new life in the spirit. Let us so share our Easter joy!
Prayer of Dedication
Easter is not only a day. It is a verb. May these expressions of thanksgiving, O God, these offerings, through the presence of your love and Spirit, easter new beginnings in lives now burdened with doubt, disappointment, yes even despair. Such is the power of resurrection and new life that you share with us this day, and always. May we and the gifts we provide be channels through which this power can act - in life--changing and life--enhancing ways - this that the love of the Risen Christ be known to many others. Amen.
Benediction
The day is still young. Good news is to be shared. Let us go forth as renewed, enthusiastic children of God - to extend the reach of the long arm of God's love in many a helpful and needful way. All, in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen!
