Jesus' resurrection
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
1. "No one experiences resurrection in Christ until first experiencing crucifixion in Christ." W.H.K.
2. "The Cross that called Jesus to a sacrificial death, called and calls us, his church, to a sacrificial life."
The Beginning of Worship: Hand out nails to the worshipers
Try this:
Use a guitarist to play "Were You There," as the people arrive. Before the people arrive, have one of the members simulate Jesus on a cross that is close to the people. Too often, we have pictured Jesus on a cross distant from the people, when, in reality, he probably was at eye level.
About five minutes after the appointed hour of worship, ask the adult choir to sing "Crucify That Man," by Geoffrey Ainger, arranged by Paul Abels.
Following the song, have three full minutes of silence, asking the people to reflect on Jesus' death, and our ongoing part in his death.
After the silence, you may want to say something similar to this: In honor of Jesus' decision to go to Jerusalem and to face the music, what kinds of decisions are you facing today - for which you would like others to pray? Or, if that's too difficult, what do you think are the hardest decisions of life as you have experienced them. Stand where you are and identify them. Then, offer a prayer that our decisions may be faithful to God,
that we may know God's will for our lives, that we may not hurt others in our decisions, that God may work through our mistakes.
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Consider this:
Use the statement, "Keep alive the rumor that God is not dead!"
Read the resurrection gospel from Mark, after which have the choir sing a version of "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Then, with instruments playing in the background, have a good reader read, with much feeling, a poem which is printed on page fifty of a book titled, Celebration, by Clarence Joseph Rivers, published by Herder and Herder, New York; or a poem which deals with death-life issues.
Have the choir sing the "Alleluia" theme again. Pastor says, Welcome to the Easter Celebration! Congregation sings, "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!"
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use your favorite death/Easter theme, perhaps the death of a seed which grows into a plant; or an infant that grows into an adult; or an idea which grows into an action.
Respond to the message with the singing of "Morning Has Broken."
Presentation of the Word
Suggestion:
Topic:
From Phoniness to Power.
Begin:
Our presence this morning, any Sunday morning, for every Sunday is Easter, seems absurd, patently absurd. For the whole thing, that story about an empty tomb, unbelieving disciples, Christ's appearances, all hang on such a slender thread.... And, I will gladly remit the ministry, renounce Christianity, look for another job, if one of you can prove to me that Christ stayed dead.
I
The Phoniness of church people. A popular song says, "It's a Barnum and Bailey world, it's as phony as it can be." And so are we. We know that far better than our critics, who also are phonies. And that's why we're here. And to our critics, we ask, why do you stay away?
II
The Release from our Phoniness. Despite our play-acting, God releases us from our phoniness. Someone has said, "God loves us Christians, not because we are perfect; God loves us because we are God's.
Conclude with words similar to these: "... daily Christ calls us to new life/love/truth/goodness/mercy/peace. Alleluia! He is Risen!
Then, conclude with a litany between pastor/choir: from Herbert Brokering's, Uncovered Feelings, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
The Stewardship of Death and Life: Remind people that "amen" is not a finale; it is a beginning. It is the sure spirit that sets out to do the prayer, the action. It has an eager spirit.
Charge to the Congreation
Suggestion:
You may want to build it around these ideas: Yes, the church, you and I, has made many mistakes; committed atrocities on occasions; manipulated, mutilated the helpless. Yet, it has dared to take risks, dared to venture, dared to step out in faith and obedience, while its enemies from outside threw verbal, sometimes physical rocks, shouting, "Stay out of certain areas, or else!" (the seven last words of the world); and while its enemies from inside sat on their dedicated apathy, and insisted, "We've never done it that way before." (the seven last words of the church.)
Yes, we Christians still act phonily and pretend; because we have such difficulty giving up something so dear to us. And yes, God daily makes us over into the divine image and likewise, making us new, not perfect, persons.
replacing our phoniness with authenticity, our play-acting with risk-taking, our illusions with truth, our delusions with reality.
And, it's possible, it happens because Christ is risen!
Christ lives in/through us!
And because daily, Christ calls us to new life, love, truth, goodness, mercy, peace. Alleluia! He is Risen.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Isaiah 25:6-9
1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 19-28
Colossians 3:1-4
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
St. 1, Latin carol, 14th century Para. in Lyra Davidica, 1708; alt.
Sts. 2, 3, The Compleat Psalmodist, 1750; alt.
St. 4, Charles Wesley, 1740; alt., 1972
"Morning Has Broken" popular song by Cat Stevens
(another version has been written; if you can find the copyright, you may want to use it.*)
"The Strife Is O'er, the Battle Done"
Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 1695 Trans. by Francis Pott, 1861; alt.
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Were You There?"
USA Negro
Introduction of Crucifixion
(see introduction)
"Crucify That Man"
Choral Response to the Good News Adult Choir
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Again"
Michael Weisse, 1531 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858 Response to the Stewardship Thought
"An Easter Spring Song"
Wesley
Response to the Benediction
Adult Choir
"It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue)
from "Jesus, The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs"
Avante Garde Records, Inc. 250 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Easter Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
2. "The Cross that called Jesus to a sacrificial death, called and calls us, his church, to a sacrificial life."
The Beginning of Worship: Hand out nails to the worshipers
Try this:
Use a guitarist to play "Were You There," as the people arrive. Before the people arrive, have one of the members simulate Jesus on a cross that is close to the people. Too often, we have pictured Jesus on a cross distant from the people, when, in reality, he probably was at eye level.
About five minutes after the appointed hour of worship, ask the adult choir to sing "Crucify That Man," by Geoffrey Ainger, arranged by Paul Abels.
Following the song, have three full minutes of silence, asking the people to reflect on Jesus' death, and our ongoing part in his death.
After the silence, you may want to say something similar to this: In honor of Jesus' decision to go to Jerusalem and to face the music, what kinds of decisions are you facing today - for which you would like others to pray? Or, if that's too difficult, what do you think are the hardest decisions of life as you have experienced them. Stand where you are and identify them. Then, offer a prayer that our decisions may be faithful to God,
that we may know God's will for our lives, that we may not hurt others in our decisions, that God may work through our mistakes.
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Consider this:
Use the statement, "Keep alive the rumor that God is not dead!"
Read the resurrection gospel from Mark, after which have the choir sing a version of "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Then, with instruments playing in the background, have a good reader read, with much feeling, a poem which is printed on page fifty of a book titled, Celebration, by Clarence Joseph Rivers, published by Herder and Herder, New York; or a poem which deals with death-life issues.
Have the choir sing the "Alleluia" theme again. Pastor says, Welcome to the Easter Celebration! Congregation sings, "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!"
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use your favorite death/Easter theme, perhaps the death of a seed which grows into a plant; or an infant that grows into an adult; or an idea which grows into an action.
Respond to the message with the singing of "Morning Has Broken."
Presentation of the Word
Suggestion:
Topic:
From Phoniness to Power.
Begin:
Our presence this morning, any Sunday morning, for every Sunday is Easter, seems absurd, patently absurd. For the whole thing, that story about an empty tomb, unbelieving disciples, Christ's appearances, all hang on such a slender thread.... And, I will gladly remit the ministry, renounce Christianity, look for another job, if one of you can prove to me that Christ stayed dead.
I
The Phoniness of church people. A popular song says, "It's a Barnum and Bailey world, it's as phony as it can be." And so are we. We know that far better than our critics, who also are phonies. And that's why we're here. And to our critics, we ask, why do you stay away?
II
The Release from our Phoniness. Despite our play-acting, God releases us from our phoniness. Someone has said, "God loves us Christians, not because we are perfect; God loves us because we are God's.
Conclude with words similar to these: "... daily Christ calls us to new life/love/truth/goodness/mercy/peace. Alleluia! He is Risen!
Then, conclude with a litany between pastor/choir: from Herbert Brokering's, Uncovered Feelings, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
The Stewardship of Death and Life: Remind people that "amen" is not a finale; it is a beginning. It is the sure spirit that sets out to do the prayer, the action. It has an eager spirit.
Charge to the Congreation
Suggestion:
You may want to build it around these ideas: Yes, the church, you and I, has made many mistakes; committed atrocities on occasions; manipulated, mutilated the helpless. Yet, it has dared to take risks, dared to venture, dared to step out in faith and obedience, while its enemies from outside threw verbal, sometimes physical rocks, shouting, "Stay out of certain areas, or else!" (the seven last words of the world); and while its enemies from inside sat on their dedicated apathy, and insisted, "We've never done it that way before." (the seven last words of the church.)
Yes, we Christians still act phonily and pretend; because we have such difficulty giving up something so dear to us. And yes, God daily makes us over into the divine image and likewise, making us new, not perfect, persons.
replacing our phoniness with authenticity, our play-acting with risk-taking, our illusions with truth, our delusions with reality.
And, it's possible, it happens because Christ is risen!
Christ lives in/through us!
And because daily, Christ calls us to new life, love, truth, goodness, mercy, peace. Alleluia! He is Risen.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Isaiah 25:6-9
1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 19-28
Colossians 3:1-4
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
St. 1, Latin carol, 14th century Para. in Lyra Davidica, 1708; alt.
Sts. 2, 3, The Compleat Psalmodist, 1750; alt.
St. 4, Charles Wesley, 1740; alt., 1972
"Morning Has Broken" popular song by Cat Stevens
(another version has been written; if you can find the copyright, you may want to use it.*)
"The Strife Is O'er, the Battle Done"
Symphonia Sirenum Selectarum, 1695 Trans. by Francis Pott, 1861; alt.
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Were You There?"
USA Negro
Introduction of Crucifixion
(see introduction)
"Crucify That Man"
Choral Response to the Good News Adult Choir
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Again"
Michael Weisse, 1531 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858 Response to the Stewardship Thought
"An Easter Spring Song"
Wesley
Response to the Benediction
Adult Choir
"It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue)
from "Jesus, The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs"
Avante Garde Records, Inc. 250 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Easter Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
