Easter Service

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

Prelude  Solemn Entry (Feierlicher Einzug)  Richard Strauss

*Call to Worship

Leader:    Early on the first day of the week,

People:   Christ is Risen!

Leader:    While it is still dark,

People:   Christ is Risen!

Leader:    In confusion and hope,

People:   Christ is Risen!

Leader:    Let us stand and worship God!

Unison:   Alleluia! Amen!

*Processional Hymn 115 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain (St. Kevin)

*Prayer of Easter Praise (Unison)

O God who weaves extraordinary patterns into our ordinary lives;

    we give thanks for the gift of Easter that runs

       beyond our expectations and

       beyond our categories of reason.

We know about the powers of death,

    powers that persist among us,

   powers that drive us from you and from our neighbor,

       and from our best selves.

 And then you…you at dawn, unquenched,

    you in the darkness,

   you who breaks the world to joy!

We give thanks for the newness

       beyond our achieving. Amen.

     - adapted from Walter Brueggemann

*Response

*Easter Greeting and Passing of the Peace

*Opening Hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today

LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD

Word to the Children

Prayer for Illumination (Unison)

May the stone be rolled away from the dark places of our lives,

revealing the hope and light of your love for us, O God. Amen.

First Lesson Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (Old Testament, Pew Bible page 528)

Response to the Reading

      Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.

      Response: Thanks be to God.

Anthem Easter Hymn                      Ralph Vaughan Williams

Alleluya. Christ is now risen again from His death and all His pain;

Therefore will we merry be, and rejoice in Him gladly. Kyrie eleyson.

Had He not risen again, we had been lost, this is plain,

But since He is risen indeed, let us love Him with all speed. Kyrie eleyson.

Now is time of gladness, to sing of the Lord’s goodness;

Therefore glad now will we be, and rejoice in Him only. Alleluya.

Myles Coverdale, text

Second Lesson John 20:1-18 (NewTestament, Pew Bible page 100)

Sermon Evident Beauty              The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Cearley

RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE

*Hymn Hail Thee, Festival Day

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer (Unison)

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.

Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts

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Offertory Anthem

    Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem                                Charles V. Stanford

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ,

The Paschal victory to hymn in strains of holy joy.

For Judah’s Lion bursts His chains, crushing the serpent’s head;

And cries aloud through death’s domains to wake the imprisoned dead.

From hell’s devouring jaws the prey alone our Leader bore;

His ransomed hosts pursue their way where Jesus goes before.

Triumphant in His glory now to Him all power is given;

To Him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven.

While we, His soldiers, praise our King, His mercy we implore,

Within His palace bright to bring and keep us evermore.

All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son,

All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee, while endless ages run.

*Response 591 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)

God, you have so greatly loved us, long sought us, and mercifully redeemed us. Give us grace that in everything we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works, a continual thank-offering to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Closing Hymn The Day of Resurrection

Charge and Benediction

Benediction Response

    Christ is Risen, Alleluia                     Gregorian Chant

arr. John Kuzma

Postlude

    Allegro assai vivace from Sonata in F Minor   Felix Mendelssohn