LITURGY & SERMON

An order of worship for you to use at home, with a mix of written liturgy, video and audio.

HELPFUL LINKS

Easter Worship from Home
April 12, 2020

Song | Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O 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!

Words by Charles Wesley, 1739. Music from “Lyra Davidica”, 1708.

Invocation

Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!
Our Lord has overcome the power of death; in Christ we live forevermore!
This is the Lord’s doing, and it is a marvelous thing in our lives!
This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Let all God’s people rejoice: Alleluia! Amen!

Song | Jesus Messiah

He became sin, who knew no sin;
That we might become His righteousness;
He humbled Himself, and carried the cross,
Love so amazing, love so amazing.

Jesus, Messiah; Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel,
The Rescue for sinners, the Ransom from heaven;
Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.

His body the bread, His blood the wine,
Broken and poured out, all for love.
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn;
Love so amazing, love so amazing.

All our hope is in You, all our hope is in You;
All the glory to You, God,
The Light of the world.

Jesus, Messiah; Name above all names;
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel,
The Rescue for sinners,
The Ransom from heaven;
Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.

(last time)

Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all.
The Lord of all, the Lord of all.

Scripture Reading | from 1 Corinthians 15

Listen – I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a FLASH, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be CHANGED! For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory!” Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Song | My Worth is Not in What I Own

My worth is not in what I own, not in the strength of flesh and bone.
But in the costly wounds of love at the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name, in win or lose, in pride or shame.
But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross.

I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, well-spring of my soul.
I will trust in Him, no other; my soul is satisfied in Him alone.

Two wonders here that I confess: My worth, and my unworthiness.
My value fixed, my ransom paid at the cross.

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Graham Kendrick. CCLI #43066

Prayers of Confession

Gracious Father, we confess to you that our eyes are focused on the perishable. Our minds are obsessed with that which will not last. Our hearts are controlled by fears that we cannot overcome by our own efforts, and so we try a little harder. And we are exhausted. So we come to this Easter morning and we hear the news, “Death has been swallowed up in victory!” And you offer to us new life, new creation, to be set free to live as you intended for us to live. You offer to us that which we most deeply long for and still we hesitate.

Father, raise up in us hearts that trust you. Raise up in us hearts that are willing to receive your grace. Raise up in us spirits that love you, that love ourselves, and that love our neighbors. And may the Life of the Risen Christ be evident in us, your people. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, it is true!
God has not cast us away – in Christ, we have been gathered together
and adopted as sons and daughters.
In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven – thanks be to God!

Passing the Peace

Text, email, or call a friend and extend the love of Christ to them.

Affirmation of Faith | Apostles Creed

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Children’s Blessing | 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is… patient
Love is kind
It does NOT envy
It does NOT boast
It is NOT proud
It does NOT dishonor others
It is NOT self-seeking
It is NOT easily angered
It keeps NO record of wrongs
It does NOT delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth

Children’s Worship

A service of worship for children with songs, prayers, and storytelling.

Proclamation of the Word | David Dunderdale

Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Song of Response | Sing to Jesus

Come and see, look on this mystery:
The Lord of the universe nailed to a tree.
Christ our God, spilling His holy blood,
Bowing in anguish His sacred head.

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame,
Lord of our sinful hearts, He is our great Redeemer.
Sing to Jesus, honor His name,
Sing of His faithfulness, pouring His life out unto death.

Come you weary, and He will give you rest.
Come, you who mourn, lay on His breast.
Christ who died, risen in paradise, Giver of mercy, Giver of life.

Sing to Jesus, His is the throne;
Now and forever He is the King of heaven.

Sing to Jesus, we are His own.
Now and forever sing for the love our God has shown.

Focus on Mission

Annual Mission Offering | Designate “special mission offering” in the dropdown box.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession

Let's begin our prayer time with one person reading aloud (with exuberance) these lines from George Herbert's poem, "Easter:"
Rise heart; the Lord is risen. Sing his praise
Without delays,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
With him may rise;
That, as his death calcined* thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.

* (calcine is a verb that means reduce, oxidize, or dry out by strong heat as in, "calcined bone ash")

Alleluiah! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Brightness of God's glory
and exact image of God's person,
whom death could not conquer
nor the tomb imprison,
as you have shared our frailty in human flesh,
help us to share your immortality in the Spirit.
Let no shadow of the grave terrify us,
and no fear of darkness turn our hearts from you.
Reveal yourself to us this day and all our days,
as the first and the last,
the Living One,
our immortal Savior and Lord. Amen.

On the first Easter morning, you came to grieving Mary, who proclaimed, "I have seen the Lord!" We ask to recognize you now, confident in your love.
Later, you came through locked doors and spoke, "Peace be with you!" to terrified followers. As you speak peace to us, help us receive it with joy.
You appeared to downcast disciples along the road and spoke truth, compelling them to say, "Stay with us!" Thank you Lord, that you are with us now.

On this Easter Sunday, we ask for your resurrection power to enter specific situations. Lord, you know.
Give answer as we pray: Lord, have mercy.

For the Church, that it be a source of light for the world by announcing the good news of Jesus Christ. Lord, have mercy.
For all who are in agony of mind or body that by our friendship and our help your love be made present to them. Lord, have mercy.
For those in public office, they use their authority to safeguard the well-being and dignity of human life. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are unemployed (especially _____________), may they find meaningful work and experience your provision as they trust in you. Lord, have mercy.
For all those who provide education (especially____________________), that they teach with diligence, patience, wisdom and love. Lord, have mercy.
For students, (especially________________), that they will persevere and enjoy learning. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are sick (especially ______________________), may they know your healing, comfort and care. Lord, have mercy.
For those who provide care (especially __________________), give them strength, courage, patience, and renewal and rest. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are grieving (especially ____________________), may they find joy in your love, for ever and ever. Lord, have mercy.
For all of us, called to new life in Christ, that our willingness to live for others bring hope to our world. Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father...

The Lord’s Prayer
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.

Benediction

Song | Before the Throne of God Above

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb,
my perfect, sinless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with my Lord I cannot die;
my soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is safe with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.