Lectionary Readings
Acts 10:34–43
Peter testifies to Jesus’ death and resurrection; Jesus is Lord of all.
or Isaiah 25:6–9
A feast on the day of the Lord; God will swallow up death forever.
Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24
I will not die, I will live; this is the day that the Lord has made.
1 Corinthians 15:1–11
Remember the good news of Jesus Christ, by which we are saved.
or Acts 10:34–43
Peter testifies to Jesus’ death and resurrection; Jesus is Lord of all.
John 20:1–18
At the empty tomb, the risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene.
or Mark 16:1–8
Finding Jesus’ tomb empty, the women flee in wonder and fear.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Why are you weeping?
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!
Death has lost its power.
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!
God wipes our tears and speaks our names.
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!
Prayer of the Day
Hallelujah, loving God!
We have been transformed in an instant.
Your love resurrected Jesus,
defying sin’s grasp on us.
We claim the power of life over death,
delight over pain,
and freedom over oppression.
Jesus, empower us to go forth in your glory
so that we may bring your good news to all.
Let the words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts
create the change we wish to see. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the new life you raise up in us
through the mystery of our baptism—
the sorrow of the heavy cross,
the surprise of the empty tomb,
the love that death could not destroy.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
fill us with the joy of resurrection,
so that we may be a living sign
of your new heaven and new earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
O God, you raised Christ from the tomb
and shattered the powers of sin and evil.
Raise us from the tombs of our sin, O Lord,
and bring us to new life in you.
You bring us good news of Easter joy.
Forgive us when we cannot hear it.
You send us out to share your love.
Forgive us when we cannot carry it.
You cast a vision for peace and justice.
Forgive us when we cannot imagine it.
Forgive us when we stand in its way.
For you are the God of the empty tomb,
the one who makes all things new.
Lifting water from the font:
Hear the good news of God’s promise:
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.
Acts 2:17, 21
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Living God, with joy we celebrate
the presence of your risen Word.
Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit
so that we may proclaim the good news
of eternal and abundant life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O dry bones,
hear the world of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4
After the readings:
This is the good news
which we have received,
in which we stand,
and by which we are saved.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 15:1–2
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
All authority and power and dominion
to the name that is above all names—
Jesus Christ our Lord—
now and in the age to come. Amen.
Ephesians 1:21
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Season of Easter, Ascension of the Lord
Life in Christ is life eternal.
The resurrection of Jesus is the sign
that God will consummate the work
of creation and reconciliation beyond death
and bring to fulfillment
the new life begun in Christ.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.26
Prayers of Intercession
O Lord, our Savior,
your steadfast love endures forever.
Rejoicing in this day—marvelous in our eyes—
we make our prayers to you.
We pray for the despised and rejected . . .
Restore their human dignity.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
We pray for neighbors in need . . .
Feed and protect your beloved children.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
We pray for those who are near death . . .
Grant them peace and hope in Christ.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
We pray for those who mourn . . .
Call them by name; bless them with your presence.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
We pray for those in authority . . .
Teach them to eschew vain praise
and honor you alone.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
We pray for your church,
born of water and the Spirit . . .
Give courage to the faint of heart
and strength to the bearers of good news.
God of our salvation, answer us with grace.
O Lord, our God,
your steadfast love endures forever.
Receive the prayers of your people
and answer us with grace;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods
yet refuses to help a sister or brother in need?
Remembering God’s great love for the world,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 John 3:16–17
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Eternal God, take and use these gifts
for your purpose in the world—
giving food to the hungry,
hope to the despairing,
and new life to the dead.
Teach us to live each day for you,
so that future generations
will know your goodness
and praise your glory;
in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 22:25–31
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
Your love is everlasting; your faithfulness will never die.
You have extended the promise of salvation to all
through Christ Jesus, who is risen from the dead.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Early on the first day of the week, Jesus’ disciples
went to his tomb, only to find it empty.
There they discovered that he had risen indeed.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Teach us to set our minds on the things that are above,
where Christ is seated at your right hand.
Make us ready to meet him when he is revealed in glory.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Thank you, O God, for giving us communion
with our risen and glorious Lord.
Now send us out to be a sign
of the new life that has come into the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the love of the holy triune God—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
abide with you forever. Alleluia!
1 John 4:13–16
Now go forth in Jesus’ name,
remembering his new commandment
to love one another,
just as he has loved us. Amen.
1 John 3:23
The Disciples Running to the Tomb
Eugene Bernand, 1898
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Now the Green Blade Rises (NOËL NOUVELET) GTG 247 (G)
- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (EASTER HYMN) GTG 232 (OG)
- Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (HYMN TO JOY) GTG 248 (AEG)
- Alleluia! (CELTIC ALLELUIA) GTG 587 (OAEG)
WORD
- In the Bulb There Is a Flower (PROMISE) GTG 250 (O)
- Because You Live, O Christ (VRUECHTEN) GTG 249 (AEG)
- Be Not Afraid (BE NOT AFRAID) GTG 243 (AEG)
- That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright (PUER NOBIS NASCITUR) GTG 254 (EG)
EUCHARIST
- Be Not Afraid (BE NOT AFRAID) GTG 243 (G)
- Bread of Life from Heaven (ARGENTINE SANTO) GTG 497 (EG)
- Come, Behold! the Feast of Heaven (LLANFAIR) GTG 511 (OE)
- Vamos todos al banquete (HOY ME LEVANTE MUY TEMPRANO) SSS 412 (AEG)
SENDING
- Jesus, Light of Joy (LAUDA ANIMA) GTG 673 (OG)
- These Things Did Thomas Count as Real (KEDRON) GTG 256 (E)
- Thine Is the Glory (JUDAS MACCABEUS) GTG 238 (OEG)
- Christ Has Risen While Earth Slumbers (SUO GAN) GTG 231 (OEG)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24
Metrical
- Freedom Is Coming [FREEDOM IS COMING] GTG 359
- This Is the Day the Lord Has Made [THIS IS THE DAY] PAS 118D
Responsorial
- Este es el dia SSS 191
- Blessed, Yes Blessed PP 226
Organ Music
- “Carillon for Easter,” Eternal Grace, arr. Brenda Portman, SAC (MA)
- “Grand Choeur Dialogué,” 6 Pièces d’orgue, Eugène Gigout, IMSLP (A)
- “Thine Is the Glory,” JUDAS MACCABAEUS, Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, arr. Emily Maxson Porter, AF (MA)
- Toccata in F, BWV 540, J. S. Bach, IMSLP (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Easter Alleluia,” Tony Alonso, GIA, SATB, pno (E)
- “Psalm 118: Alleluia, This Is the Day!” Brad Croushorn, MSM, SATB/solo, perc (M)
- “Alleluia,” Elaine Hagenburg, EHB, SATB, acap (A)
- “Alleluia,” Bryan Sharpe, HMP, SATB, acap (M)
- “Aleluya! Cristo Resucito!” arr. Nathan Zullinger, MSM, SATB, perc (M)
- “Christ Is Alive,” arr. Hal Hopson, JM, SATB, org (E)
Art
- Mary Magdalene in the Garden with Jesus, Rowan and Irene LeCompte (VDL)
- Seed Gathering Napangati Women, Makinti Napanangka, 1996 (WA)
- Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings, Nancy Holt, 1977–78 (WA)
- Disciples John and Peter on Their Way to the Tomb on Easter Morning, Eugene Burnand, 1898 (VDL)
- Woman, Why Weepest Thou? Fritz von Uhde, 19th century (VDL)
- The Robe of Christ, Silviu Oravitzan, 1996 (WA)
