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 —
Opening Sentences
Look! A sliver of light across the horizon—the miracle of a new day.
See! The stone is rolled away, and the angel calls from within.
Feel! The freedom of our souls and the wonder of the Messiah’s gift of new life.
Hear! The hallelujahs as we declare to the world, “He has risen!”
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 the People
In the blessed hope of the resurrection,
we pray to the Lord of endless life, saying:
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for the church . . .
Let us be witness to the good news of this day:
That Jesus Christ is risen from the dead
and that his love and life are extended to all.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for the world . . .
Destroy the shroud of death and destruction
that is cast over the nations and peoples of earth.
Spread out your feast of plenty and peace for all.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to proclaim your message of reconciliation:
That you show no partiality, welcoming all
who trust in you and call on your name.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Let your steadfast love surround those who suffer.
Uphold them with your mighty, merciful hand,
and open for them the gates of healing and joy.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Eternal God, show forth in us and in our world
the good news of your saving power and love,
so that all may believe and have life in you;
through Jesus Christ, who is risen indeed. 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
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! (EG) LLANFAIR GTG 245
- Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (EG) HYMN TO JOY GTG 248
- Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded (OG) IN DIR IST FREUDE GTG 242
- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (EG) EASTER HYMN GTG 232
WORD
- Be Not Afraid (G) BE NOT AFRAID GTG 243
- Christ Has Risen While Earth Slumbers (G) SUO GAN GTG 231
- Now the Green Blade Rises (G) NOËL NOUVELET GTG 247
- Woman, Weeping in the Garden (G) KINGDOM GTG 241
EUCHARIST
- God Welcomes All (E) THEMBA AMEN GTG 399
- I Come with Joy (EG) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515
- There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (E) IN BABILONE GTG 435
- This Is the Feast of Victory (G) FESTIVAL CANTICLE GTG 513
SENDING
- Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks (E) ALLELUIA NO. 1 GTG 240
- Christ Is Alive! (EG) TRURO GTG 246
- Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing! (G) GELOBT SEI GOTT GTG 239
- The Day of Resurrection! (EG) LANCASHIRE GTG 233
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- Este es el día / This Is the Day [ESTE ES EL DÍA]; GTG 391, SSS 191
- This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made [NUN DANKET ALL’]; GTG 681, PH 230, PAS 118E
- Give Thanks to God for All His Goodness [RENDEZ À DIEU (GENEVAN 98/118)]; PAS 118H, LUYH 196
- I Thank You, Lord, for You Are Good [8.7.8.7 D with refrain]; SGP 175
Responsorial
- Psallite Deo / This Is the Day [Taizé]; PAS 118C, PSA 120
- Alleluia, Alleluia! PAS 118G (alt. refrain)
- Jesus Is Risen; PAS 118 I
- Surrexit Christus / The Lord Is Risen [Taizé]; PAS 118J
- This Is the Day; PFTS2 16
- This Is the Day; OLOF 689
- This Is the Day the Lord Has Made; PP 221
- On This Day the Lord Has Acted [EASTER HYMN]; HTP1 133
Organ Music
- “In Thee Is Gladness,” The Essential Dale Wood, Dale Wood, LOR (M)
- “Lift Up Your Heads,” In Excelsis Gloria! Thomas Bliss, LOR (ME)
- “Christ Is Arisen,” When I Survey, Lynn Trapp, LOR (E)
- “LOËL NOUVELET,” Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, Mark Sedio, AF (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Praise Now the Risen Christ,” Fred Gramman, MSM, SATB, 3 tpt, bells, org (M)
- “The Lord Is Risen Again,” K. Lee Scott, MSM, SATB, brass, timp, org (E)
- “Rise, Heart, the Lord Is Risen,” Five Mystical Songs, Ralph V. Williams, ECS, SATB, bari, org (M)
- “Rejoice the Lord Is King,” James, J. Chepponis, MSM, SATB, brass, opt timp, org (M)
- “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!” Jeremy J. Bankson, MSM, SATB, cong, brass, timp, org, cymb (E)
- “Alleluia! Christ Is Risen,” Stephen Paulus, Paulus Publications, SATB (A)
- “Haec Dies,” William Byrd, Roger Dean Music Co., SATB, acap, SSATTB (A)
- “Rise and Shine,” Marques L. A. Garrett and Tom Trenney, MSM, SATB, pno (E)
Handbell Music
- “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” Karen Buckwalter, 3–6 oct, opt org, opt tpt, BP, HB773A (hb), HB773B (tpt), HB773 (FS/org), Level 2
- “The Day of Resurrection,” Kurt Meyer, 3–5 oct, opt keybd, opt tpt, JM, 1244, Level 3
- “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” Joel Raney, 3–6 oct, opt tpt, HOPE, 3011, Level 3
Art
- I Do Not Know Where They Have Laid Him, Jan Richardson (JR)
- A New Day, James Fissel ((EYE)
- Bird, Scott Laumann (EYE)
- Mary at the Tomb, Frank Wesley (VDL)
- The Disciples Running to the Tomb, Eugene Bernand (VDL)
