The Season of Easter – Liturgical Text – 56.1

Confession and Pardon

At the baptismal font:
The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.

Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
The prayer of confession is included here.

Call to Confession

At the baptismal font:
Trusting that God’s power
creates new heavens
and a new earth,
we confidently confess our sins,
assured that we, too,
are renewed through Jesus Christ,
our risen Lord.
The prayer of confession is included here.

Declaration of Forgiveness

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.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.

Declaration of Forgiveness

O, give thanks to the Lord,
for God is good!
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Through the risen Christ,
this day and every day
we are forgiven.
Alleluia! Amen.

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.

Thanksgiving for Baptism

At the baptismal font:
Creator God,
you drew out life-giving water
from a desert rock.
We give you thanks
for the water of baptism.
In being joined with Christ,
we die to what destroys
and are raised to new life with Christ.
As streams rush into rivers,
may our lives flow into yours,
joining your creative work
for a world in need.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for Illumination

At the lectern or pulpit:
Season of Easter
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.

Season of Easter
Gracious God,
Living Word,
as you revealed yourself to Mary
that Easter morning,
so reveal yourself to us.
By the power of your Spirit,
give each of us faith,
that hearing your Word
we, too, may proclaim,
“I have seen the Lord!” Amen.

Season of Easter, Ascension of the Lord
God Most High, reigning in glory,
send down your Spirit of wisdom
to shine in your heavenly Word,
so that we may worship you with joy,
continually blessing your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Season of Easter, Day of Pentecost
God of power and grace,
fill us with the wisdom of your Word
and the understanding of your Spirit
so that we may be your church:
a people with dreams and visions
at work in all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before the readings:
O dry bones, hear the word 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

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

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

Season of Easter, Ascension of the Lord
New life in Christ takes shape in a community
in which people know
that God loves and accepts them
in spite of what they are.
They therefore accept themselves
and love others,
knowing that no one has any ground
on which to stand,
except God’s grace.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.22

Season of Easter, Day of Pentecost
God the Holy Spirit
fulfills the work of reconciliation in human life.
The Holy Spirit creates and renews the church
as the community in which people are reconciled
to God and to one another.
The Spirit enables people to receive forgiveness
as they forgive one another
and to enjoy the peace of God
as they make peace among themselves.
In spite of their sin,
the Spirit gives people power
to become representatives of Jesus Christ
and his gospel of reconciliation to all.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.20