Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Resurrection Day!
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18
Call to Worship
One: The tomb is empty!
Many: Sound the trumpet!
(1 trumpet plays 2 measures of Christ the Lord, Chalice Hymnal #216)
One: The Lord is risen!
Many: Sound the trumpets!
(2 trumpets play measures 5 and 6 of Christ the Lord, CH #216)
One: Christ leads us on the road to life!
Many: Sound the trumpets!
(Trumpets and organ or piano – or both – play the Alleluia of the
hymn and the congregation begins to sing Christ the Lord, CH #216)
(Adapted from Thankful Praise, p. 101)
Opening Prayer
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen, indeed!
We give you thanks, Holy Author of Life, for raising Jesus from the dead,
for making him the first fruits of abundant and eternal life.
Accept our praise as we joyfully claim the Good News, and
welcome your Spirit into our lives once more.
May this hour help us make our lives
a daily celebration of your love made visible,
that we might claim our identity as Easter people not only today,
but in every day! AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
Nearly any holiday we have opportunity to share with others:
birthday gifts, Christmas presents, anniversaries, retirement, graduation.
So it makes sense to share gifts on this day, when love answers: Easter!
Stores across America seem to believe Easter is nothing more than
another opportunity to sell bunnies, plastic geegaws, chocolate eggs,
and pastel frosted cookies.
But here, we know Easter is about love shown in new life! Resurrection life!
We’ve been given the gift of Jesus, raised from death into new life.
We’re wrapped up in wonder as we imagine abundant life here and
eternal life beyond this earthly time.
Having received such amazing gifts, our natural response is to give in return.
Today, let’s put our money where our hearts are!
I invite you to join me,
recognizing the empty tomb somehow fills us to overflowing.
Like Mary Magdalene, weeping until she heard her name!
In joyful celebration we demonstrate our love by presenting
our tithes and our above-and-beyond gifts for our Easter offering.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, Holy Creator,
for receiving all we’ve brought to offer back to you.
Accept our gifts for ministry and celebration in this place,
along with our gifts, too, for the wider world.
We offer all this, O God, as one expression of our resurrection joy.
Help us use each gift to build up necessary nutrients of a new creation,
an Easter re-formation for us, for this congregation and for
the world you have created. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
In John’s Gospel we hear how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while it was still dark but found the stone moved. She ran to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple with him. The two men ran to the tomb, went inside, and found it empty.
Now the story continues. The two men went home, but Mary stayed outside the tomb. Eventually she looked inside and saw two angels. Turning away, she saw someone (but did not recognize who it was), and heard him ask, “Why are you weeping?”
When that conversation continued, Mary realized this was Jesus…not dead, but alive! Jesus directed her to go and tell the disciples who she had seen.
At this table, the story continues into a new chapter.
Jesus, now the risen Christ, invites us to come and feast.
At this table, all are invited to share in a feast of love.
You’re encouraged to eat the bread, and drink fully from the cup,
recognizing this setting is a rehearsal dinner for the great feast at the end of time, when Christ will gather people from all time and all places.
Come!
Rejoice in this simple meal.
Remember.
Give thanks.
And anticipate!