Easter Sunday

Holy Week 2017 — Through Death to Life Series Overview

Easter Sunday, Year A

Easter Sunday is the principal Easter Sunday morning service of word and sacrament celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and kicking off the Easter Season of fifty days (through the Day of Pentecost).

EASTER SUNDAY: THE DAWNING

ENTRANCE

The service begins in silence. A processional party (clergy, choir or band, other worship leaders) gathers at the back of the worship space.

Reading: The Mourning John 20:1

The procession begins during the singing and proceeds to the baptismal font, placed in a main aisle, well in front of the Lord’s Table.

“Up from the Grave He Arose” UMH 322, st 1 (no chorus)

Reading: The Investigation John 20: 2-10

The procession continues, and all in it reach their destinations.

“Up from the Grave He Arose” UMH 322, st 2 (no chorus)

Reading: The Encounter John 20:11-17

“Up from the Grave He Arose” UMH 322, st 3 and chorus
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” UMH 302, st 1-3

The Easter Acclamation (3X)
Deacon or Worship Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

WORD AND RESPONSE

Sermon The Dawning

As the final act of the sermon, the preacher moves behind the Lord’s Table, raises hands, and proclaims:

Reading John 20:18

Confessing in Song
The deacon, pastor, or others may prepare the Lord’s table, and the offering may be collected during the singing.
The Day of Resurrection UMH 303 st 1
Easter People, Raise Your Voices UMH 304 st 1
Thine Be the Glory UMH 308 st 1
The Strife is O’er UMH 306 st 1. with final Alleluia

OR

“Christ is Risen” (Maher/Fieldes) CCLI # 5242683
“Christ Is Risen” (Riddle) CCLI# 5351347

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

The Great Thanksgiving BOW 66-67

OR

Pastor:
Alleluia. The risen Christ is with us.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Death is conquered! Sin’s power is broken.
Praise to you, Conquering God!

We have seen your glory.
And we are yours!

We are yours, all yours, blessed Triune God,
all our lives, all our thanks, all our praise,
we give it all to you, with all our bodies, and minds, and voices.

Yours, all yours!

Yours the blessing, yours the praise,
from the unimaginable silence before creation,
beyond the farthest reaches of time and space our instruments may ever find,
from infinity to infinity, everlasting to everlasting,
you are God, boundless in love and power.

We stand in awe, trembling in the light of your glory!

What are we that you should notice us?
What are we that you should love us?
What are we what you should call us into covenant with you,
a covenant we continually broke,
and you continuously sustained.

Mercy! How full of mercy!

How can we but praise you,
joining our voices with the song of angels and saints,
seraphim and martyrs,
strangers and family in every generation:

Refrain from "God of Wonders" W&S 3034 or CCLI #3118757

then sing to to the same tune

Jesus Christ, who comes in our God's name, you are worthy, worthy!
Lamb of God, who died and rose again, you are worthy, worthy!
Hosanna we sing! Hosanna we sing!

You are holy, O God!
Holy!

You are worthy, O Christ!
Worthy!

Worthy in your birth! Worthy in your living!
Worthy in your loving! Worthy in your serving!

Worthy when you preached good news
that God's kingdom has drawn near
and gather disciples, then and now, to learn and show the world
what life in God's reign means:
healing for the sick.
new life for the dead,
cleansing for the lepers,
freedom for the possessed,
new birth, new hope, new creation breaking in for all.

Worthy! Worthy! Worthy above all!

Worthy too, the night we betrayed you,
when you took the bread, blessed it and broke it,
and gave it to your disciples.
Worthy when you told them,
"This is my body broken for you. Remember me."
We remember.

Worthy when you took the cup,
praised God and shared it,
and worthy when you said,
"This is my blood of the new covenant for you.
Remember me."
We remember.

And on this day of days,
we proclaim above all,
worthy were you when the angels rolled away the stone,
and you came forth from the tomb,
trampling down death by death
and to all in the graves
restoring life.
We remember, and we praise you with our lives.

We remember, and we praise you with our lives
and these gifts of bread and wine,
proclaiming with one voice the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Even so, come upon us, Holy Spirit.
Come upon us, Holy Spirit.

Come upon these gifts.
Come upon these gifts.

Make them be for us Christ's body, Christ's blood.
Make us one body in Christ enlivened by his blood.

One in heart, one in mind, one in you, Holy Spirit,
as you move us to pray for the church and the world:

A deacon or worship leader:
That we with Mary Magdalene may proclaim the gospel boldly:
Hear us, O God.

That we may offer your healing for all who are sick, or torn, or weary:
Hear us, O God.

That many dead and left for dead may be raised, and death’s power vanquished:
Hear us, God.

That all who are unclean may receive your cleansing grace:
Hear us, O God.

That all who are possessed, oppressed, distressed, depressed, and downcast may be set free at last. Hear us, O God.

Pastor:
Even so, come and fill this feast, Holy Spirit,
this day, and every day until that day
when we eat it new at the marriage supper of the Lamb
and our Easter rejoicing shall know no end.

All blessing, honor, glory, and power
be yours, Holy Triune God,
now and forever.
Amen!

The pastor breaks the bread in the sight of the people, then serves the servers, one of whom also serves the pastor. The people are then served.

Music During Communion
“Agnus Dei” (Smith/Third Day) CCLI# 626713
“Death Was Arrested” CCLI # 7046448
"Salvation Story”

OR

Choral: “Salvation Is Created” Choral Wiki #11972
“Salvation Story”
“He Lives” UMH 310

Thanksgiving after Communion

Deacon or Pastor and People:

Triune God,
you have fed us with the body and blood of Christ,
uniting us with you,
filling us with the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Send us, rejoicing, to declare with Mary,
in hearts, and hands, and voices,
that day has dawned,
and we have seen the Risen Lord. Amen.


SENDING FORTH

“Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble” CCLI # 1097028 OR
“Christ Is Alive” UMH 318

Congregational Easter Postlude Hallelujah Chorus

Deacon or Pastor:
Go in peace, filled with the love and power of the Risen Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

In This Series...


Passion/Palm Sunday — Planning Notes Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday — Planning Notes Holy Friday/Good Friday — Planning Notes Easter Sunday — Planning Notes Easter Sunrise — Planning Notes