Description
Mark 16:1-8
“He has been raised; he is not here.” After arriving at the empty tomb, the women heard these words from the man robed in white. Can you imagine how they must have felt once they heard this news? We know how it feels to hear the news of the birth of a new baby or the cure of an illness. Life is precious to us and it was precious to the women. They were instructed to “go and tell.” You can’t keep news like this inside. It’s not natural. This kind of news begs action and has to be proclaimed. Their audience was the disciples and the spokesperson, Peter. Our audience includes all in our sphere of influence. Since that Easter morning, the message that Jesus is alive has been communicated to every generation. It is life-giving and we who have heard it can do no less than share the message. We, too, must “go and tell.”
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
Happy Day
Ben Cantelon & Tim Hughes, ©2006 Thankyou Music (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble
Martin Smith, ©1994 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown, ©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
[Traditional Options]
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
CH 367; ELW 373; HFG 289; LBW 130; LSB 469; LW 142; NCH 233; UMH 302; WC 234
Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won
ELW 621; LBW 133; LSB 490; LW 139
He’s Risen, He’s Risen
LSB 480; LW 138
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor Let’s proclaim the wonderful news: Christ is risen!
All Christ is risen indeed!
ALL Amen!
Opening Prayer
Pastor God of grace and truth, you revealed and displayed your incredible love when you sent Jesus into our world which was in desperate need. Following his death, he was raised to life. From that moment, this amazing good news could not be contained and those first women at the tomb were implored to go and tell the disciples. This witness to the resurrection has been unstoppable ever since. It is with great joy and gratitude that we usher in another Easter celebration–repeating the ancient Christian greeting: “Christ is risen!” “Christ is risen indeed!” We are deeply thankful for the forgiveness given and eternal life promised because of the resurrection. Empower us to go and tell this life-changing news to everyone we can.
All In the blessed name of our risen Lord. Amen
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor God of redemption and peace, you have destroyed death and given us tremendous hope by fulfilling what had been prophesied many years before Christ’s birth. Since Christ truly rose from the dead, we know without a doubt that our sins are washed away and we are assured of a new life of freedom in Christ. With gratitude and humility in our hearts, we confess that we have not lived up to the standards of our faith in you and your Son, Jesus Christ. We can do no less that come with contrite hearts
People Forgive us for not embracing your presence when we are in need of help.
Forgive us for trying to rely on our own perceived wisdom which keeps us from growth and creates a barrier for strength, healing, and hope.
Forgive us for our reluctance and fear which prevents us from sharing the great new of Jesus Christ.
Forgive us for not reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are experiencing pain and struggles.
Forgive us for letting the world influence us which drives us further away from you and the truth of your word.
Forgive us for our poor attitudes that do not display the Easter joy we are to have with Christ living in us.
Forgive us in these areas of our lives as we name them in silence. (Moment of silence)
Pastor God always keeps His promises! Alleluia! God sacrificed His only Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered death and rose from the dead, so that all our sins are forgiven and we are given new life.
All Amen
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 25:6-9
This account reveals a prophecy with an audience that includes all people – Gentiles and Jews, a message of salvation that will destroy death forever.
6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
