Christ's resurrection is for all people
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
For nearly two thousand years, Christians of each generation have thrilled with the celebration of Easter.
People:
What God has done in Christ benefits all persons who believe in him.
Pastor:
God raised Jesus from the dead. And we are privileged to proclaim his gospel to our generation.
People:
Jesus is Lord! May the whole world know of his power to forgive sins, and be raised to new life!
Collect
Eternal God: Your Son, Jesus, conquered the grave, offering forgiveness to all persons. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we worship our risen Lord; that we may join that vast throng of followers who rejoice in his power, which not only conquers the grave, but defeats the curse of sin. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
With thanksgiving in our hearts, we come into your sanctuary, O God; because we know that Christ's resurrection is the source of our hope. Without him we are dead in our sins. Because of him, we are raised to new life with you. Forgive our carnal nature which works against resurrection faith. Restore us in love; revive our faith; renew our commitment, that our discipleship may be a living witness to Christ's resurrection. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain"
"Sing with All the Sons of Glory"
"The Day of Resurrection"
EASTER DAY
Second Lesson: Colossians 3:1-4
Theme:
Resurrection Living
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ is risen from the dead, and lives among us, bringing hope and joy to all who believe in him.
People:
We rejoice because we have been raised to new life with Christ!
Pastor:
Such life is full of joy because we put to death the earthly desires which contradict God's will, and become new persons in Christ.
People:
Christ is our life! We commit ourselves to resurrection living as we put off our sinful desires and put on our new nature.
Collect
Most gracious Father, whose power over sin and death raises us to a new life in Christ: Fill our minds with Christlike desires; that we may put to death our earthly desires, and live a new life in fellowship with our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are full of praise, Father, for Christ's resurrection. But our praise is due more to a fear of death, than to love for life. We want security as we prepare for death, but we have put to death the joy of being alive. Forgive us for dying in sin, when you would make us alive in Christ. Raise us out of sin's power into the wonderful love of Christ; that fear of death may have no opportunity to lay hold of us. We pray through Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands"
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"
"Now the Green Blade Riseth"
EASTER DAY
Gospel:
John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Theme:
Christ's resurrection
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Death could not conquer the tremendous power of life in our Lord and Savior!
People:
For three days Jesus let death have its way, only to prove he had power over the grave.
Pastor:
Our Lord's resurrection is the sign that we, too, shall pass through death into life if we follow him as Lord, and trust him as Savior.
People:
Our faith is in Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, who lives in our hearts, and who will bring us into his eternal presence! Praise his name!
Collect
Victorious Father, who surrendered your Son to death, only to raise him from the grave; that we may know the hope of eternal life which is available to all who believe: Give us faith which will inspire committed living, that in death we may be forever with our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Father, our Lord's tomb was empty because death could not hold him in its grip. He arose to show us the victory which can be ours. But sin's power to destroy us threatens that victory. Forgive us for professing resurrection faith, but denying it with sin-motivated living. Raise us above the sin dominated life, to a life firmly established in the faith of our living Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing"
"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
"Low in the Grave He Lay"
"O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing"
Pastor:
For nearly two thousand years, Christians of each generation have thrilled with the celebration of Easter.
People:
What God has done in Christ benefits all persons who believe in him.
Pastor:
God raised Jesus from the dead. And we are privileged to proclaim his gospel to our generation.
People:
Jesus is Lord! May the whole world know of his power to forgive sins, and be raised to new life!
Collect
Eternal God: Your Son, Jesus, conquered the grave, offering forgiveness to all persons. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we worship our risen Lord; that we may join that vast throng of followers who rejoice in his power, which not only conquers the grave, but defeats the curse of sin. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
With thanksgiving in our hearts, we come into your sanctuary, O God; because we know that Christ's resurrection is the source of our hope. Without him we are dead in our sins. Because of him, we are raised to new life with you. Forgive our carnal nature which works against resurrection faith. Restore us in love; revive our faith; renew our commitment, that our discipleship may be a living witness to Christ's resurrection. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain"
"Sing with All the Sons of Glory"
"The Day of Resurrection"
EASTER DAY
Second Lesson: Colossians 3:1-4
Theme:
Resurrection Living
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ is risen from the dead, and lives among us, bringing hope and joy to all who believe in him.
People:
We rejoice because we have been raised to new life with Christ!
Pastor:
Such life is full of joy because we put to death the earthly desires which contradict God's will, and become new persons in Christ.
People:
Christ is our life! We commit ourselves to resurrection living as we put off our sinful desires and put on our new nature.
Collect
Most gracious Father, whose power over sin and death raises us to a new life in Christ: Fill our minds with Christlike desires; that we may put to death our earthly desires, and live a new life in fellowship with our risen Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are full of praise, Father, for Christ's resurrection. But our praise is due more to a fear of death, than to love for life. We want security as we prepare for death, but we have put to death the joy of being alive. Forgive us for dying in sin, when you would make us alive in Christ. Raise us out of sin's power into the wonderful love of Christ; that fear of death may have no opportunity to lay hold of us. We pray through Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands"
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"
"Now the Green Blade Riseth"
EASTER DAY
Gospel:
John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Theme:
Christ's resurrection
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Death could not conquer the tremendous power of life in our Lord and Savior!
People:
For three days Jesus let death have its way, only to prove he had power over the grave.
Pastor:
Our Lord's resurrection is the sign that we, too, shall pass through death into life if we follow him as Lord, and trust him as Savior.
People:
Our faith is in Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, who lives in our hearts, and who will bring us into his eternal presence! Praise his name!
Collect
Victorious Father, who surrendered your Son to death, only to raise him from the grave; that we may know the hope of eternal life which is available to all who believe: Give us faith which will inspire committed living, that in death we may be forever with our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Father, our Lord's tomb was empty because death could not hold him in its grip. He arose to show us the victory which can be ours. But sin's power to destroy us threatens that victory. Forgive us for professing resurrection faith, but denying it with sin-motivated living. Raise us above the sin dominated life, to a life firmly established in the faith of our living Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing"
"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
"Low in the Grave He Lay"
"O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing"
