Resurrection
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
A Return To Good Friday, Which At The Time, Appeared Bad
Continue to keep the cross and communion table wrapped in the daily newspaper. Have a dead "Jesus" simulated on the old rugged cross as people arrive. Have the musicians play, "Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death" by J. S. Bach. For the especially courageous, read the fifth meditation in the book, A Coney Island of the Mind, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. (See Appendix II for address.) For others, read Mark 15:37-41, with appropriate "death music"Êby the musicians. Following the reading, two minutes of silence.
A Celebration Of Resurrection
Pastoral Invitation to the Resurrection Celebration
(With much enthusiasm) "But wait ... listen ... Do we hear the news, the good news? He is not here. He is risen! Go, and tell Peter, and the rest of the world. (Invite the congregation to greet each other with "He is risen! He is not here!" Invite them to walk around the sanctuary bringing greetings.)
Hymn of Praise
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!" Charles Wesley, 1739; alt.; Robert Williams, 1817; harm. David Evans, 1927. (Choirs will sing the descant.)
Prayer of Praise
O God, we have come to thank you that the Lord has risen, that the tomb is empty, that death is conquered, that love has triumphed. You are teaching us through the empty tomb that we are ordained for eternity. Our hearts are singing, "Christ Jesus lives today." Our ears catch the cadence of the footsteps of your people who have been changed by the presence of the living Christ. As we think of the multitudes of these who do not know you, we realize again that humanity has not yet finished its accounting with the resurrected Christ, who loves even those who hate him, ignore him, patronize him, ridicule him. So draw us now to the empty cross, to the open tomb, to the resurrected Lord, for we pray through Christ who died for us, and who lives with us. And, all the people said, (your favorite praise word).
Taking Responsibility For Ourselves
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
The pastor will direct the meditation around "contemporary crucifixions." Read several stories from the newspaper, stories of alienation, brokenness, hatred. After each, have the people sing, "Lord, Have Mercy,"Êfrom the service music in your hymnbook. Then ask the people to identify their own ideas of crucifixions. After one minute of silence, sing, "Lord, Have Mercy," followed by another minute of silence.
The Act of Receiving New Life
The pastor says, "In this moment, we begin again. How does the empty tomb affect your daily life? How will you allow the risen Christ to direct your thoughts, words, feelings, behavior, from this day forward? For, as someone has said, 'The world is not done with the cross, but the world, our world even though we look and act as though we have the world by the tail, is done without it' " (author unknown, my revisions).
Response
"Morning Has Broken," Eleanor Farjeon; Gaelic melody; harm. by David Evans, found in The Genesis Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.) It does have other words, written specifically for the church. For a copy send me one dollar and SASE.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask the children what Easter means to them; for many, it is the Easter bunny. You know what to do about that without giving a "little liquor lecture on morality."
Reading of the Scripture
Consider reading it from The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan. Have the organist or pianist play resurrection background music during the reading.
Proclamation of the Gospel
Consider the topics, "Is Religion a Simple Matter of Sincerity" or "How to be a Christian Without Being Religious!" Point out that religion brings death, while Christ brings life.
Response
Use a powerful resurrection hymn. One suggestion: "The Resurrection" by Cecil Effinger.
Being Responsible In The World
Stewardship Challenge
How will you change? How will you relate differently in your daily life because you came to worship today? For the courageous, you may want to use this quote by an unknown author: "Easter is the one day in the year when anyone may attend worship without incurring any suspicion that he/she is deeply committed to the Christian faith and life."
Offertory Response
"Rejoice, Ye Christians" by J. S. Bach.
Prayer of Dedication
We offer this money to you, God, after we have taken out our necessities, and perhaps, a good many of our luxuries. Somehow, by the Spirit of the risen Christ, overcome our stinginess.
Hymn of Dedication
"The Strife is O'er," Latin, c. 1695; trans. Francis Pott, 1861; Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1591; adapt. William Henry Monk, 1861.
Charge to the Congregation
Religion leads, not to life, but to death. Christ leads us through death, death of the old self, motives, attitude, behavior, to life. The risen Christ empowers, energizes, enables us to face life today, tomorrow, with his church, body, family of strugglers, as joyous, not defeated humans; as winners, not losers; as lovers, not haters; as victors, not victims. Alleluia! Amen!
The Scattering
Benediction
Be the Easter people, wherever you go, whatever you do.
Response
"It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue) from Jesus -- The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs (Avante Garde Records, Inc., 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019).
Meditation
"... Easter morning declares the irresistibility of the authority let loose ... in Jesus of Nazareth. Paul ... said, 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world ... not in Buddha, not in Muhammad, but in Christ. Not in authoritarianism, religious or otherwise, but in Christ; and if that's true, then comparing religions may simply waste my time. One thing matters. God did something in Jesus. God openly declares authority by reconciling black and white, rich and poor, ambitious and lazy, intelligent and stupid, hopeful and hopeless, sinner and saint ... The authority of God came to life in a manger, hung on a cross, broke loose from death, and lives for all ... That marked the beginning of a new way of life in which I'm invited to share.' "1
Note: Sometime during worship, invite the people to participate in Monday's Bright Monday celebration, and in the second Sunday in Easter. Encourage them to wear the brightest clothes they own. It is time to move from "Low Sunday" to "Bright Sunday."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Good Friday hymns; or "Were You There?" African-American spiritual.
Hymn of Praise: "Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!" Brian Wren (b. 1936); Ludwig von Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Edward Hodges (1796-1867); alt.
Choral Response to the Proclamation: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Again," Michael Weisse (c. 1480-1534); trans. Catherine Weiss, 1858; alt. 1988; German folk melody; ar. Ethel Porter, 1958.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing," Cyril A. Alington, 1931; alt.; Melchior Vulpius, 1609, as in Pilgrim Hymnal, 1958.
Hymn of Commitment: "O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing!" Attr. Jean Tisserand (d. 1494), trans. John Mason Neale, 1852; French tune, fifteenth century.
Response to the Benediction: "Every Morning Is Easter Morning," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Easter hymns.
________________
1. From New Directions from the Ten Commandments by Arthur F. Sueltz, Senior Pastor, Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, San Diego, California. Used by permission.
Continue to keep the cross and communion table wrapped in the daily newspaper. Have a dead "Jesus" simulated on the old rugged cross as people arrive. Have the musicians play, "Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death" by J. S. Bach. For the especially courageous, read the fifth meditation in the book, A Coney Island of the Mind, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. (See Appendix II for address.) For others, read Mark 15:37-41, with appropriate "death music"Êby the musicians. Following the reading, two minutes of silence.
A Celebration Of Resurrection
Pastoral Invitation to the Resurrection Celebration
(With much enthusiasm) "But wait ... listen ... Do we hear the news, the good news? He is not here. He is risen! Go, and tell Peter, and the rest of the world. (Invite the congregation to greet each other with "He is risen! He is not here!" Invite them to walk around the sanctuary bringing greetings.)
Hymn of Praise
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!" Charles Wesley, 1739; alt.; Robert Williams, 1817; harm. David Evans, 1927. (Choirs will sing the descant.)
Prayer of Praise
O God, we have come to thank you that the Lord has risen, that the tomb is empty, that death is conquered, that love has triumphed. You are teaching us through the empty tomb that we are ordained for eternity. Our hearts are singing, "Christ Jesus lives today." Our ears catch the cadence of the footsteps of your people who have been changed by the presence of the living Christ. As we think of the multitudes of these who do not know you, we realize again that humanity has not yet finished its accounting with the resurrected Christ, who loves even those who hate him, ignore him, patronize him, ridicule him. So draw us now to the empty cross, to the open tomb, to the resurrected Lord, for we pray through Christ who died for us, and who lives with us. And, all the people said, (your favorite praise word).
Taking Responsibility For Ourselves
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
The pastor will direct the meditation around "contemporary crucifixions." Read several stories from the newspaper, stories of alienation, brokenness, hatred. After each, have the people sing, "Lord, Have Mercy,"Êfrom the service music in your hymnbook. Then ask the people to identify their own ideas of crucifixions. After one minute of silence, sing, "Lord, Have Mercy," followed by another minute of silence.
The Act of Receiving New Life
The pastor says, "In this moment, we begin again. How does the empty tomb affect your daily life? How will you allow the risen Christ to direct your thoughts, words, feelings, behavior, from this day forward? For, as someone has said, 'The world is not done with the cross, but the world, our world even though we look and act as though we have the world by the tail, is done without it' " (author unknown, my revisions).
Response
"Morning Has Broken," Eleanor Farjeon; Gaelic melody; harm. by David Evans, found in The Genesis Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.) It does have other words, written specifically for the church. For a copy send me one dollar and SASE.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask the children what Easter means to them; for many, it is the Easter bunny. You know what to do about that without giving a "little liquor lecture on morality."
Reading of the Scripture
Consider reading it from The Cotton Patch Version by Clarence Jordan. Have the organist or pianist play resurrection background music during the reading.
Proclamation of the Gospel
Consider the topics, "Is Religion a Simple Matter of Sincerity" or "How to be a Christian Without Being Religious!" Point out that religion brings death, while Christ brings life.
Response
Use a powerful resurrection hymn. One suggestion: "The Resurrection" by Cecil Effinger.
Being Responsible In The World
Stewardship Challenge
How will you change? How will you relate differently in your daily life because you came to worship today? For the courageous, you may want to use this quote by an unknown author: "Easter is the one day in the year when anyone may attend worship without incurring any suspicion that he/she is deeply committed to the Christian faith and life."
Offertory Response
"Rejoice, Ye Christians" by J. S. Bach.
Prayer of Dedication
We offer this money to you, God, after we have taken out our necessities, and perhaps, a good many of our luxuries. Somehow, by the Spirit of the risen Christ, overcome our stinginess.
Hymn of Dedication
"The Strife is O'er," Latin, c. 1695; trans. Francis Pott, 1861; Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1591; adapt. William Henry Monk, 1861.
Charge to the Congregation
Religion leads, not to life, but to death. Christ leads us through death, death of the old self, motives, attitude, behavior, to life. The risen Christ empowers, energizes, enables us to face life today, tomorrow, with his church, body, family of strugglers, as joyous, not defeated humans; as winners, not losers; as lovers, not haters; as victors, not victims. Alleluia! Amen!
The Scattering
Benediction
Be the Easter people, wherever you go, whatever you do.
Response
"It Is a Great Day of Joy" (Alleluia Fugue) from Jesus -- The Life of Jesus in Twelve Contemporary Songs (Avante Garde Records, Inc., 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019).
Meditation
"... Easter morning declares the irresistibility of the authority let loose ... in Jesus of Nazareth. Paul ... said, 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world ... not in Buddha, not in Muhammad, but in Christ. Not in authoritarianism, religious or otherwise, but in Christ; and if that's true, then comparing religions may simply waste my time. One thing matters. God did something in Jesus. God openly declares authority by reconciling black and white, rich and poor, ambitious and lazy, intelligent and stupid, hopeful and hopeless, sinner and saint ... The authority of God came to life in a manger, hung on a cross, broke loose from death, and lives for all ... That marked the beginning of a new way of life in which I'm invited to share.' "1
Note: Sometime during worship, invite the people to participate in Monday's Bright Monday celebration, and in the second Sunday in Easter. Encourage them to wear the brightest clothes they own. It is time to move from "Low Sunday" to "Bright Sunday."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Good Friday hymns; or "Were You There?" African-American spiritual.
Hymn of Praise: "Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!" Brian Wren (b. 1936); Ludwig von Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Edward Hodges (1796-1867); alt.
Choral Response to the Proclamation: "Christ the Lord Is Risen Again," Michael Weisse (c. 1480-1534); trans. Catherine Weiss, 1858; alt. 1988; German folk melody; ar. Ethel Porter, 1958.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing," Cyril A. Alington, 1931; alt.; Melchior Vulpius, 1609, as in Pilgrim Hymnal, 1958.
Hymn of Commitment: "O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing!" Attr. Jean Tisserand (d. 1494), trans. John Mason Neale, 1852; French tune, fifteenth century.
Response to the Benediction: "Every Morning Is Easter Morning," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Easter hymns.
________________
1. From New Directions from the Ten Commandments by Arthur F. Sueltz, Senior Pastor, Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, San Diego, California. Used by permission.
