ORDER OF WORSHIP
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“He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day,
just as the Scriptures said.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:4
Chiming of the Bells
Call to Worship
Pastor: Don’t weep! Don’t mourn! There is great Good News!
All: Christ the Lord is risen today!
Pastor: Put away your garments of mourning; let the light of God’s love flood into your lives.
All: Christ the Lord is risen today!
Pastor: No more do we have to fear the darkness; it has been overcome by God’s light.
All: Christ the Lord is risen today. ALLELUIA!
Opening Prayer
All: Loving God of light, we hid in the darkness and you brought the light of Salvation to our eyes and our spirits. We praise you for the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have received the greatest good news of healing, hope, and restoration. Praise be to you, eternal God, for this gift of love. AMEN.
Lighting of the Pascal Candle (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 371, 1992)
The light of Christ rises in glory, overcoming the darkness of sin and death.
Christ is our light!
The light of Christ rises in glory, overcoming the darkness of sin and death.
Christ is our light!
Hymn
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
(Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788. Music: Lyra Davidica, 1708.)
1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Greeting and Welcome
Hymn
“The Day of Resurrection”
(Text: John of Damascus; trans. by John Mason Neale. Music: Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879)
1. The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory.
2. Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light;
and listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain.
3. Now let the heavens be joyful!
Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph,
and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen
their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord hath risen,
our joy that hath no end.
Gospel Reading
John 20:1-18
Meditation
“Light Shining in the Darkness” Rev. Matthew Sergent
Prayers of the People
Hymn
“Thine Be the Glory”
(Text: Edmund L. Budry; trans. by R. Birch Hoyle. Music: Harmonia Sacra; arr. from G. F. Handel)
1. Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son:
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won.
2. Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. [Refrain]
3. No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu’rors, thro’ thy deathless love:
bring us safe thro’ Jordan to thy home above. [Refrain]
Benediction
Alleluia! This is a day of new beginnings! This is the day of brightness and hope! For God has done wondrous things for us! Go in joyful peace and know that God’s peace and love go with you always. Alleluia! Amen!
(The Call to Worship, Opening Prayer and Benediction taken from Ministry Matters, April 12, 2020.)
