SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Easter
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
April 4, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Bill Bottomley
GATHERING
WORDS OF WELCOME
MINUTE FOR MISSION One Great Hour of Sharing
PRELUDE (Bell Choir) “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen, indeed!
He was dead and now he lives.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
The tomb is empty.
He was dead and now he lives.
The journey begins again.
Come, let us follow him.
And let us start the new journey with prayer:
God of life, you came to us and you redeem all things. And now we give ourselves to you and continue your work of good news and reconciliation in the world. Give us the strength to follow you on the mission you have called us to. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
HYMN 118 “The Day of Resurrection!” LANCASHIRE
1 The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness,
The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
From this world 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.
CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made.
Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PROCLAMATION
FIRST LESSON 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
ANTHEM “Risen Indeed” Allen Pote
Christ is risen, Christ is risen, alleluia! Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, he is risen!
Lift up your voices sing alleluia! Christ is risen indeed, he is risen from the dead.
He died for us, our sinful souls to save, Now he is risen, risen from the grave.
The tomb stands empty, the stone was rolled away.
Darkness has vanished, the night has turned to day.
Jesus will meet us when our death is near.
He gives us hope eternal. We need not fear!
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia he is risen.
Lift up your voices sing alleluia!
Christ is risen indeed. Christ is risen. Alleluia!
SECOND LESSON Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
RESPONSE
SPECIAL MUSIC “In Christ Alone” Getty/Townend
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise…
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest…
Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory…
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
1 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
2 Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
PARTING PRAYER St. Giles Cathedral (1637)
O Lord our God, you are always more ready to bestow your good gifts than we are to seek them. You are more willing to give than we desire or deserve. Help us so to seek that we may truly find, so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of your mercy may be opened for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION