Today’s Scripture:
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. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 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. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 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.
Today’s Music:
Resurrect Me
This is a fun song to get things started this morning – a bluesy setting of our prayer to step into the resurrected life in the here and now.
Everything
The resurrection really does change everything. This song is such a good musical setting of that reminder.
New Every Morning
“You are new every morning - each day a resurrection, waiting to break through” is a lyric I find myself coming back to again and again. It’s easy to get caught up in the grandeur of Christ’s resurrection on Easter (as we should), but that resurrection is a sign that points to our own mini-resurrections each and every day.
In Bloom
Any song that opens with a quote from Bob Dylan on resurrection is worth singing on Easter.
Today’s Words for Worship:
Call to worship
Leader: My dear friends,
we have known grief.
We have known loss.
We have known the long road, tired and winding.
We have whispered prayers on bended knees.
We have stared at the sky, empty of stars.
But today—
All: today we know hope.
Leader: Today we know life.
All: Today we know the sound of Alleluias.
Leader: Today we know that death does not have the last word.
All: Today we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Leader: It is Easter.
May hope find you.
And may you know, deep in your bones,
that today is a new day.
All: Alleluia! Amen.
Call to confession
Leader: Faithful friends, today is a joyful day!
If I were to ask you what parts of today’s service feel joyful, you’d probably say the music, the delicious food, the faces of friends. But it’s unlikely that any of you would name the prayer of confession, because the prayer of confession has a reputation for being somber and serious.
But perhaps the prayer of confession can feel like a fresh page. Maybe the prayer of confession can allow us to start again. When we move closer to God, we are always met with grace, mercy, and abundant love. And my friends, that is joyful. That feels like Easter, doesn’t it?
So join me in the prayer of confession.
It’s a joyful day. That joy doesn’t stop here.
Let us pray:
Prayer of Confession
Leader: The Gospel of Luke says: “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told the apostles [of the resurrection]. But these words seemed to the disciples an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb.”
All: Forgive us, God,
when good news lands in our lap and we refuse to believe it.
Forgive us, God,
when grief and fear crowd out any room in our hearts for hope.
Forgive us, God,
when we dismiss the stories of others and minimize the voices of our neighbors.
Leader: In a world that teeters between grief and hope, show us how to be like Peter.
All: Show us how to hold onto hope.
Show us how to run toward you. Amen.
Words of forgiveness
Leader: Family of Faith,
At first, the disciples didn’t believe that Jesus had risen. They stayed locked in an upper room, shaking and afraid. Peter was the only exception. Fortunately, Jesus loves us on our best days and our worst days.
All: God’s grace exists for us when we are hopeful and when we’re grieving,
when we’re shouting and when we’re silent,
when we’re full of faith and when we’re full of fear.
God’s grace exists for us on the best days, the worst days,
and every day in between.
Thanks be to God for this good news!
Alleluia! Amen.
Prayer for illumination
Leader: God of Alleluias and empty tombs,
God of garden plots and good news,
it is Easter.
It is finally Easter.
In a world full of grief and heartache,
in a world full of violence and oppression,
in a world full of loss and separation,
we long for this day
because Easter sings a different song.
Easter sings a song of hope.
Easter sings a song of new life.
Easter sings a song of love that makes you want to jump out of your chair
and run barefoot to the tomb.
Easter smells of fresh flowers and baked bread.
It sounds like trumpets and laughter.
It feels like a crowded table and a warm hug.
Yes, Easter sings a different song.
So in a world full of grief,
help us to cling to Easter’s hope.
In a world full of grief,
help us hear this story of good news.
In a world full of grief,
we’re ready to jump out of our chairs
and run barefoot to the tomb.
With hope we pray,
with hope we listen,
amen.
Affirmation of faith
Leader: In the dark before dawn,
All: we believe that God is alive.
Leader: In the midst of our grief,
All: we believe the Spirit is at work.
Leader: In the chaos of our broken world,
All: we believe that love is on the loose.
Leader: For no stone could keep God at bay,
All: and no violence could keep God’s love from us.
Leader: So today we sing,
All: Alleluia!
Leader: For somewhere in between our belief and doubt,
All: hope lives.
Leader: Christ has died,
All: and Christ has also risen.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Today’s Video:
A Resurrection Light
by The Work of the People
In the quiet unfolding of Easter morning,
May you find the courage to embrace the unknown,
To navigate the thresholds of your own soul,
And to discover the sacred within the ordinary.
May the resurrection light illuminate your path,
Guiding you through the shadows of doubt,
And may the echoes of grace be heard
In the sacred conversations with your own heart.
As you stand on the threshold of possibility,
May you be enfolded in the tender embrace of hope,
And may the blessings of Easter awaken in you
A deep sense of gratitude for the gift of life.
May you dance with the rhythm of resurrection,
Feeling the heartbeat of the universe
In the beauty of nature and the poetry of existence,
And may your soul sing the song of rebirth.
May you live as a pilgrim of the heart,
Honoring the sacredness of every step,
And may the blessings of Easter be with you always.
Amen.
Today’s Visio Divina:
Fill My Cup
by Steve Prince
Inspired by Luke 24:1-12
Pen and ink on paper
For me, to not know Christ is to live a life
thirsty for truth, meaning, understanding, and
purpose. We search and search and it feels like
we cannot find the thing that we were hoping
for. It is not until we surrender and trust in faith
that we are able to find peace. We must open
the door of our hearts to allow the Holy Spirit
to enter and to do the work. Many will see us
and not believe that the peace we exude is
real, looking at us with skeptical eyes. Many will
come thirsty, wondering from whence cometh
our help, and some will know, and they shall
rejoice for we have seen the light. Our daily
prayer is that God will have us thirst no more
and fill our cup.