Bulletin – Sunday, March 31, 2024 – Easter Sunday

Sunday, March 31, 2024
Easter Sunday

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Call to Worship

One:   They stood at the tomb dumbfounded. Is it possible that…
All:      Christ is risen?

One:   They heard it from the women, later that morning, but was it really true that…
All:      Christ is risen?

One:   We stand by the empty tombs of our broken dreams, our shattered plans and our frayed hopes and we wonder if it really can happen again that…
All:      Christ is risen?

One:   Yes, it is not only possible, it is true.
All:      Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Candle Liturgy

One:   The light which the world tried to extinguish cannot be put out. Today we light the candles again, proclaiming the transforming power of God. As the light returns, we give thanks that God’s transforming love has been, is now, and will ever be at work within us. Today we celebrate new life, new joy, new possibilities. Christ is alive and living among us!

One:   As we light the candles, we acknowledge that there is still pain and suffering in the world, but we place our trust in God and in the way shown by Jesus Christ. In the midst of darkness, there is light in the pain of death, there is life. In the face of what appears to us to be overwhelming odds, God is at work in us and in the world, working for justice and peace, compassion and love, and life abundant. Christ is risen; Christ is risen in us, for wherever we gather in his name, he is there.

(All candles are re-lit.)

All:      Alleluia, Christ is risen; Christ is risen indeed!

Hymn – “Joy Comes with the Dawn” (VU #166)

Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb
And scatters the night with her song,
Joy comes with the dawn.

Weeping may come; weeping may come in the night,
When dark, shadows cloud our sight.

Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb
And scatters the night with her song,
Joy comes with the dawn.

Sorrow will turn, sorrow will turn into song,
And God’s laughter make us strong.

Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb
And scatters the night with her song,
Joy comes with the dawn.

We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and give praise,
To the One who brings us grace.

Joy comes with the dawn;
Joy comes with the morning sun;
Joy springs from the tomb
And scatters the night with her song,
Joy comes with the dawn.

Prayer of Approach

One:   O Holy One, we come this morning, like the women of the first Easter morning, prepared to sweep up after death and to bring as much dignity as we can to the task: we come to the tomb to make peace with ‘reality’…a bruised and broken body, emblem of the world, our planet, our dreams, and the triumph of ignorance and violence. What do we do with this story, God? Do we say, “It’s unbelievable” and refuse to see the possibilities? Do we say, “Maybe in Spirit, but the body, no way! And close our minds to the miracle? Do we say, “The Bible says it, got to believe it” and shut our minds to the incredible?
All:      Loving God, you are greater than we can ask of imagine. So, we celebrate that, because no matter what we say you are with us…in life, in death, and in life beyond death. Alleluia! Amen!

(Rev. Bruce Sanguin, If Darwin Prayed: prayers for evolutionary mystics; Vancouver Desktop Publishing, 2010)

Prayer of Reflection

One:   What does it mean to be raised from death to life? What does that look like? Could it be; adults learning to heard; teens breaking free from the peer crowd; single parents being able to hold down a job and care for their children; the depressed ones sensing light in the darkness; the suffering finding peace from today, finding hope for tomorrow; those who have lost loved ones, finding freedom from fear, finding a person who is there for them.

One:   Raised from death to life, could it be…the church standing for dignity among the poor and the downtrodden; the church willing to fight those who go for easy profits at the expense of those with addictions; the church, big-hearted enough to help the homeless and the hungry in our cities of this country and the cities of developing nations.

One:   Raised from death to life, could it be that part of us that belittles our skills and says “You’ll never be able to do that!”; The part of us that refuses to see evil around us; the part of us that refuses to move to action to bring change because, well, we have always done it that way; that part of us that will not say, “I am sorry or I forgive you.” Could it be?
All:      In the spirit of the Risen Christ, we can be raised from death to life and bring life to others.

(Rev. David Sparks, 1998)

Words of Assurance

Very early one morning, God’s Word shattered the silence of Chaos and grace flowed like a river. God reached out and gathered the dust of creation, forming us into divine likeness, breathing life’s breath, a gift, into us. Very early one morning, Jesus’ tomb gaped empty, yet full of light.

God reached into our lives and gathered us in, holding us as beloved. Very early one morning our souls lifted free on the wings of forgiveness. God reached into our hearts to break us upon for love. Hallelujah! Praise the Risen Christ! Hallelujah!

Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination

One:   Let grace, let love, let hope flow through your word to us, O God. Let new life and new possibilities jump from the page. Let the word we need to hear leap into our hearts. Let your word transform us today and always. Amen.

Scripture Reading:        1 Corinthians 15:1-11

¹ Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, ² through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

³ For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures ⁴ and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  ⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

Scripture Reading:         Luke 24:1-24

¹ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went 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 the hands of 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.

¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” ¹⁹ He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks” (VU #179)

Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth, first born of all creation.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth: Jesus has died and is risen.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

We have been crucified with Christ, now we shall live for ever.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

Come let us praise the living God, joyfully sing to our Saviour.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

Meditation – “Resurrection Today”

Anthem – “Sweet the Morning”

Sweet the morning, deep was the dawning, the stone was rolled away.
Angels spoke to tell them the story, the soldiers ran away.
And outside the empty tomb, blessed silence filled the air.
And their hearts were filled with a joy and love to feel the Holy there.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
This is resurrection day.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
Love has found another way.

Tears had fallen, rivers to ocean, they took his life away.
Sorrow sifted deep to the shadows, and broke their hearts again.
Till they heard a voice that called, just a whisper on the air.
There is Life for all and the Spirit lives, a gift for all to share.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
This is resurrection day.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
Love has found another way.

Sweet the morning, deep was the dawning, the stone was rolled away.
Light returning, sun soaked the morning and washed their tears away.
Holy One, Creator God, You the Healer of our souls,
May You gentle us into faith and hope, to Life renewed once more.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
This is resurrection day.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen today,
There’s a new light shines within.
Every heart rejoice, lift up every voice.
Love has found another way.

We Respond to God’s Word

An Invitation to Share

Irresistible force meets immovable object. Stone rolls, love is on the loose, and anything is possible. Love is possible. Generosity is possible. Your offerings will now be brought forward.

Offering Response – “Grant Us, God, the Grace” (VU #540)

Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.

Offering Prayer

A stone rolled and love was let loose! With these gifts, you let your love loose for God’s great work in the world. For today, we see love is stronger than anger, hope is stronger that fear. O God, bless these gifts…the work of our hands and the love of our hears to make your world a better place. Amen.

Prayers of the People

One:   God who dwells among us.
All:      God who dwells within us.

One:   God who calls us to dwell together. Bless us now as we gather our thoughts in prayer…A stone rolled and love was let loose. With love on the loose the world can be a better place. We would see the power of wind and sun and sea replace the power sources that waste and pollute. We would see the abuse and exploitation of children as unacceptable in every nation. We would hear the wisdom of elders and use it to grow in spirit and grace. We would see and hear peacemakers find a way to end conflict. Today we acknowledge that peace needs to be found between Ukraine and Russia, Israel, Palestine, and Gaza. In the spirit of the Risen Christ, the world will be a better place.

One:   A stone rolled and love was let loose. With love on the loose the world can be a better place. We would see suffering find relief in war torn nations, in refugee camps and among the homeless in our country. We would see that mental illness would be accepted as readily as physical illness.

One:   We pray that those we know and those we do not know may hear their name whispered in your divine grace. May the body, mind, and spirit of Christ be united with those who are suffering in body, mind, and spirit and with those whose souls are overwhelmed by mourning and grief. Let our hearts and minds pray for all those suffering…we name them aloud or hold them in our hearts…Marlene, rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Jay, Norm, Kieran, Paul, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Al, Brian, Helen, Laila, Jan, The Ashdown Family in the passing of Debbie’s mother, Fran Litster…In the spirit of the Risen Christ, the suffering will find relief.

One:   A stone rolled and love was let loose. With love on the loose each one of us will discover new life and ways to exercise our creativity; ways to bring our dreams to reality; ways to say words that matter to those closest to us; ways to live with disappointment, ways to forgive our deepest hurts; ways to rejoice in new friends and companions. In the spirit of the Risen Christ, nothing is impossible. Jesus lives. Hope is alive!

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “In the Blub There is a Flower” (VU #703)

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity,
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Benediction

May you know that which is Christ-like within us shall be crucified. It shall suffer and be broken. May we know that which is Christ-like within us shall rise up. It shall love and create. May you feel our Creator lovingly rush toward you in a breath of fresh air. May you notice the banquet of spring that the Risen Christ lays out before you. And may you know by the spirit that new life has begun. Go blessed, for you are loved. Go be a blessing to all you meet along the way. Peace be with you.

Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!” (VU #974)

Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!