Bulletin – Sunday, April 17, 2022 – Easter Sunday (Communion)
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Easter Sunday / Communion
Approach
Lighting the Christ Candle
This is the day that you have made: you have filled it with signs of your presence; your Spirit’s breath permeates every moment; your grace fills each experience; your promises move within event, pulling us toward hope. We light this candle this morning in light, in love, in hope, as a symbol of your presence ever with us. We light this candle in celebration of life beyond death. Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia!
Call to Worship
One: This day is not like any other day.
All: Today we slow down. Today we take it all in. Today we rest in the good news.
One: This day is not like any other day.
All: Today we are singing. Today we are full to the brim. Today Joy cannot be contained.
One: This day is not like any other day.
All: Today the stone was rolled away. Today the women saw the empty grave. Today we know—death does not win.
One: This day is not like any other day.
All: Alleluia! Amen.
Hymn – “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”
Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
Our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
Who did once upon the cross, hallelujah!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, hallelujah!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah!
Who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
Sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!
Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
Praise eternal as God’s love; hallelujah!
Praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
Praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
Prayer of Celebration
Yesterday we had lost so much, we lost the light, we lost the argument, we lost love, we lost life, we lost God, we lost Jesus. But this morning we found the tomb—empty, the morning—bright, the gardener—walking, the stone—rolled, the disciples—running, the women—proclaiming, the resurrection—waiting, and Jesus—risen. We praise you, living God, with songs and prayer and listening hearts and lives trying to obey your will.
You have created and are creating, bringing life and hope and love. You come in Jesus, your Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new. In a culture where the power of death gets all the headlines your Holy Spirit summons us to be people shaped by your power to work resurrection.
We are not sure we believe as fully as we think we should. We are not sure we trust as deeply as we think you require. But we bring who we are and what we have become into your presence, longing to know your grace and your love.
Forgive what has gone wrong. Repair in us what is broken. Reveal in us what is good and turn us toward it. So may we follow wherever your Spirit may lead. So may we love with the love of Jesus flowing through us. So may we, body, mind, and spirit, be children of resurrection, children of hope, children of grace.
In Christ Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
(adapted from Roddy Hamilton and Christine Jerrett)
Hymn – “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks”
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ.
Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give praise to God’s name.
Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
Firstborn 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 forever.
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.
The Word
Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12
1 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.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “An Expansive Life”
Solo – “We Have Seen Him”
The Response
Communion
One: Scripture tells us that on Easter morning, the women went to the tomb and found it empty. They returned to the disciples and told them what they had heard and seen, but Peter was the only disciple to believe them. The text says, “Peter got up and ran to the tomb.”
One: Think about this detail.
One: Can you picture it, can you? Peter running to the garden. Peter praying, with every step, let it be true, let it be true. Peter out of breath, desperately hoping he’ll see Jesus again around every corner.
One: Sometimes that’s how I come to this Table—praying with every step, running to get here, desperate to fell something holy, praying I’ll see Jesus around every corner. Other times my spirit is still, and I find myself slowly and calmly returning to this Table.
One: No matter how you feel today—whether you’re running to get here, whether you are separate and hungry for a spiritual experience, or whether you are unsure and moving slowly—know that there is room for you here.
One: This Table is an expansive Table. There is food for everyone. There is a seat for everyone. There is love for everyone. There is not scarcity here, because this is God’s Table, so all are welcome.
One: It’s good enough news you might even want to run.
One: God of the garden, God of the new life, God of the here and now, Where do we begin? Our hearts are full to the brim with gratitude, hope, fear, doubt, dreams, and belief. As a result, our prayer can often feel chaotic at best, bouncing around to each name and need that comes to mind.
One: Settle us. Excavate us. Summon out what we shall be. Lift our prayer from the rubble of our distracted minds and hold us close.
One: God, there are some things we would like to let go of, things we’d like to bury, things that we do not want to bring with us into this new day. In particular, we’d like to let go of our stress and fatigue. We’d like to let go of our own self-criticism and low self-esteem. We’d like to let go of the fear to put ourselves out there, and the worry that we might not have enough or be enough. We’d like to give to you our worries and concerns as we lift up those in this community for whom we pray…
One: These things are easier said than done, God, which is why we need you. At the same time there are things we’d like to hold close—things that draw us closer to that expansive life you dream for us, things we are running toward.
One: In particular we want to move closer to balance and to meaningful friendships, to health of mind, body, and spirit, to justice that sets our hearts on fire, and to your Word—lived out in our daily lives.
One: Help us. Guide the way. Meet us in the garden. Roll back the stones that stop us. Give us the energy to run toward you. Gather us up in that expansive love that sung about the prophets, and mystics, and lived through Jesus.
One: Until that promised day, we will continue to pray:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
One: That night which was only a few days ago, and yet seems so long, when you gathered together to share a feast with your friends, a night when expansive love was freely given in the sharing of bread and wine.
One: You took the bread, broke it, and gave it to those gathered saying, “this is the bread of life, freely given to you all, each time you eat this bread remember the expansive love of God, freely given.”
One: After dinner you took the wine, poured it out, passing the cup to those gathered saying, “this is the cup of the new covenant, a covenant of love freely given to you all, each time you drink from this cup remember the expansive love of God, freely given.”
One: God of great expansive love, bless us and what we do here today that we might all live in the midst of your expansive love for all creation.
One: The Table is ready. God’s expansive love is present in us this day and every day. All are invited to God’s table.
Hymn – “Because You Live, O Christ”
Because you live, O Christ, the garden of the world has come to flower,
The darkness of the tomb is flooded with your resurrection power.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying,
Our cages of despair no longer keep us closed and life-denying.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the rainbow of your peace will span creation,
The colours of your love will draw all human kind to adoration.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison.
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!
Benediction
When we are all despairing, when the world is full of grief, when we see no way ahead and hope has gone away: roll back the stone.
Although we fear change, although we are not ready, although we’d rather weep and run away: roll back the stone.
Because we’re coming with the women, because we hope where hope is vain, because you call us from the grave and show the way: roll back the stone.
As you go forth from this place let us roll back the stones that have stopped us from giving and receiving the expansive love of God. We are loved. We are full to the brim with God’s love. Let us go from this place living in the light of love of our Risen God. Amen.
Response
Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!
