____________________________________________________

Introduction
All is quiet. The whole earth lies in wait. What then shall separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ? We approach the dreaded tomb. Who shall roll away the large stone for us? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or sword? We reach the tomb. The stone is rolled away. Nothing shall separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ! Rejoice! Jesus Christ is risen today! The earth cannot keep silent. We must all rejoice in the good news of Jesus Christ! Praise be to God!

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 118)

L: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
P: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
L: This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
P: I thank the LORD. He has answered me and has become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
L: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Call to Worship
L: He is risen
P: He is risen indeed
L: As the disciples gathered after Jesus resurrection,
P: so do we gather expecting our risen Savior to come to us.
L: May Jesus appear among us and, as he does, may he find room in our hearts and minds. Let us worship God!

Invocation
O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your
people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and
grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly
desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of
everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Easter Day Prayer (submitted by a DPSer):

O Creating God, you have raised Jesus from death. We come in joy to hear the good news of life. O Living Christ, you walk among us as our risen Lord. We listen for your word for us on this Easter Sunday. O Spirit of Life, we experience your presence this morning of resurrection. Move among us with your power. God of grace and glory, set us free from our sin and empty out our tombs of despair. Enliven us with the proclamation that Jesus Christ is risen indeed. Amen.

Easter Paschal Light Litany (light a paschal candle at the beginning)

Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels,
and let your trumpets shout Salvation
for the victory of our mighty King.

Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth,
bright with a glorious splendor,
for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.

Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church,
and let your holy courts, in radiant light,
resound with the praises of your people.

All you who stand near this marvelous and holy flame,
pray with me to God the Almighty
for the grace to sing the worthy praise of this great light;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Easter Affirmation and Confession of Faith (based on 1 Cor 15 & Col 1)

Leader:
this is the good news which we have received,
in which we stand,
and by which we are saved:

People:
Christ died for our sins, was buried,
was raised on the third day,
and appeared first to the women,
then to Peter and the Twelve,
and then to many faithful witnesses.

All:
We believe in Jesus the Christ,
the Annointed One of God,
the firstborn of all creation,
the firstborn from the dead,
in whom all thinks hold together,
in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
by the power of the Spirit.

Christ is the head of the body, the church,
and by the blood of the cross
reconciles all things to God.  Amen.

 

Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord's resurrection.  Give us also the joys of life in your service, and bring us at last to the full joy of life eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

 

Closing prayer/Benediction:
a prayer by Saint Patrick

Christ be with us, Christ before us, Christ behind us,
Christ in us, Christ beneath us, Christ above us,
Christ on our right, Christ on our left,
Christ where we lie, Christ where we sit,
Christ where we arise.
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of us,
Christ in every eye that sees us,
Christ in every ear that hears us.
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Christ,
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.  Amen.

Other Easter Resources:  Complete Easter Sunrise Service