Gathering as the Body of Christ
Welcome and Sharing of Announcements
Call to Worship
Liturgist: Don’t weep! Don’t mourn! There is great Good News!
People: Christ the Lord is risen today!
Liturgist: Put away your garments of mourning; let the light of God’s love flood into your lives.
People: Christ the Lord is risen today!
Liturgist: No more do we have to fear the darkness; it has been overcome by God’s light.
People: Christ the Lord is risen today. ALLELUIA!
Opening Prayer
Loving God of light, we hid in the darkness and you brought the light of Salvation to our eyes and our spirits. We praise you for the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have received the greatest good news of healing, hope, and restoration. Praise be to you, eternal God, for this gift of love. AMEN.
Introit
“He Is Alive”
Buryl Red
Adult Choir 2019
Opening Hymn
“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
UMH #302 (vss 1,2,4)
Children’s Time
‘Twas the Morning of Easter"
Written by Glenys Nellist
Courtney Till
Communion
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Oh holy God, we give you thanks and praise for the gift of creation and for the gift of the new creation, made known to us in the resurrection of your Son, Jesus. We are humbled by this gift of life, by the hope and wonder this gift brings. And so in joy we join our voices to those of the saints who sing these words forever:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived as we lived; who suffered and died; whom you raised from the dead that we might fear death and sin no more. Blessed is your Spirit, who comes among us now and upon these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break will become for us the Bread of Life, and the cup we bless will become the Cup of Salvation. By your Spirit make us one with each other and with all who share in this feast you have prepared.
And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:
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 those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
We thank you once again for this meal, this day, this gift of resurrection. Send us out into your world to be the presence of love and hope to all who despair and fear, that all may life, and life abundant. Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Joys and Concerns
(Live Zoom only)
Pastoral Prayer
Prayer Response
“Come and Fill Our Hearts”
TFWS #2157 (2 times)
Come and fill our heart with your peace
You alone, O Lord, are holy
Come and fill our heart with your peace
Alleluia!
Scripture Reading
John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Message
“While It Was Still Dark”
Pastor Seok-Hwan
Offertory Prayer
Giver of all gifts,
we are grateful for your every blessing
and for your presence through all of life —
in our joys and fears,
and in our hopes and dreads.
We pray for those who do not know
the consolation of your presence in their lives,
asking that you reveal yourself to them
through the gifts we have given
and through the lives we live.
Reveal yourself, O God,
that all your children
may find their true home in you. Amen.
Closing Hymn
“He Lives”
UMH #310 (vss 1,3)
I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today; I know that he is living, whatever foes may say. I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him, he’s always near.
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find; none other is so loving, so good and kind.
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.
The Blessing and Sending Forth
Alleluia! This is a day of new beginnings! This is the day of brightness and hope! For God has done wondrous things for us! Go in joyful peace and know that God’s peace and love go with you always. ALLELUIA! AMEN.
(The Abingdon Worship Annual edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu)
Benediction Response
“Hallelujah Chorus”
G. F. Handel
Adult Choir 2019
Matt Cron, Organist
Preeti Wesley, Liturgist
Mark Beatty, Video
