Order of Service
| Prelude | Chris Johansen, piano | |
| Welcome | Shawn Mai | |
| Opening liturgy | Shawn Mai Molly Tulkki Chuck Parsons, piano | |
| Opening hymn | Jesus Christ Is Risen Today #365 | Shawn Mai Molly Tulkki Chuck Parsons, organ |
| Greeting Prayer of the Day | Shawn Mai | |
| Psalm 118 | vs. 17, 21-24 | Harry Johansen Chris Johansen, piano |
| Scripture | Luke 24: 1-12 | Henrik Strandskov |
| Sermon | Marty Jones | |
| Hymn | Now the Green Blade Rises #379 | Shawn Mai Molly Tulkki Chuck Parsons, organ |
| Creed | Shawn Mai | |
| Prayers of Intercession | Wetzigs | |
| Lord’s Prayer | Shawn Mai | |
| Closing Hymn | Day of Arising #374 | Harry Johansen Chris Johansen, piano |
| Blessing / Benediction | Shawn Mai | |
| Postlude | Chuck Parsons |
Audio Recording – Full service
Prelude
Chris Johansen
Welcome
Standing on the Threshold of Easter
We last gathered at the foot of the cross where Jesus was crucified. We have waited in grief and prayer.
It is now early dawn, day after the Sabbath. There is still darkness. We come with the women, to anoint Jesus’ body. We come in grief.
And in the midst of deep darkness and grief, life breaks through, as it always does, miraculously, surprising us by joy.
Here now, readings from the gospels of Mark and John.
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace; and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb…Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” … 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, “Rabboni!”…Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”!
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying how do you do
They’re really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Then I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Gathering Song – Jesus Christ is Risen Today
1.
Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
2.
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
3.
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
4.
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
praise him, all you heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Text: Latin Carol; Charles Wesley, st. 4
Music: J. Walsh
Greeting
A. Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
A. This is the day that the Lord has made!
C. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Prayer of the Day
We’ve existed in the tomb of grief for so long.
On this Easter Sunday,
Let us roll away the stone
The stone that stifles the divine spark within us
That keeps us from being our true selves
Let us liberate ourselves from the tombs that we have built around us
Tombs of greed
Tombs of selfishness
Tombs of fear
Tombs of hurt and bitterness
Let us set our spirits free To live to our true potential
Psalm 118: 17, 21-24
17 I shall not | die, but live,
and declare the works | of the Lord.
21 I give thanks to you, for you have | answered me
and you have become | my salvation.
22 The stone that the build-|ers rejected
has become the chief | cornerstone.
23 By the Lord has | this been done;
it is marvelous | in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the | Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be | glad in it.
Scripture Reading – 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.
Sermon – Marty Jones
Hymn – Now the Green Blade Rises
1.
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain
Love lives again, that with the dead has been
Love is come again like wheat arising green
2.
In the grave they laid Him, love whom we had slain
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen
Love is come again like wheat arising green
3.
Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain
He that for three days in the grave had lain
Quick from the dead, my risen Lord is seen
Love is come again like wheat arising green
4.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain
Thy touch can call us back to life again
Fields of our hearts, that dead and bare have been
Love is come again like wheat arising green
Text: John Macleod Campbell Crum
Music: French Carol
Creed
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss.
In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and Savior.
In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace.
You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.
You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.
Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. Amen
~Julian of Norwich
Prayers of Intercession
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen
Hymn – Day of Arising
1.
Day of arising, Christ on the roadway,
unknown companion walks with his own.
When they invite him, as fades the first day,
and bread is broken, Christ is made known.
2.
When we are walking, doubtful and dreading,
blinded by sadness, slowness of heart,
yet Christ walks with us, ever awaiting
our invitation: Stay, do not part.
3.
Lo, I am with you, Jesus has spoken.
This is Christ’s promise, this is Christ’s sign:
when the church gathers, when bread is broken,
there Christ is with us in bread and wine.
4.
Christ, our companion, hope for the journey,
bread of compassion, open our eyes.
Grant us your vision, set all hearts burning
that all creation with you may rise.
Text: Susan Palo Cherwien
Music: Carl F. Schalk
Benediction
Go with the strength you have.
Go simply
lightly
gently
Go in search of Love.
And know the Spirit of God goes with you. Amen