04.04.2021 Easter Sunday

Welcome

Happy Easter!   We worship today to proclaim, witness, praise, and affirm the liberating reality of Christ’s death and resurrection.  We celebrate God’s unending love!

This worship service consists of videos and text for each different portion of the service.  Click on a video to view it.  Feel free to read along with the prayers. readings, and parts of the service that have text below the video.  

As you prepare to worship on this holy day, you can light a candle to remind yourself of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  You can also have a bowl of water in the vicinity to remind you of your baptism.  Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection!

Gathering

(Click video to play)

Alleluia, Christ is risen!  Christ is risen indeed, alleluia!

Alleluia, Christ is risen!  Christ is risen indeed, alleluia!

Alleluia, Christ is risen!  Christ is risen indeed, alleluia!

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

Opening Song                
Jesus Christ is Risen Today

(Click video to play)

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!

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!

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!

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!

Thanksgiving for Baptism

(Click video to play)

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.  Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.  Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.  At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.  By water and your Word you claim us as children, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.  We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.  Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.  To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.  Amen.

Greeting 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray together.  Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection.  By the Grace of Christ among us, enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

(Click video to play)

1Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good; God’s mercy endures forever.
2Let Israel now declare, “God’s mercy endures forever.”
14The Lord is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation.
15Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!
16The right hand of the Lord is exalted!  The right hand of the Lord acts valiantly!”
17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. 
18The Lord indeed punished me sorely, but did not hand me over to death.
19Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord.
20“This is the gate of the Lord; here the righteous may enter.”
21I give thanks to you, for you have answered me and you have become my salvation. 
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23By the Lord has this been done; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Reading                           
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

(Click video to play)

1Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2through 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.
3For 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, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But 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. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

Children’s Moment                               

(Click video to play)

Gospel Acclamation

(Click video to play)

Gospel and Message               
Mark 16:1-8

(Click video to play)

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Hymn of the Day      
Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds                                

(Click video to play)

Now all the vault of heav’n resounds in praise of love that still abounds:  “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”  Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear!  Repeat their song of glory here:  “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Eternal is the gift he brings, therefore our heart with rapture sings:  “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”  Now still he comes to give us life and by his presence stills all strife.  “Christ has triumphed! He is living!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; set heart and will on things above that we conquer through your triumph; grant grace sufficient for life’s day that by our lives we truly say:  “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Adoring praises now we bring and with the heav’nly blessed sing:  “Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”  Be to the Father, and our Lord, to Spirit blest, most holy God, all the glory, never ending!  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Apostles’ Creed

(Clilck video to play)

With the whole church, let us confess our faith. 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers

(Click video to play) 

Held together in one body by the Spirit of Christ, let us pray for the church and the world, and all who are in need.

Gracious and loving God, we praise you for the gift of the global church and for all the newly baptized around the world. Give us joy in one another and hope in the face of sorrow, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

We praise you for the times of peace and freedom that you have granted to us. And we pray for everyone who suffers from violence, from prejudice and injustice, from oppression and poverty. Bring an end to wars and tyrannical rule throughout the world, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

We praise you for the food that you provide and for the promise of an everlasting feast for all peoples. And we pray for everyone who is hungry, that they all may be fed. Show us how to meet the needs of the hungry in our world, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

We praise you for a lessening of the pandemic and for the availability of vaccines. And we pray for everyone who is still contracting the coronavirus, for healthcare workers, and for all who have lost family, friends, and livelihood. Restore health throughout the world, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

We praise you for each day of health and well-being. And we pray for everyone who suffers from illness of any kind, and for those who today will die.  Accompany all who face troubles and sorrows, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

We praise you for the presence of the risen Christ among us and for the witness of all who have died in the faith.  And we pray that at the end of all things you raise us with all the saints to rejoice in your presence forever, for Christ is risen:  Christ is risen indeed.

In thanksgiving for the new life of the resurrection, we raise these prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ. our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Click video to play)

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.  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.

Closing Song                      
Thine is the Glory

(Click video to play)

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!  Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

Lo, Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb! Lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom; let his church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting!

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conqu’rors, through thy deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. 

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

Sending

(Click video to play)

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

Blessing

May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdom to know and to love the risen Lord Jesus. The God of life, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer bless you now and forever.  Amen.

Dismissal

Alleluia! Christ is risen.  Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Go in peace. Share the good news.  Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Worship Assistants

Music:  Lori, Ian, Darcy, Steve, Pat, Barb, Paul, Ron
Message: Pastor Kristin
Readers: Dione, Aimee, Nancy, Scott & Zander, Wendy, Kelly & Steve, Sunday School Kids!
Children’s Moment: Pastor Kristin

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.  Reprinted and streamed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS002432.  New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  Hymns reprinted and streamed with permission. CCLI#1162147.