GATHERING

GREETING AND OPENING PRAYER

*LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

The light of Christ rises in glory, overcoming the darkness of sin and death. Christ is our light!

Thanks be to God!

*HYMN #260 – “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

*EASTER PROCLAMATION

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne!

Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of our King!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes forever!

Rejoice, O holy Church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you!

Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

It is truly right that we should praise you, almighty God, and your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and delivered us from the power of sin and death.

This is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain. On this night you first saved our forebears, you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them with dry feet through the sea.

This is the morning when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.

This is the morning when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!

May the Morning Star, which never sets, find this flame still burning—Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his light on all creation, your Son who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Amen.

FIRST READING – Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 In response to the reading:

  Leader: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING – Psalm 98

O sing to the LORD a new song, for the Lord has done marvelous things. God’s right hand and holy arm have gotten the victory.

The Lord has made known his victory, and has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

The Lord has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the LORD, who is coming to judge the earth.

The Lord will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

EPISTLE READING – Romans 6:3-11

In response to the reading:

Leader: The Word of the Lord. 

The People: Thanks be to God.

*HYMN #266 – “Alleluia! Alleluia!”

*GOSPEL READING – Luke 24:1-12

In response to the reading:

Leader: The Word of the Lord. 

The People: Thanks be to God.

HOMILY

Brief silence

RESPONSE TO THE WORD – The Apostles’ Creed

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

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again 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.

*INVITATION

*CONFESSION AND PARDON

O holy and merciful God, we confess that we have not always taken upon ourselves the yoke of obedience, nor been willing to seek and to do your perfect will. We have not loved you with all our heart and mind and soul and strength, neither have we loved our neighbors as ourselves. You have called to us in the need of our sisters and brothers, and we have passed unheeding on our way. In the pride of our hearts, and our unwillingness to repent, we have turned away from the cross of Christ, and have grieved your Holy Spirit.

We are truly sorry and we do now humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Brief silence

Leader to people: Hear this good news! Christ in love died for us while we were yet sinners; this proves God’s great love toward us. God gloriously vindicated him in raising him from the dead, and raises us with him. So accept with joy the love of God for you on full display this day! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

People to leader: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

All: Glory to God! Amen!

*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE

Leader to people: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People to leader: And also with you.

The congregation exchanges signs of God’s love and reconciliation.

OFFERING

*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn. 

Response below is sung

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Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.

By the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead, and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. 

Response below is sung

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Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your Holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, gracious Father, now and forever. 

Response below is sung

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