EASTER SUNDAY MORNING
Opening sentence
He humbled himself, and he became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God lifted him high.
Call to praise
We sing your praises, our God and king, and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day we will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever. Alleluia!
Glory …
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm 118.14-29
The Lord is my strength and my song;
and has been my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
God’s right hand raised me.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount God’s deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
but not doomed to die.
Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.
Go forward in procession with branches
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord who is good;
for God’s love endures for ever.
Thanksgiving
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God:
you made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; you keep faith forever.
(free prayers of thanksgiving)
You satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love;
we rejoice and are glad all our days. Amen.
Call to discipleship
Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Matthew 28.1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Galatians 2.19-20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Reflection on readings
What stands out?
What do these passages say about God?
What do these passages say about us?
Philippians 2.5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Call to intercession
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath;
The salvation of the Lord will be forever; God’s deliverance will never be ended.
God of peace, you are making all things new. In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
You satisfy us with your steadfast love. We pray for ourselves and those dear to us.
(open prayers)
In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
You come to us in many and various ways. We pray for our community and for our neighbors.
(open prayers)
In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
You are our strength and our song. We pray for the church in all places, that we may be one.
(open prayers)
In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
You hate wickedness and love righteousness. We pray for the world, that your reign may come and your will be done on earth.
(open prayers)
In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
We offer you other concerns we carry in our hearts.
(open prayers)
In your mercy,
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of glory beyond our comprehension, you exalt the humble and raise the lowly. Give us grace to know the mind of Jesus, that we may follow him through death and into new life. We glorify your name, praying as Jesus taught us:
a
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
Benediction
Now may the God of peace,
who brought back from the dead
our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
make us complete in everything good
so that we may do God’s will,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be the glory forever and ever.
Amen.