Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020

Call to Worship*                         Hippolytus, 3rd century theologian    
Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,
the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn0pYGG-Ajg

Psalm 118: 1-2, 18-24
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
———-
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
    but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 16: 1-8
1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But 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. 7 But 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.” 8 So 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.

Meditation

Music and Offering
During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving.  When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service.  If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly.  Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same.  We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done.  Click here for the glorious music of the families of Quinhagak, Alaska. Remember that, though often synonymous with Christmas, the Hallelujah Chorus is really about Easter.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyviyF-N23A

Prayers of the People*
Glory be to you, God, our strength and our redeemer.
The vacant cross and the empty tomb
vindicate your claim
that the love which suffers
is the love which saves.
So fill your people with joy
and your Church with celebration
that the world may know
that your holy son Jesus
is not a dead hero we commemorate,
but the living Lord we worship,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be our praise forever.
Amen.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

Invitation to Communion
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Holy God, we praise you.
Let the heavens be joyful and the earth be glad.
We bless you for creating the whole world,
for your promises to your people Israel,
and for your promises to your people Israel,
and for Jesus Christ in whom your fullness dwells.
Born of Mary, he shares our life
Eating with sinners, he welcomes us.
Guiding his children, he leads us.
Visiting the sick, he heals us.
Dying on the cross, he saves us.
Risen from the dead, he gives new life.
Living with you, he prays for us.
On the night before he met his death,
Jesus came to the table with those he loved.
He took bread and praised you, God of all creation.
He broke the bread among his disciples
and said:  “Take this, all of you, and eat it.
This is my body, given for you.”
When the supper was ended, he took a cup of wine
and gave thanks to you, God of all creation.
He passed the cup among his disciples
and said:  “Take this, all of you, and drink from it.
This is the cup of the covenant sealed in my blood
for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
With thanksgiving we take this bread and this cup
and proclaim the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Receive our sacrifice of praise.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
that this meal may be
a communion in the body and blood of our Lord.
Make us one with all who share this feast.
Unite us in faith,
encourage us with hope,
inspire us to love,
that we may serve as your faithful disciples
until we feast at your table in glory.
We praise you, eternal God,
through Christ your Word made flesh,
in the holy and life-giving Spirit,
now and forever.  Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples:  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.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever.  Amen.

Sharing of the bread and cup

at this time, you may eat and drink the food that you've gathered for the meal.

Prayer after communion
Nourishing God, thank you for inviting us to your table where all are welcome, and for feeding us with the bread of life and quenching our  thirst with the cup of blessing.  As you have filled our lives with love and hope, may we be a source of your love and hope for others who hunger and thirst for good news.  Amen.


Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace.  Amen.

Next week:  Acts 1:1-14  You shall be my witnesses

Today’s prayers are from:
—Stages on the Way: Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, by the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group, GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1998.
—Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church (USA), Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2018.