An Easter Call to Worship
‘On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with 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; he has risen!”
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
From Luke 24:1-6, John Chrysostom’s, Sermon on the Lord’s Resurrection & Traditional Easter Affirmation
Confession of Sin
Almighty God and Loving Father,
Who raised Jesus from the grave,
Be merciful and forgive our sins,
through your Son, who died and now lives.
Renew us as you restore all things.
Where we are weak, be our strength.
Where we have fallen, raise us up.
Cause us to humbly look to you and find life,
healing and hope, through your indwelling Spirit.
Empower us to love and serve our broken world,
in the beauty and promise of the resurrection,
until heaven and earth are one.
Through Jesus, our Living King. Amen.
Christ is Risen
Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross and run to him who showed great love
And bled for us, freely you’ve bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with him again
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin you bowed to none but heaven’s will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown, no burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign, forever let your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with him again
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
O, Death, where is your sting?
O, Hell, where is your victory?
O, Church, come stand in the light.
Our God is not dead, he’s alive! he’s alive!
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with him again
Come awake, come awake, come and rise up from the grave
(repeat)
Matt Maher, Mia Fieldes. ©2009 Thankyou Music. CCLI 241710
Arise My Soul, Arise!
Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice, in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on his hands.
chorus
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Shake off your guilty fears and rise
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, his precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
(chorus)
Five bleeding wounds he bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
(chorus)
My God is reconciled; his pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for his child; I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
(chorus)
Charles Wesley and Kevin Twit. ©1996 Kevin Twit Music. CCLI 241710
1 Corinthians 15:20, 42-44, 50-56
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gifts– Death Has Lost Its Sting
My God, how many are my fears
How fast my foes increase
Conspiring my eternal death
They break my fleeting peace
The lying tempter would persuade
My heart to doubt your aid
And all my swelling sins appear
Much greater than your grace
Arise, Oh Lord, fulfill your grace
While I your glory sing;
My God has broke the serpentʼs teeth
And death has lost its sting
But you my glory and my strength
Will on my tempter tread
Will silence all my threatening guilt
And raise my drooping head.
Arise, Oh Lord, fulfill your grace
While I your glory sing;
My God has broke the serpentʼs teeth
And death has lost its sting
And though the hosts of death and hell
All armed against me stand
No more will terrors shake my soul;
Secure within your hand.
Arise, Oh Lord, fulfill your grace
While I your glory sing;
My God has broke the serpentʼs teeth
And death has lost its sting
Mike Cosper | Rebecca Dennison © 2011 Sojourn Community Church CCLI 241710
Let us Love and Sing and Wonder
Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s Name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God
Let us wonder; grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
He who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God
Let us praise, and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He will bring us home to God
John Newton © 2001 Laura Taylor Music. CCLI 241710
Confession of Faith
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
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there 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.
—Apostles’ Creed
* ‘Catholic’ is the historic word meaning ‘universal’ – it therefore refers to the entirety of believers throughout history.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
O my soul, praise him For he is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near
Praise him in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what he ordaineth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with his love he befriend thee
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him
Let the ‘amen’ sound from his people again
Gladly for aye we adore him
Let the ‘amen’ sound from his people again
Gladly for aye we adore him
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Susan Caudill © 1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music | Word Music, LLC arr. Passion Band CCLI 241710
John 20:24-31
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Easter Message – “The Need to See & Touch”
John 20:24-31
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia
Charles Wesley, Tune EASTER HYMN. from “Lyra Davidica”, London, 1708
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