Greetings and Invocation
Scripture—John 11:25-26
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Prayer
Song: 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!
Dying once, He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where’s 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!
Scripture—Jeremiah 31:31-34
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write
it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.
Song: Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
Praise the one who breaks the darkness
with a liberating light; praise the one who frees the pris’ners,
turning blindness into sight.
Praise the one who preached the gospel, healing ev’ry dread disease,
calming storms and feeding thousands with the Father’s word of peace.
Praise the one who blessed the children
with a strong yet gentle word; praise the one who drove out demons
with a piercing, two-edged sword. Praise the one who brings cool water
to the desert’s burning sand;from this well comes living water,
quenching thirst in ev’ry land.
Let us praise the Word incarnate, Christ, who suffered in our place;
Jesus died and rose victorious that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness, seeing what our God has done; let us praise the true Redeemer, praise the one who makes us one.
Scripture—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, for 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[a] 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 and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Reading
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light of Christ rises in glory, overcoming the darkness of sin and death. Christ is risen!
People: Christ is our light! Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Homily
Song: Because He Lives
God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Chorus: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he brings;
But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives! Chorus
And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives! Chorus
Reading
Leader: Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; the Lord has risen!
People: He has risen indeed!
Leader: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, o death, is your sting? Death has been swallowed up in victory!
People: Christ has risen indeed!
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”
People: Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader: The Lord has risen!
People: He has risen indeed! Alleluia!
Blessing
Leader: God of love, you have raised Jesus from death to life!
People: Lead us always into newness of life.
Leader: Light of Christ, rising in glory,
People: be the light of our hearts!
Leader: Spirit of Resurrection, grant us your grace.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Benediction