Easter Introit

The Exsultet

Brigid Dwyer

Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King.
Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth, bright with a glorious splendor, for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.
Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church, and let your holy courts, in radiant light, resound with the praises of your people.
All you who stand near this marvelous and holy flame, pray with me to God the Almighty for the grace to sing the worthy praise of this great light; through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

It is truly right and good, always and everywhere, with our whole heart and mind and voice, to praise you, the invisible, almighty, and eternal God, and your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who at the feast of the Passover paid for us the debt of Adam’s sin, and by his blood delivered your faithful people.
This is the time, when you brought our forebears, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land.
This is the time, when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life.
This is the time, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.
How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God, is your mercy and loving-kindness to us, that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son.
How holy is this time, when wickedness is put to flight, and sin is washed away. It restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to those who mourn. It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.
How blessed is this time, when earth and heaven are joined and we are reconciled to God.
Therefore, O holy Father, accept the Easter sacrifice of this lighted candle, which your holy Church makes before you, and offers to you by the hands of your servants, the work of the bees, your creatures. May it shine continually, to drive away all darkness, as we celebrate the glad solemnity of our redemption.
May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find us ever burning––he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

Response

“Halle Halle Halle” – trad. Caribbean

Call to Worship

Cody Beckett

(adapted by Cody Beckett from Drew Theo Alum Izzy Phoenix)

One: God of new beginnings, Your child was raised from the dead, resurrected into new life. And you resurrect us into new life with each new day, for you have shown us that
Many: Nothing can restrain Your love. Your love radiates through us and in us. Thank You for creating us as we are!
One: God, Your creation is a spectrum of identities. God of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, and nonbinary children, who lets their love shine through acceptance of one’s identity,
Many: You remind us each morning that we are Your beloved.
One: God of the questions, of the doubts and curiosity, You have shown us that
Many: We are Your sacred creation. Your Spirit breathes through and in us.
One: God of hope, of love, and of new beginnings, You have shown us that
Many: Death does not have the final word! We are a new creation! Alleluia!

Opening Song

“As We Are, We Are Yours”
Words: Hannah C. Brown, Music: mark Miller

Opening Prayer

Dohee Woo

Holy God,
Your love resurrects us each and every new day in Your image. With each day, we are given new life, resurrected to hope, joy, and love. As we remember that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we remember that You desire for us to be resurrected to joy and to new beginnings. Your Spirit breathes in us and through us, reminding us with each day that we are your sacred creation, Your beloved children. Help us to remind ourselves and others of this wondrous reality. May we be a light of Your love and resurrecting hope for all people.
Amen.

Scripture Reading – John 20:19-29

Madison Tatum

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ 28Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Response

“The Recognition”

Scripture Readings – Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:28-35

Dr. J. Terry Todd

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

Luke 24:28-35
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Musical Response

Love Feast & Resurrection Stories

Beth Quick

Questions for Conversation:
(John) In “The Recognition,” Sylvia Dunstan writes that “Jesus still wears the wounds,” imagery evoked by our reading from John. How do you see woundedness and resurrection connecting? How have they connected in your life?
(Mark) In the earliest versions of Mark’s gospel, the women leave the empty tomb afraid and not ready to talk. Why is resurrection so scary? When have you wanted to run away from resurrection and new life?
(Luke) On the Emmaus road, the disciples don’t recognize Jesus at first. When have you missed new life happening in your midst at first? What signs let our hearts “burn within us” to recognize the work of resurrection?

Blessing

Prof. Mark Miller

Sending Song

“Roll the Rock” – Laurie Zelman/Mark Miller

God will do
Something new
Said the ancient prophets

Here we stand
Telling you
Even death can’t stop it

Why do you
Look for him
In an empty tomb?

You must go
Wait and pray
In an upper room

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
Dry your tears of grief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
And stop your unbelief!

Live in hope
Love will come
You will find relief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
The rock of unbelief!

God’s new song
Comes to those
With the ears to hear it

Pray that you’ll
Open up
To the holy spirit

Roll the rock
Roll it back
Go and tell the story

Jesus our
Lord of life
Conquers death in glory!

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
Dry your tears of grief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
And stop your unbelief!

Live in hope
Love will come
You will find relief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
The rock of unbelief!

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
Dry your tears of grief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
And stop your unbelief!

Live in hope
Love will come
You will find relief

You gotta roll the rock!
Roll it back!
The rock of unbelief!