Sunday, April 9, 2023

LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Easter

April 9, 2023

10:15am

 

 

All of our faith, the whole thing we call church, is predicated on a handful of people

from long ago who saw and experienced something so unexpected that it radically re-narrated everything in

existence. And all it took were three words: “He is Risen!

 

 

 

Organ Prelude

Opening Words of Hope John Strawbridge, Lay Leader

Christ the Lord is Risen today! Alleluia! Our hopes and dreams have come true. We do not have to fear

death, for Christ goes before us. Praise be to God who has raised Christ from the dead and given to us new life.

Amen.

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

Choral Introit “Christ the Lord is risen today “(Charles Wesley)

Christ the Lord is risen today;

Christians all and angels say

Raise your joys and triumphs high!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.

 

Call to Worship

L: Easter begins in despair. Our life, our love, our hope forever dead, crushed by a boulder, bottled up in a cave.

P: Who will roll away the stone?

L: Easter takes us by surprise, early in the morning. The obstacles we expect to face are removed. Where once

death and despair laid locked in time now the bright light of hope sprouts wings to fly from emptiness. It is, at

first, too good to be true.

P: Where have you laid him?

L: When faced with a miracle, our first reflex is to run.

P: Be not afraid. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here: see the place

where they laid him. But go your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee.

There you shall see him.

L: Suddenly the realization dawns. It may rise as quietly as the sun creeping over the horizon, or it may explode

like fireworks, painting the world with dazzle. We recognize the One who was dead as he comes to live in us.

P: Christ is risen, risen indeed!

L: Alleluia! And all who encounter the Risen One whether gently roused by the sunrise or surprised by the

sudden burst of joy will join the resurrection procession one by one, slipping into step, some of us singing, some

of us silently soaking it in, and all of us feeling like dancing.

ALL: Alleluia! Christ is risen, risen indeed!

 

Opening Hymn “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” UMH 302 Vs. 1, 2 & 4

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2. 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!

4. 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!

 

Lighting the Paschal Candle Rev. Debbie Scott

My siblings in Christ: On this most holy morning in which Jesus Christ passed over from death to life, we

gather as the church to watch for the dawning of his triumph and resurrection. We join with the whole company

of God’s people in heaven and on earth in recalling and celebrating his victory over death, and our deliverance

from the bondage of sin and darkness to everlasting light.

Hear the Word of God of God: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

was God…In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the

darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1, 4 5).

(The Paschal Candle is lit)

L: Christ our Light!

P: Alleluia!

 

Epistle Lesson Colossians 3:1-4 The Message

1-2  So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over

which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.

Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things

from his perspective. 3-4  Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to

spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on

this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like

Christ.

The Word of God…..THANKS BE TO GOD

 

Call to Confession

We are Easter people, yet we also know how often we live in the shadows, afraid to follow the light.  We

wander in the gardens of the world, looking for you, never noticing you at our side.  Let us confess how we

have failed to be God’s people, as we pray together, saying,

Prayer of Confession (All)

Merciful God, we confess that like the disciples of old, we ran and hid, in our hearts, from the terror

and sadness of the crucifixion. We didn’t want to be there. We found ways of avoiding the scene and

pretending that it was all a bad dream. But it wasn’t a dream. Jesus our Lord was crucified. That’s a

fact. And we were numbed by the news. But now we have been given the most blessed gift of forgiveness

for our stupidity and stubbornness; we have been given the gift of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. New

Light has shined in our deep darkness. Restore us again to your presence. Soften our hard hearts.

Brighten our spirits, for we ask this in the name of the Resurrected One, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Words of Assurance

L: Do not fear. God has conquered death. Jesus Christ, who was crucified, is risen from the dead. Love has been

poured out again for each one of us.

P: ALLELUIA! AMEN.

Sharing Joys and Concerns Rev. Debbie Scott

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

 

Choral Response “Cares Chorus” TFWS 2215

I cast all my cares upon You

I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet

And any time I don’t know just what to do,

I will cast all my cares upon You.

 

Gospel Lesson Matthew 28:1-10 New International Version

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the

tomb. 2  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the

tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  3  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as

snow.  4  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5  The angel said to the

women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  6  He is not here; he has

risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  7  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen

from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8  So the

women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  9  Suddenly Jesus met

them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  10  Then Jesus said to

them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Word of God for the people of God….Thanks be to God

 

Sermon “He Lives in Each of Us” Rev. Debbie Scott

Invitation to Offering

Offertory

 

Offering Prayer (All)

As we offer our gifts on this joyous morning, may they bring light to those in the shadows, laughter to

all who mourn, and hope to those longing for life anew.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

 

Closing Hymn “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” UMH 304

1. Easter people, raise your voices,

sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;

heavenly music, let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

2. Fear of death can no more stop us

from our pressing here below.

For our Lord empowered us to

triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

3. Every day to us is Easter,

with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster

To our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs.

 

Benediction

L: Now that you have heard the good news, what will you do?

P: We will go out into the world, showing by our lives that Christ is risen indeed!

L: Praise God! And how will you do this?

P: We will tell the story of God’s love for the world in Jesus Christ, and we will continue Christ’s loving

acts among humanity. Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed! Amen.

 

Choral Benediction “Hallelujah Chorus” Handel

Please join the choir in this glorious response to our worship this morning.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,

and He shall reign forever and ever, forever and ever, forever and ever,

forever and ever.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

 

Ringing the Bicentennial Bell

 

Organ Postlude