GATHERING.
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called….
1 Peter 3:9 (Berean Study Bible)
.
CANDLE LIGHTING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader:
What does resurrection look like?
People:
The stone is rolled away,
the tomb is empty.
Leader:
The Risen One calls:
Follow me to resurrection!
People:
Christ leads us on the paths of love,
living in us for the healing of the world.
Leader:
This is what resurrection looks like:
Christ is risen.
All:
Christ is risen, indeed! Allleluia!
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader:
Holy Creator, for our sake you sent Jesus
to this earth to live, die, and live again.
People:
Those events seem so irrelevant to our lives now.
Leader:
Jesus taught us to respond to hatred and insult with love.
People:
We get angry with those whose values we do not share.
Leader:
The Holy Spirit coaxes us
to move from shadows into light,
for death into new life.
All:
We are confused and discouraged,
uncertain of what the resurrection means for us now.
Forgive us, and help us walk the path of love.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader:
The God of all forgives our sins,
rolls away the stone, and invites us out of the tomb.
People: Amen
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
INTERCESSION AND PETITION
COMMITMENT
All:
O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.
We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1:
This is the table of the Heavenly Feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.
Leader 2:
We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once;
All:
Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven; we make one circle of knowing,
believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader 1:
Gracious, living God,
we give you thanks that you call us
to love life and see your gladness
in every part of this creation.
People:
We give you thanks for Jesus,
who shows us resurrection:
to turn away from evil and live in peace.
Leader 2:
We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
the mystery that opens our hearts
to the resurrection of our very being, soul, and spirit.
All:
We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
that place where others walk with us on your path,
helping us to see you in the world around us.
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1:
Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.
Leader 2:
Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger,
You who believe in me shall never thirst.
Leader 1:
On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.
Leader 2:
After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.
All:
O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of bread and cup
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation to your eternal realm.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
If you do not wish to receive the elements today you are welcome to join the circle and allow them to pass, or remain in your seat. We serve grape juice in our cups. The wafers are gluten-free.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All:
God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully
to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world.
All: Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader:
And now with God’s abiding love surrounding us,
the hope of the empty tomb within us,
and a grace leading us into resurrection,
let us answer the Risen One’s call,
and touch this crucifying wolrd
with His love and grace.
Christ is Risen!
All:
Christ is Risen indeed.
Alleluia! Amen.
