GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
If Christ did not rise for us, then Christ did not rise at all, since Christ had no need of it just for Christ’s self. In Christ the world arose, in Christ heaven arose, in Christ the earth arose. For there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
St. Ambrose of Milan, as quoted in John Dominic Crossan and Sarah Sexton Crossan,
Resurrecting Easter, p.1
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Leader: Christ is risen for us!
People: Christ is risen to heal our hurting world!
Leader: Christ is risen for us to love one another!
All: Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Holy One, we confess that often
we do not believe
that Christ is risen for us.
People: We confess our unbelief.
Leader: We confess that often
we do not trust that you love us,
no matter what.
People: We confess our lack of trust.
Leader: We confess that often
we are unable to forgive and to love
either ourselves or our neighbors.
All: Holy One, forgive us
when we refuse to forgive as Christ forgave,
to love as Christ loves the world.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: Christ lived and died and rose again
so we can know that we are forgiven,
so we can trust that we are loved,
in every eternal moment.
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: Holy Creator of stardust and sunlight,
carbon and nitrogen, energy,
beating hearts, and all forms of life,
we lift up our hearts in gratitude
for your consistent, creative love.
People: We give thanks and praise for Jesus,
the risen Christ, our human brother,
raised from death into life,
who pulls us, too, through our dying
into a new life.
Leader 2: We give thanks and praise for the Holy Spirit,
wind, fire, and breath of the One God,
who surrounds, upholds, and fills us,
to whom we lift our grateful hearts.
All: We give thanks and praise
for the church universal,
all of us, sisters and brothers
who are being raised together
to be the hands and feet
and heart of the risen Christ.
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 he gave himself up, 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 grain and grape,
and work of human hands
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
Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant, poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.
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. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Let us now go forth,
lifting our hearts
with the resurrected Christ,
and love into being
the kindom of God.
Christ is Risen!
Alleluia!
All: Alleluia! Amen.