APRIL 20, 2025
EASTER SUNDAY
REV. KENDRA BALLIET
ORGANIST JAMES ROSS
PRELUDE – Christ is Ris’n, Alleluia – Anthony Giamanco
ENTRANCE
The service begins in silence.
A processional party (clergy, worship leaders) gather at the back of the worship space.
Reading: The Mourning John 20:1
Response (sung):
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
The procession begins during the singing and proceeds to the baptismal font, placed in a main aisle, well in front of the Lord’s table.
Reading: The Investigation John 20: 2-10
Response: “Up from the Grave He Arose” -UMH #322, vs 2 (no chorus)
The procession continues and all in it reach their destinations.
Reading: The Encounter John 20:11-17
Response: “Up from the Grave He Arose” - UMH #322, vs 3 & chorus
The Easter Acclamation (3x)
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Children’s Chat
Offertory (Our Gratitude to the Lord) – Voluntary on “Victory” -Robert Lind
Doxology
Prayers of the People
Prayer Hymn “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” - UMH #302
Pastoral Prayer
Reading John 20:18
Sermon - “Beautiful Pieces”
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Alleluia. The risen Christ is with us.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Death is conquered! Sin’s power is broken.
Praise to you, Conquering God!
We have seen your glory.
And we are yours!
We are yours, all yours, blessed Triune God,
all our lives, all our thanks, all our praise,
we give it all to you, with all our bodies, and minds, and voices.
Yours, all yours!
Yours the blessing, yours the praise,
from the unimaginable silence before creation,
beyond the farthest reaches of time and space our instruments may ever find,
from infinity to infinity, everlasting to everlasting,
you are God, boundless in love and power.
We stand in awe, trembling in the light of your glory!
What are we that you should notice us?
What are we that you should love us?
What are we that you should call us into covenant with you,
a covenant we continually broke,
and you continuously sustained.
Mercy! How full of mercy!
How can we but praise you,
joining our voices with the song of angels and saints,
seraphim and martyrs,
strangers and family in every generation:
Jesus Christ who comes in our God's name, you are worthy, worthy!
Lamb of God who died and rose again, you are worthy, worthy!
Hosanna now we sing! Hosanna now we sing!
You are holy, O God!
Holy!
You are worthy, O Christ!
Worthy!
Worthy in your birth! Worthy in your living!
Worthy in your loving! Worthy in your serving!
Worthy when you preached good news
that God's kingdom has drawn near
and gather disciples, then and now, to learn and show the world
what life in God's reign means:
healing for the sick.
new life for the dead,
cleansing for the lepers,
freedom for the possessed,
new birth, new hope, new creation breaking in for all.
Worthy! Worthy! Worthy above all!
Worthy too, the night we betrayed you,
when you took the bread, blessed it and broke it,
and gave it to your disciples.
Worthy when you told them,
"This is my body broken for you. Remember me."
We remember.
Worthy when you took the cup,
praised God and shared it,
and worthy when you said,
"This is my blood of the new covenant for you.
Remember me."
We remember.
And on this day of days,
we proclaim above all,
worthy were you when the angels rolled away the stone,
and you came forth from the tomb,
trampling down death by death
and to all in the graves
restoring life.
We remember, and we praise you with our lives.
We remember, and we praise you with our lives
and these gifts of bread and wine,
proclaiming with one voice the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Even so, come upon us, Holy Spirit.
Come upon us, Holy Spirit.
Come upon these gifts.
Come upon these gifts.
Make them be for us Christ's body, Christ's blo