HE IS RISEN!

[PRINT LITURGY HERE]

[Join the 9am Living Room Liturgy with the Brown Family here]

This morning we joyfully (and loudly!) celebrate Jesus' victory over death on our behalf. We celebrate the day that God, in Jesus and by the Spirit, began to remake this world in and for His people. Jesus Christ died for the sins of his people on Good Friday, and on the third day he rose from the dead, and was thus declared to be Lord (or King) of all the nations of the earth. This is the central announcement of the Christian Faith. His death means that you no longer need to bear the penalty for your sins. His resurrection means that the terrible penalty of death for His people and for creation itself has been undone. His reign is a reign that aims at the remaking of this old world. Taking what is broken and making it whole and new. Welcome to Easter Morning!

The Dawning from The Temple (1633)

Awake sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns;
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth;
Unfold thy forehead gather’d into frowns:
Thy Savior comes, and with him mirth:
Awake, awake;
And with a thankful heart his comforts take.
But thou dost still lament, and pine, and cry;
And feel his death, but not his victory.
Arise sad heart; if thou dost not withstand,
Christ’s resurrection thine may be:
Do not by hanging down break from the hand,
Which as it riseth, raiseth thee:
Arise, Arise
-George Herbert

Call to Worship

The call to worship opens our gathering as the time when God welcomes us together into His presence.
[Leader reads aloud over all present, taken from Matthew 28:1-10]

Reader: Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women,

Together: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Reader: So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Christ is Risen!

Together: He is Risen Indeed!
Reader: Come, let us Worship our Risen King.

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today (He Is Not Dead)

He is not dead
He is alive
We have this hope
In Jesus Christ

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia
Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia
Where O death is now thy sting? Alleluia
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia

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

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

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Confession of Sin

As we come into the presence of God, we are made aware of ways that we have failed to love Him, trust Him and obey Him. He promises that all who confess their sins will be forgiven and cleansed. God, through the work of Jesus deals completely with our guilt and our shame.  We encourage you to kneel, bow your head, and reflect on ways that you have not lived in step with God’s commands and confess these to our good King and Father. You will stand when the Assurance is read.

[Invite everyone present to kneel and read this together.]

Together: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us. And grant, O most merciful Father, for Jesus’ sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and joyful life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

[Confess sins privately.]

Assurance of Pardon

[Leader will read this aloud once all rise.]

Leader: Now stand, lift up your heads and hear the good news: Christ has died for your sins! Christ has risen to conquer death! Christ, even now reigns for the undoing of all that sin and death have done to us and to our world. For all who believe in Jesus, your sins are forgiven. All who are in Christ are a new Creation, the Old Life has gone, a New Life has begun, and we are welcomed home as beloved sons and daughters of our God. In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Together: Thanks be to God

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In ev’ry high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath His covenant His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

King of Kings

In the darkness, we were waiting
Without hope, without light
'Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings

To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

And the morning that You rose
All of Heaven held its breath
'Til that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

The Nicene Creed

Creeds represent one of the Church’s earliest attempts to define the bounds of what we confess to be true. It focuses primarily on the incarnation of Jesus, the trinitarian nature of God, and the unity of the church being rooted in the apostolic witness, which is given to us in the Bible.

[Read together.]

Together: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

We believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Scripture Readings and Sermon

[Please read the scriptures aloud. For reflections on Mark 16:1-8, please watch the video posted online.]

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60:1-5

New Testament Reading: Mark 16:1-8

Prayer

Our God is not detached from our world - He hears and answers our prayers. During this time of great need, we are all aware of our need for God to move and display his power and glory in both the world around us and in the lives of those near to us. Whether you are alone or with your family, take a moment to pray aloud the written prayer below, then silently pause to reflect on the prayer, and then conclude this time by asking God to move in specific ways for those in your home by name, your neighbors, and your city.

[Taken from The Book of Common Prayer, 2019]

Together: O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to die upon the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the devil and the power of death: Grant us grace to die daily to sin, that we may live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen

Is He Worthy

Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light
from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)

Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)

Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David's Root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave

Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory?
Is He worthy of this? (He is)
Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)

From ev'ry people and tribe every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God to reign with the Son

Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory?
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this?
He is.
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? He is. He is.

Benediction

God now sends us into the world, to both tell our neighbors about Jesus’ work, and to wield our lives for their good. 
[Everyone stands, raises their hands, and sings the Doxology then remains standing as the leader reads the Benediction aloud.]

Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

Benediction
Leader: “May you find rest in the great work of Jesus on our behalf. May you go bearing witness to the victory Jesus has won over sin and death. And may we all celebrate and live as those for whom God is making all things new.

May the peace of God be with you,

Together: And also with you!

Interpreting and Applying the Sermon Text

We encourage you to take some time in the coming days to reflect on the sermon text and answer the following questions individually or with friends and family.

• Based on the ground that we've covered in Mark, what strikes you most about the reality that Jesus is risen?

• Brothers and sisters, Jesus is risen! In His life-giving Spirit, we are forever made new. How does this change your view of life's challenges? Of what you rejoice in?