Easter 1997: Wondering If It’s True

SEEKERS CHURCH
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Easter 1997

Wondering If It’s True….

Reflection

… the resurrection remains a historical enigma and an object of theological speculation until – at the breaking of bread, or while at prayer, or in the giving or receiving of unearned love – everything is suffused with the light of the resurrection.

Violence Unveiled,
Gil Bailie, p 233.

Prelude

Call To Worship

Unison:: On this day we celebrate resurrection.
Leader:: Friendships once killed by frosty misunderstanding
bloom again in warm reconciliation –
People:: – Hallelujah!
Leader:: Hopes glimmering and gone are rekindled
by expressions of caring –
People:: – Hallelujah!
Leader:: Faith, dulled by lack of exercise,
dances again to God’s everyday rhythms –
People:: – Hallelujah!
Unison:: We come to worship the God
whose resurrection power lives on
in the Christ we serve. Hallelujah!

Invocation

Hymn

Word For The Children

Silence

Easter Litany

Leader:: On Easter morning,
they saw the stone rolled back,
the empty tomb.
Trembling, they doubted, feared, and wondered.
People:: We doubt. We fear. We wonder.
Leader:: Trembling, they approached the tomb,
place of death meeting life,
of endings and new beginnings.
People:: We approach the tomb.
We doubt. We fear. We wonder.
Leader:: Passing through betrayal and sorrow,
through death and defeat,
Trembling, they came to Easter morning.
Unison:: This Easter morning,
we see life bursting through death.
Trembling, we meet the risen Christ.

Silence

Prayers

Leader:

The risen Christ is among us,
therefore we can celebrate the festival of life.
Through the love of Christ we are made whole.

Common Confession

Leader:: Christ is among us,
but too often we are not aware of the resurrection.
People:: Resurrection can be so quiet, so unobtrusive
that we are not aware
of the powerful presence of Christ in our lives.
Unison:: Forgive us, Holy One,
for missing resurrection.

Individual Prayers Of Confession

Assurance (Leader)

The risen Christ is among us,
therefore we can celebrate the festival of life.
Through the love of Christ we are made whole. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

Hymn

The Word

First Lesson

Silence

Gospel Lesson

Sermon

Silent Reflection

The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.

Offering

Shared Reflections

Announcements

Hymn

Benediction (leader)

Hallelujah!
The church is Easter!
Resurrection resounds through our community –
Go forth in power. Amen.