Easter 2006

Seeing New Promise

 

 

Seekers Church

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

Easter 2006 – Seeing New Promise

 

CIRCLE TIME

 

ENTRANCE

 

REFLECTION

Sometimes we become so focused on sustaining what we've been given and wanting to honor the traditions of the past that we miss the new thing that God might be trying to do today, something that will build on all that has come before.  We miss the surprises that lie in store for us.  To be channels of that playful Spirit of eternal newness, we must always be ready to let go of what is in order to receive what will be. 

 

Gordon Cosby

"Becoming the Authentic Church," 2004, pg 15

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

 

People:      Christ is risen indeed!

 

Leader:      We gather here to celebrate God's promise kept:

 

Voice 1:     God has handed us a mystery:

                  the risen Christ is here again,

                  calling us to something new.

 

Voice 2:     We may not understand, but we are not alone.

                  The air is alive with the fresh scent of new beginnings.

 

Leader:      We come to pour out our spirits

                  into this vessel that is the church

                  so we can offer fresh Good News to everyone.

 

All:             Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!

                  Christ is risen indeed!  Amen.

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:      Christ is the source of illumination.

 

People:      We see Christ in light, as light, as our light.

 

Leader:      Jesus' life was enclosed by darkness,

                  the night of his birth and the eclipse at his death.

 

People:      Those who see in Christ the light of God

                  are illumined by faith.

 

All:             Through faith, the world,

                  the renewed community and the self      

                  are seen anew in the light of God.

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:      Like Mary Magdalene,

                  we fear that they have taken you away

                  to a place unknown.

                 

People:      We see, we might believe,

                  but we do not understand.

 

Leader:      Like Thomas, we doubt, even as you stand before us.

 

People:      We see, we might believe,

                  but we do not understand.

 

Leader:      Like the hired hand, we turn and run

                  when the wolves of our culture come near.

 

People:      We see, we might believe,

                  but we do not understand.

ASSURANCE

Leader:      God loves each of us:

                  Let us love one another.

                  God chooses us.

                  Alleluia! 

 

All:             Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

JESUS PRAYER

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

 

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING 

 

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

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader:      Christ is risen as God's new promise

                  to a troubled world.

                  Let us share the good news.

 

All:              Alleluia!  Amen. 

 

 

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Responsive reading: Based on Gail Ramshaw, "Words around the Fire," pp 3-4.