GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
Now is the time when the blessed light of Christ sheds its rays; the pure rays of the pure Spirit rise and the heavenly treasures of divine are opened up. Night’s darkness and obscurity have been swallowed up, and the dense blackness dispersed in the light of day; crabbed death has been totally eclipsed. Life has been extended to every creature and all things are diffused in brightness. The dawn of dawn ascends over the earth, and he who was before the morning star and before the other stars, the mighty Christ, immortal and mighty, sheds light brighter than the sun on the universe.
— Psuedo-Hippolytus (ca 170 – 235 CE), quoted in "A Triduum Sourcebook,"
Liturgy Training Publications, pg 419
And then the sun rose and Jesus was alive and terror fled and the Resurrection was an inner brightness as glorious as the outer brightness of the Transfiguration. And that light, inner and outer, began its journey around the earth, the solar systems, the furthest galaxies, light that is not power, but is wholly love.
— Madeline L’Engle Bright Evening Star pg. 190-191
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come, let us celebrate the presence of the risen Christ!
People: We come together,
for we are together in the Body of Christ.
Leader: Come together,
for terror flees in the presence of the Light of Christ.
All: Night’s darkness and obscurity are swallowed up.
Life is extended to every creature.
The mighty Christ sheds light brighter than the sun!
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
RESPONSIVE READING
Leader: May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
Christ, our light.
People: Thanks be to God!
Leader: Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
People: Jesus the Christ is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Leader: Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your Light!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!
People: Rejoice, O Holy Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
Leader: Christ is risen!
All: Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
SILENCE
PRAYERS
COMMON CONFESSION
Leader: It costs so much to be a full human being.
We do not possess the courage to pay the price.
People: Holy One,
you ask us to abandon the search for security
and reach out with both arms to the risk of living.
Leader: We refuse to engage with doubt and darkness
and so we miss knowing the fullness of life.
All: We keep finding ways to turn down
your invitation to embrace the world like a lover.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The assurance of God’s steadfast love
is in the resurrection of Christ, our Saviour.
Christ is Risen, hope is alive, Alleluia.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
JESUS PRAYER
Ah Creator, source of all that is and all that is coming,
thank you for letting us sense your presence.
Help us to harmonize our lives
with all that you are doing in us,
among us, and around us.
Give us the courage to follow where you lead.
Lure us into following you
both in our experience and in our imaginations.
Give us enough bread to live today.
Encourage us to claim your forgiveness
and to forgive each other.
Guide us away from temptations
and strengthen us in our resistance
to all that we know is evil.
We are deeply grateful
for the life and world you have given us
and stand in awe of what you have done
and are doing.
We offer again to direct our lives toward your glory
and hope to find rest in your peace. Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Hear the glorious news!
The tomb is truly empty.
Christ invites us to new life.
Go into the world
to mirror the light of Christ,
to bear the light of Christ,
to be the light of Christ,
for Christ has risen!
People: Christ is risen. Alleluia!
Worship Resources:
Responsive Reading from the Exsultet
Jesus Prayer by Pat Conover
Feel free to copy from these liturgies. We only ask that when substantial portions are abstracted or used in a written work, Seekers Church be credited, and that the URL be cited.
