Easter 2008 – What Just Happened?

GATHERING            

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away.

"They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

"Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?"

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!,"

                                                           

 Based on John 20

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      We come – excited and confused.

Voice 1:    Christ is Risen!

Voice 2:    The tomb is empty,
                  the guards won’t tell us where the body is.

Voice 1:    Nothing looks the same: the hope,
                  the pain, the disappointment, and now this!

Voice 2:    Christ is Risen!

All:           Christ is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

INVOCATION

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:     A woman stands in a garden.
                 She is bewildered, distressed, lost.

People:    We are that woman. Who has taken away our Lord?

Leader:   His voice is near – familiar, caressing, present – the Word has been made flesh again!

All:        Hope is alive. What just happened?

 

SILENCE

PRAYERS

COMMON CONFESSION

Leader:            We stumble on the way to the tomb.

People:            We believe. Help our unbelief!

Leader:            We come to the tomb, but fear to look in.

People:        We believe. Help our unbelief!

Leader:            We see that the tomb is empty but still we doubt.

All:        We believe. Help our unbelief!

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

 

ASSURANCE

Leader:            The Risen Christ moves among us and within us.
We hear his voice and feel his presence.

We are forgiven, even in the midst of our unbelief.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

 

UNISON PRAYER

All:        Holy One, we come today
            to claim our relationship with you.
            We pray for the commitment to grow together,
            sharing the gifts you give us with others
            here and in the wider world.  

            Give us strength and discipline
            to nurture our relationship with You;
            to care for every part of Your Creation;
            to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
            to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
            and to respond joyfully when you call,
            freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.

            We open our hearts to you and your Creation
            in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ.  
            Amen.

HYMN

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION

Leader:     Let go of what you think you know.
        Walk into the unknown,
        trusting that you live in Christ
        and Christ lives in you.
        Christ is risen.

All:   Christ is risen, indeed.
        Alleluia! Amen!