Tell the Tale

Early on the first day of the week, the disciples went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried only to find that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. Friends, we gather here as Christ’s Disciples, on the first day of the week, to celebrate the good news of the Gospel: Let us continue to tell the tale!

Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ our Lord. My siblings in Christ: On this most holy morning in which Jesus Christ passed over from death to life, we gather as the Church to watch and pray. This is the Passover of Christ, in which we share in Christ's victory over death.

God of life, through Jesus Christ you have bestowed upon the world the light of life. Sanctify us, and grant that our hearts and minds may also be kindled with holy desire to shine forth with the brightness of Christ's rising, that we may attain to the feast of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Lift High the Cross” — Chris Wade, organist

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Alleluia! We praise you, O God, for the power of your giving love revealed in the resurrection of Jesus. As you have drawn Jesus from death, draw us also from the darkness into your everlasting love that we may continue in your love forever through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit who connects us all even now. Amen.

Loving God, before we call, you answer. Before we speak, you know our words. Let there be peace in Israel and the surrounding territories and may there be peace among all nations.

Let sounds of weeping and cries of distress turn to shouts of joy and laughter.

Let the old dance like children; let infants grow and thrive.

Let every person find home and enjoy the fruit of your blessings.

Let the wolf and the lamb live in peace; let no one hurt or destroy another.

Guide us, O God, to the holy mountain you have prepared, the new heaven and new earth you call us to create with you so that we may be glad and rejoice in your presence forever, through the teachings of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Living God, by your Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see the new light of this day; open our lips to tell of the empty tomb; open our hearts to share the Good News. Amen.

¹Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ²So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples returned to their homes. ¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹²and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

What does it mean to know that death has lost its sting? How do you live differently knowing the love of God is greater than the power of death? How might this realization change how you live today and into the future? What fears do you need to burry so that hope can grow?

We offer both white and red grape juice. If you are afraid of spilling red grape juice, a limited number of cups with white grape juice are provided.

Here at Community Church, we celebrate “Open Communion.” Anyone who wishes to commune may come to God’s Table. You do not have to be sinless; God forgives you. You do not have to be perfect; God encourages you to grow. You need not belong to any church; God invites all people to this meal. It is enough to love and follow God with all your heart. This is what God asks us to do. Come to God’s Table in faith this day. Go from this place to live and never be the same again. Let us commune as siblings in Christ.

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up with Jesus,

who showed us the way of God’s love.

Let us give thanks to God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you. Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ. By his life and teachings, you have revealed your love for us, your co-creative ask upon us, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us. By your great love for us we are born anew to a living hope and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your children, declaring your wonderful deeds in Jesus, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; we are one body as we share in the bread together. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant, an ongoing sign of God’s love for you and all of God’s very good creation. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and fruit of the vine. Make them be for us the symbols of your love and desire for us to be your body knit together to build the new creation, your preferred future for us.

By your Spirit help the body of Christ be one. Help the left hand and the right hand work as one in ministry to all the world. Help the eyes and the ears sense your present and coming kindom. Bring the blessing of the diversity of the body to bear fruit until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever. Amen. THE LORD’S PRAYER – Celtic Version:

Holy One beyond all names, Eternal Wellspring, May love rise again in us today, with food for every table, shelter for every family, and reverence for every life. Forgive us our failings in love, and free us from all falseness. That the light of our souls may shine, and the strength of our spirits endure — for Earth and all its

people — this day, tonight, and forever. Amen. - John Philip Newell

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The bread which we have eaten is a sharing in the bread of Christ. The cup over which we give thanks is the sharing in the cup of Christ.

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We belong to God, Jesus has shown us the truth, we are children of God and surrounded by the love of God. Let our lives be proof of the Good News and may our gifts this day carry the good news into the community around us.

Jennifer Rudy, soprano Kara Brouelette, mezzo-soprano Jim Orr, bass Dave Albulario, tenor Chris Wade, pianist

We praise you, loving God, and give you thanks that you have given us such joy, such grace, and such hope, through the journey and way of Jesus. Let our lives be proof of that good news. Amen.

You are witnesses to the power and presence of God. You are messengers of the gospel. Go forth to live the good news, preaching the good news through your actions and sharing the love of God through all you do. Amen.

Rev. Johan Dodge, Pastor Jennifer Rudy, Soprano Jim Orr, Bass-Baritone Kara Brouelette, Mezzo-Soprano Hannah Yi, Pianist John Fluker, Pianist Chris Wade, Pianist Emeritus Dave Albulario, Tenor / Music Dir. Renate Carnegie, Treasurer