Standing in Courage

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. In courage, let us stand together!

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.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kindom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kindom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Let us united our hearts in prayer, saying,

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the Body of Christ resurrected throughout the world, that as we celebrate the feast of Jesus’ resurrection, we may renew our commitment to be Christ to the world.

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the governments of the world and its leaders that they may practice compassion and reject the politics that use death and suffering as a means of control;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For your planet that we call earth, that all people may be good stewards of its resources and share in its abundance;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the poor and the stranger, that we may find ways to provide a place of refuge, hope, and hospitality;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the sick and those in distress, that they may find healing for their pain and be restored to fullness of life;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For our neighbors, that together we may dwell in harmony;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

For our enemies, that we may love them and be agents of reconciliation in the name of Jesus;

God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

Ever-Present God, we turn our lives to you and ask that your Spirit will fill us and guide us in your way of transformation of the world around us. Amen.

Loving God, by the power of your Spirit, roll away the stone that blocks our hearts from turning fully to you and reveal to us your way of resurrection and new life. Amen.

Gentiles Hear the Good News ³⁴ Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Resurrection of Jesus ¹ After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb² And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

While the guards at the tomb passed out in fear, the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus stood strong. Where do you need to stand strong today? Where do you need to be courageous as we are, together, the resurrected body of Christ? Who might help you?

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.

God be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to our God.

Let us give thanks to the Source of Love.

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, O God, creator of all things. 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, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. 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 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.

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.

God has shown us the way of living as the resurrection. In gratitude, let us offer our hearts and the fruit of our labor to carry out the new creation that Jesus ushered in.

Loving ever-present God, by your grace, accept the fruit of our labor and the offering of our lives as we turn to follow the way of Jesus knowing that in all that we do, we are never separated from your presence or your love. Amen.

My siblings, may we go forth on this first Sunday of Easter to live and love as God loves us. May we be empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit to stand courageously in the face of darkness and speak God’s way of love into the world through our hearts and actions. Amen.