The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Easter Sunrise Service
April
5th, 2015
6:30
a.m. Outdoors St. David’s United Church
Ministers:
Each one of us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WE GATHER TOGETHER
GATHERING
AROUND THE NEW FIRE
This is
the dawn of a new creation: come to the new fire!
OPENING
WORDS
Can
you hear the alleluias?
Shhhhh!
Can
you hear the hills and valleys shout?
Shhhhh!
Can
you hear the stone roll?
Shhhhh!
Can
you hear the angels laugh?
Shhhhh!
Can
you hear the sun rise?
Shhhhh!
Can
you hear the silence break?
ALLELUIA!
Nothing
can keep us quiet any longer
for
Christ is risen!
(getting
louder each time) Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
HYMN Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks VU 179
R Hallelujah,
hallelujah.
Give
thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah,
hallelujah!
Give
praise to God's name.
1
Jesus is Lord of all the earth, firstborn of all creation. R
2
Spread the good news o'er all the earth:
Jesus
has died and is risen. R
3 We
have been crucified with Christ,
now
we shall live for ever. R
4 Come
let us praise the living God,
joyfully
sing to our Saviour. R
WE
APPROACH GOD
EASTER PRAYER
God, it has happened:
the
alleluias are restored,
the
whole of creation has found voice,
and
proclaims in every molecule:
death
has no power!
May
we celebrate today.
It
has happened that tombstones and graveyards
have
become places of life,
and
the whole rhythm of faith
explodes
into this day,
with
a power that conquers death.
May
we dance to the beat.
It
has happened that
mystery
and mourning women
find
each other in the dawn,
and
nothing is as it seems;
your
greatest joke on death is played out,
and
may we laugh with the angels.
It
has happened that
Good
Friday has met Easter Day
and
life has won.
In
this resurrection morning your people praise you,
celebrating
with all that is alive, and proclaim to the world:
death
is no more!
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
Christ
is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
PASSING
THE PEACE We
share the Easter Greeting
WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD
HYMN In the Bulb There Is a Flower VU 703
1
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in
cocoons a hidden promise, butterflies will soon be free!
In
the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed
until its season, something God alone can see.
2
There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's
a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From
the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed
until its season, something God alone can see.
3
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in
our doubt there is believing; in out life, eternity.
In
our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed
until its season, something God alone can see.
Responsive
Reading Luke 1:68-79 Song of Zechariah
Sung
Response:
God
shall fulfil the promise and bring the people peace.
Matthew
28:1-10 Mary and the Empty Tomb
One:
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
PRAYER
God
of light, the darkness of Friday gave way to the glorious light of
resurrection shining on the risen Christ and in the face of Mary. Let
that light shine in our lives to reach the darkest corners of our
world and proclaim you presence in our midst. Let that light glow
from our faces, and show in all our actions and words. For we ask it
in the name of the light of the world, the One who taught us to pray
saying: Our Father who...
HYMN Christ the Lord Is Risen Today VU 157
*Each
line is followed by “hallelujah”.
Christ
the Lord is risen today, *
all
creation join to say;
raise
your joys and triumphs high;
sing,
O heavens and earth reply:
Love's
redeeming work is done,
fought
the fight, the battle won.
Lo,
our sun's eclipse is o'er!
Lo,
he dwells in death no more!
Lives
again our glorious King:
where,
O death, is now your sting?
One
he died our souls to save:
where
your victory, O grave?
Hail,
the Lord of earth and heaven,
praise
to you by both be given!
Every
knee to you shall bow,
risen
Christ, triumphant now.
SENDING
OUT AND BLESSING
Let
us go forth in the name of the risen Christ,
rejoicing
in the new life open before us this Easter day.
And
may the blessing of God,
Creator,
Redeemer and Sustainer of all life,
be
with us now and always. Amen.
POSTLUDE
The
light is carried into the church.
