Easter
Sunrise Service
April 16th, 2017
6:15 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!
CALL TO
WORSHIP &
EASTER ACCLAMATION
At Christmas, Hope was born in the manger.
On Friday, all Hope was lost on the cross.
The earth seemed to stand still.
And we held our breath.
But today it is Easter! The earth is alive again!
We can breathe again! Hope is alive again!
Jesus lives again! Hallelujah!
Christ is risen!
Christ is
risen, indeed! Hallelujah!
HYMN
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
VU 468
1 Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
R Jesus lives again, earth
can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe
again,
pass
the Word around: loaves abound!
2 Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love
in word and in deed express. R
3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God
(Immanuel) everywhere! R
OPENING PRAYER
Great Living God, the cold of this early morning
casts a chill on our spirits and threatens our joy.
As we gather, we seek to erase what we have witnessed
on the cross of Jesus.
We come seeking the brilliance
of your new creation in the Risen Christ.
We come to hear the good news
of your love for us.
We come to be reassured
that life follows death.
As we huddle together in the early morning,
we ask you, to break through the chill,
to warm our bodies and our hearts,
to ignite our spirits and our souls
that we might be the living light
of the joyful mystery of resurrection. Amen.
Written by Heather McLure, Wesley U.C., Montreal, Que.
Gathering, Lent/Easter 2017, p. 37. Used with
permission.
WE APPROACH GOD
PRAYER OF
CONFESSION
God, we confess to you that while we
know well
the story of your victory over the
grave,
it is not a story we always live.
We are dragged down by all manner of
death –
Fear may suffocate us: the loss of
dreams and hopes
for ourselves, our families, our
communities and our nation.
Sorrow may wall us off like a grave,
isolating us with anger, frustration,
and grief.
Silence
Yet the smooth stones of our faith are
inscribed
not with the marks of death,
but with the word, “Alleluia!”
So on this Easter morning,
we pray that you will fill us with
“fear and great joy”
so that, like those women who came
to the tomb expecting death,
we may instead find the radiant new
life
that is ever before us in your Resurrection!
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Just as Christ did not come to condemn
but to liberate,
so too is Christ raised from death not
to judge but to celebrate.
Cast off the yoke of sorrow and instead
raise up the scepter of joy – Christ lives! We live!
All is made new on this Resurrection
morning!
Alleluia and amen!
Written by the Rev.
Elizabeth Dilley, Minister for Ministers of Local Congregations, UCC. Copyright
2017 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of
Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH
44115-1100. Used with
permission.
All publishing rights
reserved.
HYMN Morning Has Broken VU 409
1 Morning has broken like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
2 Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where God's feet pass.
3 Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God's recreation of the new day!
PASSING
THE PEACE We share the Easter Greeting
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen, indeed!
Hallelujah!
WE LISTEN FOR GOD'S WORD
Matthew 28:1-10
He
is not here; for he has been raised
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 your 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 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
SENDING OUT AND BLESSING
Go, with the Easter joy
deep within your hearts.
Thanks be to God!
Go, with the Easter songs
singing on your lips.
Thanks be to God!
Go, with the hopeful
message of Easter clear in your minds.
Thanks be to God!
Go, certain that in time
and beyond time,
God’s love is with you
and will never leave you.
Thanks be to God! Written by David Sparks, Summerland, B.C.
Gathering Lent/Easter 2017, p.
44.
Used with permission.
POSTLUDE The light is carried into the church.
