Austin College Service of Worship for Easter Night
April 12, 2020
NOTES for remote participants:
- THANK YOU for joining us.
- As you worship from home, please prepare communion elements (bread and wine or grape juice) if you plan to participate in the Sacrament.
- Individual students will lead the various parts of the service.
- Please read aloud the portions printed in Bold Text.
- I will sing all the music in the service. The words are printed in Bold Italic. Please feel free to sing along at your location.
- The tune for the “Christ has died…” song and the beginning of the service and “Christ Is Risen, Shout Hosanna!” at the end of the service is the same as “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
OPENING SENTENCES (Matthew 26:67-51—The Message)
The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled.
Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out.
The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death.
But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable.
“[Jesus] said, ‘I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.'”
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Jesus Christ will come again.
After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate.
They said, “Sir, we just remembered that this liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Jesus Christ will come again.
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
We are all alive in him.
…So Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.”
After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb.
Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it.
Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white.
The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.
The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross.
He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.
“Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.”
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Jesus Christ will come again.
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
We are all alive in him.
Neither death nor any misery
Can defeat God’s love for us.
Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Good news! Glad and glorious!.
STATEMENT OF THE JOY OF EASTER
Jesus of Nazareth is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
SONG Celebration Song
For our life together we celebrate
Life that lasts forever we celebrate
For the joy and for the sorrow
Yesterday, today, tomorrow, we celebrate
For the great creation, we celebrate
For our own salvation, we celebrate
For the sun and for the rain
Through the joy and through the pain, we celebrate
Ah! there’s the celebration.
Ah! There’s the celebration.
Celebrate the whole of it!
For the Word He’s spoken, we celebrate
For His body broken, we celebrate
For the feasting at the table, we celebrate
By His grace we all are able to celebrate
For the Lord of love, we celebrate
For our Father of love, we celebrate
For the Son who is our brother
For the Spirit, for the three together we celebrate
Ah! there’s the celebration.
Ah! There’s the celebration.
Ah! There’s the celebra—tion.
EASTER PRAYER
O Christ, in your resurrection
The heavens and the earth rejoice.
Alleluia!
By your resurrection
you broke open the gates of hell,
And destroyed sin and death.
Keep us victorious over sin.
By your resurrection
you raised the dead
And brought us from death to life.
Guide us in the way of eternal life.
By your resurrection
you confounded your guards and executioners,
and filled the disciples with joy.
Give us joy in your service.
By your resurrection
you proclaimed good news to the women and apostles,
and brought salvation to the whole world.
Direct our lives as your new creation.
God of mercy,
We no longer look for Jesus among the dead,
For he is alive and has become the Lord of life.
From the waters of death you raise us with him
And renew your gift of life within us.
Increase in our minds and hearts
The risen life we share with Christ,
And help us grow as your people
Toward the fullness of eternal life with you,
Through Christ our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
Amen.
SONG Grace and Peace
I lift my voice (I lift my voice)
Unto the King (Unto the King)
And everything I am becomes an offering
I sing my song (I sing my song)
For You alone (For You alone)
And everything around me suddenly is gone
Sing Alleluia (Alleluia)
Grace and Peace (Alleluia)
Sing Alleluia (Father…)
You are all I need
Your gentle hand (Your gentle hand)
Can calm my fear (Can calm my fear)
And chase the clouds away until the sky is clear
Your word in me (Your word in me)
Is like a flame (Is like a flame)
I cannot help but sing and praise Your holy name.
Sing Alleluia (Alleluia)
Grace and Peace (Alleluia)
Sing Alleluia (Father…)
You are all I need
SCRIPTURE LESSON John 20:1-18
1 Early 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.
2 So 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.”
3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;
12 and 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.
13 They 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.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus 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.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus 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.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
REFLECTION
- Mary
- first to come, last to leave
- went to Peter and the other one
- carried the Good News, the “Message ,” to the others
- Changed perspective
- “My brothers”
- “My Father and your Father”
- “My God and your God”
- The “world’s demonic chorus”
- “The last good thing hasn’t happened yet”
SONG Lord of the Dance
I danced in the morning when the world was begun
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem, I had my birth
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said He.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they would not follow Me
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on.
(Chorus)
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The “holy people” said it was a shame
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high
And left me there on a cross to die.
(Chorus)
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body, and they thought I’d gone
But I am the dance and I still go on.
(Chorus)
They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that will never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in Me;
I am the lord of the Dance, said He.
(Chorus)
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God.
They will come from east and west
and from north and south
to sit together at God’s Table.
According to Luke,
the risen Christ broke bread with his disciples
and then they recognized him.
This is the Lord’s Table,
and all who have been claimed by God’s love
and given the gift of the peace of Christ
are welcome at this table to share Christ’s body and his life.
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise,
Eternal God, Creator of the universe.
When we were unfaithful to you,
you kept faith with us.
Your love remained constant.
You spoke of love and justice in the Law and the Prophets,
and in the Word made flesh you lived among us.
You are holy, O God of majesty,
and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,
whom you sent to save us.
He came with healing in his touch,
And was wounded for our sins.
He came with mercy in his voice.
And was mocked as one despised.
He came with peace in his heart
And met with violence and death.
By your power he broke free from the prison of the tomb
and at his command the gates of hell were opened.
The one who was dead now lives.
The one who humbled himself is raised to rule over all creation.
The one ascended on high is with us always,
as he promised.
Through Christ,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church,
now and forever.
Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS
Worshipers break bread and share the Cup at this time
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Gracious God,
You have made us one
with all your people in heaven and on earth.
We have recalled your mighty acts in holy history.
We have seen your power
in sending light to conquer darkness,
water to give us life;
and the bread of heaven to nourish us in love.
Send us with your salvation and joy to all the world,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SONG Christ Is Risen, Shout “Hosanna!”
Christ is risen, Shout “Hosanna!”
Celebrate this day of days
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder.
All creation is amazed
In the desert all-surrounding,
See, a spreading tree has grown,
Healing leaves of grace abounding
Bring a taste of love unknown
Christ is risen! Raise your spirits
From the caverns of despair
Walk with gladness in the morning
See what love can do and dare
Drink the wine of resurrection
Not a servant but a friend
Jesus is our strong companion
Joy and peace shall never end
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven
Never more shall be the same
Break the bread of new creation
Where the world is still in pain
Tell its grim, demonic chorus,
“Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God, the First and Last, is with us
Sing Hosanna, everyone!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
As people who have heard the Easter message
Go tell and live the Easter story.
Ignore the grim, demonic chorus.
Be people of peace.
Have courage.
Hold on tight to all that is good.
Return no one evil for evil.
Support the weak.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Honor all people.
Love and serve the world.
Share what you have.
Speak truth tenderly and lovingly.
Clean up your own messes.
Use the brains God gave you.
Act like gifted, beloved, capable, and safe people.
Because that is what you are.
Go enthusiastically
With the full confidence
That the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The love of God;
And the communion of the Holy Spirit
ARE with us all;
Tonight;
Tomorrow;
And forever.
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Seriously.
Alleluia!
Amen.
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