Bulletin

Sunday, April 8th, 2012 - Easter Sunday

We Gather in God's Name

Opening Reflection

Clarence Jordan, co-founder of Koinonia Farm, wrote, "The resurrection of Jesus was simply God's unwillingness to take our 'no' for an answer. he raised Jesus, not as an invitation to us to come to heaven when we die, but as a declaration that he himself has now established permanent, eternal residence here on earth. He is standing beside us, strengthening us in this life. The good news of the resurrection of Jesus is not that we shall die and go home to be with him, but that he has risen and comes home with us, bringing all his hungry, naked, thirsty, sick prisoner brothers with him."

[silent reflection]

Leader: Just when I thought I was lost

People: my dungeon shook and the chains fell off.

Opening Song

Glorious Day (Casting Crowns)

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Leader: Just when I thought I was lost

People: my dungeon shook and the chains fell off.

We Hear God's Word

Psalm 114

Hallelujah!  When Israel came out of Egypt
    the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
Judah became God's sanctuary
    and Israel his dominion.
The sea beheld it and fled
    Jordan turned and went back.
The mountains skipped like rams
    and the little hills like young sheep.
What ailed you, O sea, that you fled?
    O Jordan, that you turned back?
You mountains, that you skipped like rams?
    You little hills like young sheep?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord
    at the presence of the God of Jacob
Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water
    and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

Leader: Just when I thought I was lost

People: my dungeon shook and the chains fell off.

Matthew 28:1-10

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."

The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."

Leader: O Love that keeps the heavens turning

People: draw us to you in all our yearnings.

We Respond in Prayer

Prayers for One Another

(Please stand when offering a prayer, so others will know you have the floor.)

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, help us distinguish between the love that keeps merely human affection in the center of things and the love you bore in your sacrificial life, death, and resurrection. Amen.

We Go in Peace

Passing the Peace of Christ

(Each person says a line of the blessing, adding the name of someone present at the end of the line. If there are more than 8 people present, two or more names may be added at the end of a line).

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, [name]

wherever he may send you, [name]

may he guide you through the wilderness, [name]

protect you through the storm, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

at the wonders he has shown you, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

once again into our doors, [name].