April 17th, 2022
Easter Sunday
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Readers: Mike Weller, Jocelyn Donald & Bonnie Hammond
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
PRELUDE:
Fantasy on "Christ the Lord is Risen" ~ German trad. melody arr. C. Burton
GREETING:
For God so loved the world that God gave an only child so that we might have freedom and eternal life.
That child gave everything so that we might enjoy that freedom and be assured of our eternal life.
Christ is risen today! Thanks be to God
Welcome & Territorial Acknowledgment
CALL TO WORSHIP: (Jocelyn)
This day is not like any other day.
Today we slow down.
Today we take it all in.
Today we rest in good news.
This day is not like any other day.
Today we are singing.
Today we are full to the brim.
Today joy cannot be contained.
This day is not like any other day.
Today the stone was rolled away.
Today the women saw the empty grave.
Today we know—death does not win.
This day is not like any other day.
Alleluia! Amen.
OPENING HYMN: VU 155 Jesus Christ is Risen Today
1. Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
who did once, upon the cross, hallelujah!
suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!
2. Hymns of praise then let us sing hallelujah!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah!
who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!
3. But the pains which he endured, hallelujah!
our salvation have procured; hallelujah!
now above the sky he's King, hallelujah!
where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah!
4. Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
praise eternal as God's love; hallelujah!
praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
PRAYER OF APPROACH:
God of new life,
we are a mixed bag.
We want to be full to the brim with hope and joy,
but often we overflow with comparison and doubt.
We want to embody the resurrection,
but often we’d rather stay the same than to begin again.
We want to have the courage to be like the women on that Easter morning—
to run and speak truth,
but often we are weary of courage and uncertain of our own voices.
Forgive us for all the ways we remain unchanged.
Break into our hearts.
Overflow here.
With hope we pray, amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Family of faith,
as there is life after death,
then you can be certain—
there is life after mess.
There is life after mistakes.
There is life after doubt.
There is new life freely given,
and that life is for you.
You are forgiven, loved, and claimed.
May we live full to the brim in response.
Thanks be to God, and let it be so.
Alleluia! Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: (Mike)
Holy God,
we so often long for more.
We want more than the hamster wheel life
of to-do lists and errands,
meal prep and alarm clocks.
We want more than comparison and competition.
We want more than certainty that drowns out curiosity.
We want more than fear that leads to violence.
We want a life that is teeming with alleluias.
We want a life overcrowded with hope.
We want a life congested with good news.
We want a life jam-packed with forgiveness.
We want a life bursting with laughter.
We want a life so full that the stone just has to be rolled away.
So today we pray—break the dam.
Dust the cobwebs from our ears.
Clear space in our minds to hear you clearly.
Speak to us as only you can.
It’s what we long for.
We long for you.
Gratefully we pray, amen.
READINGS:Isaiah 60 (Responsive Reading) VU 886
Refrain
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Your light has come.
Your light has come,
Hallelujah.
Arise, shine, for your light has come.
God's glory has risen among you.
Behold, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds its peoples.
But upon you God shall rise,
God's glory will appear among you.
Nations will walk by your light,
their rulers by the brightness of your rising.
Refrain
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Your light has come.
Your light has come,
Hallelujah.
Raise your eyes and look around.
All gather together, all come to you.
They will bring your sons from afar.
They will carry your daughters like babes in arms.
Then you will see and be radiant.
Your heart will thrill and rejoice,
because they will bring you the sea's bounty.
The wealth of nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels will cover you,
the young camels of Midian, and Ephah, and Sheba.
They will bring gold and frankincense,
and will herald God's glory.
Refrain
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Your light has come.
Your light has come,
Hallelujah.
Your land will no longer hear the cry, "Violence!"
nor "Ruin and Destruction" your borders.
But you will call your walls, "Salvation,"
and your gates, "Praise."
No more will you need the sun for your light by day,
nor the moon's brightness by night,
but God will be your everlasting light.
Your God will be your glory.
Refrain
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Arise, be clothed in the light.
Your light has come.
Your light has come,
Hallelujah.
Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM: This Joyful Eastertide
SERMON
HYMN: VU 158 Christ is Alive
1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
2. Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
3. In every insult, rift, and war,
where colour, scorn, or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
4. Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus freed for all.
5. Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love and praise.
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
We share the peace of Christ by typing in the chat box.
You may also think of one person with whom you would like to share the peace of Christ.
MUSIC for PASSING the PEACE:
Now the Green Blade Rises (Tune: Noel Nouvelette) ~ C. Burton
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERING:
Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Give”
or contact the office by email: graceucworship@gmail.com
phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
Care, Prayer, Share
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION:
Invitation to the Table
Affirmation of Faith: (Bonnie)
We believe in a God who can astound us—
a God who created the Rocky Mountains,
the stars on a summer night,
and the beauty of the Blue Mountains.
We believe in Jesus, whose example changes us—
an example of love for those on the fringes,
healing for the sick, and welcome for the lonely.
We believe that Jesus was abandoned by his friends,
wounded, mocked, and killed by the state.
And in a garden, three days later, we believe that life began again—
the stone was rolled back, as death lost its sting.
Ever since that day, we believe the Spirit has been inviting us into an expansive life—
a life not measured by wealth or accolades, but a life full to the brim with joy,
overflowing with laughter, saturated in hope, and decorated with good news.
Death has lost its sting.
We believe, and are set free.
Thanks be to God, amen.
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
We should give thanks!
Thanks and praise to the One who brings life!
The Great Thanksgiving
Lord’s Prayer: VU 960
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
Remembering:
All powerful God, as people of faith we remember all those who have gone before.
People like Moses and Miriam, leading their people to freedom; like Sarah and Abraham, seeking a new life in a strange land; like Peter and Mary, proclaiming an empty tomb and life beyond the cross.
We remember these and many others, named and unnamed, who have embraced Your life, Your hope, and moved into a new age.
And we trust that in remembering and retelling their stories, we too can take the leap into New Life.
Remembering Jesus’ Last Supper:
We remember that Jesus gathered with his closest friends in an Upper Room to share the feast of liberation
We remember that at that table he took the bread, gave thanks for it, blessed it, broke it and passed it among them saying:
This is my body, given to you.
Whenever you eat it remember me.
We remember that Jesus later took the cup of wine,
blessed it and passed it among them saying:
This is the cup of the New Covenant.
Whenever you drink it remember me.
Prayer over the Elements
The Elements are Shared
Prayer after Communion:
We have eaten, we have drunk, we have embraced the beginning of the new age.
Grant, O God, that we who have gathered together on this Day of Resurrection, will move on as people of hope, people of life, people of the Way.
May the meal we have shared today revive us in body and soul and energize us as we go out to share the Good News.
Christ is Risen!
Death is Defeated!
Life Wins!
Alleluia and Amen!
HYMN: VU 179 Hallelujah, Give Thanks
Refrain:
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.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Give praise to God's name.
2. Spread the good news o'er all the earth;
Jesus has died and is risen.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Give praise to God's name.
3. We have been crucified with Christ,
now we shall live for ever.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Give praise to God's name.
4. Come let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Saviour.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Give praise to God's name.
COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION:
SUNG BLESSING: (inside back cover of Voices United)
Go Now in Peace
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true,
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there, * within, around, above.
Go now in peace, in faith and in love.
Amen, amen, amen.
* alternate words: watching from above
POSTLUDE:
Fantasy on "Lord of the Dance" Traditional Shaker Song ~ arr. by C. Burton
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Today’s liturgy is from Sanctified Art Easter Sunday 2022
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- Psalm Refrain: Music: Lawrence M. Probes 1980. Music copyright © 1989 Selab. Publishing Co.. One License #608577
- “Jesus is Risen Today:” Words: Lyra Davidica 1708, et al.. Music: Lyra Davidica 1708.Public Domain
- “Christ is Alive:” Words: Brian Wren 1968. Music: Thomas Williams 1789. Words copyright © 1975 Hope Publishing Company. Music Public Domain
- “Hallelujah, Give Thanks:” Words: Donald Fishel 1971, alt. Music: Donald Fishel 1971; arr Darryl Nixon 1987, alt.. Words and music copyright © 1973 The Word of God Music. Arrangement copyright © 1987 Songs for a Gospel People..All rights reserved. Used by permission. One License
- “Go Now in Peace:” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. Copyright © 1988 Harold Flammere. Music: Inc. Alternate words used with permission. One License #608577.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Prelude: Fantasy on "Christ the Lord is Risen" German trad. melody ~ arr. C. Burton
Anthem: This Joyful Eastertide: Words: George R. Woodward 1894, alt.. Music: J. Oudaen's David's Psalmen, Amsterdam 1685; harm. Charles Wood 1902. Harmony copyright © Mowbray
Music for Passing the Peace: Now the Green Blade Rises (Tune: Noel Nouvelette) ~ C. Burton
Postlude: " Fantasy on "Lord of the Dance" Traditional Shaker Song ~ arr. by C. Burton
