Worship - April 8, 2007

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
April 8, 2007
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Easter

“Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.”
(John 20:6-7 from The Message)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

*Call to Worship

*Processional Hymn "Christ the Lord is risen today" 280

Symbols of the Resurrection
                    for this and the following prayer, whenever the Worship Leader says:
                                            Alleluia! Christ is risen!
                                                            the congregation replies:
                                           Christ is risen indeed!

Prayer of Adoration and Praise

Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

For Children "Jelly Bean Prayer"

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory "Sunrise" Hegarty
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture John 20:1

Hymn (vs.1) "Precious Lord, take my hand" 575

Scripture John 20:2-3

Song "Run to the Tomb!" (see insert)

Scripture John 20:4-10

Message "Neatly folded"

Scripture John 20:11-16

Hymn "I know that my Redeemer lives" 279

Scripture John 20:17-18

*Hymn (vs 1,3,5) "Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing" 110

*Closing Prayer (back of bulletin)

*Postlude "Easter Postlude" Johnson

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
(based on Isaiah 65:17-25)

One - Be glad and rejoice in what God is creating - a new heaven and a new earth.

All - The promise of joy and gladness for all people.

One - The promise of Eden restored, where every living creature lives in harmony.

All - Promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who died to defeat evil, and rose to give us life.

One - So let us be glad and rejoice in what God has created in us - new life - the life of the risen Christ.

All - Alleluia! Amen!

from Liturgies Online
by Moira B. Laidlaw

Symbols of the Resurrection

(During the last 2 verses of "Christ the Lord is risen today," 8 persons process forward, each holding one of the items below - in the order below - with the acolyte bringing up the rear. They stand, 4 on each side of the worship table facing the congregation)

WL - For this and the ‘Prayer of Adoration and Praise,’ whenever I say:
"Alleluia! Christ is risen!" you reply:
"Christ is risen indeed!" Let’s practice. (do so)

(The first person begins. Each person thereafter comes to the table, places their object, then returns to where they were standing)

THE SHROUD

(a tablecloth is spread on the empty worship center, a folded white pillowcase is folded and placed separately in a different location - it will be used later during the sermon. As this is done, the WL says:)

This reminds us of the cloth in which they wrapped the body of Jesus. On Easter morning it was found empty, lying in the tomb where Christ’s body had been placed.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE FRAGRANT OIL

(As a jar filled with fragrant oil is placed on the table, the WL says:)

This fragrance reminds us that very early on Easter Day some women came to the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body for proper burial. The women
were the first to hear of Jesus’ resurrection.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE STONE

(As a slate stone is placed on the table, the WL says:)

This stone reminds us that on the resurrection morning, the stone which sealed the tomb was rolled away.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE BREAD

(As a large wholemeal loaf is placed on the table, the WL says:)

This bread reminds us that on the first Easter evening, Jesus walked and talked with two of his followers on the road to Emmaus. It was not until
he broke bread with them that they recognized who he was.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE CUP

(As a chalice filled with grape juice is placed on the table, the WL says:)

This fruit of the vine, representing Christ’s blood, helps us to remember that Jesus died for us.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE CROSS

(As a cross is placed on the table, the WL says:)

The cross you see is an empty cross. Jesus is not dead. He is risen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

THE CANDLE

(As a ‘Christ candle’ is placed on the table, the WL says:)

This candle reminds us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

(The acolyte then lights the Christ candle, while all observe. The eight remain standing up front until after the prayer, then quietly return to their seats.)

adapted from Liturgies Online
by Moira B. Laidlaw

Prayer of Adoration and Praise

Alleluia! We praise you, O God, for raising Jesus from the darkness of death. Alleluia! We praise you, O Christ, for being prepared, through your sacrificial love, to conquer death and give us the gift of eternal life. And, as if that were not enough, you greet us by name, as you greeted Mary in the garden, and transform our lives forever with your Easter life. Risen Lord, we worship and adore you . We pray that the Holy Spirit, your life in us, will so conform us to your image that we radiate your glory here, through our rejoicing and praise, and in all the places where people’s lives are still affected by the powers of sin and death. Alleluia! We praise you, risen Lord Jesus, and we rejoice that ‘dying once (you) all doth save,’ so that we can sing loud and clear, ‘where they victory, O grave?’
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Amen

adapted from Liturgies Online
by Moira B. Laidlaw

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Jelly beans go way back, you know. Some say they’re a confectionary descendant of ‘Turkish Delight,’ a soft, sticky candy packaged and eaten in small cubes that are dusted with sugar. Known as "lokum," Turkish Delight delighted the mouths of children even back in Bible times. The message of Easter is itself a delight, but it’s hardly just a sweat treat.

Anyone who has read C.S. Lewis’ "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe" (recently put into the movie, Narnia) remembers that with a bit of Turkish Delight, the evil queen tempted young Edmund to sell out his brother and sisters. He became what Webster’s dictionary used to define as a "jelly bean," that is "a weak, spineless person," hard on the outside, but soft on the inside.

If you’ve read or watched the rest of this Narnia story, you know that the Lion dies for Edmund. However, at the end of a dark night, the Lion comes alive again and joins the citizens of this magical land, along with Edmund and his siblings, as they overthrow the evil one. It is his resurrection, if you will, that makes it all possible. Sound familiar?

No, Easter is not just a "sweat treat," though we have surrounded it with jelly beans and children’s baskets full of candy and chocolate bunnies of which parents sneak bites. As delightful as all these things are, don’t let them tempt you away from the real meanings of today. Jesus died for you and me. At the end of a long, dark night, he rose from the grave. Through his Holy Spirit, he is with us today as we overcome evil in this world. It is his resurrection that makes it all possible...

Now is the time to return your offering as a thanksgiving to God. But, please, no jelly beans. Ushers?

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Closing Prayer
"At early dawn"

Sunburst God,
as we walk solemn paths
prepared for death,
you lead us into life.
Where we expect stone-hard barriers,
you open a way.
When we are dazed by doubt,
you dazzle us
with the tender terror of possibility.

Many-splendored Light,
you shine through sacred questions
and glow in Christ-filled memory and promise.
You send us out to tell all we can—
or simply stand amazed by all we can't.

Light that Shines Out of Darkness,
on this Easter day
and everyday,
you are the Radiant Presence
of the resurrection life
we have received.

- by Prudence Yelinek, pastor
Waynesboro, PA Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"