Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
March 23, 2008
7:30 am

Call to Worship           "Awake, arise, O sing a new song"                            56

Prayer

Hymn                              "Low in the grave he lay"                                     273

Responsive Scripture                                                                                  853

Song                                "For the moments I feel faint"                  (see bulletin)

Play – part 1

Hymn                                         "Guide my feet"                                        546

Play – part 2

Prayer

Hymn                              "Lord, I lift your name on high"               (see bulletin)

Sending

Easter breakfast

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book
  

This service was planned, written, and led by the Junior High age youth of this congregation.

Prayer

         Glory and praise to You, Risen Savior, for You bring light to our darkness, joy to our sorrow, and the fullness of love to our reluctant hearts.
         Once and for all You have conquered sin and evil.  In the glory of Your Resurrection we have been set free from all that keeps us from following You.
         In this Easter season, fill our hearts with Your Light and Grace that we might joyfully echo the words of Your Holy Angels:
                  He is not here in the tomb: 
                  He is risen!
                  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
                  Amen.

(author unknown)
  

Responsive Scripture
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
      everything old has passed away;
      see, everything has become new!
All this is from God,
      who reconciled us to himself through Christ,
      and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
      that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself,
            not counting their trespasses against them,
            and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
      since God is making his appeal through us;
            we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,
      so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Play – part 1

          (Big box or cardboard cut out on stage left. It should be on the upper area. Another cardboard piece must be in front of it to look like a boulder. Two guards are standing on either side of it. MM and M enter from stage right in the lower area in mourning colors)

N: After the Sabbath, at dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went back to see the body of Jesus Christ. But when they got there, there was a violent earthquake.

MM: (surprised)   Oh    (falls to the ground from the quaking)

M: (holds out a hand to help her up)

G: (appears next to the stone)

G1 and G2: (unaware of the angel)

MM: (doesn’t see Mary’s hand. Looks at Angel)

G: (moves stone away from tomb and leans on it)

G1 and G2: (yell and fall to the floor)

M: (turns her head abruptly when she hears the yell)

N: There, on the rolled away boulder, sat Gabriel, the Lords Angel, garbed in magnificent white robes and he said to them….

G: Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for the crucified one.

MM: (nods slowly)

G: He isn't there for he has arisen just as he told you he would.

M & MM: (gasp)

G: Come and see. The tomb is empty. (beckons them)

M: (helps Mary M up)

M & MM: (slowly walks toward the tomb and peer in)

M: I-I….Its empty (astonished)

MM: We believe now. What would you like us to do?

G: Go quickly and tell the disciples of the wonderful news.

 M & MM: (nods and rushes through the middle walkway. They make there way around to go back up front to sing)

written by Tessa Haynes
  

Play – part 2

       (Tomb must be removed while their running. MM & M come running out on lower area, heaving and panting. Jesus is standing there, smiling.)

N: They had been running for awhile when suddenly a man appeared in their path. No it couldn't be him. Could it?

J: Shalom

M & MM: (run to him and sit at his feet)

N: It was Jesus. The two Mary’s ran to him and clasped his feet, praising and worshipping him. Then Jesus said…

J: Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

M & MM: (nod and go down the middle walkway again, running. This time they exit the sanctuary.)

N: And they left, crying "Joy be to God" for their savior was once again with them............ To be continued (in the 10am service)

written by Tessa Haynes
  

Prayer

Father God, Thank you for New Life

For Spring flowers, baby chicks, new born lambs

For Spring sunshine and rain showers

(author unknown)
 

Sending

Now, if you all would join us in the Fellowship Hall for our Easter Sunrise breakfast. Rejoice for he lives! Hallelujah! Shalom!