Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
April 4, 2010
Worship 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:10am
Easter Sunday
“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.”
(Luke 24:10-11)
Beginning with Praise
(9:50 am)
Announcements
Prelude
Be
glad and rejoice in what God is creating - a new heaven and a
new earth. The promise of joy and gladness for all people.
The promise of Eden restored, where every living creature lives
in harmony. Promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who died to defeat
evil, and rose to give us life.
So let us be glad and rejoice in what God has created in us -
new life - the life
of the risen Christ. Alleluia! Amen!
We thank you, God,
for this brand new morning, broken open for us like an egg whose
shell cracks wide and gives way to life. With awe and wonder, we
stand and behold what we scarcely can speak, our “Alleluia,
Christ is risen!” an exclamation all-too-insufficient to convey
the hope this day stirs within us. Move among this band of Jesus
followers, taking us as we are and nudging us toward your
future, O God. Forgive and live, really Live in and through us.
Not just today, but every morning, as we daily die to sin and
rise to new life with Christ. That is our unspoken longing, the
seed you have planted within through your Holy Spirit, the very
air we breathe. Dwell in this service of worship, Lord, as these
symbols of resurrection point us toward your kingdom. This we
pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Please be seated.
Bringing Forth the Symbols of the
Resurrection
The Shroud
(Two people carry a plain
white cloth and lay it on the worship center with these words:)
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
(A jar filled with fragrant
oil is placed on the worship center with these words:)
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
(A stone - as large as
possible - is placed on, or in front of, the table with these
words:)
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
(A large loaf is placed on
the table with these words:)
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
(The cup is placed on the
table with these words:)
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
(A rough hewn cross is placed
against the front of the table with these words:)
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
(A lit ‘Christ candle’ is
placed on the table or stand with these words:)
This candle reminds us that Jesus Christ is
the light of the world.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
further adapted from a service by
Moira B Laidlaw,
who borrowed it from a liturgy by Norman Hogg W.A.,
published in ‘On the Move’ some years ago.
For
Children
“The
Easter Balloon”
Theme: Easter promises that all people will come
back to life.
Easter celebrates the day when Jesus overcame death and was
returned to life. According to Paul, this event was a
demonstration of what will happen for all people. All will be
raised to life, just as all will die.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22
Device: A balloon; a marking pen
Goals: To communicate the meaning of Easter
To affirm that all people will die
To affirm that all people will come back to life
Technique: The balloon will be used to symbolize
people. This is best done by choosing one child to identify with
the balloon.
Ask the children,
"Who makes us alive?" They will know that God does this.
Affirming their answer, ask the children to pretend the balloon is
a person. Suggest that they name the balloon after a particular
child, choosing one from volunteers. Blow up the balloon and make
the child alive. After the balloon is inflated, draw a face on it,
letting the children tell you what to draw. Shall you draw eyes?
Shall you draw a nose? A big one? Do anything that makes the
balloon more like a person. If you've named the balloon after a
girl, for example, take someone's Easter hat and place it on the
balloon.
After the balloon
has been transformed, ask the children what happens to all people
who have been made alive by God. They all die. All of us here will
die. Let out the air and show them the deflated, wrinkled balloon.
The face on the balloon will look deathly. But what happened to
Jesus after he died? The children will, we hope, know this. Do
they think they will come back to life too? God made Jesus alive
again, and that is also what God will do to all of us. After we
die, God will make each one of us alive, just like Jesus. Blow up
the balloon again. This time, tie a knot at the end of the
balloon. Easter promises us that we all will come back to life
after we die, and never die again.
Notes: You can tie this lesson to the description
of God breathing life into a human being in Genesis 2:7.
After this
lesson, all the children wanted balloons. If you want to go to the
expense, you may give each child a balloon.
If you have time,
each child may draw his or her face on a balloon and go through
the lesson together.
God of all Ages, you have emptied the tomb and set us free from our
burdens. Hope has overshadowed fear. Comfort has replaced
neglect. Faith has gained victory over doubt. The bounds of
everyday living, often overwhelming our souls and weakening our
spirits, are liberated by Jesus Christ. Today, we recommit to
offering comfort, hope, and faith as your generous disciples to
others who are driven by fear, neglect, and doubt. We offer these
gifts in honor of your Easter promise. Alleluia and Amen.
With Christians of every age, with
Christians from every nation, we proclaim:
Christ our Lord is risen today! Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory?
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Christ is risen!
Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
by
Jack W
Lowe, jr., from Living Waters:
Worship Resources for Congregational Life,
No. 18, March 1994 (Church of the Brethren).
(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)
Interested in Sunday School? Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit.
As you discover others, please let
us know.
International Lesson: Adult
Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement"
under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)