WELCOME
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

EASTER LITANY[1]
We thought you were dead.
We thought the cross was the end.
We thought that when the stone rolled over the tomb, that was it.

But this is it:
the dead are living;
the cross is empty;
the stone is rolled away, and one word describes it all:
Alleluia!
Jesus is risen!

We thought you had said your final word.
We thought those with the power had won.
We thought that when you cried out, that was it.

But this is it:
the word breathes;
the powers are defeated;
the final cry was only the beginning, and one word says it all:
Alleluia!
Jesus is risen!

We thought the story was finished.
We thought the hope had ended.
We thought that when the tomb was sealed, that was it.

But this is it:
the story has just begun;
the hope is newly born;
the tomb is empty, and one word says it all:
Alleluia!
Jesus is risen!

This is the news:
Jesus is risen!
This is the moment
Jesus is alive!
This is the gospel
Jesus is with us!

We thought that when they crucified you,
death had defeated life,
and that was it.
But this is it:
Love is stronger than death,
and one word says it all:

Alleluia!
Jesus is risen!

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.  We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

FIRST READING: Acts 10:34-43
³⁴  Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Word of the Lord

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: A Story that Changes the World[2]

We are not eye-witnesses to an event, as were Mary and the disciples;
we have not journeyed through a dangerous city to seek answers or consolation;
we have not seen angels gathering at the rim of this day,
or wept in the garden this morning because we could not find Jesus.

But we are here to attest to a story that has not lost its power during twenty centuries of change and conflict.

We are here because those before us carried this story as if it were precious gold; cherished it as if it were the key to a hidden wisdom.

Sisters and brothers in Christ, take your places here today in celebration and in awe.
What you are about to hear again, has the capacity to change the world.

Your very presence attests to the rising up of life from the tomb of despair, and to the uncontrollable power of God.

It is Easter morning again: and we will celebrate.

GOSPEL: John 20:1-18
¹ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

SERMON

APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
       creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
       born of the virgin Mary,
       suffered under Pontius Pilate,
       was crucified, died, and was buried;
       he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
       he ascended into heaven,
      he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
       and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
       the holy catholic church,
       the communion of saints,
       the forgiveness of sins,
       the resurrection of the body,
             and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

. . .  Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer. . .

With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

SHARING OF THE PEACE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERING
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

SENDING LITANY: We Praise You, O God[3]
When the day is quiet
and the world still sleeps
and the morning is crisp
and love breathes again
we praise you, O God of resurrection

When the time is now
and the moment is on us
and the place is here
and the grave clothes are folded
we praise you, O God of renewal

When the day is new
and the sun is fresh
and the world is bright
and the stone has rolled
we praise you, O God of empty tombs

Now we see the world differently
What we thought was the way of things yesterday is no longer the way of things today.
Death was yesterday, new life is today;
tombs were sealed, now they are open;
love was dead, now is alive again
death has been given a make-over;
endings have a new perspective;
things work differently now

When the shouting has stopped
and the suffering ended
and the betrayal complete
and the tomb opened wide
then we praise you, O God of life.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, we are bold to pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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, and the power, and the glory,
          forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord’s face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Dance, celebrate, sing, and shout for joy!
Christ is Risen and He goes before us,
into this world of fear and pain.
He has called us to bring good news
of healing and hope, of redemption.
Go in peace, share this Good News!
Thanks be to God!

PRAYER REQUESTS
Frank Danowsky, Marie Tanner, Sonja Noll, Irene Stark, Peg Swinehart, Alice Snyder, Greg Seibert, Harold Snyder, family and friends of Bill Krause, Colette Richards, Carlie Shaffer and baby Abi, Pat Thomas, family and friends of George Guffey, Gladys Guffey, Terry Funk, Darv Krouse, Rob Lockwood, Kevin Hosey, and Rodney Heckert.

[1] written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

[2] written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/

[3] Adapted from Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws