Prelude Christ is Alive!     Kerr 🎼

Opening words

Last we met it was dark, the mood was somber and the tomb was full. 

Last we met, there was weeping and mourning and confusion.

Last we met, we were lost.

But today… we rejoice

Because the tomb is empty

We rejoice and sing our Hallelujah’s because my friends

Christ is Risen

He is Risen Indeed

Words of Welcome

Call to Worship  🙌

Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, his faithful love lasts forever.

Christ is risen! Praise the Lord!

The sounds of joyful songs and deliverance are heard in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s strong hand is victorious!”

Christ is risen! Praise the Lord!

I won’t die—no, I will live and declare what the Lord has done.

Christ is risen! Praise the Lord!

The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone! This has happened because of the Lord; it is astounding in our sight!

Christ is risen! Praise the Lord!

Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today 🎼

Prayer of Confession  🙏

Very early in the morning, God created all that is good and beautiful. 

Very early in the morning, a mother placed her newborn in a manger. 

Very early in the morning, the good news was shared with frightened friends, that Jesus was risen and alive in our midst. 

Let us confess the fears and the amazement we bring this morning . . .

Almighty God, raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death.

We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways of the world around us.

Lord, Hear our Prayer

We confess that we overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn.

Lord, Hear our Prayer

We confess that we ignore the cries of the oppressed and are indifferent to calls for peace.

Lord, Hear our Prayer

We confess that we abuse the earth you made as a good and perfect gift.

Lord, Hear our Prayer

Forgive us, God of mercy.

Assurance of Pardon       Remembering our Baptism 💦

Time with Young Believers

Giving our Gifts to God  

We are blessed, we are blessed indeed. We give thanks for the gifts and the amazing hands at work during this time – you have been the Body of Christ and shared the joy of today. As we remember, on this day of all days, how blessed we are, we also remember that all we have is a gift from God.

Therefore, the elders and your pastoral staff are asking for you to prayerfully think about your gifts to the church at this time.

Online giving is available at tithe.ly.com

You may mail your check to the office.

Scripture Reading ✝️ 

Romans 5:12-21

Special Music Christ has Arisen      Trad. Tanzanian 🎼

Scripture Reading ✝️

Mark 16:1-8

Easter Message

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

*The Thanksgiving

Pastor Carrie: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor Carrie: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right for us to give thanks

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving, Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

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 debts as we forgive our debtors

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the Glory, the Honor

Forever and ever

Amen.

Communion of God’s People

Affirmation of Faith  

Our affirmation of faith is different this morning. On this Day of Resurrection and in this time of uncertainty, it is my hope that through these words, written by the faithful before us and answering the questions among us, we might see the faithfulness of our God and affirm His love above all else.

An Easter Affirmation of Faith during COVID 19

We give thanks that we woke up this Easter morning… and we remember that we were created in order to

           Enjoy God and glorify Him forever (Shorter Catechism Q 1)

We glorify together our God even in the midst of crisis because

God is infinite, eternal and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. (Shorter Catechism Q 4)

We remember yesterday, today and tomorrow that

We belong, body and soul, in life and in death not to ourselves but to our Savior, Jesus Christ (Heidelberg Catechism Q1)

As wars fail to cease

                       God is most just and merciful (Larger Catechism Q7)

As disease spreads

God alone is the Great Physician, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things (John 5; Larger Catechism Q7)

When it seems that evil wins

God alone is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13

In our broken and fearful world, we remember

           God alone is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

We celebrate, even when we are isolated one from another

           “For wherever two or more are gathered, there I am also” says our Lord (Mathew 18:20)

We confess when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death

           “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (1 Corinthians5:7)

Today of all days, we affirm that

           Death has been swallowed up in victory

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, o death is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:55)

With the confidence of the children of God we proclaim

           He is not here; He is risen (Matthew 28:6)

And we pray together

           Without ceasing

And we witness together

           Among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior

And we listen

           For the voices that have long been silenced.

So that on this Day of Resurrection we might rejoice

That nothing, in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Brief Statement of Faith)

AMEN AND AMEN!

The Good News

Benediction

Postlude Now the Green Blade Rises.     Sedio 🎼