Posted 521 days ago

Easter Sunday Liturgy

by Christine Sine

Before you begin this liturgy, set up Easter stations around your church or your living room with these symbols:

• A half-solved jigsaw puzzle surrounded by small candles, representing the places in which we feel confused about the love of God
• A huge paper heart surrounded by pens and paper, representing the love of God
• A bowl of small stones, representing the faithfulness of God
• A flowering plant or an Easter garden, representing the empty tomb

• At the front of the room build an altar with a cross. Begin the liturgy standing around the cross and decorate it with flowers.

Good news, good news!
The stone is rolled away and the grave is empty,
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
Early in the morning the women met him,
In the garden of new life He spoke to them.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
He came to those who were hiding and afraid,
He unlocked the doors and sent them into the world.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
He walked with those who were confused,
He explained the scriptures and answered the questions of life.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
He showed his wounds to those who doubted,
And enabled them to believe that he could heal the world’s pain.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
He came to friends who had turned back,
He made breakfast for them and commanded them to go and feed others.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
Jesus still comes to meet us; he penetrates our doubts, our confusion, and our fear,
He nourishes our souls with the bread of life.
Hallelujah, Christ is risen!
Good news, good news!
In Jesus Christ, God has given all his love to us and it is our joy to follow him,
Now our lives are filled with meaning.
Hallelujah, Jesus Christ is risen indeed!

Read Scripture:

Psalm 148
Exodus 12: 1-14
John 1: 1-18
John 20: 1-23

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and forever. Amen.

Move around the room and pause at each station:

• Light a candle for those places in your life in which you feel confused because you cannot see the love of God
• Take a piece of paper and write on it words that remind you of the love of God
• Take a stone and hold it in your hand for the remainder of the service as a reminder that as the stone is rolled away Jesus comes to us as an expression of the faithfulness of God’s love.

• End at the empty tomb and pray this prayer:

Have you heard the good news?
The risen Christ has come among us,
He is risen from the dead and has brought us new life.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, do not be afraid,
He casts out fear, calms our doubts, dispels our confusion,
He comes with infinite love and compassion,
He is the way, the truth and the life,
He opens a doorway to God’s resurrection world,
And calls us to new life in God’s everlasting love.

If possible share the bread and the wine of communion or have a time for each person to share the ways in which they have experienced the love of God in the midst of pain, confusion, and doubt. Pray over each person. End with the following prayer together:

As Christ loves us, let us love one another deeply from the heart.
Let us break the bread of new life where the world is still in pain,
And share the wine where people need to be filled with God’s joy.
Let us extend God’s love to all who are oppressed and in need,
Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
He is risen indeed. Thanks be to God. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Amen.

Add your comment or view comments » 1 people have responded