PAUSE FOR REFLECTION | Pope John Paul II
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
CALL TO WORSHIP | Chris Neufelderdman, 2016
The pain of our Good Fridays still lingers among us.
We still dwell inside the long waiting of our Holy Saturdays. Old wounds hold us in calloused hearts. Ancient histories mold our souls in fear. New worries drag us toward the abyss of dread.
Yet, Easter comes our way again, and we are awakened to a new day of hope and possibility. Christ is raised. Life bursts forth again. Angels sing, creation dances, and the oppressed find their voices.
The poor find reason to hope, neighbors come together in acts of justice, and tyrants gather to put down the insurrection.
Eastered again by your Spirit of life, we dare to trust a different future for all.
Eastered again we open ourselves to possibilities never imagined, new opportunities we’ve not yet dared to dream.
Eastered again, we pledge ourselves to live Resurrection—to live unashamed, unfettered by guilt; to act in boldness, unbounded by our fears; to love without limits, disloyal to the petty prejudices and uncharitable bigotries that pervade our land.
Christ is risen! Life has conquered! Love knows no end! Hallelujah! Amen.
OPENING HYMN | “Jesus Christ Has Risen Today” led by Southminster Choir
TRADITION OF “FLOWERING THE CROSS“
Southminster Community Video
MINUTE FOR MISSION
There are so many exciting ways that God is working through each of us and in this community. As we consider our receiving and our giving to the works of ministry in this place and in the world, may we remember that we belong to God.
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
CHRISTIAN READING |Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
THEME VIDEO | “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
SPECIAL MUSIC | “Easter” from Five Mystical Songs
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Sung by Jason Sabino
SERMON| “Rise Up!”
by Rev. Don Ludwig
SPECIAL MUSIC | “In the Bleak Midwinter”
by Sandy Ruff on Flute
CELEBRATING AMANDA OLSON AND BLESSING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
- Pam and Ron Gross’s daughter, Dinah, moved to Alabama and was in the midst of tornadoes this past week.
- Donna Bekooy’s sister is in hospice in Chicago; Donna is heading there this week.
- Carol Howe is still recovering from surgery.
- Alice Check’s mother in law passed away last week.
- Karen Wittenburg has moved and continues cancer treatments. Prayers for her doctor’s appointment tomorrow.
- Bob Buell passed away on Friday, March 26. Please keep Terri (niece), Robin (daughter), and Christopher (son) in your prayers.
- Bert Schmidt continues treatment. Please keep him and Sue Chandler, daughter, in prayer.
CORPORATE PRAYER | An Easter Prayer
by Julie Palmer, 2020
Loving and Risen Lord, today we remember the veil of darkness transforming to the brightest light. The most dreadful end becoming the most beautiful beginning. We remember with trembling hearts the depths of despair fading to reveal hope everlasting. The curse of death defeated by eternal life. Today we remember with thankfulness your willingness to be pierced for the good of all. We sing with abounding joy of your miraculous rise, from death’s tomb to resplendent life. Thank you for the promise of heaven on earth and your generous invitation of eternal life for all. Amen.
