If you’re looking for our Easter celebration service, you can find it HERE.

This is a simple sunrise liturgy, in which you’re encouraged to get outside – front porch, back yard, balcony, whatever – and take in a first reading of the good news of Easter! If it is possible for you to print the liturgy so as to not be bound to a device (we’ve probably all had a lot of screen time in our lives over the last while…), you are encouraged to download / print the file below. If you are unable to print from home, the liturgy is posted further below.

Scripture Reading – Matthew 28:1-10

Read the passage aloud – whether you are alone or with others.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Reflection Question

Take some time to write down your answers to the following question, or, if you are meeting with others, to discuss them.

What word or phrase moves you this morning as you read / heard this?

Affirming Our Faith

Read the Apostle’s Creed aloud – whether you are alone or with others.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again 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.

Easter Hymn – “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”

Sing or read aloud.

1.   Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

2.   Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

3.   Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

4.   Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

5.   Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

6.   King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy pow’r to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Closing Prayers

Pray for the Easter celebration services taking place all over the world. Though we can’t meet in person, pray that today especially the Spirit would bind us together with the bond of resurrection hope. Pray that joy might fill each heart today, casting out gloom and disbelief. Pray for those now who have not yet awaken for the day, that they might, upon waking, sense the joy and peace of Christ the risen One.