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APRIL 20, 2025
EASTER SUNDAY
REV. KENDRA BALLIET
ORGANIST JAMES ROSS

PRELUDE – Christ is Ris’n, Alleluia – Anthony Giamanco 
 
ENTRANCE  
The service begins in silence.  
A processional party (clergy, worship leaders) gather at the back of the worship space. 
 
Reading:  The Mourning John 20:1 
Response (sung): 
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my savior, 
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord! 
The procession begins during the singing and proceeds to the baptismal font, placed in a main aisle, well in front of the Lord’s table. 
 
Reading:  The Investigation John 20: 2-10 
Response:  “Up from the Grave He Arose” -UMH #322, vs 2 (no chorus) 
The procession continues and all in it reach their destinations.  
 
Reading: The Encounter John 20:11-17 

Response:  “Up from the Grave He Arose” - UMH #322, vs 3 & chorus 

The Easter Acclamation (3x) 
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen. 
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! 
 
Children’s Chat 

Offertory (Our Gratitude to the Lord) – Voluntary on “Victory” -Robert Lind 
Doxology 

Prayers of the People

Prayer Hymn “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” - UMH #302 
 
Pastoral Prayer 

Reading John 20:18 

Sermon - “Beautiful Pieces” 

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION 

Alleluia. The risen Christ is with us. 
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
 
Death is conquered! Sin’s power is broken. 
Praise to you, Conquering God! 
 
We have seen your glory. 
And we are yours! 
 
We are yours, all yours, blessed Triune God, 
all our lives, all our thanks, all our praise, 
we give it all to you, with all our bodies, and minds, and voices. 
Yours, all yours! 
 
Yours the blessing, yours the praise, 
from the unimaginable silence before creation, 
beyond the farthest reaches of time and space our instruments may ever find, 
from infinity to infinity, everlasting to everlasting, 
you are God, boundless in love and power. 
We stand in awe, trembling in the light of your glory! 
 
What are we that you should notice us? 
What are we that you should love us? 
What are we that you should call us into covenant with you, 
a covenant we continually broke, 
and you continuously sustained. 
Mercy! How full of mercy! 

How can we but praise you, 
joining our voices with the song of angels and saints, 
seraphim and martyrs, 
strangers and family in every generation: 
Jesus Christ who comes in our God's name, you are worthy, worthy! 
Lamb of God who died and rose again, you are worthy, worthy! 
Hosanna now we sing! Hosanna now we sing! 
 
You are holy, O God! 
Holy! 
You are worthy, O Christ! 
Worthy! 
Worthy in your birth! Worthy in your living! 
Worthy in your loving! Worthy in your serving! 
 
Worthy when you preached good news 
that God's kingdom has drawn near 
and gather disciples, then and now, to learn and show the world 
what life in God's reign means: 
healing for the sick. 
new life for the dead, 
cleansing for the lepers, 
freedom for the possessed, 
new birth, new hope, new creation breaking in for all. 
Worthy! Worthy! Worthy above all! 
 
Worthy too, the night we betrayed you, 
when you took the bread, blessed it and broke it, 
and gave it to your disciples. 
Worthy when you told them, 
"This is my body broken for you. Remember me." 
We remember. 
 
Worthy when you took the cup, 
praised God and shared it, 
and worthy when you said, 
"This is my blood of the new covenant for you. 
Remember me." 
We remember. 
And on this day of days, 
we proclaim above all, 
worthy were you when the angels rolled away the stone, 
and you came forth from the tomb, 
trampling down death by death 
and to all in the graves 
restoring life. 
We remember, and we praise you with our lives. 
 
We remember, and we praise you with our lives 
and these gifts of bread and wine, 
proclaiming with one voice the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. 
 
Even so, come upon us, Holy Spirit. 
Come upon us, Holy Spirit. 
Come upon these gifts. 
Come upon these gifts. 
Make them be for us Christ's body, Christ's blood. 
Make us one body in Christ enlivened by his blood. 
 
One in heart, one in mind, one in you, Holy Spirit, 
as you move us to pray for the church and the world: 
That we with Mary Magdalene may proclaim the gospel boldly: 
Hear us, O God. 
That we may offer your healing for all who are sick, or torn, or weary: 
Hear us, O God. 
That many dead and left for dead may be raised, and death’s power vanquished: 
Hear us, O God. 
That all who are unclean may receive your cleansing grace: 
Hear us, O God. 
 That all who are possessed, oppressed, distressed, depressed and downcast may be set free at last.  
Hear us, O God. 
 
Even so, come and fill this feast, Holy Spirit, 
this day, and every day until that day 
when we eat it new at the marriage supper of the Lamb 
and our Easter rejoicing shall know no end. 
 
All blessing, honor, glory and power 
be yours, Holy Triune God, 
now and forever. 
Amen! 
 
Communion 
 
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION 
Triune God, 
you have fed us with the body and blood of Christ, 
uniting us with you, 
filling us with the power that raised Jesus from the dead. 
Send us, rejoicing, to declare with Mary, 
in hearts, and hands, and voices, 
that day has dawned,  
and we have seen the Risen Lord. Amen. 
  
*HYMN “He Lives”     # 310 
 
SENDING FORTH 
Pastor: Go in peace, filled with the love and power of the Risen Christ. 
 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 
POSTLUDE – Toccata – C.M. Widor                
 
Expect this service to change at any moment upon the movement of the Holy Spirit. 
This service will be recorded.