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GATHERING
Welcome & Announcements[Kelly] including
- thanks to Michael and Natalie
- TST Choir, Sweehong and Becca
- participatinggradutates
- homemade gluten free bread by Catherine McPherson?
- concluding with Bill/Tom teaching “Hallelujah, Christ Is Risen” (up-tempo), then into a slower meditative version, ending in silence
The Lighting of the Paschal Candle [Kelly]
the paschal candle is lit:
Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen!
Christ Is Risen indeed!
* Song: [all standing; repeated many times, clapping, etc.]
Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen!
God is making all things new!
* Opening Prayer: [VU 174, on screen]
God of resurrection,
you have rolled the stone away
and the tomb of our world has been opened wide.
With the dawn has come a new creation.
Let our celebration today
empty our tombs,
renew our lives,
and release your power;
through the risen Christ we pray.
Amen.
* Hymn: 158 “Christ Is Alive” [piano & organ]
WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25 [student]
The Word of God.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 150: VU p. 874[student; Becca on trumpet for refrain]
Refrain: “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!” [last line of VU 169]
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43 [student]
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
Choral Anthem: “TsmindaoGhmerto”
Svaneti, N.W. Georgia, via Alan Gasser.
“Holy God, Almighty, Immortal, have mercy on us.”
Gospel: Luke 24: 1-12 [student]
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ!
Sermon: [Michael]
Silent Reflection
Choral Anthem: “Credo” Heber Romero
Prayers of the People
Sung Response: Hallelujah, Christ is Risen.
God is making all things new!(repeat)
1. Let us Pray: Holy God of creation and new creation, we give you praise and thanks for all your signs of blessingand hope: for the greening of these days, and the warmth of this community; for the freedom to choose and to follow in your way; the privilege to study and learn, teach and pray; for this College and your Church; for all people of faith who bear witness to your promise of a new covenant and a new creation.. . . .
[10 seconds silence]
Renew our lives, we pray, that we may more fully do our part in your work of making all things new. R.
2. Jesus of resurrection and new life, we praise you for your presence, alive and at work in spite of all the suffering and despair, violence and death of this world. We remember in our prayers all those whose struggles continue – for freedom and peace; for comfort or an embrace; for a home or a place; for a vote or a voice. . . .
[10 seconds silence]
Keep us from squandering the gift of your resurrection, we pray. Hold always before us both Good Friday and Easter morning, the way of your cross and the certainty of a new heaven and a new earth. R.
3. Holy Spirit of renewal and rebirth, we thank you for the promise of new life. We praise youyou’re your wisdom in the midst of change; for your solidarity in the work of transformation; for your comfort in labour of new birth; for staying with us through the night. We remember today all the varied ministries and vocations of your people. Give us your gifts of vision and courage, compassion and love, that we may know your presence and guidance on our pilgrimage of joy and service. And we remember, especially, all those who feel alone, or lost, or in need deeper companionship. Be with them, we pray, through the mystery of your life-giving Spirit, and the presence of other pilgrims along the way. . . .
[10 seconds silence]
O, Holy Spirit, keep our hearts always open to your surprising ways of new life and transformation. R.
4. And now, in the silence of our ever-present watching and waiting for your return, O Christ, keep us awake to the signs of the times, alert to the call of your voice, and listening to the beat of your heart in this world for which you lived and died and rose, and will come again. . . . [15 seconds silence]
R.
So be it. Let the people say, Amen.
TABLE
Invitation & Peace[Natalie, in her own words]
ending with:
The peace of the risen Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
signs of peace are exchanged
Presentation Hymn: “We Sing Hallelujah!” (see handout)
The Great Thanksgiving
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
In life, in death,
in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Hallelujah, thanks and praise, ever-living God,
worker of wonders, maker of miracles,
author of all life and giver of life eternal!
Out of chaos and fear you bring beauty and hope.
Out of despair and death you create courage and new life.
And so, with the risen Christ,
who makes all things new by the power of his resurrection,
we join in the song of a new day,
to sing your praise:
Sing we to our God above, hallelujah! [VU 155, verse 4]
praise eternal as God’s love; hallelujah!
praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
praise the Son and Holy Ghost! Hallelujah!
And now we recall again, with renewed memory and vision,
all those grace-filled meals
which make of this ordinary food an extraordinary feast:
unleavened bread in the terrors of the night, and manna in the wilderness;
partying with outcasts, and picking corn on the Sabbath;
a picnic on the hillside,and a breakfast on the lakeshore;
breaking bread in Emmausand, before that, a meal in an upper room:
there Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said:
“This is my body, which is for you. Do this to remember me.”
In the same way, he passed the cup after supper saying:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this whenever you drink it, to remember me.”
Remembering your boundless love for us in Jesus Christ,
from womb to tomb, and beyond the grave,
we offer you our praise as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died and Christ is risen! Hallelujah! [VU 155, B-part]
Jesus Christ will come again! Hallelujah!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here, O God.
Make of these gifts of creation a new creation.
May they bless our lives with the presence and power of the risen Christ.
May they give us comfort and strength, peace and wisdom.
May they make us whole,
and show us, through Christ,
the first fruits of a new heaven and a new earth.
By this witness, through this promise, in this hope, we praise you:
Praise the God of heav’n above! Hallelujah! [VU 155, B-part]
Praise the God of life and love. Hallelujah!
We gather these and all our prayers, thankful that we can turn to you as to a Mother, brooding over us, as to Our Father, who art in heaven, . . . .
Fraction and Pouring
the plate of gluten free prepared bread and the cup are each, in turn, raised and filled, with the words:
The body of the risen Christ, given for you.
The blood of living Christ, poured out for you.
Music during Communion:
VU 166 “Joy Comes with the Dawn”
[chorus on screen; choir helping on verses]
Joy comes with the dawn;
joy comes with with morning sun;
joy springs from the tomb
and scatters the night with her song,
joy comes with the dawn.
VU 167 “Christ Is Risen from the Dead” [words on screen]
Christ is risen from the dead, glory, hallelujah!
Jesus Christ is risen, glory, hallelujah!
Prayer after Communion: VU 188 “Easter Prayer”
GOING FORTH
Blessing of the Graduates
Hymn: VU 713 “I See a New Heaven”
Blessing and Sending Forth [Natalie & Michael]
Choral Anthem: H“KhaKhoneYaswanangleJesu”
(There’s No-one Like Jesus)