Easter Dawn Adapted from “Easter Vigil – The Three Days to Easter” The Commission on Worship,...

Easter DawnAdapted from

“Easter Vigil – The Three Days to Easter”

The Commission on Worship, Lutheran Church of Australia.

Copyright © Lutheran Church of Australia 1997

Authorisation to copy granted to LCA Congregations

GATHERING

The service begins outside the church building, with the interior and exterior in darkness. The congregation gathers at the lit fire. Each person is given a candle, which is not lit until later.

LITURGY OF LIGHT

Opening Sentence

M: Jesus says: I was dead, but see! I am alive for ever and ever;

C: and I have the keys to Death and Hades.

(Rev 1:18NRSV)

Greeting

M: The Lord be with you

C: And also with you.

PRAYER

M: Let us pray.Lord of all creation, we thank you for the gift of fire, through which you revealed your name to Moses, your presence to Israel in the desert, and your Spirit to the church at Pentecost.

PRAYER

Let this fire be a sign of your presence with us, so that, set aflame with the fire of your love, we may come to feast with you in eternal light; through Jesus Christ, our light and life.

C: Amen.

PREPARATION OF CANDLE

M: Christ, yesterday and today,

Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

All time belongs to him,

and all the ages;

to him be glory and power,

through every age and forever. Amen.

PREPARATION OF CANDLE

By his holy,

glorious wounds,

may Christ our Lord

guard us

and keep us.

C: Amen.

LIGHTING OF CANDLE

The minister lights the paschal candle from the fire, saying:

M: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

LIGHTING OF CANDLE

The worshippers light their candles from the paschal candle.

The candle-bearer takes the candle and lifts it high, saying:

The light of Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

PROCESSION

The worshippers follow the minister and assistants into the darkened church.

the candle-bearer lifts the candle high and says :

The light of Christ.


The paschal candle is placed on a stand in the sanctuary.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

M: Rejoice, all heavenly choirs of angels, and sing for joy; sound the trumpet of victory for our marvellous king.Rejoice, all the earth, shining with the radiance of Christ our eternal king; celebrate the dawn that banishes the darkness.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

M: Rejoice, mother church, clothed with the brightness of Christ, and let this house resound with the voices of many people.

M: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.M: Let us give thanks to the Lord.C: For that is fitting and right.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

M: It is truly fitting and right, with heart and mind and voice, to praise the Father almighty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.He paid the debt of human sin, and freed us with his blood from our ancient bondage.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

M: This is our passover feast; the true lamb has been killed, and his blood protects each home and makes us holy.

This is the night when God led our ancestors, the people of Israel, out of Egypt, and brought them safely across the Red Sea on dry ground.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

This is the night when Christ broke the chains of death and ascended from hell in triumph.

This is the night when all who believe in Christ leave the darkness of sin and gather together as God's holy people.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

This is the night when no-one fears the dark, for the darkness is as light, and the sun of righteousness rises with healing in its wings.

This is the night when heaven is joined to earth, and we are joined to God.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Therefore, heavenly Father, we pray that, like this candle, the light of Christ may drive out all darkness from among us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

The lights may be switched on and the people's candles extinguished.

We sing:

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

LH 761 CAL293

Brian A. Wren 1936

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing

1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

His cross stands empty to the sky.

Let streets and homes with praises ring.

His love in death shall never die.


2. Christ is alive! No longer bound

to distant years in Palestine,

he comes to claim the here and now

and conquer every place and time.


3. Not throned above, remotely high,

untouched, unmoved by human pains,

but daily, in the midst of life,

our Saviour with the Father reigns.


4. In every insult, rift, and war,

where colour, scorn, or wealth divide,

he suffers still, yet loves the more,

and lives, though ever crucified.


5. Christ is alive! His spirit burns

through this and every future age,

till all creation lives and learns

his joy, his justice, love and praise.

†

LITURGY OF THE WORD

M: Friends in Christ: Hear the word of God which recalls how he has saved his people since ancient times.

In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was barren,

with no form of life;

it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.

The First Reading: Genesis 1:1–5, 26,27,31

3God said, "I command light

to shine!" And light started shining. 4God looked at the

light and saw that it was good.

He separated light from darkness 5and named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening came and then morning that was the first day.


26God said, "Now we will

make humans, and they

will be like us. We will let

them rule the fish, the birds,

and all other living creatures." 27So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women.



31God looked at what he had done.

All of it was very good! Evening came and then morning that was the sixth day.

C: Almighty God, as you created us wonderfully, and yet more wonderfully redeemed us through the sacrifice of our passover Lamb: Let us share the divine life of him who came to share our human life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The First Reading: Prayer Response:

The LORD told Noah:

Take your whole family with you into the boat, because you are the only one on this earth who pleases me. 2Take seven pairs of every kind of animal that can be used for sacrifice and one pair of all others. 3Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird with you.

2nd Reading Genesis 7:1-4; 9:8-13

Do this so there will always be animals and birds on the earth. 4Seven days from now I will send rain that will last for forty days and nights, and I will destroy all other living creatures I have made.


98God said to Noah and his sons: 9I am going to make a solemn promise to

you and to everyone who will live after you. 10This includes the birds and the animals that came out of the boat. 11I promise every living creature that the earth and those living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood.


12-13The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.


C: Lord God, as you rescued Noah and his family, and made a covenant with him

and his descendants: Let the whole world

see that all things are

being made new through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Response:

Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him.Abraham answered, "Here I am, LORD."

2The LORD said, "Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly

love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar."

THIRD READING Genesis 22:1–18

3So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire. He put a saddle on his donkey and left with Isaac

and two servants for the place where God had told him to go.

4Three days later Abraham looked off in the distance

and saw the place. 5He told his servants,


"Stay here with the donkey, while my son and I go over there to worship. We will come back." 6Abraham put the wood on Isaac's shoulder, but he carried the hot

coals and the knife. As the two of them walked along, 7-8Isaac

said, "Father, we have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"


"My son," Abraham answered,

"God will provide the lamb."The two of them walked on, and 9when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood. 10He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son.


11But the LORD'S angel shouted from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!""Here I am!" he answered. 12"Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!" the angel said. "Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son." 13Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes.


So he took the ram and sacrificed it

in place of his son. 14Abraham named that place

"The LORD Will Provide." And even now people say, "On

the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." 15The LORD'S angel called out from heaven a second time:


16You were willing to offer the LORD your only son, and so he makes you this solemn promise, 17"I will bless you and give you such a large family, that someday your descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky or the grains of sand along the beach. They will defeat their enemies and take over the cities where their enemies live.


18You have obeyed me, and so you and your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth.“


C: God, the Father of all the faithful, as you promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, and as you fulfilled that promise through the death and resurrection of your Son:

Prayer Response:

C: Let us obey your call and trust in the promise of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Response:

15The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you keep calling out to me for help? Tell the Israelites to move forward. 16Then hold your walking stick over the sea. The water will open up and make a road where they can walk through on dry ground. 17I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go after you. Then I will be praised because of what happens to the king and his chariots and cavalry.

Fourth ReadingExodus 14:15–31

18The Egyptians will know for sure that I am the LORD." 19All this time God's angel had gone ahead of Israel's army, but now he moved behind them. A large cloud had also gone ahead of them, 20but now it moved between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The cloud gave light to the Israelites, but made it dark for the Egyptians, and during the night they could not come any closer.


21Moses stretched his arm over the sea, and the LORD sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up, 22and the Israelites walked through on dry land with a wall of water on each side. 23The Egyptian chariots and cavalry went after them.


24But before daylight the LORD looked down at the Egyptian army from the fiery cloud and made them panic. 25Their chariot wheels got stuck,d and it was hard for them to move. So the Egyptians said to one another, "Let's leave these people alone! The LORD is on their side and is fighting against us."


26The LORD told Moses, "Stretch your arm toward the sea the water will cover the Egyptians and their cavalry and chariots." 27Moses stretched out his arm, and at daybreak the water rushed toward the Egyptians. They tried to run away, but the LORD drowned them in the sea. 28The water came and covered the chariots, the cavalry, and the whole Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea.


Not one of them was left alive. 29But the sea had made a wall of water on each side of the Israelites; so they walked through on dry land. 30On that day, when the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the shore, they knew that the LORD had saved them.


31Because of the mighty power he had used against the Egyptians, the Israelites worshiped him and trusted him and his servant Moses.


C: Lord God, as you freed your people from slavery and led them through the Red Sea as a sign of baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the world may become children of Abraham and be given new birth by water and the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

If you are thirsty, come and drink water!

If you don't have any money, come, eat what you want! Drink wine and milk without paying a cent. 2Why waste your money on what really isn't food? Why work hard for something that doesn't satisfy?

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1–11

Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods. 3Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David. 4I made him the leader and ruler of the nations;


he was my witness to them. 5You will call out to nations you have never known. And they have never known you, but they will come running because I am the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and I have honoured you.


6Turn to the LORD! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. 7Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the LORD our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins.


8The LORD says: "My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. 9Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.


10"Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don't return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. 11That's how it is with my words. They don't return to me without doing everything I send them to do."


C: Heavenly Father, as you have created all things by the power of your word, and as you bring us salvation through created things: Pour out your life-giving water and refresh those who thirst for you, so that they may produce abundant fruit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer Response :

With great understanding, Wisdom is calling out 2 as she stands at the crossroads and on every hill. 3She stands by the city gate where everyone enters the city, and she shouts: 4"I am calling out to each one of you!

5Good sense and sound judgment can be yours.

Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6

6Listen, because what I say is worthwhile and right. 7I always speak the truth and refuse to tell a lie. 8Every word I speak is honest, not one is misleading or deceptive.


19What you receive from me is more valuable than even the finest gold or the purest silver. 20I always do what is right, 21and I give great riches to everyone who loves me.


4"Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited! 5 All of you are welcome to my meat and wine. 6If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps."


C: Lord God, as you call people to follow the way of wisdom: Give us understanding and knowledge through your Holy Spirit, so that we may trust in your true wisdom, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer Response :

24I will gather you from the foreign nations and bring you home.

25I will sprinkle you with clean water, and you will be clean and acceptable

to me. I will wash away everything that makes you unclean, and I will

remove your disgusting idols. 26I will take away your stubborn heart and

give you a new heart and a desire to be faithful.

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28

You will have only pure thoughts, 27because I will put my Spirit in you and make you eager to obey my laws and teachings.

28You will once again live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be

your God.

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28

C: Almighty and merciful God, as you promised to rescue your people and give them new hearts: Lift up the fallen, and create us all anew; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer Response:

Some time later, I felt the LORD'S power take control of me, and his Spirit carried me to a valley full of bones. 2The LORD showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. 3He said, "Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?”

Eighth ReadingEzekiel 37:1-14

I replied, "LORD God, only you can answer that."

4He then told me to say:Dry bones, listen to what the LORD is saying to you, 5"I, the LORD God, will put breath in you, and once again you will live. 6I will wrap you with muscles and skin and breathe life into you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”Eighth Reading

7I did what the LORD said, but before I finished speaking, I heard a rattling noise. The bones were coming together! 8I saw muscles and skin cover the bones, but they had no life in them. 9The LORD said:

Ezekiel, now say to the wind,

Eighth Reading

"The LORD God commands you to blow from every direction and to breathe life into these dead bodies, so they can live again."

10As soon as I said this, the wind blew among the bodies, and they came back to life! They all stood up, and there were enough to make a large army. Eighth Reading

11The LORD said: Ezekiel, the people of Israel are like dead bones. They complain that they are dried up and that they have no hope for the future. 12So tell them, "I, the LORD God, promise to open your graves and set you free. I will bring you back to Israel,

Eighth Reading

13and when that happens, you will realize that I am the LORD.

14My Spirit will give you breath, and you will live again. I will bring you home, and you will know that I have kept my promise. I, the LORD, have spoken.“

Eighth Reading

C: Lord God, as you have brought us out of sin and death into new life with you, through the death and resurrection of your Son: Lead us to know your mercy in your word and sacrament now, so that we may learn to hope for all your gifts to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Response:

14Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah, celebrate and shout with all your heart! 15Zion, your punishment is over. The LORD has forced your enemies to turn and retreat. Your LORD is King of Israel and stands at your side; you don't have to worry about any more troubles.

Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20

16Jerusalem, the time is coming, when it will be said to you: "Don't be discouraged or grow weak from fear! 17The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love."


18The LORD has promised: Your sorrow has ended, and you can celebrate. 19I will punish those who mistreat you. I will bring together the lame and the outcasts, then they will be praised, instead of despised, in every country on earth.


20I will lead you home, and with your own eyes you will see me bless you with all you once owned. Then you will be famous everywhere on this earth. I, the LORD, have spoken!


C: Heavenly Father, as you saved your people Israel and brought them home with joy: Let us rejoice as you lead us to our heavenly home with you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer Response:

We sing:

Father welcomes all His Children

LH 826 CAL293

Robin Mann


To His Family through His son.

Father giving His salvation,

Life Forever has been won.


1. Little Children come to me,

for My kingdom is of these.

Life and love I have to give,

Mercy for your sin.


2. In the water, in the Word,

in His promise, be assured:

Those who are baptized and believe,

Shall be born again.


3. Let us daily die to sin;

let us daily rise with Him

Walk in the love of Christ our Lord,

Live in the peace of God.






†


3Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.

CONFESSION OF BAPTISMAL FAITH

BAPTISMAL READINGRomans 6:3–11

5If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people.


8As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God.


11In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God. This is the word of the Lord.



M: Let us pray.Almighty and gracious God, as you have united us with the death of our Lord Jesus Christ through the waters of holy baptism, guide us as we live out the life he gained for us this night. Strengthen us in faith, so that we may triumph over the powers of darkness and reign with you in eternal light;


through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.


101

Holy Baptism

Welcome in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

102

Holy baptismSCRIPTURAL COMMAND

Our Lord Jesus Christ says: All authority in

heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all

nations, baptising them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything I

have commanded you. And surely I am with

you always, to the very end of the age.

103

Holy baptismADDRESS

The word of God teaches that we are born

sinful and unclean, but God washes us clean

in the waters of baptism, and we are born

again as his children. Through baptism our

heavenly Father forgives us our sins and

unites us with our Lord Jesus Christ, so that

we share in his death and resurrection. And

the Holy Spirit renews us and gives us

eternal life.

104

Holy baptismADMONITION

Parents and sponsors of Marlie.Since you have brought her to be

baptised, you are responsible for her upbringing in the church. Remember her in your prayers. Bring her to the services in God's house and teach her the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments. Remind her of her baptism, set her a good example, and provide for her instruction in the faith.

105

Holy baptismADMONITION

Do you intend to do this? Yes, I do.

106

Holy baptismOPENING OF EARS AND MOUTH

The Lord made the deaf hear and the

dumb speak. Therefore in His name I

say: Be opened, so that you may hear

and speak the word of God.

107

Holy baptismSIGNING WITH THE CROSS

Marlie, receive the mark of the holy cross

†, as a sign that Christ the crucified has

redeemed you.

108

Holy baptismPRAYER

M: Let us pray.

Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: give Marlie your grace through rebirth by the Holy Spirit. Receive her according to your promise: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.’

109

Holy baptismPRAYER

Wash her clean and make them holy, so that they may enter your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

110

Holy baptismRECEPTION OF GOSPEL

Marlie, receive the good news of our Lord

Jesus Christ who says: I tell you the

truth, no one can see the kingdom of God

without being born again; no one can

enter the kingdom of God without being

born through water and the Spirit. Flesh

gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives

birth to spirit.

111

LORD’S PRAYER

Marlie, when Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them his own prayer. Receive the prayer of our Lord as we pray together:

112

LORD’S PRAYER(We pray together)

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 for ever. Amen.

113

Holy baptismTRANSITIONAL BLESSING

M: The Lord watch over you, as you go

out and as you come in, now and

forever.

C: Amen

114

Holy baptismRENUNCIATION AND CONFESSION

Parents and Sponsors of Marlie:

Answer on behalf of her as she renounces the devil and declares allegiance to the Triune God.

115

Holy baptism

Marlie Paige Hilt, do you reject the devil and everything he does, so that you will no longer be led by him?

Yes, I do.

116

Holy baptism

Marlie, do you believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth?

Yes, I do.

117

Holy baptismDo you believe 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Yes, I do.

118

Holy baptismDo you 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?Yes, I do.

* or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal’

119

Holy baptismDESIRE FOR BAPTISM

M: Marlie, do you want to be baptised?

S: Yes, I do.

120

Holy baptismBAPTISM

Marlie Paige Hilt, I baptise you in the

name of the Father †

and of the Son †

and of the Holy Spirit †.

Amen.

121

Holy baptismLAYING ON OF HANDS

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has given you new birth by water

and the Spirit and has forgiven you all

your sins, strengthen you with his Spirit,

so that you receive eternal life.

Amen.

122

Holy baptismPRESENTATION OF CANDLE

Because you belong to the Lord, you are

in the light. So live as a child of the light.

123

Holy baptismPRAYER

M: Let us pray for Marlie.Merciful Father, we thank you that you

extend your church throughout the world. As you have written Marlie’s name in the book of life and have made her a member of the body of your Son, guide her , so that with all your saints, she may reach her heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

124

Holy baptismRECEPTION

Members of Trinity congregation: Receive

Marlie, whom God has given to us as

our sister and brother in Christ.

Pray for her and be a good example to

her.

125

Holy baptismPEACE

The peace of the Lord † be with you.

Amen.

RENUNCIATION AND CONFESSION

M: Brothers and sisters in Christ: Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?

C: Yes, I do.


M: Do you believe in God the Father?

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.


M: Do you believe in God the Son?

C: I believe 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 into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty,


from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.


M: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

C: 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.


M: Do you intend to remain firm in this faith and reflect it in love to God and your neighbour?

C: Yes, I do.

• * or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal'


M: God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you new birth by water and the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with his Spirit †, so that you receive eternal life.

Liturgy of the SacramentGreeting

M: The Lord be with you.


Prayer of Easter Vigil

M: Let us pray.

Lord God our Father, maker of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb to await the glory that would be revealed,

Prayer of Easter Vigil

so we may endure the darkness of this present time in the sure confidence that we shall rise with him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

CAL 293 Words: African-American Spiritual


I was there when they crucified my Lord. I was there when they crucified my Lord. Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. I was there when they crucified my Lord.


I was there when they laid him in the tomb,

I was there when they laid him in the tomb,

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

I was there when they laid him in the tomb.


I was there when he rose from out the tomb.

I was there when he rose from out the tomb.

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

I was there when he rose from out the tomb. †

Easter Gospel

M: The holy gospel is written in chapter 16 of the Gospel according to St Mark, beginning at verse 1.

C: Glory to you, O Lord

Mark 16:1-8

Mark 16:1-8

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some spices to put on Jesus' body. 2Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was coming up, they went to the tomb.

Mark 16:1-8

3On their way, they were asking one another, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance for us?" 4But when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And it was a huge stone!

Mark 16:1-8

5The women went into the tomb, and on the right side they saw a young man in a white robe sitting there. They were alarmed. 6The man said, "Don't be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross..

Mark 16:1-8

God has raised him to life, and he isn't here. You can see the place where they put his body. 7Now go and tell his disciples, and especially Peter, that he will go ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.“

Mark 16:1-8

8When the women ran from the tomb, they were confused.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.C: Praise to You O Christ.

Sermon

M: The Peace of the

Risen Lord be with you.

C: Amen.

Sermon

We sing as our offering is received:

Chief of sinners though I be v. 1,2,4

LH 170 CAL 293William McComb 1793-1873, alt.

Chief of sinners though I be

1. Chief of sinners though I be,Jesus shed his blood for me,died that I might live on high,lived that I might never die;as the branch is to the vine,I am his and he is mine.


2. O the height of Jesus' love!Higher than the heavens above,deeper than the depths of sea,lasting as eternity;love that found me - wondrous

thought!found me when I sought him not.


4. Chief of sinners though I be,Christ is all in all to me;all my needs to him are known,all my sorrows are his own;safe with him from earthly strife,he sustains the inner life.

†

Offering Prayer

M: Everliving God, let the resurrection of your Son fill us with hope and joy. May our lives and our gifts help to bring your new life to others.

C: Amen.

Prayer

M: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

M: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.


Prayer

M: For the peace of the whole world, for the wellbeing of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.


Prayer

M: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.


M: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C: Amen.

COMMUNION LITURGY

M: The Lord be with you.


M: Lift up your hearts.

C: we lift them to the Lord.

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

COMMUNION LITURGY

M: It is indeed right and good, Lord God, holy Father, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION LITURGY

But most of all we praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son, the true Passover Lamb, who has taken away the sin of the world.

COMMUNION LITURGY

By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising again he has restored life. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the other witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim,

COMMUNION LITURGY

we adore and praise your glorious name:

C: Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might; Alleluia;

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Alleluia.

Lord’s Prayer

C: 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.

Lord’s Prayer

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take and eat; this is † my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

Words of Institution

In the same way he took the cup, after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, Drink of it, all of you; this is † my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

The Invitation

M: Jesus says,

‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.’


M: Come everything is ready.

Distribution

When the minister and his assistants give the bread and the cup they say,

Take and eat, this is the body of Christ, given for you.

Take and drink, this is the blood of Christ, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

Communion Hymn

O welcome, all you noble saints of old

LH840 CAL293

Robert Stamps (1972)


1. O welcome, all you noble saints of old,

as now before your very eyes unfold

the wonders all so long ago foretold:

God and man at table are sat down,

God and man at table are sat down.


2. Elders, martyrs, all are falling down,

prophets, patriarchs are gathering round.

What angels longed to see now man has found:




3. Beggars, lame, and harlots also here;

repentant publicans are drawing near,

wayward sons come home without a fear:




4. Who is this who spreads the victory feast,

who is this who makes our warring cease?

Jesus, risen Saviour, Prince of peace:




5. Here he gives himself to us as bread;

here, as wine, we drink the blood he shed.

Born to die, we eat and live instead!




6. Worship in the presence of the Lord

with joyful songs and hearts in one accord,

and let our host at table be adored:




7. When at last this earth shall pass away,

when Jesus and his bride are one to stay,

the feast of love is just begun that day:



†

The Dismissal

M: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ make you strong in body and soul to life eternal. Go in peace.

C: Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer

M: Let us pray.

Strengthen, O Lord, the hands that have received your holy things, so that they may daily do your work and honour you. Let the ears that have heard your word be closed to the noise of clamour and dispute;


let the eyes that have seen your great love also look on your face; let the tongues that have united with the angels in praising your holiness speak the truth; let the feet that have entered your presence walk in the light;


and let the souls and bodies that have fed on your living body be restored to new life with you. And let your great love stay with us, so that we may give praise to you, now and forever.

C: Amen.

CONCLUSION - Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, all creation;

C: sing his praise and honour him forever.

M: Praise the Lord, all angels of the Lord;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, all heavenly powers;


M: Praise the Lord, sun and moon;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, stars of heaven;


M: Praise the Lord, rain and dew;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, all winds;


M: Praise the Lord, bitter cold and scorching heat;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, daylight and darkness;


M: Praise the Lord, lightning and storm clouds;


Canticle

M: Let the earth praise the Lord;


M: Praise the Lord, mountains and hills;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, everything that grows;


M: Praise the Lord, lakes and rivers;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, whales and sea creatures;


M: Praise the Lord, all birds;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, all cattle and wild animals;


M: Praise the Lord, all people on earth;


Canticle

M: Praise the Lord, all faithful people;


M: Praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;


Blessing

M: The God of peace, who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will;

Blessing

M: and the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favour †, and give you peace.

C: Amen.

Dismissal

M: Go in peace, as witnesses of the Risen Lord.

C: In the name of Christ. Amen.

Recessional Hymn

We sing:

We welcome glad Easter

LHS 768 CAL293

Author unknown


1. We welcome glad Easter when Jesus arose

and won a great victory over his foes.

Then raise your glad voices, all children and sing;

bring sweet Easter praises to Jesus, our King.


2. And tell how three Marys came early that day

and there at the tomb found the stone rolled away:




3. And sing of the angel who said: ‘Do not fear!

Your Saviour is risen again; he is not here’:




4. So think of the promise which Jesus did give,

that those who believe in him also shall live:


bring sweet Easter praises to Jesus, our King. †

Easter Dawn Adapted from “Easter Vigil – The Three Days to Easter” The Commission on Worship,...

Documents

Transcript of Easter Dawn Adapted from “Easter Vigil – The Three Days to Easter” The Commission on Worship,...