EASTER DAY

Before celebrating Easter, we encourage you to create a simple flower arrangement, or lone flower in bloom, Children may create a festive banner or hanging. Your altar table may be draped in white. Please have on hand a candle, or a candle for each family member and cohort, matches or other lighting source, and bells and noise makers. Also, as we are unable to gather in person, we would love to post videos of our congregation making their Easter acclamation and ringing their bells, so please consider having your cellphone ready to record that moment in our service.

The Lighting of New Fire In the darkness, fire is kindled; after which the Celebrant may address the people in these or similar words

Beloved in : On this most holy dawn, in which our Lord passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to linger in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord in which, by virtue of our baptism into his death, into the hope of his resurrection, we celebrate the New Life we have received by his Mercy, awaiting the time when we may gather again around your holy altar.

Let us pray. O God, you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We invite you to light a candle in your home (or a candle for each person in your home).

May Christ, the light of the world, bring us healing. May Christ, your light in us, drive away darkness and fear. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find our faith ever burning, our love of mercy and justice ever afire – he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

God in creation made all things, this fragile earth our Island home, all the life there in, all that we see, taste, smell, and experience, and us, created in God’s divine image. God looked upon all that was created and was deeply and eternally in love. God continually responds to creation with love and care, and God calls us respond in love.

God’s abiding love delivered his people out of bondage in Egypt into freedom, promised land, and covenant with God.

God’s love spoke through the prophets and yearned for repentance and amendment of life, but never forsake us. God’s love promised to the defeated, exiled, and hope deprived, that God will not let them go, that God can and will breath new life and wrap sinew around these dry bones.

God’s love sent his son into the world so the fullness of that love may be seen face to face. In the life, death, and that love has transformed and redeemed all creation.

The power of God’s love brings us to this moment, where we make our Easter song boldly and loudly…

ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN! THE LORD IS RISEN, INDEED!

Please record your Easter response as we ring bells or noise makers and proclaim that indeed “The Lord has risen indeed”!

Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed!

Hymn: 179 – Welcome Happy Morning!

The Collect of the Day Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayers

The Gospel: :1-18 Celebrant A reading from the . Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other , the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘ ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. Celebrant The Word of the Lord People Thanks be to God.

The : The Rev. Benjamin W. Maas

The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only , eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under ; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Blessing

Hymn 207: Jesus Christ is risen today! Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia! Now above the sky He's King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia! Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

Dismissal Celebrant Our worship is now ended and our service in the world begins. Let us proclaim that Christ is Risen! Alleluia, alleluia! People Thanks be to God! Alleluia, alleluia!