Prelude Nicaea Brass

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain arr. Todd Marchand

Call to Worship

Acclamation

Minister: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Christ is risen!

People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Invocation

Hymn: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Easter Hymn

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!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia! Christ has burst the gates of hell; Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise; Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

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!

Soar we now where Christ has led; Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise; Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies; Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and heav’n! Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be giv’n; Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now; Alleluia! Hail, the Resurrection, Thou! Alleluia!

Apostles’ Creed

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 Ghost, 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 sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn: Up from the Grave He Arose Christ Arose

Low in the grave he lay–Jesus, my Savior, waiting the coming day–Jesus, my Lord.

(Refrain)

Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch his bed–Jesus, my Savior; vainly they seal the dead–Jesus, my Lord. (Refrain)

Death cannot keep his prey–Jesus, my Savior; he tore the bars away–Jesus, my Lord. (Refrain)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1–15

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Homily: He Is Risen, Indeed! Rev. Greg Hobaugh

Hymn: Thine Be the Glory Maccabeus

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded graveclothes, where Thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing, for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught without Thee; aid us in our strife.

Make us more than conqu’rors, thro’ Thy deathless love: bring us safe thro’ Jordan to Thy home above.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.

Benediction

Postlude: The Lord Is Risen Indeed William Billings/arr. Todd Marchand Nicaea Brass