Prelude Nicaea Brass

This Joyful Eastertide arr. Charles Wood/Colin Howland

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: Mark 16:1–8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Homily: The Witness of Angels Dr. Jonny Gibson

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: Sing Choirs of New Jerusalem arr. Colin Howland
Nicaea Brass