Easter Service
Easter Sunday
Telling the Good News
This service is especially appropriate for children and youth to present. It involves telling the story of Christ’s life.
GOD WITH US
Prelude
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*Hymn to Prepare: "Tell Me the Story of Jesus"
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HS 215
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*Invocation
*Response
Welcome
Reader 1:
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We welcome you today. If you were with us in December, you’ll remember that we listened to the words of the angel to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. We listened to the angel warning Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt with their baby.
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Reader 2:
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When we were all together in December, only fifteen weeks ago, we were looking forward to the celebration of the babe in Bethlehem. We thought of Emmanuel, God with us.
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[Place a manger in the center of the rostrum.]
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Congregational Hymn: "Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus"
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HS 201
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Reader 3:
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Truly, God in the person of the Son, lived on this earth among us. God became like us. Jesus grew up in the town called Nazareth. We have heard stories about Jesus’ growing-up years.
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Reader 4:
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How he scared his parents by disappearing in the city of Jerusalem when he was only twelve years old! And how surprised the great teachers of the temple were to hear Jesus answer their difficult questions. We also remember the story of Jesus’ baptism and how the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon him.
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[Place a dove near the manger in the worship setting.]
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Response Hymn: "Afar in Old Judea" (stanza 1)
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HS 296
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Reader 1:
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Right after Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led him into the wilderness. And while he was there, Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. He was hungry! Today we remember those forty days and nights during the period from Ash Wednesday through Saturday of Holy Week. Those forty days are called the season of Lent
- a time when we think often about Jesus’ suffering and death for our sins.
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Reader 2:
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Following those forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted. When Jesus wouldn’t listen, Matthew tells us, "The devil left him, and angels came and attended him."
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Reader 3:
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Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus often went away on his own to a quiet place where he could talk to God alone in prayer.
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[Place praying hands in the worship setting.]
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Congregational Hymn: "O Young and Fearless Prophet"
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HS 210
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Reader 4:
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After he left the wilderness, Jesus began his public ministry of preaching, healing, and storytelling. We remember many stories about Jesus’ life and ministry among us.
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Reader 1:
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The wedding at Cana, the sermon on the mount, the Lord’s Prayer.
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Reader 2:
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Blind Bartimaeus was given sight, Jairus’ daughter was brought back to life, and Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Five thousand people were fed from five loaves and two fish.
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Reader 3:
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Remember Zacchaeus, the ten lepers, the keepers of the Law, and the parable of the
sower?
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Reader 4:
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And don’t forget the paralyzed man lowered through the roof, the parable of the lost sheep and the big parade on Palm Sunday.
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[Place bread, fish, and a palm branch in the worship setting.]
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Ministry of Music: "When, His Salvation Bringing"
OR "Hosanna"
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HS 225
NS 14
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HOLY WEEK
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Reader 1:
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As Jesus’ earthly ministry drew to a close and he prayed alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, he said, "God, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
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Reader 2:
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The world grew dark when the Son of God died for your sins and mine. Has the world ever seen such darkness since?
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Reader 3:
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Jesus could have called a host of angels to rescue him from the cross. He could have listened to the criminal who hung beside him on a cross and taunted, "Save yourself and us!" But then the plan of salvation would not have been completed.
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[Place a cross in the worship setting.]
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Hymn: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
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HS 265
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Reader 4:
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I was the sinner condemned to die.
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Reader 1:
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I was considered worthy of the sacrifice of God’s only Son. Jesus regarded me precious enough that he endured the pain and agony of the cross and shed his blood to give me life.
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Reader 2:
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The nails did not hold him to the cross; it was his love for me!
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[Place a crown of thorns in the worship setting.]
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Hymn: "What Wondrous Love Is This"
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HS 216
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[Three women who visited the tomb on the first Easter come down the center aisle during the song, one carrying a lit Christ Candle. She sets the lit candle in the manger and they all turn to face the readers.]
THE GOOD NEWS
Reader 3:
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God sent an angel to the tomb on Easter morning and told the three women the glad news:
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ALL READERS:
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"HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID."
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[Three women exit, excitedly, running to tell the disciples the good news.]
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Hymn: "Lift Your Glad Voices"
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HS 271
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Reader 4:
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The good news burned in the hearts of Jesus’ friends and followers just as our candle flame glows brightly. Jesus pushed back the darkness.
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Hymn: "Let Us Sing of Easter Gladness"
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HS 279
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Reader 1:
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And so, dear family and friends, we return to the beginning. We are Advent people once again. We continue to live in Jesus’ light. We try to spread that light daily to others all around us. And we are watching…we are waiting…we are ready for God’s kingdom. Are you ready?
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[As an optional element, have the congregation come forward with candles and light them from the Christ Candle and then form a circle around the perimeter of the sanctuary to sing the final song.]
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*Hymn: "Shine, Jesus, Shine"
*Prayer of Celebration
*Response
*Postlude
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NS 45
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