PDF for print version HERE. For permission to print and redistribute, comment below.
Easter Sunday
Preparation for worship
Songs: Ask yourself and the people who will be worshipping with you (kids included), “What are some of the songs we sing that contain the word “Hallelujah/Alleluia”?” (One of the traditions of the church is to “put away” the hallelujahs during the Lenten season. Easter Sunday marks the return of singing hallelujah again.). Play them on Spotify, sing them acapella, or create your own instrumental arrangement.
Bible: You will need a Bible to read from the scriptures. You can use this doc or your phone as well…but I’d recommend using an actual Bible.
This week’s liturgy is based on the following texts:
Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10
You can decide who will lead the different movements of this gathering. It would be great for every person to have a part.
Gathering
Call to Worship
Leader: Christ is Risen!
All: Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Leader: Christ is Risen!
All: Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Leader: We gather to proclaim the good news! The Lord is victorious! We will sing joyful songs!
All: Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Leader: We gather to worship the living God! Christ is risen!
All: Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Song of Praise
Sing one or two songs that focus on the risen Savior and God’s saving grace.
Some suggestions:
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Look at this list for other song ideas.
Affirmation of Faith
(recite together the Apostle’s Creed)
We 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 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 shall come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting. Amen.
The Recitation of the Psalm
Option 1:
Listen to the singing of Psalm 118
Psalm 118 (This is the Day)
Option 2:
The reading of Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Reader 1: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Reader 2: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Reader 1: The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly; the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
Reader 2: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Reader 1: I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
Reader 2: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Reader 1: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
Reader 2: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Reader 1: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
Reader 2: Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Reader 1: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
All: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Prayer for Illumination
God of Life,
Your Spirit raised Jesus from the dead.
Your Spirit inspired the prophets and writers of Scripture.
Your Spirit draws us to Christ
And helps us to acknowledge him as Lord.
We ask that you will send your Spirit now
To give us deeper insight, encouragement, faith, and hope
Through the proclamation of the Easter gospel. Amen
Listening
(The time of listening is a series of reading the scripture, re-telling the story, and paying attention to where God is stirring your hearts as you listen. Invite everyone to listen to the words of the scriptures and to be ready to re-tell the story.)
Reading
Let’s hear the word of God from the book of Matthew. It says in Matthew 28,
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Re-Telling
Let’s tell the story that we just heard. How did the story begin? What happened next? (go around the circle and tell the story again)
Paying Attention
Was there a word or phrase that jumped out at you?
What do we learn about people in these scriptures?
What do you think God was up to?
Is there something we should remember for this coming week from what we heard from the scriptures?
Responding
Prayers of the People
God of Life,
We rejoice in the resurrection of your Son,
His defeat over death, and his gift of new life.
We praise you for the reflections of that new life
In creation…
In nations and governments and those who lead around the world…
In the ministry of your Church…
In the sacrifice of those who serve…
In our new life in Christ…
(pause and invite people to respond)…
To you as the giver of new life and renewed hope
We bring our prayers
For the nations of this world…
For our nation and its leaders…
For all who are sick or grieving…
For our community…
For people we know who have particular needs…
(pause and invite people to respond)…
We praise you that you call us to new life
And to follow you with joy and gladness.
By your Spirit
Lift us from doubt and despair
And set our feet on your holy way,
That our lives may be signs of your life
And that all we have may show others your love.
Praise, glory, and thanksgiving to you, our God,
Forever and ever,
And now we pray together the prayer that you taught us to pray
saying,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
Sending
May the God of peace,
who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,
provide us with every good thing we need
in order to do his will;
and the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with us now and forever.
Go in peace, as witnesses of the risen Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Living Room Liturgist 
Thanks for sharing this blog post. Keep on blogging for God.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person