easter sunday liturgy and live-streaming...

Tomorrow I am going to lead a simple Eucharistic service of Easter worship on my live-streaming Face Book broadcast @ 9:55 am. There will be song songs and Alleluias, too as well as a contemplative reflection on the tears of Mary Magdalene. There is nothing normal about this Easter, the coronavirus has turned all our lives upside down, but then there is nothing normal about Easter unless you see it with the eyes of the heart. That is part of Magdalene's gift. She "got" it before the brothers - and was embraced as the Apostle to the Apostles. I continue to find her witness and gifts for us stunning and grace-filled.

If you are able to join me know that I have set the time for 9:55 am just to give us all time to get online and focused. It will help if you have some bread and wine/grape juice ready to bless and share for Holy Communion. You may want to set a special table for feasting with Christ. Last week a few friends send me pictures of the communion table they set for Palm Sunday. I was so moved by each one. Mine looked like this:

The order of worship for Easter Sunday is largely taken from Rite Two from the Book of Common Prayer. (NOTE: there is no copyright violation when using this liturgy. Same goes for the Public Domain hymns and chants we'll use.) You may want to have the liturgy below either printed or on an electronic device so that will you access it along with the live-streaming. You can find the worship time on my spiritual direction at Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Be-Still-and-Know-913217865701531/.

            Celebration of Easter Sunday
Gathering and Welcome

Call to Worship and Prayer
Leader: Blessed be God: Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be the reality of God’s grace in our lives, now and forever.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Christ the Lord is risen today: Alleluia. 

Mortal tongues and angels say: Alleluia. 

Raise your joys and triumphs high: Alleluia. 

Sing, glad heavens, and earth reply: Alleluia. 

Leader: Let us pray.
Unison: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will: we return thanks that we can be reasonably happy now in this life; and supremely happy with you forever in the next. Amen.

The Prayer and Lessons
+ Isaiah 25: 6-8
+ Psalm 131
+ John 20: 1-9

The Reflection

The Affirmation of Faith (adapted from Romans 8)
Unison: We believe there is no condemnation for those who live into God’s love, for we trust that in everything God works for good with those who love God. That is why we are certain that nothing – neither death nor life, angels nor principalities, things present nor things to come, powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation – will be able to separate us from the love of God we have experienced in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia… 

The Great Thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord is with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right give God thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right…

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, 

Heaven and earth are full of your glory: Hosanna in the highest. 

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord: 

Hosanna in the highest. 

Let us continue to pray: Holy and gracious God… all this we ask through Jesus Christ: by him, with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

The people may pray the Lord’s Prayer here in their own tradition 

The Communion of the People
Leader: These are the gift of God for the whole people of God. Take them in remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection that you may feed on him in your hearts by faith and thanksgiving: come, for all things are now ready: the body of Christ, the bead of heaven.
People: Amen.

The people may share the bread at this time. 

Leader: Take and drink: the cup of blessing poured out for you in grace.
People: Amen.

The people may share the cup at this time. 

Leader: Let us pray…

Glory to our Creator, and to the Christ and to the Holy Spirit: 

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; 

World without end. Amen. And amen. 

The Blessing