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Strathmore United Church
“For All Peoples a Feast: Dare to Dance Again!”
Easter Worship Gathering Our Strength:
This is the Liberating Easter Word of God for all the people of God!
Thanks be to God!
♫♪ Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today *VU #157 1 Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah!
all creation join to say; Hallelujah!
raise your joys and triumphs high; Hallelujah! sing, O heavens, and earth reply: Hallelujah! 2 Love's redeeming work is done, Hallelujah!
fought the fight, the battle won. Hallelujah! Lo, our sun's eclipse is o'er! Hallelujah! Lo, he dwells in death no more! Hallelujah!
Greeting: Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Prayer:
Welcome:
LEARNING THE STEPS:
A Story for All Ages: Children’s Time A Story for the Ages:
First Reading: from Psalm 118
I thank you, ADONAI, for your goodness!
Your steadfast love is everlasting!
Let Israel now pro claim:
2 Let the House of Aaron now proclaim:
“Your steadfast love is everlasting!”
Let those who revere ADONAI now proclaim:
“Your steadfast love is everlasting!”
In anguish, I cried to you, ADONAI,
and you answered me with freedom.
Because ADONAI is with me,
I am not afraid – what can anyone do to me?
God is my strength and my song;
God has become my salvation!
Raise shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the upright
ADONAI’s right hand is doing mighty acts!
ADONAI’s right hand has triumphed;
ADONAI’s right hand is doing mighty acts!
This is the day ADONAI has made –
we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Hosanna, save us, ADONAI!
ADONAI, give us success.
Blessings on the one who comes in the Name of ADONAI!
We bless you from the house of God.
ADONAI is God and God has en-lightened us.
Join the festal procession!
With palm fronds in hand,
go up to the horns of the altar!
You are my God, and I thank you;
you are my God, and I exalt you.
Thank you for hearing me, for saving me.
Thank you, ADONAI, for your goodness; Your steadfast love is everlasting.
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♫♪ Special Music: Duet: Laura Bakken and Arlene Wahl
Up from the Grave He Arose Sermon:
♫♪ Hymn: Thine Is The Glory *VU #173 1 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where the body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. 2 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 the Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won. THE BODY MOVES IN RESPONSE
Offering Our Resources and our Energy:
Offertory Hymn: For The Gift of Creation *VU#538 For the gift of creation, the gift of your love, and the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands. May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.
Prayer:
Communion:
Prayers and Invitation to the Feast: Special Music: We Meet you, O Christ
L: Will you open yourselves to the grace of Jesus Christ that is
always and already available here at this table? If so, say, “Open us to your grace, Lord.”
4 All: “ Open us to your grace, Lord.”
Will you open yourselves once again to the call of Jesus Christ? If so, say, “Open us to your call, Lord.”
"Open us to your call, Lord.”
Will you open yourselves to the possibility of transformation through Jesus Christ? If so, say, “Transform us, O Lord.” “Transform us, O Lord.”
As we prepare to attend the heavenly feast, we especially pray for those who have no earthly tables, or no place at a table, and so little daily bread:
We confess this day that we have been slow to join the dance that brings life to all, brings love to all, brings sustenance to all. In silence, let us lift up our prayers of confession...
L: Hear this good news! God has loved you from the very
beginning. The invitation of Christ is never-ending because resurrection can happen at any moment.
The Holy Spirit is transforming you even now! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God! Amen! The Great Thanksgiving
Jesus is with us!
With us now and forever!
So lift up your hearts and voices!
We lift them up to God!
Let’s join in thanks and praise!
How right it is to do this together!
Holy Living One, You transformed a whole lot of nothing into this amazing creation. You breathed life all around and called it good. You invited us to the wonder of it all and when we could not face you, you turned us around. You keep bringing us
5 around and around, time and again, offering the chance to join the freedom-dance.
And so we join with the glorious chorus of saints past and present, singing a never-ending hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy!
God of power and might, everywhere we see your glory!
Blessed are they who come in your name. Hosanna in the Highest!
Alleluia! May it be so!
Indeed, you are holy! And blessed is your son Jesus, Anointed One, Liberator, Dance Partner, Sibling, Friend.
Jesus sat at tables with those who had no place and offered fulfilling food for bodies and souls. And on the night when he would give all love for us, he sat at the table with extended family– just as he hosts this table here and now with this extended family.
He offered the usual prayers of thanks to you, God, over bread and cup, and then disrupted the gathering with uncustomary words:
"Take and eat this bread–it is my body given for you.
Whenever you gather around the table together, remember me.”
“Take and drink from this cup, each and every one— it is the sign of a new covenant.
This love is poured out for all people. Whenever you gather around the table together, remember me.”
And so, my friends, we remember. And we believe:
6 Pour out your Spirit upon us now! Pour out your transforming presence on the gifts of this body and the gifts of this bread and fruit of the vine.
May they be for us your life and love, uniting us as one body— Christ’s body— for the sake of loving the world.
All glory to you, Living Presence, Holy One, Holy God, through Jesus our Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit our Advocate. Amen.
Communion
The table extends beyond this physical space and into the space of the Spirit that unites us. May this meal ready us to love, trust, hope, and dance to the beat of God’s heart.
P: Teach me to love with your heart of compassion, teach me to trust in the word of your promise, teach me to hope in the day of your coming, teach me to dance to the beat of your heart.
The body of Christ given for us……
The fruit of the vine…..the sign of a new covenant.
Partake:
Prayer after Communion:
Eternal God, we thank you that you have called your people from east and west, and north and south,
to feast at the table of Jesus Christ. Keep us faithful to you will.
Go with us to the streets, to our homes, and to our places of work and leisure –
that whether we are gathered or scattered,
we may be the servant church of the servant Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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♫♪ Hymn The Day of Resurrection *VU#164 The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad; the passover of gladness, the passover of God! From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ has brought us over with hymns of victory. Our hearts be free of evil, that we may see aright the Christ in rays eternal of resurrection light,
and, listening to the accents, may hear so calm and plain Christ's own 'All hail!' and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.
Benediction:
And all God’s people said,
“Amen!"
Affirming the Peace Among Us:
The peace of the risen Christ is with you!
And also with you!
Postlude: This is the Day that God has Made *VU# 175 This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad! This is the day that God has made! Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah! 1 Christ has conquered death at last,
left the tomb that held him fast! Gone the sorrow, gone the night, dawns the morning clear and bright! R 2 Jesus lives who once was dead,
lives forever, as he said! Risen now our Saviour, King; songs of gladness let us sing! R
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Giving and Receiving the ‘Peace of Christ’:
Phone, email –connect with someone today and share the Peace of Christ.
VU #157 Christ The Lord is Risen Today: Words: John Wesley 1739. Public Domain.
Hymns of Glorious Praise #105 Low In The Grave He Lay: Words, Music: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899. Music: Public Domain.
VU #173 Thine Is The Glory: Words: Edmund Louis Badry 1884, trans. Richard Birch Hoyle 1923. Music: Harmonia Sacra.ca, 1753. Arrang. From George Frederick Handel 1747. Music: Public Domain. Reprinted/Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #734505-A. All rights reserved.
VU #538 For The Gift of Creation: Words:, Music: Steve Garnaas-Homes 1991. Abingdon Press. Reprinted/Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #734505-A. All rights reserved.
VU #183 We Meet You O Christ: Words: Fred Kaan. Music: Peter D. Smith 1968. Music: 1969 Hope Publishing. Arrang. R. Walker. Reprinted/Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #734505-A. All rights reserved.
VU #164 The Day of Resurrection. Public Domain
VU #175 This Is The Day That God Has Made: Words, music: Natalie Sleeth 1976. Hinshaw Music Inc. Reprinted/Podcast with