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PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: This is a new day! A day of marvels and miracles! A day to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled with too many worries and too little faith.
All: On this Easter morning, we hear the old folks saying, “Mary, don’t you weep!”
This is a new day! A day of marvels and miracles! A day to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled with too much criticism and too little affirmation.
Today, Martha, don’t you moan!
This is a new day! A day of marvels and miracles! A day to rejoice in what God has done! Yesterday was filled with too many questions and too few answers.
This is Easter morning; dry your tears and shout for joy! Jesus is not dead. He is alive! God has conquered death and Jesus has canceled sin. This is, indeed, a new day! Leap for joy!

OPENING SONG Christ the Lord Is Risen Today #282

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!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love; Alleluia!
Praise Him, all ye heav’nly host, Alleluia!
Father Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

WELCOME

FIRST READING Lamentations 3:19-23

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

PEACE AND GREETINGS Lord, I Lift Your Name on High (Rick Founds)

Lord, I lift your name on high.
Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life.
I’m so glad you came to save us.

Lord, I lift your name on high.
Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life.
I’m so glad you came to save us.

Chorus:
You came from heaven to earth to show the way.
From the earth to the cross my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky.
Lord, I lift your name on high.

Lord, I lift your name on high.
Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life.
I’m so glad you came to save us.

Chorus:
You came from heaven to earth to show the way.
From the earth to the cross my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky.
Lord, I lift your name on high.

Chorus:
You came from heaven to earth to show the way.
From the earth to the cross my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave,
From the grave to the sky.
Lord, I lift your name on high.

Ending:
Lord, I lift your name on high.
Lord, I lift your name on high.

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SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

A TIME OF PRAYER

THIRD READING Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

May we be blessed by the reading of this word. Amen.

EASTER MESSAGE Rev. Dr. Dollie Howell Pankey, Beloved Worship Pastor

CLOSING SONG He Is Alive #275

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
Refrain:
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart

In all the world around me I see His loving care
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair
I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain:
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind
Refrain:
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

Hymns from UCC Worship Ways, the African American Heritage Hymnal, and other sources. Liturgy adapted from The Africana Worship Book, Year C, and other sources. Scripture readings are from The Holy Bible [New Revised Standard Version].