Worship and Devotions

The Resurrection of Jesus (Easter Sunday)

Matthew 28:1-15

28 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And 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. ³His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. ⁴For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷Then 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." ⁸So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Music

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (Mfurahini, haleluya) [Video Score] Abiding Presence Music

¹¹While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹²After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' ¹⁴If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." ¹⁵So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Judeans to this day.

Prayer

O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth, By the resurrection of your Son free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (From Page 141 Sundays and Seasons © 2025 Augsburg Fortress)

Easter Sunday - April 5, 2026

Welcome visitors and old friends. Welcome regardless of belief, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, age, abilities, or life situation. Welcome believers and doubters as well as doubting believers. Welcome to share the fullness of Christ's love for the world!(Adapted from The welcome message from the Thomas Community in Finland. "Celebrating milestone moments" by Rev. Jukka Joensuu. Canada Lutheran January/February 2024 Vol. 39 No. 1; chorus of ELW 523)

This is the day the Lord has made! Christ is risen, and through him all creation is made new! Indeed, "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34): Christ's resurrection truly brings life to everyone. We sing hymns of praise, gather around sacred words, and proclaim God's faithfulness, power, and love in the feast of holy communion. With the women at the tomb, we are astonished, elated, and grateful. We depart with joy to proclaim the good news of God's endless love.

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Music

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Easter Hymn-Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Prayer

God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings

Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Gospel - John 20:1-18

Sermon

This Changes Everything by Rev. Carol J. Dennison

John 20:1-18

Mary Magdalene is somewhat of a mystery. In John's gospel we only hear her mentioned when she stands near the cross of Jesus with his mother, and his mother's sister, and Mary the wife of Clopas and here in the resurrection account. In Matthew and Mark's gospels, we are told that Jesus cast out seven demons from her and that she, along with others whom Jesus healed, provided for him out of their resources. She comes from Magdala, a village near Capernaum noted for its fish processing. Not much of a biography! Nevertheless, in John's gospel, it is she who becomes the first to tell the apostles that Jesus is risen and in church history is often called "the apostle to the apostles."

Mary's world has been turned upside down and inside out. She sees and hears Pilate declare Jesus is innocent yet agree to his crucifixion. She sees him brought out wearing a crown of thorns and a robe after being flogged. His back is raw with the wounds inflicted and blood streams from them. Mary Magdalene and others follow him as he carries his cross to Golgotha outside the city limits. There she watches with his mother, the disciple he loved, his mother's sister and Mary wife of Clopas as he is stripped of his clothes, his hands and feet are pierced as he is nailed to the cross alongside two others being executed for their crimes. She sees the soldiers flip a coin for his clothes. She reads the sign over his head: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" and hears the Temple authorities try to get it changed. She hears him ask the disciple he loves to take care of his mother Mary and his acceptance of her. She sees his agony and hears his words" "It is finished". Mary Magdalene sees the body taken down from the cross, his side pierced with a sword to make sure he is dead. She sees Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus being allowed to take the body, wrap it with spices in linen cloths and then place the body in a nearby garden tomb. Then she and the others go back to their lodgings for the Sabbath is beginning. It is a time of waiting, being unable to mourn and honour him at his tomb and not knowing whether they will be allowed near the tomb. No wonder that when she sees the tomb open, she immediately thinks someone has taken his body and runs to get help from Simon Peter and the disciple Jesus loved! They return and agree that the body is gone but then they leave and Mary is left behind, in deep grief, weeping, afraid, not knowing what to do since she cannot honour him with the proper rites. She is in no doubt that he is dead.

It is only now that Mary goes into the tomb to see where his body had lain. She sees two angels, one at the head and one at the foot of the place where his body had lain.

"Woman, why are you weeping?"

She does not appear to notice they are angels but answers as if they are ordinary people: "Someone has stolen the body of my Lord and I don't know here they have taken him," she wails, her anguish in every word! She turns around and sees a man standing there. Her vision blurred by tears and her heart in anguish, she does not recognize him.

"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"

Mary supposes he is the gardener and asks if he has carried Jesus' body away and, if so, where the body is, so she can take it away. "Mary." The gentle voice saying her name, opens her eyes: it is Jesus, alive!

"Teacher!" and she rushes to embrace him.

"Don't hold on to me because I have not yet ascended to my Abba God. Go and tell my brothers and sisters that I am ascending to their Abba God and mine!"

Mary runs back to the disciples to tell them she has seen the Teacher and he is alive! Then she gives them his message. We are not told whether they believe her.

Seeing her Teacher alive makes all the difference for Mary of Magdala. Even though she was not expecting it, could hardly believe it, and cannot prove it, yet his appearance and his voice calling her name changes everything! She can't wait to tell the good news to the others.

Most of us here today have experienced the pain of the death of a loved one, whether a person or a pet. We know how hard it is to wrap our head around the fact that they are gone. We can relate to Mary in her grief and anguish. Yet, we too know what it is like to encounter the living Lord, albeit in a different way.

When we are baptized, the pastor places water on us saying, (your name), I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Then we receive a sign of the cross on our forehead and hear: (your name), child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. We hear the same words when we affirm our baptism either at confirmation or in an affirmation of baptism service. We are then invited to join with those around us in praising and thanking God and bearing this good news to all the world. Does this make all the difference to us? Do we run to do this or do we hang back?

Today I want to ask you a question. (Your name), do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God's faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth? If so answer: I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

People of God, do you promise to support and pray for one another in our life in Christ? If so, answer, "We do and we ask God to help and guide us."

"We do and we ask God to help and guide us."

Mary Magdalene and the other disciples, shocked, terrified and joyful at seeing their resurrected Lord, nevertheless embarked on telling the good news to the whole world. They did not know what they were doing! When they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they got the help and guidance they needed but they still made mistakes, did not aways have a clue what they were doing, yet they kept on keeping on and as a result we are here today celebrating the resurrection together! Will we step out in faith, not knowing where we are going, or how we will get there, but trusting that God who is always with us and knows us by name, is with us and accompanies us on the journey? May God, who has given us new birth, cleansed us from sin, and raised us to eternal life, right now, though not yet in its fullness, give us the gift of the Holy Spirit to grant us wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, the fear of the Lord and the spirit of joy in God's Presence, now and always! (Page 237 Evangelical Lutheran Worship Augsburg Fortress, © 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

Whom are you looking for?

(Your name), Jesus says, "I am with you always! I love you. Go and tell the world."

Music

Christ Is Risen! Alleluia

Hymn Christ Is Risen! Alleluia! Elw#382

Prayers of Intercession

Trusting in the power of Christ's resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation.

A brief silence.

Risen Saviour, you have conquered death and opened the gates of everlasting life. Dispel our doubts and fears and renew our faith and hope in you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Life-giving God, the created world rejoices in Christ's victory over death. May all the earth be renewed by the light of Jesus' resurrection, and may we be faithful stewards of all you have made. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Sovereign God, let the nations acknowledge your reign of justice and truth. Where violence, oppressions, and corruption hold sway, pour out your holy and life-giving Spirit to transform and redeem. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Gentle Shepherd, like the women at the empty tomb, many grieve or feel lost and afraid. Draw near to those who are ill or in pain or mourning. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Faithful God, we thank you for the living hope you give us through Christ's resurrection. Bless this community, that we may boldly proclaim Christ's victory over death in word and deed. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Eternal One, we give thanks for all who have died and now share in the joy of your resurrection. Bring us, with them, to the unending feast of your victory. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour.

Amen.

Music

Thine Is The Glory

Thine is the Glory - ELW 376 (With Lyrics)