The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Sunday
The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton, Ohio
Pastor Karen Crawford
Mark Wagner, Pianist
Mindy Brems and David Baker, Liturgists
Matt Downing, Soloist
April 12, 2020 10:30 a.m.
Prelude: Because He Lives, arr. by Albin C. Whitworth
Mark Wagner, Piano
Greeting/Announcements
Choral Introit: Risen by Shawna Edwards
In agony upon the bitter cross
They took His body down and laid it in a tomb
His friends believed that everything was lost.
But when the third day came, the darkness turned to light
For Mary heard her name and saw the living Christ.
To set the captives free
Risen to ransom you and me
To bind up every broken heart
To conquer death and sin.
Risen
To bring us home again.
For hope was born when Jesus rose that day and
Still His wounded have revealed the love He has
For every fallen soul He came to save
And He will come again, and I’ve by one we’ll rise
To praise His Holy Name and see the Living Christ.
To set the captives free
Risen to ransom you and me
To bind up every broken heart
To conquer death and sin.
Risen
To bring us home again.
Opening Sentences: Mindy Brems & David Baker
The Lord is risen! Alleluia!
Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed!
Gathering Prayer: David Baker
Brightness of God’s glory and exact image of God’s person, whom death could not conquer nor the tomb imprison, as you have shared our frailty in human flesh, help us to share your immortality in the Spirit. Let no shadow of the grace terrify us, and no fear of the darkness turn our hearts from you. Reveal yourself to us this day and all our days, as the first and the last and the Living One, our immortal Savior and Lord. Amen.
Hymn 113 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!
- 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!
- Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the vict’ry won, Alleluia! Jesus’ agony is o’er, Alleluia! Darkness veils the earth no more, Alleluia!
- Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
(arr. by Mack Wilberg; video courtesy of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Salt Lake City, Utah)
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Holy One, like the women who came to your tomb as the first day of the week was dawning and found the tomb empty, we have such good news to tell. For you, Lord, have cast off your grave clothes and shattered the powers of sin and death. But we have heard this news before. How o-en have we let our “alleluias” fall silent as we passed through the church doors? How o-en have we returned to daily routines as if Easter changes nothing? How o-en have our ac ons belied the power of resurrection to transform our world? Risen Lord, forgive us for our half-hearted witness. Free us from the bindings of fear or indifference, disappointment or disenchantment. Fill us with the light of resurrection and send us into the world to proclaim in word and deed that we have seen the Lord! Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Soloist: Matt Downing
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth from Messiah by G. F. Handel (1685-1759)
Time with Children
Prayer for Illumination Mindy Brems
Colossians 3:1-4 Mindy Brems & David Baker
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Anthem: Easter Song by Keith Green
They’re singing that you can be born again
They’re singing Christ is risen from the dead
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah
They’re singing that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
Christ, He will reveal it now
And they are ministering Jesus’ power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 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. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 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.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ!
Message He Has Been Raised, As He Said
Hymn 122 Thine Is the Glory
- Thine is the glory, Risen, conquering Son; Endless is the victory Tho’er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment Rolled the stone away, Kept the folded graveclothes Where Thy body lay. Thine Is the glory, Risen conquering Son; Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.
- Lo! Jesus meets us, Risen from the tombl 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.
- No more we doubt Thee, Glorious Prince of life! Life is nought without Thee; Aid us in our strife. Make us more than conquerors Through Thy deathless love; Bring us safe through Jordan To Thy home above. Thine is the glory, Risen conquering Son; Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.
(Arr. by Robert Hobby; video courtesy of First-Plymouth Church; Lincoln, Nebraska)
Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed
Let us say what we believe.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God; eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, being of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made; For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became truly human; For our sake, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. One the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, And his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken by the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins; We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Invitation to the Table
The Great Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer
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.
Breaking the Bread
Distribution of the Bread and Cup
Share with one another. “The Body of Christ given for you.” “The cup of salvation, shed for the forgiveness of sins.”
Prayer After Communion
Gracious God, we give you thanks that by the witness of your word and the sharing of this meal you have opened our hearts and eyes to the presence of Christ among us. Now send us forth from this place by the power of your Spirit to tell this good news to the world: The Lord has risen indeed! Amen.
- 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 hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
- Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light; and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain, his own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.
- Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin! Let the round world keep triumph and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ the Lord hath Risen, our joy that hath no end.
Postlude: Come, Christians, Join to Sing , arr. by Mark Hayes
Mark Wagner, Piano
Sharing God's Love and Grace 
Thank you for your hard work in putting together a wonderful Easter Service. I was encouraged by it and wanted you to know that I appreciated this “new way” of worshipping the Living Christ. The Lord has risen indeed!
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Thank you for the wonderful Easter service! Wishing all of you a special day…
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Thank you for a joyful Virtual Easter service! It made my heart happy! Happy Easter!
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Happy Resurrection Day!
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