Friends,
We have arrived at a most unusual Easter. It is no less transformative, no less joyous. The plot has not changed. But this year, it is understandable if the Good News has thrown us slightly off-kilter.
But this morning, through the worship to come, I hope it becomes clear these feelings of unease are not some unfortunate byproduct of our time but the very hallmark of an encounter with the resurrected Lord.
Therefore, my prayer for all of us is, if we encounter the gospel today, if the reality of Christ resurrected appears to be inviting us forward, that we do not cling to certainty. We donât wait for perfect clarity. But instead, we remember the only faithful response on that first Easter was to become witnesses to a truth we donât fully understand.
Friends, Christ is risen! Even in the shadow of death, the Lord is doing a new thing! May we have the faith to not grasp hold of Jesus. Instead, let’s trust him. Let’s go like Mary grounded in the belief that we have been called by grace by one who defeated death and proclaim with our lives this surprising story of hope and redemption.
Happy Easter!
Drew
Opening Quote
“Say my name,
say my name again.
Your face in tender daylight.
Your voice. My rabbi.
I recollected myself
and all your promises, once outlandish,
now true.
You’d outlived our killing.
You’d outlove us, too.
I let your hands go,
and took up your gospel,
its telling.”
“Magdalena” by Rachel M. Sruba
Full Service – Liturgy, Songs, and Sermon
Easter Testimonials
Song – Because He Lives
Call to Worship
Friends, the tomb is empty! The stone has been rolled away!
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
For three days he lay in that cold and lonely cave.
But Godâs love cannot be contained by anything, not even death!
Thanks be to God, who gives us victory throughout our Risen Lord.
Death has been swallowed up in victory!
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Come, let us worship the Risen Christ!
Pastoral Prayer & Lordâs Prayer
Almighty God,
This Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate your mighty power that raised Christ from the dead, that set us free from sin and death, and made a way for our salvation. We praise you that you are a God who is making all things new, transforming lives, restoring relationships, and providing healing, mercy, and grace to all who need it.
Yet, this morning, we find ourselves in the tension of longing for your kingdom to come in all of its fullness. Things are not as we want them to be. Our world is filled with the threat of the coronavirus, and we call upon you to intervene. We pray that you will provide great wisdom to all our leaders, and to those who are researching possible vaccines and remedies. We pray for your protection over those in the medical field, first responders, and those who are working in essential businesses, sacrificially serving those around them. Lord, we pray for those who are ill, would you pour out your healing upon them. We pray for those who are especially vulnerable during this time, keep them safe in your loving care. We pray for an end to the rapid spread of this virus, in Jesusâ powerful name.
Lord, we also take some time to pray for all who are struggling emotionally and spiritually during this time. We pray for those who are lonely–would they sense your presence with them this morning. We pray for those who are anxious about the future, wondering when this all will end, and wondering whether you will provide for their needs. We pray that we would cast all our cares upon you, knowing that you care for us.
This morning, we anchor our hope in the resurrection of Jesus, and together we pray the prayer he taught his disciples to pray saying,
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.
Tithes & Offerings
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Offering Prayer
God of great gifts:
This morning we give you praise,
we give you glory,
we give you thanks!
With resurrection humming in our hearts,
our minds are tuned to your song of peace!
We joyfully present these gifts to you,
a tangible chorus of thanksgiving,
a harmony of hope for your kingdom come!
Amen.
Childrenâs Moment
Scripture â John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, âThey have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we donât know where they have put him!â
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesusâ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesusâ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, âWoman, why are you crying?â
âThey have taken my Lord away,â she said, âand I donât know where they have put him.â 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, âWoman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?â
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, âSir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.â
16 Jesus said to her, âMary.â
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, âRabboni!â (which means âTeacherâ).
17 Jesus said, âDo not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, âI am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.ââ
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: âI have seen the Lord!â And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Link to Sermonâ Feast for the Named
Parents, click here to download an Easter coloring page for your child. Encourage your child to color the picture while watching the sermon.
Song – Beautiful Scandalous Night
Communion
Song – Death was Arrested
Prayer Requests
Prayer remains a tangible way we can engage the needs of our community and the world. If you have a prayer request or praise that you would like our Kairos prayer leaders to lift up on your behalf in prayer, please email your prayer requests to Miriam at miriam@kairosatlanta.org.
African Benediction
All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devilâs works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our hopes,
We set on the risen Christ!
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.