UNION CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CHURCH OFFICE (748-6329) PASTOR BROWN (748-1358)
March 23, 2008 6:30 AM
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC Emily Sabin
*CALL TO WORSHIP: “I will extol Thee, O LORD, for Thou hast drawn me up, and hast not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to Thee for help, and Thou hast healed me. O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." By Thy favor, O LORD, Thou hadst established me as a strong mountain; Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed. To Thee, O LORD, I cried; and to the LORD I made supplication: "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise Thee? Will it tell of Thy faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be Thou my helper!" Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may praise Thee and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to Thee for ever.”
Psalm 30 RSV
Pastor: THE LORD IS RISEN!
People: THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!
Pastor: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have
fallen asleep.
People: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great
Mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection
Of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Pastor: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of
Death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
People: Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
All: Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad
And give Him the glory!
*EASTER HYMNS: “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today” #302
“Morning Has Broken” #145
EASTER PRAYER:
“God, our loving Father, we are Your people and everything in us shouts out for joy on this feast of the Resurrection.
What great love and power You have shown! You have raised Your Son Jesus from death! You have given Him a new life stronger than death. You have made Him Lord over all the earth.
In the name of all Your creatures we thank You for Your great love. We praise You and we wait with hope for the day of our own resurrection.
Show us that we can celebrate the new life of Easter today and every day through the truth, the hope and the love we give each other. In the name of our risen Lord we pray.” Amen
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1ff Pew Bible #1116
MESSAGE: “What Does Easter Mean To You?” By Ray Bartholomew
*CLOSING EASTER HYMN: “He Lives” #310
THE CROSS
The cross is proof that God’s love is sincere. God extends love through Jesus, by way of a horrible death, that we may have life. The cross gives hope to life amid despair and death. For God enters the chaos of life, through the death of Jesus, to open the door to life, love, forgiveness and eternal hope. The cross is God offering to us a way out of bondage to sin and enslavement to evil. The cross gives us an opportunity to offer the brokenness of our lives to Christ for healing and redemption. A cross and a death redeemed God’s fallen creation from the curse and shame of sin. The cross towers above the landmarks of history as God’s gracious and loving act, available to all for redemption and reconciliation. The cross is a constant reminder that God loved enough to give an only Son. It is a love whose influence and inspiration cast a constant fragrance on the events and experiences of time.
The sun arose in splendor one glad morn.
Praise God it rose upon an empty tomb,
And those who thought their hopes to be forlorn
Now saw a glory shining through the gloom.
The Crucified had risen from the dead,
And hearts rejoiced to see through all the strife
New meaning to the words that he had said,
“I am the resurrection and the life”
Christ died! He rose! He liveth evermore!
Thank God for that glad morning’s hopeful ray.
A risen Lord now stands beside the door
That all may enter into life today.
SONG OF EASTER
Easter lilies! Can you hear
What they whisper, low and clear?
In dewy fragrance they unfold
Their splendor sweet, their snow and gold.
Every beauty-breathing bell,
News of heaven has to tell.
Listen to their mystic voice,
Hear, O mortal, and rejoice!
Hark, their soft and heavenly chime!
Christ is risen for all time!
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THE ROMANS SENT A MESSAGE; GOD SENT ONE, TOO
But those who saw to it that Jesus suffered death on the cross did not know that God had a message to send as well. God victoriously raised Christ from the dead! God touched the precious body of his son and infused it with life, glorious, dynamic life, life in all its fullness.
That is why we put crosses everywhere: boldly, proudly, joyously, and triumphantly. It is why we glory in the cross always. It stands eternally “towering o’er the wrecks of time” (John Bowring).
After the Resurrection, Jesus’ friend, Peter, explained God’s message to all of Christ’s enemies with these bold and certain words: “This Jesus, you crucified and killed…But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it…This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses…Therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:23-24; 32, 36) That is what Easter is all about. All praise to the living Lord!