Easter Sunday Sunrise

Gathering together

Standing in a circle, we start in silence… remembering the darkness, the sorrow, the mourning and the despair of Good Friday, when Jesus was killed on a cross and buried in a borrowed tomb. Then the whisper starts… all of us joining together:
 
[looking down, whispering]
Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen
[looking around the circle, speaking]
Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen
[turning outwards, shouting for joy]
Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Halleluiah Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Halleluiah!

Telling the story: a contemporary retelling

As these words are read (with a sense of growing excitement) we light the Pascal Candle: [1]
 
In the dark of the early morning,
It descended.
The very breath of God.
Dawn approached.
The Spirit filled the lungs of our fallen king,
And his heart began to beat anew.
At the rising of the sun,
He awoke. He opened his eyes.
He smiled. He rose.
Victorious.
They say the tomb was empty,
But we know otherwise.
Sorrow and mourning. Left behind.
Fear and shame. Left behind.
Sin and death. Left behind.
Our old ways and our old selves. Left behind.
Forever entombed by Christ the Son.
He who has conquered the grave.
He who is risen
He who reigns
Halleluiah.
Halleluiah Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed! Halleluiah!

An account from someone who was there: Peter, a close friend of Jesus

^34-36 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favourites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
^37-38 “You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
^39-43 “And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn’t put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we’re not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets.”
(Acts 10:34-43 The Message)

What difference does this make… today?[2]

We reflect as this poem is read
If all this is true…
We worship an amazing God
Who has been to the depths of despair on our behalf;
Who has risen in splendour and majesty;
Who decorates the universe
with sparkling water, with clear white light,
twinkling stars and sharp colours.
If all this is true, Jesus is the light of the world;
And he burst from the grave with glorious light;
Risen from the dead to give us life.
If all this is true, God believes in us and trusts us,
even though we make the same mistakes over and over again…
And he invites to commit ourselves afresh to Jesus,
to one another as sisters and brothers
and to the Maker’s business in the world.
Because, if Christ is risen, nothing will ever be the same.

Symbolic Actions and Prayers:
leaving behind, and starting anew

We respond using the resources brought to the lakeside.
 

Joining with the first believers: an affirmation of shared faith

In response, we offer worship by taking it in turns to read verses from  a song of praise familiar to the very first believers, recorded by Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi. (Philippians 2:5-11 [THE VOICE)). As we worship, we commit to live Easter lives, with the attitude of Christ in our hearts:
⁵ In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:
⁶ Though He was in the form of God,
    He chose not to cling to equality with God;

⁷ But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
    a servant in form
    and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,

⁸ He humbled Himself,
    obedient to death—
    a merciless death on the cross!

⁹ So God raised Him up to the highest place
    and gave Him the name above all.

¹⁰ So when His name is called,
    every knee will bow,^[a]
    in heaven, on earth, and below.

¹¹ And every tongue will confess^[b]
    “Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
    to the glory of God our Father!
 
All    Glory to the Father and to the Son
        and to the Holy Spirit;
        as it was in the beginning is now
        and shall be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
 
 
 

Being sent out with God’s blessing[3]

 
Halleluiah, Christ is risen:
All: He is risen indeed! Halleluiah
Yes! He is not here. He is risen.
So go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.
 
God the Father,
by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now, and always. Amen