Easter Day - Evening - Christian Worship Tools

“HE APPEARED”

Acts 10:34-44; I Corinthians 15:1-11, 19-26

GREETING (John 14:19 & 21)

God of surprises, the glorious excitement of Easter morning has quieted now.

Like the first Easter, we disciples reflect on the wonders we have witnessed,

that first amazing day of an empty tomb and a resurrected Savior’s appearance.

Jesus informed his disciples before he left, “The world will no longer see me;”

then he assured them, “but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.”

Jesus then also said of his disciples, “I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

God of Easter glory, send your Son to again reveal himself among us tonight.

Let our risen Savior be revealed to us, in us, through us, and in these our prayers.

Stir us from this evening’s quiet, to celebrate again the love Jesus has proclaimed.

HYMN 309 “On the Day of Resurrection”

PSALM 148

PRAYER

(Think back to the beginning of this day. Start there, and mentally walk through the day again, while you thank God for the day's blessings and God's continuous work of love. Confess and repent of those times when you forgot, ignored or rebelled against God. Continue to pray with your personal prayer list.)

SCRIPTURE LESSON

(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)

Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.

Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.

Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.

Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

(Declare your faith by repeating “The Apostles’ Creed” (882) or “The Nicene Creed,” (880) or use the following affirmation.)

We believe God sent his Son, Jesus Christ,

to heal us, teach us and to die for us;

and to be raised from the dead for us.

We believe Jesus was seen by the women

at the tomb early on Easter morning.

He was seen again that day by two disciples,

as they walked on the road to Emmaus.

The same day he was seen by the disciples

gathered in a locked room in Jerusalem.

And the disciples, fishing the Sea of Galilee,

ate breakfast with him by the shore.

Jesus appeared to Peter, called Cephas,

and to James, Jesus’ brother, as well.

He appeared to five hundred at one time,

and again to Saul heading to Damascus.

We believe that Jesus still reveals himself,

to all those disciples whom he loves.

We believe Jesus is seen in a widow’s joy,

an addict’s hope and a soldier’s peace,

Jesus reveals himself in a child’s laughter,

a father’s love and a mother’s prayer.

We see him in scripture read and preached,

the church’s prayer and songs of praise.

We spot Jesus in a congregation’s outreach,

cries for justice and forgiveness of sin.

We know Jesus’ presence on a quiet walk,

in work done well and times of trouble.

Jesus is revealed in miracles he still works,

in dreams, visions and other wonders.

We believe Jesus is revealed in the Spirit

sent to comfort, guide, and empower us;

whose presence we enjoy this very night. Amen.

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER 70 or 71

PRAYER

Human beings, God, we are a bunch of adolescents.

There is good in us, but it is scrambled with willfulness.

Given free will, we absolutely cannot resist resisting you.

You consistently lead us into your loving goodness,

and on toward lives full of your countless blessings,

but we keep sneaking off toward evil and our destruction.

But when you sent Jesus to live in our humanness,

he knew that life lived in obedience to your guidance

would lead to a glorious peace and joy with you forever.

Jesus bridges between our human short-sightedness,

and your thoughtful care to prepare us for eternal life.

Jesus is the means for us to grow up and out of this world.

He bridges from time into your timelessness, God,

from our natural world into your supernatural kingdom,

from the physical and common to the spiritual and glorious.

A bunch of adolescents nailed Jesus to the cross.

When raised from death, he called those adolescents

to grow up and join him on the other side, on your side.

Those who believed and crossed over with Jesus,

discovered that their lives were totally transformed,

they knew forgiveness and enjoyed your Spirit’s company.

Jesus’ resurrection has changed everything, God,

for those living in Jerusalem two thousand years ago,

and for all your children, from then, to today, into tomorrow.

As adolescents we fought hard against growing up,

and we fought every kind of ruler, authority and power,

and against you, Father, we fought the good you offered.

We fight no longer. We see the bridge Jesus provides,

and we rush across to immerse ourselves in what we see,

no longer a God hidden in mystery, but a God in full view.

Jesus has made you known. Your love overwhelms us.

We are not orphans. We are not wanderers. We are yours.

Now we grow into the enjoyment of your powerful presence.

Fear is gone. We know death is no longer our fate.

We have always been afraid of the dark, but no longer.

Now Jesus’ light shines into every shadow, imagined or real.

As adolescents we were confused, lacking confidence.

Jesus’ resurrection bridged the gap from our foolishness,

and leads us into your unshakable arms, Omnipotent Father.

We thank you for being so patient with our rebellion.

We thank you for sending Jesus to save us from ourselves.

We thank you for Jesus’ resurrection that carries us to you. Amen.

SILENCE AND COMMITMENT

(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)

HYMN 305 “Camina, Pueblo de Dios” (“Walk On, O People of God”)

CLOSING PRAYER

Our Father, we saw your Son today,

in the faces and hearts of your people;

gathered from all around our area,

taking precious time from busy lives.

They bowed before you in prayer,

and sang alleluias to your risen Son.

Their hearts smiled hearing the story,

the greatest story ever lived on Earth.

They rejoiced with saints and angels,

knowing that your Son lives forever.

With him, all is right with the world.

We relax in the work Christ has done.

We see it in your peoples’ faces now,

We call it faith, trust, real confidence.

Good routs evil. Light ends darkness.

Life defeats death. Christ triumphs.

Thank you for letting us see Jesus

so very alive in our church and world.

Thank you for unfading confidence

that tomorrow waits for us with joy.

Thank you for Jesus’ holy sacrifice,

resurrection and life with us forever. Amen.