Greeting Easter Morning - A Time of Worship for Home

Find a special place, outside or in, where you can begin this day in worship, alone or with your family. Select some music to play as you begin this time of worship - piano, instrumental classical, or instrumental jazz may provide the best option. Before you settle into your space for worship, turn off the phones, television, and any other possible distractions. Enter the space of worship and sense the joy of this day.

Opening Psalm from Psalm 118

Out of my distress I called upon You;
You answered, setting me
on a new path.
With You beside me, I do not fear.
What can others do to me?
You live within me and answer
my prayer as
I face the fears that
well up from within.
It is better to abandon yourself
to the Beloved
than to trust in yourself alone.
It is better to surrender to Love
than to seek the riches
of the world.

Gospel Reading John 20:1-10

Prayer
Risen Lord,
You step forth out of death into life, again, different, changed.

With your coming out, you splinter the tombs in which we live;
living with death all around us, you scatter our despair;
as the Water of Life you fill our parched souls.

Bathed in your light, you draw us to yourself and as we look
all around we see life, new and different.

In the radiance of your light, we worship and listen. Amen.

Silence
(Enter an extended period of silence and listen for God. As you settle into this time, do not worry if distracting thoughts enter your mind or if your mind wanders. Simply let the thoughts pass on through and let your mind return to listening.)

Epistle Reading Colossians 3:1-4

Prayer of Intercession
Let us pray for…
The whole world, the place of Jesus’ ministry,
death, and resurrection…

The church, that we may be one in witnessing to
the Good News…

Those divided by enmity, that the joy of this Easter
may be impetus to reconciliation…

Those who are hungry, thirsty, and naked, that
their hunger pangs may be sated, their thirst
quenched, and their bodies protected…

Those who live in fear and anxiety, that they may
know the wholeness of God…

Those who are ill and injured, that they may be
healed…

The leaders of the world, that they may be servants
of others and that they may rule with grace and
mercy…

Risen Lord, hear our prayers. Amen.

Benediction
Be graceful in spirit, hopeful in word, and faithful in deed.
Live for the Risen Christ as Christ lives in you.
Alleluia and Amen!