Easter Sunday 23 March 2008 6:30 o clock in the morning
Easter Sunrise Service 23 March 2008 6:30 o clock in the morning Greenwich Point ************************************************************** *All who are able please stand PRELUDE CALL TO COMMUNITY Christian Thalheim CALL TO WORSHIP AND EASTER PROCLAMATION Caroline McLennan Leader: Christ is risen. People: Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! *HYMN: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply: Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Dying once, he all doth save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! Love s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia! *UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION Kelsey Ingraham Sarah Gordon O God of resurrection and hope, we come today as people seeking life abundant and life eternal. By the glorious resurrection of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, you have given to us the promise that it is not for this life only that we have meaning and purpose, but that your love is not constrained by evil, grief or death.
Help us to embrace the truth of your love, to accept in gratefulness your mighty work in the resurrection of Jesus Christ that our own lives might be resurrected from despair to hope. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. *CHORAL RESPONSE Alleluia! SCRIPTURE LESSON: Ian Brash John 21: 1-12 fter these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by Athe Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, Children, you have no fish, have you? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have just caught. So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, Who are you? because they knew it was the Lord. ANTHEM The Youth Choir and Alumni; Carolyn Paulus, director Easter is Here Jon Paige Sing, sing, Easter is here. Shout out with joy in praise loud and clear.
Sing, sing, Easter is here. This is the day, the stone rolled away; Jesus has conquered the grave. Sing, sing, Easter is here. Glorious Easter is here. Sing, sing, He is alive. Lift up your voice, the time has arrived. Sing, sing, He is alive. Lift up your voice, sing and rejoice, Come make a joyful noise. Sing, sing, Easter is here. Glorious Easter is here. Christ the Lord is risen today. Alleluia. Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia. Raise your joys and triumphs high. Sing ye heavens and earth reply. Alleluia, alleluia, glorious Easter is here. Sing, sing, loudly declare, Christ is alive, go and share. Sing, sing loudly declare, dying for sin, Rising again, giving us life without end. Sing, sing, Easter is here, glorious Easter is here. Easter is here! SCRIPTURE LESSON: T.J. Lepoutre Mark 16: 1-8 hen the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Wmother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you. So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
*HYMN: Morning Has Broken Morning has broken like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh from the word! Sweet the rain s new fall sunlit from heaven, Like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, Sprung in completeness where his feet pass. Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning Born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation, Praise every morning, God s recreation of the new day! EASTER MEDITATION Sunrise Surprise Rev. Daniel B. England ANTHEM El Shaddai El Shaddai, El Shaddai El Elyon na Adonai Age to age, You re still the same By the power of the name El Shaddai, El Shaddai Erkahm Ka na Adonai We will praise and lift you high El Shaddai! Through Your love and through the ram You saved the son of Abraham Through the power of Your hand You turned the sea into dry land To the outcast on her knees You were the God who really sees And by Your might You set Your children free. Through the years You made it clear That the time of Christ is near Though the people couldn t see What Messiah ought to be Though Your word contained the plan They just could not understand Your most awesome work was done In the frailty of Your son El Shaddai, El Shaddai El Elyon na Adonai Age to age You re still the same By the power of the name El Shaddai, El Shaddai Erkahm ka na Adonai I will praise You till I die El Shaddai
PRAYER AND LORD'S PRAYER Michael Lepoutre 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. *HYMN: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Christ, like Christ we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven! Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail, the Resurrection thou! Alleluia! *BENEDICTION *CHORAL RESPONSE AND POSTLUDE Finale from Godspell Kendall Witmer Stephen Schwartz At the conclusion of the service this morning, you will receive a Daffodil, a symbol of new life. The Daffodils for the Easter Sunrise Service are given in loving memory of Kay Davidson. Special thanks to the members of the Senior Pilgrim Fellowship of First Congregational Church of Greenwich, their Advisors and parents, Laura Pugliese, Chairman of Religious Education, Steve & Debbie Crawford, Youth Leaders, the Youth Choir & Alumni, and pianist Terry Flanagan for helping to make this service possible. This Sunrise Service is sponsored and supported by The First Congregational Church of Greenwich, United Church of Christ, and has been a project of the Senior Pilgrim Fellowship of this church for over 60 years.
The offering that will be received this morning at our coffee table is dedicated to our Lenten Offering. This will be allocated locally to hunger relief and to our neighbors in Maine at H.O.M.E. Co-op for food, shelter and daycare. Please join us as our Easter Sunday Celebration continues at 9 and 11 am when Festive Services, including choirs, brass and timpani, take place in the Meetinghouse.
First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, 06870 203-637-1791 www.fccog.org Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: David D. Young Interim Associate Pastor: Daniel B. England Minister of Pastoral Care: Ronald E. Halvorsen Director of Music/Senior Organist: John Stansell Associate Organist/Director: Terence J. Flanagan Directors of Youth Ministries: Steve and Debbie Crawford Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin Pastors Emeriti: Thomas L. Stiers and Sally Colegrove