Dudley's Sunrise: Good Morning

PRELUDE Karen Clough Pianist

(Italics indicates congregational participation)

PRELUDE Karen Clough Pianist

MUSICAL SELECTION

†oPENING wORSHIP “Low in the Grave He Lay” Pg.444

WELCOME AND SHARING NEWS ABOUT GOD’S FAMILY

†CALL TO WORSHIP

L: Don’t weep! Don’t mourn! There is great Good News!

P: Christ the Lord is risen today!

L: Put away your garments of mourning; let the light of God’s love flood into your lives.

P: Christ the Lord is risen today!

L: No more do we have to fear the darkness; it has been overcome by God’s light.

P: Christ the Lord is risen today. ALLELUIA!

†OPENING PRAYER

Loving God of light, we hid in the darkness and you brought the light of Salvation to our eyes and our spirits. We praise you for the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have received the greatest good news of healing, hope, and restoration. Praise be to you, eternal God, for this gift of love. AMEN.

†TOGETHER IN SONG “Were You There” Pg. 436

Sermon “Good Morning!”

J 20:10-18

How early it is! The sky is changing from deep darkness to the faded blue-gray of morning light. Now is her time to go to the tomb--in the dimness of early morning light, before the others awake--just to be there, near his tomb just one more time. And she runs to the place where he is buried, but the stone is rolled away. How can this be? This stone takes a number of strong workmen to put in place. It was guarded. But now no one is there and the stone is rolled away. She is frightened and runs back to tell Peter and the other disciples: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter and John run to the tomb. John reached the tomb first and looked in, and he did not see the body in the tomb; Peter went into the tomb and said that the body definitely was not there. He saw the linen wrappings lying there and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, but it wasn’t lying with the other linen wrappings; it was rolled up in a place by itself. John entered the tomb and was overwhelmed by the disappearance of Jesus. So they left the tomb and went back to their place of hiding.

But Mary stayed, stunned and fearful. As she wept, she bent over and looked in the tomb, and there she saw two angels in white, one at the place where Jesus’ head had lain, and other at the place where the feet had been. “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked her. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,” she responded. She turned around and saw someone whom she supposed to be the gardener, the one who attends to the burial sites. She did not know it was Jesus. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She was astonished at his words and through her tears implored him to tell him where the body had been taken. “Where has he been taken? If you tell me, I will go and take him away.” And then she heard it, the sound that would ring in her ears and in her heart for the rest of her life: “Mary!” he said her name. “Mary!” and in an instant, she knew who he was. “Teacher,” she cried and fell to her knees in front of him, seeking to embrace him. “Mary, do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” And with tears of joy, Mary ran from the place and went to the disciples, announcing, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

John 20:10–18 NIV84

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Sermon “Good Morning!”

we doubt.

We question.

He is faithful.

In order to see the good, we must often times get through the bad.

The resurrection is proof that there is good news to this life no matter how bad the death of it all seems.

Death has been defeated, freeing us from all that ensnares us and keeps from an abundant life. It empowers us to live obedient, disciplined, sacrificial, and joyful lives in the knowledge that Jesus leads us through even the darkness of death and brings us to everlasting glory!

It has all been done for us, all we have to do is receive the gift. Confess our rebellion, stupidity, and stubbornness and receive the gift of salvation that changes our lives.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND PARDON

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that like the disciples of old, we ran and hid, in our hearts, from the terror and sadness of the crucifixion. We didn’t want to be there. We found ways of avoiding the scene and pretending that it was all a bad dream. But it wasn’t a dream. Jesus our Lord was crucified. That’s a fact. And we were numbed by the news. But now we have been given the most blessed gift of forgiveness for our stupidity and stubbornness; we have been given the gift of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. New Light has shined in our deep darkness. Restore us again to your presence. Soften our hard hearts. Brighten our spirits, for we ask this in the name of the Resurrected One, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Words of Assurance

Do not fear. God has conquered death. Jesus Christ, who was crucified, is risen from the dead. Love has been poured out again for each one of us. ALLELUIA! AMEN.

SHARING OF THE PEACE

Pastoral Prayer

We gather on this brilliant day in a place filled with candles and flowers, where the music soars and the spirits of all are lifted in joy. Be with us again, reminding us that the journey to the cross does not end in death, but becomes a road of joy. Lift our hearts and our spirits to sing your praises in gratitude for all that you have done for us. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine on us, in us, and through us as witness to your eternal presence and love for us; for we ask this in his name. AMEN.

OFFERING

OFFERING

SONG OF THANKSGIVING

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

†CLOSING WORSHIP

“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Pg. 439

†BENEDICTION

Alleluia! This is a day of new beginnings! This is the day of brightness and hope! For God has done wondrous things for us! Go in joyful peace and know that God’s peace and love go with you always. ALLELUIA! AMEN.

Alleluia! This is a day of new beginnings! This is the day of brightness and hope! For God has done wondrous things for us! Go in joyful peace and know that God’s peace and love go with you always. ALLELUIA! AMEN.

POSTLUDE