Sunrise Service Liturgy

GREETING

Liturgist:
(Matt) Let’s begin by grounding ourselves in this moment—listening to the earth wake up, feeling the chill of the morning, noticing the hope that rises with the sun. In silence, let us prepare our hearts for resurrection.

Moment of Silence

(Andrea) This morning, this joyous morning, we journey to the tomb with the two Marys and discover that the stone has been rolled away. An empty grave remains, offering us hope and joy in knowing that, in spite of the unimaginable that occurred on Good Friday, Jesus lives today! With joy, we discover that Jesus Christ has risen. So we offer praise and thanks to God for fulfilling the resurrection promise.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Liturgist (Matt):

There’s a common call and response that is often chanted in services all over the world on Easter morning. It goes, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Let us declare this truth together...

Liturgist: Christ is risen!

All: He is risen, indeed!

Liturgist: Christ is risen!

All: He is risen, indeed!

All: Faith, hope, and love are alive. May we rejoice and be glad in this truth. A new age is dawning, - sin and death have lost their power over us. God of all creation, we praise You. God of resurrection and life everlasting, we have gathered here today to worship you and to celebrate your victory.

Liturgist (Andrea):

Let us pray.

GATHERING PRAYER Liturgist:

Loving God, we gather in the early morning of your resurrection as the sun just begins to crest over the horizon reminding us that light is breaking into the darkness. For the past two days we have mourned because of the violent way the empire tried to extinguish your light from this world on the cross. But today we rejoice because you now meet us in the garden of new creation. Here, in this sacred place, we discover that you are alive, and that sin and death cannot defeat you. Or us. Now our tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy as we experience your presence among us. Today, we begin to understand that your joy is capable of overcoming our grief. You have called us to go into the world to share this Good News as examples who live according to your teachings. May we be compelled by the power of your life, your death, and your resurrection to be and to live like you. To go and do likewise. Amen.

SONG SELECTION

As we listen to this song take a moment to just be…

A moment to hear the creator of the sand, the sun, the breeze, the rain…the creator of it all

Whisper your name

Lectio Divina John 20:1-18

First Reading (Matt): Clear your mind and simply let the story wash over you.

<Pause for quiet reflection>

Second Reading (Andrea): Listen intently to the story and identify something that stands out to you. Do not worry about why, do not seek understanding simply pay attention to the part of the story that is speaking to you.

<Pause for quiet reflection>

< With no explanation share with the group the word or phrase that stood out to you>

Final Reading (Matt): Listening to the text the final time ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Now is when you focus on understanding. Why is this particular part of the text speaking to you? What might the Spirit be inviting you to notice? What might God be saying to you in this story??

<Pause for quiet reflection>

<Share as you feel comfortable>

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir,[b] if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,[c] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch 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.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.

(John 20:1–18)

(Matt) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark...

That’s where this story begins—
Not in sunlight. Not in celebration.
But in the shadows. While it was still dark.
And maybe that’s exactly where resurrection needs to meet us.

Mary comes to the tomb with tears still fresh on her face.
She’s not expecting a miracle—she’s there to grieve.
The stone is rolled away, the body is gone, and even the angels don’t shake her sorrow.

It isn’t until one simple moment changes everything.

“Mary,” he says.

And that’s when resurrection gets real—not when the stone rolls away,
not when the linen wrappings are found,
but when Jesus calls her by name.

That’s the kind of Savior we follow.
Not one who waits for you to figure it all out,
but one who draws near when you don’t recognize him.
One who stays when your heart is broken.
One who whispers your name when all you can see is loss.

That’s resurrection.
Not just a miracle that happened one morning long ago—
But a pattern, a promise, a presence that shows up again and again.

So if you’re still weeping by the tomb—
If you’re still waiting in the dark—
Hold on.

Because the risen Christ is closer than you think.
And when he says your name—
when you finally see that he’s been with you the whole time—
everything changes.

Like Mary, you might just find yourself saying, “I have seen the Lord.”

And you won’t be able to keep it to yourself.

Liturgist: Let us close in prayer.

CLOSING PRAYER

All: Lord, we have so much to be thankful for this Easter morning. In the chill of the morning air, we can feel the warmth and the blessing of your Spirit in us and all around us. We can rejoice this day because our tendency toward unbelief is overcome by our capacity for faith. Your invitation to relationship and restoration triumphs over our propensity to sin. We are truly amazed that a murderous cross of crucifixion has been transformed into a symbol of new life, abundant life, and eternal life. We are thankful that you come to greet us with hope, trust, and faith. We thank you that a dark and empty tomb has emerged into a garden of light and of living. In all our days, we shall live for Jesus Christ, the resurrected and risen Savior. Amen.

BENEDICTION

Liturgist (Andrea): And finally, our benediction. The tomb is empty. Christ has risen. As we live in faith, may our lives be full, our love be abundant, and our hope be eternal. Let us live this day and always for Jesus because he, the Risen Christ, lives in and through us. Go now as Easter people—walking gently, loving boldly, and listening for the voice that still calls you by name.

Liturgist: Christ is risen!

All: He is risen indeed!

Liturgist: Christ is risen!

All: He is risen indeed!

May we all go now in peace.