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Prepare yourself for Worship! 

 

GREETING & INVOCATION

 

Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ our Lord. My brothers and sisters in Christ: On this most holy morning in which Jesus Christ passed over from death to life, we gather as the Church to watch and pray. This is the Passover of Christ, in which we share in Christ's victory over death.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Leader: Do not stand at the tomb and weep. Christ is risen!

All: Do not let your hearts be in morning: Christ is risen!

Leader: Run to tell others the great good news: Christ is risen!

All: Believe the good news Christ is risen! HALLELUJAH!

 

OPENING HYMN  Christ the Lord is Risen Today   UMH 302 v 1, 3, 5
 

1. Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

 

3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy vict'ry, boasting grave? Alleluia!

 

5. 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!

 

PRAYER 

 

All: 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.

 

SCRIPTURE READING                      Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)

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The Resurrection of Jesus

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24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. 

 

MESSAGE                           Resurrection is Ours!                      Rev. Jin Kook Kim

 

Happy Easter to you, Church Family! What a glorious day today is! After 40 days of Lent, we finally have Easter Sunday today. We are here in this early morning to face today and celebrate Easter together. Why are we happy today and saying to one another, “Happy Easter!” What would you like to celebrate today?

 

We celebrate the risen Jesus. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection today. No one expected Jesus’ resurrection when Jesus died. Jesus’ disciples, family, followers, and all observers watched Jesus’ death on the cross and they thought it ended. However, Jesus has risen. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection not because Jesus, who is one of those who we know, is resurrected. Rather we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection because Jesus who died for us was resurrected. Jesus is resurrected, who suffered for us and died for us. Jesus is resurrected, who sacrificed himself on the cross to save us and to forgive us. Jesus is not one of the people we know. Jesus is not the one who we don’t have any relationship with. Jesus is our savior who gave up his life for us. And the very Jesus has risen. This is the first reason that we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. 

 

We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection today because Jesus’ resurrection is relevant to us. Jesus died on the cross. However, death couldn’t swallow up Jesus for a long time. Jesus is resurrected three days after death. The witnesses at the cross became the witnesses at the tomb, the witnesses of risen Jesus. The women and disciples came to the tomb to find the body of Jesus but what they found was the risen Jesus. They found resurrection, rather than death at the tomb. Jesus’ resurrection is not only his but ours also. His resurrection shows our future resurrection. As he is resurrected, we will be resurrected someday. As we read in 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. Jesus’ resurrection is the first fruits of those who have died. As we see Jesus’ resurrection, we believe that we will be resurrected someday. As Jesus showed and promised, We will see that the resurrection will be ours. Resurrection is God’s blessing and gift for all of us who believe in God, who accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, who died with Jesus, and raised with Jesus through the profession of faith.

 

Church family and friends, Resurrection is ours because God promised to give us. Let us celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Let us worship God and let us praise Jesus Christ who rose again. We have the hope of resurrection. The very hope strengthens us and encourages us to live out our lives as witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. I pray that we live out our lives with the hope of resurrection. This is because the hope of resurrection strengthens us and have peace in our hearts whatever we face in our lives. May God’s blessings of Easter be with you and your family, friends, and neighbors. Amen!

 

CLOSING HYMN                          He Lives                              UMH 310

 

1. I serve a risen Savior

He's in the world today

I know that He is living

Whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy

I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him

He's always near

 

(Refrain)

He lives He lives

Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives He lives

Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives

He lives within my heart

 

1. In all the world around me

I see His loving care

And though my heart grows weary

I never will despair

I know that He is leading

Through all the stormy blast

The day of His appearing

Will come at last

(Refrain)

 

1. Rejoice rejoice O Christian

Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

To Jesus Christ the King

The Hope of all who seek Him

The Help of all who find

None other is so loving

So good and kind

(Refrain)

 

BENEDICTION                                                                              Rev. Jin Kook Kim

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Christ is with us in this place. Christ goes with us into the world. Be now in Peace! Christ is Risen! Amen!