This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies. If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Call to Worship
We have gathered to bear witness
to the story that changes every story
when the women came to mourn
they found their Hope raised anew
we have gathered to speak again
the wonder that echoes off the edge of time
Christ has died
But death could not hold him
God set a Light in the darkness
And the darkness did not overcome it
Christ is Risen
He is Risen indeed
and now the reign of death
has fallen to Resurrection
Amen
Scripture
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim,
"His mercy endures for ever."
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
There is a sound of exultation and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
"The right hand of the Lord has triumphed!
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!"
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me sorely,
but he did not hand me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
"This is the gate of the Lord;
he who is righteous may enter."
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me
and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
On this day the Lord has acted;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Matthew 28:1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Prayer
This week's prayer was written by Jacob Robinson and myself:
Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come again.
God, we embrace this Yes that you have spoken into the world.
This word of hope that echoes off the edge of time.
This counterpoint to every word of death, oppression, and temporal power.
This word of affirmation to all things good and beautiful
This counterpoint to self-interest and control
This word of abundance
This counterpoint to all things driven by scarcity and fear.
And in embracing this Yes, we pray that you would make us into resurrection people. People who carry your Yes in us, breathing life into death, hope into anguish, and peace into violence.
We ask this of you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Risen One, by the power of the Spirit of Life.
Amen.