A Service of Worship for
Easter Sunday
April 4, 2021
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Adult Education - TODAY, 9AM
Today we will have a lecture by Vanderbilt Jewish New Testament scholar Amy Jill Levine, “Jesus in Text and Context.” Prof. Levine is an engaging speaker and her theological views encourage us to practice justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with God. It is a fine way to begin the celebration of Easter—assuming you may have missed a sunrise service. Zoom link is available on the Online Gatherings page on our website: https://www.covenanthouston.org/covenant-gatherings.html Full worship service video:
COFFEE TIME Gathering on Zoom
Today, 11AM We will begin as a large group before we transition into “rooms" for coffee time. Please bring a flower if you are able! Log in details on the Online Gatherings page. |
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Prelude
"I Know That My Redeemer Lives," by Dale Wood. Andrew Bowen, organ. Call to Worship Opening Sentences Am I meant to rise too? To push away what leans against the door of my pinched heart? I cannot. Compassion for myself is a slow growing crop, however carefully tended it yields an unreliable harvest. These resurrections ask more than I can give every time this hurts more than the pains of my body than the old world full of sorrows this offering of love this unbearable gift of another chance. Presentation of a Bible to Sebastian Cuellar: Minister: Every week we read from the sacred stories together and each of us understands them a bit differently. Listening together we can hear many things. People: Thus, we are joined as a community of interpreters, giving and receiving in our search for what is sacred. Minister: One of our customs is to offer our children the sacred stories in the hopes that they will read them carefully and offer us their insights. People: For we affirm that every person has access to the divine. Minister: There is one among us, Sebastian, who has recently turned ten. We welcome him, officially this day, into the community of interpreters. Together we have much to learn from each other. Sebastian, we would like to give you a Bible. It is full of stories that are sacred to us. Will you read them and think about them, always remembering that they are meant to teach us love for God, our neighbors, and our world? Sebastian: I will read these sacred stories and seek to learn from them. People: Then together we will join with you, Sebastian, and with others in the great and ongoing conversation among interpreters. We will share our understanding, our experiences, our questions, and our hopes as we read from the sacred stories and open ourselves to the dialogue that follows. We welcome and affirm you as a companion in this process. Scripture Lesson: Mark 16:1-8
Hymn "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!," Music: Roland Hugh Prichard. Words: William Chatterton Dix. The Covenant Singers. Andrew Bowen, organ. Time for Children Confession Unison Confession
We believe: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. |
Proclamation
Prayer The women made their way to the tomb so long ago expecting to find a barrier that would keep them from you, Holy one. They were worried about who would roll the stone away. They were worried about how they would get to you. But then, when they arrived, there was no barrier. How often do we imagine barriers to you? How often do we worry about how we will get to you? The Easter story tells us that we are not kept from you. Nothing separates us from your love. You live now wherever we are: you are living in and through us. We are grateful for this Easter gift. We are grateful for love that is everywhere. We are grateful that love never dies. Holy one, surrounded by this love - your love - help us to keep writing the story. Help us to write a new ending, to go down a new path: a path of racial justice, a path of peace, a path of love. We pray this day for those who grieve, we pray for the oppressed and abused, we pray for the sick and weary. We pray this day for those who laugh, we pray for the cherished and protected, we pray for the healthy and the rested. We pray for ourselves and each other. Come and be among us this day and always. Remind us that there are no barriers to your love, your peace, your passion for the realm of justice. Help us embody a new way of living, the next chapter - a new story of justice and love. Help us sing a new song. Amen -Laura Mayo Music
"Hallelujah" from Messiah by George Frederic Handel. The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera.
Invitation
Prayer of Dedication God of Love, May I not forget I have a heart - to love a broken world. May I not forget I have a voice - to speak out for the poor. May I not forget I have hands - to reach out to other people. May I not forget I have feet - to go where I am needed. Let me never forget You will be with me Always. Doxology
Affirmation of Faith If we say we believe in the resurrection it only has meaning if we are people who believe in the possibility of transformed lives, transformed attitudes, and transformed societies. The action is the proof of the belief. I can say I believe…because I see resurrections now, see stones rolled away and new possibilities rising from old attitudes. Benediction Postlude "Today, the Son of God Triumphs," by J. S. Bach. Andrew Bowen, organ. |
Worship Notes
The worship leader is Tonya McKinny.
The banner was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude and postlude are played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
The Call to Worship is by Jan Richardson.
The Opening Sentences are "Eastering", a poem by Barbara Pescan from Morning Watch.
The Unison Confession is Romans 8:38-39.
“Hallelujah” from MESSIAH is sung by The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera. The organist is Dr. Robert Bates.
The Prayer of Dedication is an adapted prayer of Max Khanna.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Doubts and Loves: What is Left of Christianity by Richard Holloway.
The worship leader is Tonya McKinny.
The banner was created by Nancy Henry.
The prelude and postlude are played by Andrew Bowen, organ.
The Call to Worship is by Jan Richardson.
The Opening Sentences are "Eastering", a poem by Barbara Pescan from Morning Watch.
The Unison Confession is Romans 8:38-39.
“Hallelujah” from MESSIAH is sung by The Covenant Singers, directed by Fran Avera. The organist is Dr. Robert Bates.
The Prayer of Dedication is an adapted prayer of Max Khanna.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Doubts and Loves: What is Left of Christianity by Richard Holloway.
Sunday schedule for today:
9:00 - Adult Education with Zoom
10:00 - Worship via videos on the Worship Page
11:00 - Transition from worship to coffee time with Zoom
9:00 - Adult Education with Zoom
10:00 - Worship via videos on the Worship Page
11:00 - Transition from worship to coffee time with Zoom
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