The light shines in the darkness – and the darkness could not extinguish it!
This Easter Sunday, you’re invited to Harmony Park, Singleton at 6am as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We’ll be celebrating the fact that the God who died to rescue us from death could not be held by death!
Also join us afterwards at the Coastal Community Centre for a light breakfast!
Program
On the morning, we’ll be using the following liturgy.
Welcome
Read Mark 15:33-38
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a reed stick so He could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take Him down!”
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Cover all candles
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Responsive Reading
Our world is dark; filled with hate, pain, hurt, and death.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
But today we celebrate that there’s more than this…
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
It is fitting and right that we gather here at the dawn.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
For darkness is ever fleeing the coming of the day.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
For Jesus, dead and buried, did not that way stay.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Our world might seem dark now, but the Word of God was raised.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Even now the light is shining, and shall never, ever fade.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
First Candle
Read Genesis 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Second Candle
Read John 1:1-4
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
A reflection
For years they had been there, right by His side:
seeing His power, sharing His light.
Then He walked to Golgotha; walked to His throne.
And died in the dark.
The light was defeated; death had won.
Darkness had triumphed; the Life was gone.
They took down His body, crumpled and torn.
Hopes dashed to pieces, faces forlorn.
They placed Him in darkness, entombed behind stone.
And left Him there: Dead.
The light was defeated; death had won.
Darkness had triumphed; the Life was gone.
Trembling with tiredness they walked to His tomb.
Sweet spices they brought Him; the stench of their gloom.
But the stone was gone.
Why search you among the dead for He who is alive?
The tomb lies wide open, the grave has died!
Look, He is risen! The darkness has gone!
Death is defeated – Christ has won!
Death is defeated! The darkness done!
Third Candle
Read Mark 16:1-8
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.”
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Fourth Candle
Read John 20:1-9
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”
Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Hope
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-23
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. (Cover candle 1) And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless (Cover candle 2), and your faith is useless. (Cover candle 3) And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. (Covercandle 4)And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. (Uncover all candles) He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Christ is Risen!
(A song by Matt Maher.)
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he’s alive! he’s alive!
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
The Light Shines
Read Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And He also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Refrain: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Read Revelation 22:20-21
He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
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