Reading: John 20:1-10

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Hymn: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

(1.) “Christ the Lord is ris’n today,” Alleluia!

sons of men and angels say; Alleluia!

raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!

Sing ye heav’ns, and earth, reply. Alleluia!

(2.) Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia!

Christ has burst the gates of hell: Alleluia!

death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise. 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 thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

(4.) Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

foll’wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!

made like him, like him we rise: Alleluia!

ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

Reading: John 20:11-18

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for 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.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Greeting Others

Hymn: Worship Christ, the Risen King

(1.) Rise, O church, and lift your voices,

Christ has conquered death and hell.

Sing as all the earth rejoices;

resurrection anthems swell.

Come and worship, come and worship,

worship Christ, the risen King!

(2.) See the tomb where death had laid him,

empty now, its mouth declares:

“Death and I could not contain him,

for the throne of life he shares.”

Come and worship,

come and worship,

worship Christ, the risen King!

(3.) Hear the earth protest and tremble,

see the stone removed with pow’r;

all hell’s minions may assemble,

but cannot withstand his hour.

He has conquered,

he has conquered,

Christ the Lord, the risen King!

(4.) We acclaim your life, O Jesus,

now we sing your victory;

sin or hell may seek to seize us,

but your conquest keeps us free.

Stand in triumph,

stand in triumph,

worship Christ, the risen King!

Reading: Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. ” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Homily

Hymn: Up From the Grave He Arose

(1.) Low in the grave he lay

Jesus, my Savior,

waiting the coming day

Jesus, my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose,

with a mighty

triumph o’er his foes.

He arose a victor

from the dark domain,

and he lives forever

with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(2.) Vainly they watch his bed

Jesus, my Savior;

vainly they seal the dead

Jesus, my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose,

with a mighty

triumph o’er his foes.

He arose a victor

from the dark domain,

and he lives forever

with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(3.) Death cannot keep his prey

Jesus, my Savior;

he tore the bars away

Jesus, my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose,

with a mighty

triumph o’er his foes.

He arose a victor

from the dark domain,

and he lives forever

with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Benediction