Worship Elements — When Recognition Dawns
John 20:1-18 (CEB) · Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Most (Easter Sunday)
These worship elements are an early draft being shared as a preview for the upcoming service. The final version used in worship may be adapted or revised. Pastors and worship leaders are welcome to use and adapt these for your own context.
Welcome
Someone once said that the most powerful word in any language is your own name. This morning we hear Jesus speak Mary’s name—and everything changes.
Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.
At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.
Today we’ll share Holy Communion together—all are welcome at Christ’s table, and if you’re worshiping online, you may want to have bread and juice ready.
We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.
If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.
Easter Greeting
For nearly two thousand years, Christians around the world have greeted one another on Easter morning with the same words. From ancient churches in Jerusalem to cathedrals in Europe, from underground house churches to this sanctuary in McPherson, believers have proclaimed the same good news that Mary first announced to the disciples: Jesus is alive.
This morning, we join that ancient chorus. When I say “Christ is risen,” I invite you to respond: “He is risen indeed!” And each time, let’s get a little louder—until we shake the rafters with resurrection joy.
Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
(Louder) Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
(Louder still) Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
Opening Prayer
All: Risen Christ, you call us by name just as you called Mary in the garden. Open our eyes to recognize you. Open our ears to hear your voice. Open our hearts to receive your risen life. Amen.
Welcome Your Neighbor
One of the five ways we grow as disciples is through witness—welcoming others as Christ welcomes us and inviting others to experience this community. As you greet those around you, consider who’s not here—who might you invite to worship next week?
Take a moment now to welcome your neighbor. Introduce yourself to someone sitting nearby, especially someone you don’t know yet.
If you’re worshiping online, say hello in the comments.
Will you please stand and greet your neighbor?
Invitation to Prayer and Pastoral Prayer
Mary came to the tomb weeping, and Jesus met her there. Now we bring our hearts before God together. One of the five ways we grow as disciples is through prayers—building a real relationship with God through honest conversation.
If you have a prayer request, share it through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. You can also text PRAY to 620-241-3626. Will you pray with me?
God of resurrection, you meet us in the places where hope seems lost. We pause now to center our hearts in your presence.
We praise you for your power over death itself. You rolled away the stone. You transformed Mary’s grief into joy. You speak our names with tenderness and call us into new life.
We confess that we often fail to recognize you. Like Mary, we look for you in familiar places and miss you standing right before us. We cling to the way things were instead of embracing the new thing you are doing. Forgive us for our limited vision.
[Moment of silence]
We thank you for the ways resurrection shows up in our lives—in healed relationships, renewed hope, second chances we didn’t deserve. Thank you for calling us by name.
Now we bring before you those who need your resurrection power: those in our congregation facing illness, loss, or despair. We pray for families gathered around tables today and those for whom this holiday brings grief. We lift up our community—for those working so others can celebrate, for those who feel invisible or forgotten. We pray for a world that desperately needs the good news that love is stronger than death.
We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray and who meets us at the table. Amen.
Invitation to Give and Check-In
Mary encountered the risen Jesus and couldn’t keep it to herself—she ran to share the news. When we give, we’re participating in sharing that same good news with our community and world.
Now we practice gifts—one of the five ways we grow as followers of Jesus. You can give through the offering plates, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. Thank you to those who give regularly—your generosity sustains our mission.
We also practice presence—showing up and participating actively. Whether you’re here in person or online, check in through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. Your presence matters to this community.
Ushers, please come forward to receive our offerings.
Invitation, Confession and Pardon
Preaching Pastor: Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Host Pastor: Let us pray together the prayer of confession:
All: Merciful God, we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Pause for silent confession)
Host Pastor: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
Preaching Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Preaching Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Preaching Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Preaching Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets.
And when the fullness of time had come, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to live among us, full of grace and truth. He healed the sick, welcomed the outcast, and proclaimed good news to the poor. On a cross he offered his life for the sins of the whole world. And on this glorious morning, he rose from the dead, defeating death forever and opening the way to eternal life.
By his resurrection, Jesus transformed Mary’s grief into joy, her searching into finding, her tears into proclamation. He calls each of us by name and sends us as witnesses to his risen life.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Host Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, set us free from sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Preaching Pastor: And so, remembering all you have done for us in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves to you—our praise, our thanks, our lives. United with Christ, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
Host Pastor: By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Preaching Pastor: Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
Host Pastor: And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Receiving Holy Communion
Host Pastor: Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in Christ’s blood and God’s grace.
Preaching Pastor: Communion servers, please come forward now. I’ll serve you first so you can then share this holy meal with our congregation.
(Pause while servers receive and move to stations)
Host Pastor: Friends, God welcomes you to this table of grace. All are welcome to receive Holy Communion. You don’t have to be a member of this church or even a United Methodist. Come with an open heart to receive God’s love.
The ushers will direct you forward by the center aisle. You’ll receive a piece of bread—the body of Christ—then a small cup of grape juice. After you receive both, you’re welcome to kneel at the altar rail to pray. When finished, place your empty cup in the spaces provided at the altar rail and return to your seat by the outside aisles.
If you’d prefer to remain seated and reflect with the music, you are welcome too. The invitation stands whenever you’re ready. Need communion brought to you? Let an usher know. Gluten-free bread is at the front on your right.
Online worshippers, please receive the elements you’ve prepared.
Come to Christ’s table and receive God’s grace.
(Distribution of elements)
Prayer After Holy Communion
We’ve been fed at Christ’s table. Now we’re sent to practice service—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Send us into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Will you please stand as we sing together?
Benediction
Mary came to the tomb in darkness and left as the first witness to resurrection. This week, when someone asks about the hope within you, tell them: “I have seen the Lord.” Remember that you don’t go alone—God’s Spirit goes with you.
Go now to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Christ is risen!
People: Christ is risen indeed!
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These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.
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