Leader: But it was God’s plan to crush him, fill him with grief. He had to be a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others.
All: He was there. He did everything just as God planned.
Leader: When he sees the good work that is done because of his anguish, he will be content. He is blessed because by his work many may be counted righteous.
All: He was there. He did everything just as God planned.
Pastor: God was there.
We Were There
Litany for Easter. Romans 6:3-10 (Adapted and paraphrased)
Leader: Were you there? Please turn to the Litany that is printed in the bulletin. (The text begins) Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
All: We were there.
Women: Don’t forget that when we became Christians
Men: and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus,
All: we died with him.
Leader: Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
All: We were there.
Men: We died with Christ by baptism.
Women: We were buried with Him by baptism.
Men: And just as the Father raised Jesus from the dead
Women: by His glorious power,
All: now we may live new lives, too.
Leader: Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
All: We were there.
Men: Just as we have been united with Jesus in His death, like Him we will be raised to life.
Women: When Jesus, died, our old selves, our sinful selves, were crucified with Him, so that sin will no longer have power in our lives.
All: We are no longer slaves to sin.
Men: For when we died with Christ, we were freed from sin’s power.
Women: And since we died with Christ, we know we will share his new life, too.
Leader: Were you there when He rose up from the dead?
Men: We were there.
Women: We were there.
All: We were there.
Men: We are sure of this: Christ rose from the dead. He will never die again. Never.
All: Death will never have any power over him.
Women: He died once to defeat sin. Now he lives for the glory of God!
Men: Now he lives for the glory of God!
All: Now he lives for the glory of God!
Leader: Were you there?
Women: I was there.
Men: I was there.
All: We were there.
Leader: Are you here?
Women: I am here.
Men: I am here.
All: We are here.
Pastor: He is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
Pastor: He is here!
All: He is here indeed!
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POEMS
God Was There
Poem for Good Friday
God was there. God is love.
From the beginning, He was there.
Love was there.
In love
He made the world and filled it with every good thing.
In love
He made man and woman and breathed His Spirit into them.
He made us so He could love us.
He made us so we could be His friends.
He made us and gave us paradise.
All he wanted from us was our love
—our love for the world He made
—our love for each other
—our love for Him.
That’s all He wanted
—a love that would fill us and give us all we could ever need or want.
He wanted a love we could freely give.
He wanted a love we chose to give.
He gave us the choice. Here is paradise. It is yours.
Today
and today
and today
and forever.
I am here.
Everything here is yours.
Yours to enjoy.
Yours to take care of.
The fruit is yours.
Yours to eat.
You may eat it all.
All the fruit except one.
Eat that fruit and die.
Such a simple choice. A choice of love.
Without love there would be no choice.
Without choice there would be no love.
We chose the fruit and paradise died.
God grieved.
He was there and He was love.
He promised a way.
Love promised a way.
Love promised a way to pay the price.
Love promised a way to defeat death.
Love promised a Saviour.
For centuries God loved us,
worked with us,
showed us the way.
For centuries He showed us
that the spilled blood of a spotless lamb could pay the price for our sin.
For centuries He spoke to us through His prophets.
One day, He said, He would send the final sacrifice—the Lamb of God.
For centuries we did not listen
and the prophets cried out, “Doesn’t anyone believe our report?”
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Ode to Resurrection Joy
Poem for Easter (This can be sung to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Shout our praises! Sing with gladness!
He is risen as He said!
Bend our knees in adoration,
Lift our hands with loud amens.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To our Saviour, Lord and Friend.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Sing to Christ, God’s blessed Son!
Shout our praises! Sing with gladness!
Christ has conquered, Christ has won!
Join our hearts in exultation,
Raise our voices, lift our heads
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory to our God and King!
Shout our praises! Sing with gladness!
Joyful hearts are caroling
Christ our Saviour bought our pardon
Paid the price and took our sin
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Shout our praises! Sing with gladness!
He is risen as He said!
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Participation: CEREMONY OF THE CROSS
This is an inter-active element. The idea is not original to me: it has been used many times by others. You will need a strip of red ribbon(8” x 2” is fine) and a nail for each member of the congregation, two or three hammers, and a full-sized cross. The cross should be lying horizontally on the platform. Make sure everyone has a ribbon and a nail. How you distribute them is up to you The pastor gives the instructions in the speeches that follow, so I won’t repeat them here.
Pastor: Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
This morning, we invite you to be there at the cross. You were handed a ribbon with your bulletin when you came in. The ribbon represents your sins, your bad choices, all those things which keep you from knowing God, which keep you from the friendship He dearly wants with you. Look at the ribbon. Feel it. Think about the sacrifice Jesus made for you. Think of something that keeps you from enjoying a full walk with Jesus. Let the ribbon represent that. Bring it to the cross and nail it there, for it was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross 2,000 years ago.
Leave the ribbon there, for as it was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross, it was Jesus who took those sins and removed them from us, as far as the east is from the west.
(The pastor nails his ribbon to the cross. The congregation follows suit. Have people scattered throughout the sanctuary who know ahead of time so they can set an example. Do not have m
usic playing. The only sounds will be the footsteps of the people and the hammering of the nails. Once everybody has come who is going to come, have a person assigned to stand the cross up.)
Pastor: (Once the cross is standing): Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
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Service Outlines
All songs other than “Were You There?” mentioned in these outlines are suggestions only.
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DOUBLE SERVICE FOR GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER
Good Friday
Personnel:
Pastor
Leader—to lead Litany. Could be the pastor.
Salome—the mother of James and John
Peter—the disciple who failed an important test
Centurion—the Roman soldier who wondered
Ensemble—any grouping of people to sing one or two songs and possibly lead the congregational singing
Decorations and Props:
A bulletin with the litany and songs for each person in the congregation.
Keep the room stark and dark. Keep the flowers for Sunday—don’t use them on Friday.
The props listed in The Ceremony of the Cross inter-active element.
Production Notes for Good Friday:
There should be a big contrast between the Friday and Sunday services. Friday should be kept somber and quiet. If possible, have it dark in the sanctuary, and encourage the people to go in and sit quietly. There should be no flowers and very little colour on Friday. Any special music could be done from the back, so that the only people at the front are the pastor, leader and actors—and even they could be contiguous with the congregation—seated among them and perhaps speaking from the floor instead of the platform, if the sight lines in the church allow for that.
The approximate length of this service without the Choral Prelude and Pastor’s Remarks is 35 to 40 minutes.
~~~~
SERVICE
Optional Choral Prelude (This could be up to 30 minutes of choral music that highlights the Passion of Jesus Christ.)
Call to Worship (Said from the congregation. Should be spoken with strength and expression)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. —John 3:16
Hymn—O How He Loves You and Me (Verse 1), by Kurt Kaiser
Welcome
Poem: God Was There
Litany: The Suffering Servant
Verse 1—Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O — sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Leader: Were you there?
Monologue: Salome
Monologue: Peter
Verse 2—Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Leader:Were you there?
Monologue: Centurion or The Other Mary (Friday)
Verse 3—Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Ceremony of the Cross
Song: “Behold the Lamb” by Dottie Rambo (This song may be sung a capella, possibly from the back of the church. Ensemble or solo. These elements should flow seamlessly from one to the other.)
Pastor: Were you there? Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Character Statements
Song Reprise—O How He Loves You and Me (Verses 1, 2)
Pastor’s Remarks:
Closing Hymn (This should be a song that focuses on being at the cross)
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Easter
Personnel:
Pastor
Leader—to lead Litany. Could be the pastor.
Ushers
Mary—known as “the other Mary”
Ensemble—any grouping of people to sing one or two songs and possibly lead the congregational singing
Props:
The wooden cross from Friday’s service. It is now lying down—propped up on something so everyone can see it. The ribbons are gone. Decorate it with lilies, etc.
Lots of light and flowers.
Be sure and have a good space on the platform for the drama.
Props and pieces for the drama
Production Notes for Easter:
This service is in contrast to Friday’s. It should be filled with brightness and energy. Have lots of flowers, and the people singing and leading may be much more visible than they were on Friday. And if people want to chat and visit in the sanctuary before the service begins, great!
The approximate time of the service without Choral Prelude and Pastor’s remarks is 45-50 minutes.
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SERVICE
Opening Hymn— (This song should be a joyous celebration of the resurrection of Jesus)
Call to Worship (Said from the congregation. Should be spoken with strength and expression)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. —John 3:16
Song: O How He Loves You and Me (Verse 1)
Pastor: He is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Praise and Worship (These songs will focus on the resurrection and the majesty of Jesus. This may be done as congregational singing or a combination of special music and choral numbers.)
Were You There? Last verse —Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Monologue: The Other Mary (Sunday)
Litany: We Were There
Special Music: The Easter Song, by Annie Herring
Pastor: He is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
Offering: (This being a church service, after all! Offertory should be a joyous song of praise.)
Poem: Ode to Resurrection Joy
Pastor’s Remarks & Prayer
Pastor: He is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
CLOSING HYMN: I Serve a Risen Saviour
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Single Service
Combining the two services into one
Optional Choral Prelude
Call to Worship: John 3:16
Opening Hymn: O How He Loves You and Me, Verse 1
Welcome:
Poem: God Was There
Litany: The Suffering Servant
Verse 1—Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Monolog: Salome
Monolog: Peter
Verse 2—Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Monolog: Centurion or The Other Mary (Friday)
Verse 3—Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Monolog: Joseph of Arimethea
Verse 4—Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Character Statements
Bridge (Optional Choral Interlude)
We need a bridge between the somberness of the passion to the triumph of the resurrection. I suggest you slowly lower the lights to a blackout during the singing of “Behold the Lamb.” “Were you there when the sun refused to shine” may be sung in the darkness, followed by a minute of silence. Slowly bring the lights back up. Several people—it could be laughing, dancing children—bring in the flowers. Have them come up the middle aisle and place the flowers around the cross. There should be joyful music as this happens. It could be instrumental, choral, congregational or children.
Pastor: He is risen!
All: He is risen indeed!
Verse 5—Were you there when He rose up from the grave?
Monologue: The Other Mary (Sunday)
Litany: We Were There
Congregational Hymn
Optional Choral Postlude
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UNDISCOVERED GENIUS
A Short Play for Mother’s Day
In memory of my mother, Clara Carter,
who was convinced that all four of her children were geniuses of the h
ighest order.
TimE: Five to eight minutes long.
CAST:
Joy: A woman who decides she wants to make Mother’s Day mean more than a cliché.
Amy: A woman who is getting a parcel together to send her mom for Mother’s Day.
PROPS: Bulletins to fold; shopping bag; homemade clay ashtray; silk dandelions (they’re hard to find so use small yellow mums); card made of construction paper, paper doilies, and macaroni. Craft supplies—paper, glue, doilies, scissors, etc. Everything except the bulletins should be in the bag.
SCENE: Could take place just about anywhere, but let’s set it in a church fellowship hall where Joy is preparing for a mother-daughter banquet. She could be making centerpieces, name tags, or folding bulletins. I’ll use bulletins, but you don’t have to be tied to that. This business can be carried on throughout the play. Amy enters carrying a brown paper bag full of—well, stuff. Have a table or counter for working space and maybe a couple of chairs.
Joy (Looking at the bag as Amy deposits it on the table): What’s that?
Amy: Gifts for my mom.
Joy: Why?
Amy: Why? Because Mother’s Day is coming up, you nut!
Joy: Well, I know that, but --
Amy: I want to show her I love her. To show my appreciation for what she’s been to me all these years.
Joy: You make it sound like you’ve got one foot in the grave. (She mimics) All these years?
Amy (Chuckles): You know what I mean. It’s been all my life! She’s always been there for me. It means a lot to me. I want to tell her that.
Joy: Won’t a card or flowers do?
Amy: Oh, yeah. She loves those.
Joy: Well then? Why this bag of—stuff?
Amy: It occurred to me that I sent my mother flowers last year.
Joy: Yeah? So did I.
Amy: And a lovely card with one of those poems she enjoys so much.
Joy: What’s wrong with that?
Amy: Nothing.
Joy: That’s what I’m sending my mom this year.
Amy: That’s great! She’s as big a pushover for flowers as mine is.
Joy: So why don’t you do that?
Amy: Well, I got to thinking—
Joy (Interrupting): With you, that could be dangerous.
Amy (Snickers): I know. It got me into all kinds of trouble.
Joy: I’m waiting. (Beat) I think.
Amy: Well, I remembered that I had sent her flowers and a card the year before that, too.
Joy: You said she loves them.
Amy: She does.
Joy: So what’s the big deal?