CALL TO COMMUNION

Celebrant:
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” Genesis 2:16-17

Celebrant and People:
Most merciful Father, we confess. We have not believed your word and brought death into your world.

Celebrant:
“The LORD said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.’”  Genesis 4:10-11

Celebrant and People:
Most merciful Father, we confess. The blood of your son cries out from the ground.

Celebrant: 
Because of our sin, we deserve death. Because of our unbelief, we are enslaved to it. Yet Jesus, in death, delivered us. Jesus’ body was broken because of our transgressions and his blood poured out for our iniquities. Take a moment now, to remember your own sin, before we confess as a body. [Silently prepare for confession] Let us confess together:

Celebrant and People:
There is no truth in our mouths;
Our inmost selves are destruction;
Our throats are an open grave;
We flatter with our tongues. ~ Psalm 5:9

Be gracious to us, O LORD, for we are languishing;
Heal us, O LORD, for our bones are troubled. ~ Psalms 6:2

Turn, O LORD, deliver our lives;
Save us for the sake of your steadfast love. ~ Psalm 6:4

Celebrant: 
The LORD has heard your plea;
the LORD accepts your prayer. ~ Psalm 6:9

Celebrant and People:
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. ~ Psalm 6:10

GOSPEL PROCLAMATION

Celebrant:
Please stand. 

Hear these words, children of the Most High God: By grace, Jesus Christ, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, has tasted taste death for everyone. He is not ashamed to call us brothers. ~ Hebrews 2:9, 11

Celebrant and People:
By our brother’s blood we have heard the name of God. We will join with our brother in praise! ~ Hebrews 2:12

Celebrant:
Beloved children of God, hear and receive: Jesus Christ has destroyed the one who has the power of death, and delivered all we who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery! 

Celebrant and People:
Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy! ~ Exodus 15:6

SONG

Feel free to sing, clap, and be outwardly expressive during this portion of the service.

CALL TO GIVING

Celebrant:
Sin took. Jesus gave. Christians give.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, everything from the alabaster jar to the widow’s mite is a gift to be given away.

Jesus told his disciples, 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Let those who have been given the treasure of eternal life in Christ give freely to the dying poor of our city.

In addition, you may put your to contributions to the work of The Line in the giving box near the exit.

BENEDICTION

Celebrant:
Please stand. Turn and open your hands to receive the blessing.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Celebrant and People:
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”