Sing: Because He Lives <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA>
Reading: Ezekiel 37:3-14
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
Sing: Crown Him with Many Crowns <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kPkjghup8E>
WORD AND RESPONSE
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Reading: Romans 6:3-11
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reaffirmation of Baptism
Ask yourself: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
Say: I do.
Ask yourself: Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
Say: I do.
Ask yourself: Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Saviour, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
Say: I do.
Ask yourself: According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?
Say: I will.
Let us join together in professing the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
Ask yourself: Do you believe in God the Father?
Say: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Ask yourself: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Say: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, [who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.]
Ask yourself: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
Say: I believe in the Holy Spirit, [the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.]
Appropriate ways persons may use the water include:
a) Touching the water and making the sign of the cross on their own foreheads;
b) Scooping up the water and letting it fall back into the vessel;
c) Scooping it over their heads, or hands, or to refresh their faces.
d) Sprinkle small amounts of water toward yourself.
This parallels sprinkling with hyssop for purification (Exodus 12:22 ; Psalm 51:7) and sprinkling as a sign of renewal (Ezekiel 36:25 –26).
Ask yourself: Remember your baptism and be thankful.
Say: Amen.
Ask yourself: The Holy Spirit work within you, that having been born through water and the Spirit, you may live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Say: Amen.
Reading Matthew 28:1-10
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Sing: God So Loved the World <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Akz6J8Rw0>
Go in peace to love and serve the Risen Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia!
Say: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
If interested, watch the 10 minute video Proof of the Risen Christ by Josh McDowell <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDoSSSm16OA>, or the brief 2½ minute video 4 Proofs of the Resurrection by Lee Strobel <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT4Cj-Pi4m0>, or for the more scholarly among us a 1½ hour video The Resurrection Argument That Changed a Generation of Scholars by Gary Habermas <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_Db4RwZ_M>.
