“Woerth shippe”
The origin of ‘worship’ comes from the Old English "weorthscipe," meaning "to give something worth", attributing value or honor. To "worship" implies reverence, admiration, or devotion. True worship is the focusing of oneself on God as the only One worthy, and it also puts one in touch with one’s worth (in Christ). The question we should be regularly asking ourselves is, “Am I making people aware of the worth of God & the worth of themselves, in light of ‘whose’ they are and in whose presence they are positioned?” Liturgia comes from the Greek word leitourgia (λειτουργίᾳ), which means "public service" or "work for the people." The word is made up of two parts: leitos, meaning "people" or "public," and ergon, meaning "work" or "service." So litourgia is “the work of the people.” We are to work at worship. If we put these two together, we understand that worship is the activity of glorifying God in his presence with our all. And, since all aspects of our lives are supposed to glorify God, then worship is something we do especially in God's presence, when we are conscious of adoration of him in our hearts, and when we praise him with our voices and speak about him so others may hear. Worship is, therefore, a direct expression of our ultimate purpose for living, which is to glorify God and fully enjoy him forever!
The Following is a sample order of worship for Resurrection Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Feel free to make this yours.
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude: (Please join in silent preparation of heart and mind to worship our God.)
“Come, let’s shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks are his. The sea is his; he made it. His hands formed the dry land. Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.” (Psalm 95:1-7)
Song: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Jessie Pounds - Baptist Hymnal, 2008: #352)
Call to Worship
Leader: “But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the fruits of them that slept. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (1 Cor. 15:20, 54-55).
People: Christ is risen!
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: (with a great voice) The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! ALLELUIA!
Song: Crown Him with Many Crowns (Matthew Bridges - Baptist Hymnal, 2008: #304)
Prayer Focusing on Adoration
Easter Responsive Reading1
Minister: Rejoice, heavenly host! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!
People: Rejoice, heavenly host! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Minister: Rejoice, and sing all around the earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanished forever!
People: Rejoice, heavenly host! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Minister: Rejoice, O Church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God’s people! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
People: He is the King of kings! He is the Lord of lords! Hallelujah!
Song: Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (Getty, Merker, Boswell, Kauflin, and Papa, 2020)
Intercession/Offertory Prayer
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-10
“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
Sermon
Invitation/Response: Holy Forever (C.C. Winans, 2024)
Celebration Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Charles Wesley, Baptist Hymnal 2008, #254)
Postlude
1Adapted from the Exsultet, hymn c. 5th-7th century, taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
