Christ Has Died, Christ Has Risen, Christ Will Come Again

Proclaiming the Gospel through the Heritage of
African American Prayer and Song

Gathering Music

Welcome and Opening Prayer

When Peace, Like a River (st. 1)
Spirit of the Living God (st. 1)

Christ Has Died

Memorial Acclamation
Leon C. Roberts
© 1981, GIA Publications, Inc.

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Songs and Readings

Calvary (SNC140)
The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power (AAHH 256)
O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded (AAHH 250)
Koinonia / How Can I Say That I Love the Lord (AAHH 579)

Prayer
excerpt by Jupiter Hammon

Christ Is Risen

Memorial Acclamation
Leon C. Roberts
© 1981, GIA Publications, Inc.

Scripture: John 20:11-16

Songs and Readings

The Angel Rolled the Stone Away (AAHH 279)
Hallelujah to the Risen Lamb (AAHH 278)
Praise Him! Jesus Blessed Savior (AAHH 172)
Psalm 116 (SNC 226)
I Love the Lord (SNC 227)

Easter Prayer

Lord, thank you for the victory of Christ over death. Through this resurrection, righteousness prevailed over evil and thus all are given hope. Grant us victory of love over hate, faith over fear, truth over lies, and strength over weakness. O God, as you led the Israelites to victory in war, please lead us to Your promised land. The war we fight is without blades. Your truth is our sword. May our lives be consecrated to help bring victory over evil. Bless our efforts, we pray. In Christ's name. Amen.
Reverend Chestina Michell Archibald

Christ Will Come Again

Memorial Acclamation
Leon C. Roberts
© 1981, GIA Publications, Inc.

Scripture: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

Songs and Readings

Where Shall I Be (AAHH 196)
Walk Together, Children (AAHH 541)
My Lord! What a Morning (AAHH 195)
Soon and Very Soon (SNC 106)

Prayer

Now Behold the Lamb (SNC 144)

Commissioning and Blessing

Go into the world to work.
With serving hearts, we leave.
Go into the world to sing new songs of joy.
With thankful hearts, we leave.
Go into the world to tell of God's majestic deeds.
With the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
and the promise of his coming again,
we go into the world.
The grace of God, the peace of Christ,
and the power of the Holy Spirit goes before us.
Thanks be to God, now and forevermore. Amen!

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All songs were taken from two sources:
AAHH refers to the African American Heritage Hymnal (Chicago: GIA Publications, 2001)
SNC refers to Sing! A New Creation (Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 2001)

The readings were taken from Readings in African American Church Music and Worship, compiled and edited by James Abbington (Chicago: GIA Publications, 2001).

"Encountering Jesus in Worship," Zan W. Holmes, J., pastor, St. Luke Community United Methodist Church and Adjunct Professor of Preaching, Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas

"Sanctification, Liberation, and Black Worship," by James H. Cone, from Theology Today (July, 1978)

"The Tradition of Worship," by William D. Watley, pastor, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark, New Jersey.

The prayers were from Say Amen!: The African American Family's Book of Prayers, ed. Chestina Michell Archibald (New York: Dutton, The Penguin Group, 1997).

The Commissioning and Blessing were from Trumpet in Zion by Linda H. Hollies (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press), a series of three books of worship resources in the voices of African Americans based on the Revised Common Lectionary.