UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HANCOCK

We respect tradition — and we welcome inclusive language about people and expansive language about God. Please pray using words most meaningful to you.

Open and Affirming of ALL God’s Children

 April 5, 2026 - Easter Sunrise Service

Riverside Cemetery, Hancock

Deacon – Everett Esping

Resources

Easter Sunrise Service, adapted, with permission of Rev. Deborah Rogers Duval

Communion Liturgy by Michelle L. Torigian, adapted

Greeting                                                                                     Rev.TJ Mack

Call to Worship

One: Rejoice and be glad:

All:  This is the day that the Lord has made!

One: Rejoice and be glad:

All:  Heaven and earth will never be the same!

One: Rejoice and be glad:

All:  Christ is risen! Alleluia!

All:  Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Hymn: “Morning Has Broken”

Morning has broken like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken like the first bird / Praise for the singing. Praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven. Like the first dew fall, on the first grass. / Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden. Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight. Mine is the morning. Born of the one light Eden saw play. / Praise with elation, praise every morning. God's recreation of the new day.

Morning has broken like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. / Praise for the singing. Praise for the morning. Praise for them springing, fresh from the world.

Invocation (in unison)

Living God, by your Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see the new light of this day; open our lips to tell of the empty tomb; open our hearts to believe the good news; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen                                                                                                        

Call to Confession

God knows us better than we know ourselves. Let us quietly contemplate that which needs to be acknowledged within ourselves so that we may humbly seek to let go of the past and live boldly into our future. 

(pause for silent prayer)

Prayer of Confession (in unison)

God of resurrection grace, help us in our pain, despair and fear so that we are not prone to follow the path of hopelessness. Help us, to instead, be like the Risen Christ, and rise up, as a brave and holy people by remaining hopeful in your steadfast love. Amen

Assurance of Pardon

God hears our prayers of grace and mercy, and lifts our faces from despair, into resurrection joy! God meets us in our human suffering, comforts us in our tears, and offers to us new hope.  Alleluia!

Scripture                                                                              Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunrise Sermon         “If only he waited…”           Rev. Dr. Mary Luti

Hymn: “Let Us Break Bread Together”

Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees;

Refrain: When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

2. Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees;

Refrain:

3. Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees;

Refrain:

Invitation to Communion

One: On this day, we celebrate the risen Christ.

All: On this day, we celebrate resurrection in our lives.

One: On this day, we embrace the grace which reaches from the tomb.

All: On this day, we embrace faith by committing to love in action.

One: On this day, we shout Alleluia!

All: On this day we shout, Christ is risen!  Alleluia!

Words of Institution and The Lord’s Prayer

One: This is an open table at which all are welcome.

All: On the night when Jesus was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room where an ordinary meal became an instrument of God. At this table, Jesus broke bread with those who would betray him. At this table, Jesus drank wine with the one who denied him. At this table, Jesus communed with those who would abandon him. At this table, Jesus gave a new commandment. At this table, we learn to love one another as God loves us.

One: Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks to God, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of our sins and hope for the new life to come. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

All: O God, pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine that they might be for us the presence of the living Christ. Pour your Spirit upon us also that we may be one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.

One: With this one loaf, we who are many, become one.

         With this one cup, what was before has been renewed.

Our Creator who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

One: Come, for all things are ready.

Sharing the Bread of Life and the Cup of Joy with One Another

Prayer of Thanksgiving (in unison)

Through this space and time together today, we celebrate the covenant that ties us with God, Jesus the Christ, our neighbors and creation.  Thank you, Divine Crafter of the Table, for fashioning us a holy meal that unites us with the Body of Christ.  Send us into the world resurrected, refreshed and ready to share Christ’s unconditional love.  Amen

Hymn : “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia! All creation join to say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the vict’ry won, Alleluia! / Jesus’ agony is o’er, Alleluia! Darkness veils the earth no more, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! /  Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to you by both be given, Alleluia! / Every knee to you shall bow, Alleluia! Risen Christ, triumphant now, Alleluia!

Benediction

May the joy of resurrection and the hope of Easter fill your hearts and minds

as you go forth witnessing to the wonders of God’s work in the world through Christ. May God be gracious to you and shine on you and give you peace. Amen