There is a 2022 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left
Readings: Isaiah 65: 17-25, Psalm 118, Luke 24:1-12
Theme: Easter dreaming
About the photo: Buds shoot from the bark (epicormic shoots) of eucalypt (more commonly known as gum) trees devastated and defoliated by the 2003 bushfires in the Australian High Country.
Some Particularly Useful Stuff for a Dawn/Sunrise Easter Service
Location:
Have this service near a lake or beach if possible - if you live inland, then choose a high point - if you live inland on a plain then find a nice river -if you live inland on a plain in a desert (most of Australia) then you will have plenty of beautiful places to choose from.
Easter candle:
Have a camp fire or a fire pot instead.
Prayer: Jesus We Greet You
Found in Stages on the Way by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 188 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Prayer: Lord God, Early in the Morning
Found in Stages on the Way as above, page 184 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Meditation: Prayers That Jesus Hears
Found in Present on Earthby The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 95 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Response Activity
Cook fish over the fire and serve with warm bread
Easter services at a More Reasonable hour;Call to Worship:
Silence. Then play Anthem Part 3 from the album, Powaqqatsi, (1988) while showing six 20 second Good Friday images. When the music reaches the fanfare show an Easter day image. Then dim the music enough so a reader can read Isaiah 65: 17-25
Call to Worship: King of Glory
Play King of Glory by Third Day found n their album, or on WOW 2001. For each verse show an image of the crucifixion and for each chorus show a picture of the resurrection. show a resurrection picture for the last verse and then as the choir begins to back the Third day singer, dim the music to a background level and have somebody read the Psalm.
Call to Worship Activity:
If you had an old wooden cross in the church for Good Friday, give everybody a streamer or coloured ribbon as they enter and ask them to decorate the cross before sitting down.
Kids: Butterflies and Flowers
Tell the Easter story using the cocoon and butterfly, seed and flower analogies. Have a dead branch at the front of the church and either have them make paper flowers or butterflies to decorate the branch with. This works very well as a congregational activity. Alternately have the kids give everyone in the congregation a tiny butterfly or flower sticker - people really run with this and wear them immediately putting them on lapels, collars, watch faces, spectacle frames etc etc.
Drama: What's Easter All About
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109178, page 87 (pictured in an earlier blog)
Video Clip: Fantasia
The segment in the Firebird Suite after the fire when everything greens up again.
Discussion on video clip:
How does Easter bring new life to the world?
Story: Stephen's Egg
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 159 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Story; Nikolai Church and the fall of the Berlin wall
This story can be found often and easily by googling.
Story: Easter
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, page 51 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Listening Song: Early in the Morning
By David Meece on his album, Once in a Lifetime.
Listening Song: Libera
By Robert Prizeman on his album, Libera.
Pass the Peace;
Give every one a balloon to blow up. Toss them, catch a new one and pass the peace using Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Response Activity:
In groups or individually get people to name their easter dreams for the world, for their church, for themselves and to use these as starters for a prayer time.
