Easter service available online March 29

Portions of worship will be offered in eight languages

by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service

Presbyterian Mission Agency Executive Director and President, the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, offers this year’s Easter sermon. (Screenshot)

LOUISVILLE — A special Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Easter service will be available for streaming or download by Monday, March 29, on www.pcusa.org.

For the second year in a row, the PC(USA) is offering an online Easter service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As churches continue to meet virtually, church leaders wanted to provide opportunities for Presbyterians to worship in their own homes.

Organizers have been planning the service for several weeks, providing worshipers with the opportunity to take part in an Easter program while practicing social distancing.

“It is exciting to work with friends and colleagues within the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, and the Office of the General Assembly to create a worship service celebrating Christ’s resurrection featuring multiple languages and music from three distinct regions of the world,” said Dr. William McConnell, who served on the worship team. “As the people of God all around the world, we proclaim ‘Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!’ in eight languages. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”

Stanzas of the familiar “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” are sung in Korean, Spanish and English.

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offers greetings as part of the online Easter
service. (Screenshot)

The Easter service begins and ends with drumming, led by the Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, calling worshipers to respond to the rhythm of God’s gracious action. It invites worshipers to join a virtual procession into and out of the Presbyterian Center chapel, as God’s people gather to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and go forth to share the good news.

Greetings and the opening prayer are offered by the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC (USA), followed by Scripture and hymns in Spanish, English and Korean.

“Mark’s account of Christ’s resurrection (Mark 16: 1-8) really meets us where we are this Easter,” said the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell who also served on the planning team. “It ends abruptly, and the disciples are ‘alarmed,’ ‘afraid,’ seized with ‘terror and amazement.’ Presbyterian Mission Agency Executive Director and President, Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett’s Easter sermon meets us in our own anxiety and uncertainty, inspiring us to go forth boldly and bear witness to the risen Lord.”

The service includes an invitation to learn about and contribute to the PC(USA)’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering supporting the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in responding to Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

A complete script and Order of Worship will be available for download.