Have everyone focus their minds and their hearts on worshiping God. 

Have someone read these words.

Matthew 28:1-9 (NIV)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, 

for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, 

going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 

His appearance was like lightning, 

and his clothes were white as snow. 

The guards were so afraid of him

that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, 

for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 

He is not here; 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 is going ahead of you into Galilee.

There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, 

afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 

Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. 

They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Have everyone say these words together:

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

Have each person explain which of these things they are most thankful for: 

Because Jesus rose…

• my sins are completely forgiven and God accepts me as a righteous person.

• he has raised me up as a new person, helping me live a new life of obedience to God.

• he has promised me eternal life in a glorified body like his.

Have someone lead everyone in prayer:

Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from the grave

and crowned him Lord of all.

We confess that we have not bowed before him

or acknowledged his rule in our lives.

We have gone along with the way of the world

and failed to give him glory.

Forgive us and raise us from sin,

that we may be your faithful people,

obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who rules the world and is head of the church, his body.

Amen.

Have someone read this. (This is a good reading for beginning readers.)

Romans 6:3-5 (NIrV)

All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus.

Don’t you know that we were baptized into his death?

By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death.

Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory.

And like Christ we also can live a new life.

By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death.

We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection.

Talk about what each of you can do in thankfulness to God for the resurrection of Jesus.

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