Liturgical Color: White

Gospel: John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

Theme: The resurrection of Jesus Christ - the fear and joy of the women.

Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
One pastor always begins the Easter celebration with a return to Good Friday - because many worshipers on Easter Day want to experience life without death.

Try this: Have the organist or musicians begin with Good Friday music. Follow the prelude, Music for Preparation, with ten seconds of silence. Then, from the balcony, or from the rear of the sanctuary, the pastor or a layperson with a strong voice, says in a distressed voice, "It is finished! What are we going to do now?"

Follow with a few more moments of silence; then, have someone play "Taps" on the bugle.

Five more seconds of silence. Then, have several p…