Resurrection Leads Us in Renewed Worship

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
—John 20:11–18 (NIV)

I absolutely love spring! Mornings begin with a crisp chill in the air that leads to bright, sunny, cloudless days. I live in the southern United States where spring features blooming dogwoods, buzzing bees, and choruses of birdsong. The whole world is ablaze with new life.

The brightness and warmth of spring after the cold, dark winter feels like the perfect preamble to the Resurrection. It’s as if all of creation has awoken, stretched out its arms and is joyfully proclaiming: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Christians carry the promise of the Resurrection into the weeks following Easter. The music we choose helps worshipers proclaim the victory and promise of the empty tomb. During the joyful season of Eastertide—the 50-day liturgical season celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday—worship is celebrated with white liturgical colors and the burning of the Paschal candle. Many traditions symbolically “bury”—that is, remove from worship—their “alleluias” throughout the season of Lent. With Christ’s resurrection, the joyful acclamation “Alleluia!” returns in full force—for we have much to celebrate!

Thanks to the Resurrection, there is a renewed sense of life and purpose that spills into our worship and everyday living with praise, gratitude, and mission-mindedness. During this season, our music and ministry emphasize that the tomb was not the end for Jesus and, as His followers, it is not the end for us. Jesus left the tomb empty and appeared to many before returning to heaven. As we move through this season of Eastertide, we too can proclaim that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive! Alleluia! Our choirs do this in a variety of ways. Our chancel choir proclaims the risen Christ in their anthems throughout the coming season. We seek out opportunities for our handbell groups to join in the celebration through bell peals, hymn accompaniments, and solo selections. Not to be left out, our children’s choirs proclaim the empty tomb through their music as well.

Throughout this Eastertide, let your life, music, and ministry bloom with purpose, energy, and renewal that will fill an empty tomb—and, perhaps, resonate the world over with the love, joy, and hope of the risen Christ.

Did I hear you say that the tomb is empty now and Jesus is alive again!
The night is over and the sun is shining and the world is singing, it’s a brand new day!
A day of victory for all eternity: Jesus is alive again!

—“Did I Hear You Say” by Don Schlosser
©2007 Choristers Guild