April 12th – 6:07 a.m.

This year, since we are not able to gather physically, we invite you to rise with the sun and participate individually in the shared liturgy below.

Following please find recordings of poetry and music from members of the UCW community, as well as photographs, that can accompany you as you welcome Easter morning.

Please note: we have also created a public Google file of all the recordings below, in case it is easier to access and download them onto your phone or other device as you wander somewhere beautiful to watch the sunrise. You can link to that file by CLICKING HERE. You can also link to a public Google Doc with all links and words, by CLICKING HERE.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

We invite you to sing along or just listen to a recording of this beloved Easter hymn recorded by Union Church members Lisa Crockett, and James and Laura Cooke. The photograph here is of sunrise over Hainan Island, China, taken by Frank Laski.

Please CLICK HERE for the hymn

1 “Christ the Lord is risen today!” Alleluia!
All creation, join to say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

2 Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won; Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

3 Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Jesus died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Poetry

In times like these, we turn to the poets for words, images, truth and beauty. Union Church member Tom Vawter has shared the gift of poetry with us at many church retreats, worship services and gatherings, and offers the following poems for our Easter morning (photo here taken by Tom at Good Harbor Beach). For the words of these poems CLICK HERE. For recordings of Tom reading these poems, click on the titles below:

Praise & Prayer

As you watch the sun rise over the horizon and a new day come, listen to the birds share their praise! If you are in your home, listen for the sounds of life and the new day (the photo here was taken in Newton by Frank Laski). Perhaps close your time with this prayer of praise, shared by Union Church member Brita Gill-Austern.

Praise Song for the Pandemic by Christine Valters Paintner

Photography

Link to a Google Photo Album (and see photos below), of favorite photos Frank Laski, Liz Caronna, and Tom Vawter have taken and shared of the sunrise. You are invited to add photos to this album that you have taken of sunrises (or take this Easter Sunrise!), or of signs of New Life, Hope or Love you are seeing during this Eastertide. LINK TO THE PHOTO ALBUM HERE: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LkmwMTNGYxMgZ7fV7