A Mini Balloon Release Service

Following is a "mini service" for releasing Easter balloons, from my friend and Pastor Bill Hunter. Thanks Bill!

[At the designated time in the worship service, the pastor indicates that the service will be continued on the church parking lot or other appropriate site. As attendees file from the main service to the parking lot, theys are handed a balloon on a long string to which has been attached a verse of scripture concerning Christ’s resurrection from the dead. When the congregation has reassembled on the parking lot, the service may proceed as follows.]

Pastor: He is risen! Surely this is the best news of all. It transformed those who first heard it and excites us when we think about the extraordinary wonder of Christ rising from the dead.

Congregation: “He is risen” is the marvelous proclamation which has reverberated through the ages. It shows God’s masterful ability to bring triumph out of tragedy.

Pastor: Christ has been raised and we shall be raised with Him. This affects how we see death and dying. We resent death as an alien intruder - it robs us of loved ones - it leaves grievous holes in our families. But death, like an ignited fuse, has been extinguished.

Congregation: Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Thanks be to God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Pastor: Because of Christ’s resurrection, Christians always have hope, always believe in a bright tomorrow, always rely on the promise of Christ that because He lives and has conquered sin and death we too shall live.

Congregation: The tragedy of Jesus’ death brought us pardon for our sins. The triumph of Jesus’ resurrection gives us a resilient life on earth and resurrected life beyond the grave.

Pastor: When life is going well, we know that any earthly pleasure is but a pale foretaste of what we shall know in the presence of our risen, living Savior.

Congregation: When life is painful, we know that it’s only for a moment. Very soon we shall be where hurts and hardships cannot be remembered. Because He lives, we too shall live.

Pastor and Congregation: (loudly)
(Author and source of this selection is unknown)

  Christ the Lord is risen!
  We shall be raised with Him.
  Praise to the Risen Son of God!
  Amen.

A Word About the Balloon Release

Symbols are important only because they call our attention to the real thing. These balloons that we send aloft today are symbols of the reality of our living faith in a living Savior. Attached to the cord that we release are words that symbolize our commitment to the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ. As we allow the balloons to escape into the skies, let us reaffirm our faith that is grounded in the shed blood of Christ and in His victory over sin and death by His resurrection. The reality of the resurrection is more than a symbol, for the resurrection is at the very heart of what we believe about our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Savior.

Hymn - "He Lives!"

  I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
  I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
  I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
  And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

  Chorus:

  He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
  He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
  He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
  You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Reciting of Resurrection Scripture Verses
(these are attached to the balloon strings and are to be read in quick succession)

Release of the Balloons (at the pastor’s signal)

Handclap of Praise to Our Risen Savior

Benediction

© Copyright 2000 Brad Haugaard.