Worship Resources for Easter Sunday April 12th
We encourage you to read and reflect on these scriptures, songs, notes, and prayers as we look forward to our time of worship together this coming Sunday.
Please print this guide or have it handy in digital format for use during the service.
And don’t forget to join us Sunday immediately following the service in our virtual foyer for a group video chat! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/202653556
SERMON SCRIPTURE
In the days leading up to our Sunday gathering, please read through the sermon scripture as the Holy Spirit prepares your heart for the sermon inspired by this passage.
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
SONGS
Our musical resource this week consists of four playlists which thematically aim to provide expressions of worship appropriate for wherever you may find your heart in a given moment. Pastor Daniel has provided a video below introducing the playlists while also including the links to these lists from popular streaming services. We pray these are a blessing and a guide to you in the weeks to come.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Bold lines to be read aloud corporately.
Christ is risen…
Christ is risen, indeed.
God is alive…
New birth is given.
Hope is alive…
A new age is dawning.
Joy is alive…
Redemption is here.
Love is alive…
Death cannot harm us.
We are alive…
New life is within us.
The church is alive…
God’s spirit is within us.
God of life, we worship you.
God of creation, we praise you.
God of revelation, we learn from you.
God of resurrection, we come to celebrate you.
(Life in Liturgy, from the Christian Church)
CONFESSIONAL PRAYER
Would we be counted among the doubters
hiding in the shadow cast by that cruel cross?
Or, when challenged, like Peter openly deny you?
There are times, Lord, when doubts assail
and the distance between us seems to increase.
There are times, Lord, when sin has its hold,
like a barrier between us that will not move.
Who is there we can turn to when we feel so overwhelmed?
Who can roll away the stone and reveal the empty tomb?
No-one but you, Jesus, no-one but you!
(John Birch, Faith and Worship)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25)
All: Thanks be to God
SERMON NOTES
The Uprising Begins
Luke 24:1-35 (NRSV)
LEAVING JERUSALEM
Put yourself in the disciples shoes for a moment: They had spent the last several months listening to the teaching of Jesus, amazed at his miracles, and were now convinced he was the long-awaited Messiah. Now Jesus was dead; crucified by the state.
Watching that happen was utterly disorienting.
Their journey away from Jerusalem is symbolic of where they were at emotionally and spiritually.
In just a matter of days, their lives had been turned upside down. In many ways, as they left Jerusalem, they were also leaving certainty, clarity, and order. They were walking now with disappointment, confusion, doubt, and fear. They were walking away from the hope they once had (vs. 21).
WE’VE LEFT JERUSALEM
Perhaps that feeling sounds familiar. With the challenges we are facing as a global community, you may have moments where you step back and look at the scale of what is going on and think, “With all of our technology and the resources available, we should be able to stop this.”
Maybe you were certain it would never get this bad. Perhaps you are mourning the loss of the way things used to be. Our lives have been turned upside down in just a matter of days. There is a lot that feels like walking away from Jerusalem.
RETURN TO JERUSALEM – THE UPRISING
During their journey away from Jerusalem, Jesus joins them in their disorientation (though they don’t recognize him at first). Hear this: in their journey away from certainty; in their journey away from the religious center of their lives, in their journey away from comfort they are joined by the resurrected Christ.
Jesus speaks to them about resurrection and their hearts are opened! They learn to see in new ways. After sharing a meal in Emmaus, they realize it was Jesus all along!
The scriptures say “that same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem.” (vs. 33) They return to the place they had just left a few hour earlier, but they do not return in the same way.
Now they return with wonder instead of order, awe instead of certainty, a sense of presence instead of rules of religion. Everything had changed for them because of their encounter with the living Christ in the mist of their disorientation.
It was an uprising….not just in the sense that Jesus has risen, but now new things have the possibility of rising up! Usually an uprising refers to a violent revolt against oppressive leaders and regimes. This is certainly an uprising that confronts oppression, but in a different way! This is an uprising of hope instead of hate, love instead of violence, life and peace instead of hostility and death. It’s an uprising of open hands instead of clenched fists. It’s a journey to something new that is brought about in a new way!
OUR RETURN TO JERUSALEM
In the midst of disorientation, the risen Christ is present with us speaking words of resurrection and hope. It is no small thing that in the midst of walking away from everything they thought they knew, Christ joined them there. The presence of Christ is not dependent upon our certainty or the measure of our hope. Christ joins us in our journey – even as we walk away!
Be confident that the presence of Christ is with us during this time. Whenever you hear of people caring for one another, helping each other, putting themselves in harm’s way to care for the sick. In all these ways and a thousand others the resurrected and universal Christ is present.
I’m hoping and praying that one day we’ll return to Jerusalem, but I hope we’ll return in a new way! My hope is that as a Church, nation, and global community, we won’t just try to return to the same old order of things, but that we’ll return back to the rhythms of live with a sense of togetherness instead of competition; with awe at the gift of life instead of mundaneness; with humility instead of arrogance. For when we embody these things, we honor the God of life and resurrection.
Easter 2020, as we gather in our living rooms to worship and celebrate the resurrected Christ despite the dangers that lie outside our front doors, I pray that we would know the presence of the living Christ and be confident that He is the God of life who has defeated death through resurrection.
COMMUNION
Prepare the elements of “bread” and “wine” for use as we gather around The Lord’s Table. These can be any items convenient around the home that symbolize these for you.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Leader: In unity with the Church throughout the ages, we confess our faith:
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
Oh God, our Rock, You are our shelter when storms come our way.
We are secure, no matter what news we hear of danger.
You are our rock and our defense.
We will not be alarmed or fearful.
When the wind rages around us, we have our safe retreat in You.
May we, your Church, be a shelter in the storm for those in need today.
For as we find anchor in your peace, may we be of solace to others.
You alone are our refuge, be ever near us, we pray.
Keep us safe through this time.
Amen.