We held virtual worship on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 10:00AM! You can watch a recording on Facebook by clicking here, or you can watch below.
CALL TO WORSHIP by Christine Sine
Jesus Christ you have risen and we see you,
In the faces of the poor,
In the hurting of the sick,
In the anguish of the oppressed
Jesus Christ you are risen and we see you,
In the weakness of the vulnerable,
In the questions of the doubting,
In the fears of the dying.
Jesus Christ you are risen and we see you,
In the celebration of the saints,
In the generosity of the faithful,
In the compassion of the caring.
Jesus Christ you are risen and we see you,
You transform our world with love and hope,
Hallelujah, Jesus Christ you are risen and we see you.
Unlock the doors of fear and do
OPENING TO GOD by Roddy Hamilton
When Thomas touched the wounds and set himself free
it was Easter day
When Peter’s three “yes’s” to Jesus
finished his three denials
it was Easter day
When Mary, ready to embalm the dead,
ran in fear from the empty tomb
it was Easter day
When the disciples looked from afar
at a breakfast of fish on the beach
it was Easter day
When Emmaus became synonymous with welcome
and the breaking of bread with strangers
it was Easter day
When Paul was blinded by the light
and recognized the voice niggling in his head
it was Easter day
When the hungry are fed at the same table as the rich
it is Easter day
When weapons are beaten to plowshares
and peace is a word to be shouted
it is Easter day
When the stranger is welcomed in community
and the lonely are restored to relationship
it is Easter day
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE The Sturgeon family
REFLECTION Before That, After That Barb & Mitchell
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE The Sturgeon family
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 24:13-35
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.
POEM by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Read by Eve Thorsen
First the walking
the long hollow walking
utter loss
uttering loss
the muscle of grief
the unknowing of wisdom
surrender of what we think is
Then the mysterious accompaniment
unseen unknown sure
realm from within become beside
The unraveling of known texts
into unimagined questing
questions from behind the eye
behind the heart
sight athwart insight
the possibility of possibility
And then the bread
sun become food
energy made matter
a body re-bodied anew
that realm become this one
the sharing
absence made presence
death made life
in suddenly familiar undying love—
And in an instant
this instant
there is no “first” and “then”
what wasn’t is
what can’t be is
everything is and is so
in this now-ness
now we see
we see Now
we see You
Now changed
joyed
to tell
to cry out in wonder
now
running
long ecstatic running
MUSIC All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Kathryn
SHARING PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION by Cheryl Lawrie
We leave today
going into a future
as yet unmapped
take faith with you as you go;
into the parts of your life not yet travelled by love
into the parts of the world unexplored by grace.
Let compassion and hope be the roads that you follow
today and always
amen.
POSTLUDE Isn’t He Beautiful Kathryn
