Second of Easter, Year A Service – April 19, 2020

Music in Preparation for Worship

Lighting of the Christ Candle

At home, where you are worshiping this morning, you are invited to light a candle that will be in front of you as you worship – a reminder that Christ is truly present for us, even though we are prevented from being together.

Invitation to Worship

One: Surely God – Kind Creator, Compassionate Friend, Ever-Present Spirit is in this place.

All: God is with us! Wherever we are – we are not alone! Let us worship God with heart, soul, mind and strength in this Easter Season.

And So, We Sing: MV#122 “This is the Day”

This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad! This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad! Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu! We will rejoice and be glad!

Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu! We will rejoice and be glad!

Opening Prayer

One: Gracious God, you came to those first disciples as they crowded into the locked rooms of their fear and you offered them Easter Assurance.

All: Come to us this morning – breaking in to our own locked rooms of fear and distress – freeing us to live with purpose.

One: Loving Saviour, you came to Thomas, who found the news of your presence too good to be true.

All: Come to us this day – that we might know that you are truly present. Empower us through this encounter, that we might love the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Opening Hymn VU#389 “God is Here”

As we sing this Hymn together, think of Sunday Worship in our sanctuary. See, in your minds eye, the furniture and symbols around which we gather.

God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer; may we find in fuller measure, what it is in Christ we share. Here as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts.
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need and grace; here are table, font and pulpit; here the cross has central place. Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence as in speech, here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.
Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd’s flock and fold; here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us, as of old. Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore what it means in daily living to believe and to adore.
God of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt keep us faithful to the gospel; help us work your purpose out. Here in this day’s dedication, all we have to give, receive; we, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe!

Prayer of Reconciliation

One: Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love – our hearts long for the world of justice and peace that you had from the beginning in mind.

All: Yet we live in a world of injustice and violence – of bondage and fear. We are heartbroken by the destructive forces that enslave us. Transform us and free us now as we offer our personal prayers, that we might become your blessed people – that our hearts might be healed so that we might heal your hurting world.

Silence for Personal Reflection & Prayer

Kyrie Eleison – Lord, Have Mercy VU#945

Assurance of God’s Unfailing Love

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3.22-23

Hymn of Praise VU#405 “New Every Morning”

New every morning is the love our waking and uprising prove; through sleep and darkness safely brought, restored to life, and power, and thought.
New mercies each returning day hover around us while we pray; new perils past, new sins forgiven, new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.
If on our daily course our mind be set to hallow all we find, new treasures still of countless price God will provide for sacrifice.
The trivial round, the common task, will furnish all we ought to ask, room to deny ourselves, a road to bring us daily nearer God.
Only, O God, in your dear love fit us for perfect rest above; and help us this and every day, to live more nearly as we pray.

Bible Readings

Our Bible Readings this morning are among those assigned for this Second Sunday in the Season of Easter, Year A, by the Revised Common Lectionary. We share these readings with most other United Churches, some Presbyterian congregations, and all Lutheran and Anglican parishes. The use of the lectionary is a good reminder that we are part of a world-wide community of those seeking to follow Jesus in the Way.

First Peter 1.3-9

Although the Letter of First Peter claims to have been written by Peter the Apostle, it more likely was penned by some anonymous author in the community that formed around St. Peter – likely in the decade of the 80’s in the First Century of the Common Era. It was written to a church experiencing persecution by the Roman state. We read today from the first chapter, verses three through nine. In this and all our Bible Readings this morning, listen for the word of God:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By God’s great mercy we have been given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into and inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Gospel of John 20.19-31

The Gospel of John is the fourth book in our New Testament. It was written by an anonymous author who was part of the community that grew up around St. John – the Galilean fisherman – brother of James and son of Zebedee. The author was a well-educated Greek speaking Jew who was writing for a Jewish Christian community at the time when the infant church was emerging from its roots in the synagogue. This gospel is closely related to the Letter of John and to the Book of Revelation. Today we read from chapter twenty, verses nineteen through thirty-one. Here the author tells the story of the experience of Jesus’ community in the early days after Easter.

20.19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin) one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later Jesus’ disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Responsive Reading Psalm 16 VU#738

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I have said to God, “You are my God; from you alone comes my prosperity.”

All my delight is in the faithful who dwell in the land, and in those who excel in virtue.

But all those who run after other gods, their troubles shall be multiplied.

Libations of blood I will not offer to those gods, nor will I take their names upon my lips.

You God are my allotted portion and my cup;

You yourself have cast my lot.

My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;

Indeed, I have a noble heritage.

I will thank you God, for giving me counsel;

At night also you teach my heart.

I keep you always before me;

You are on my right hand; therefore, I shall not fall.

So, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; for my body also shall rest in safety.

For you will not surrender me to the Grave, nor suffer you beloved to see the Abyss.

You will show me the path of life.

In your presence is fullness of joy; and from your right-hand flow delights for evermore.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving God – Kind Creator, Compassionate Friend, Ever-Present Spirit – in the reading of the Bible, may your Word be heard; in the meditations of our hearts, may your Word be known; and in the faithfulness of our lives, may your Word be shown. Amen.

“Good News for Thomas” (And for Us)

It had been only ten days since they had gathered with Jesus in that Upper Room and celebrated Passover together.

It had been only ten days since they had all scattered, terrified, when soldiers found them in the garden where they had fallen asleep while Jesus poured out his soul in passionate prayer.

It had been only nine days since, from a distance, they had seen the powers of the Roman Empire brought to bear as Jesus was tried, tortured, and then executed on a cross – with two criminals. A sign above Jesus’ head proclaimed in Hebrew, Greek and Latin: “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. Pilate wished to make an example of Jesus for all to see. Any affront to the power of Imperial Rome would be crushed.

Only nine days since Jesus broken body was taken down from the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb. The Sabbath Day had arrived so they were not able to do the ritual preparation of his body for burial – that had to wait for the end of the holy day.

Only seven days since the women had come to the tomb before it was light – prepared to do the anointing and to complete the burial rituals – and had found the tomb empty.

Then there were the tales that seemed impossible to believe. The women claimed to have seen angels. The angels had reported that Jesus had risen to life again – although they were certain that he was dead when they took him down from the cross and placed his body in the tomb. Some of the women even said that they had see the Risen Messiah – the Risen Christ – and he had sent greetings to his apostles. Cleopas, not one of the inner circle, claimed to have broken bread with the Master in the village of Emmaus.

How could these things be true? Really? Though they wanted to believe, this was so far beyond their experience that it seemed impossible. And there was fear. Now, a week later, seven days after those first reports, the disciples were together in a locked room. They were hiding from the authorities. Everyone knew that they were Jesus’ close friends and followers. Would the powers that be try to arrest and crucify them also?

To these fearful, uncertain, unbelieving disciples, Jesus suddenly appeared. He was there with them and was greeting them in Hebrew: “Shalom” – Peace be with you. Jesus showed them the wounds caused by the nails in his hands. He showed them the wound in his side where the soldier’s spear cut deep as he hung dying on the cross. The disciples were filled with joy.

Jesus offered them peace and breathed the Spirit of God into them. Jesus commissioned them to carry on his ministry of/ his passion for compassion. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

But the author of the Gospel of John tells us that Thomas – also known as Didymus – both names mean “the Twin” – was not present at the time of Jesus first appearance in that locked room.

Apparently, the disciples didn’t know what to make of Jesus’ appearance. The author tells us that another week went by and that they were still there in that locked room. Though they had received the gift of God’s Spirit – they remained terrified of the authorities and they were hiding out. Perhaps Thomas was not present that first time because he was out shopping for supplies with which they could feed themselves?

We don’t know – we are not told where he was – simply that he wasn’t present. When he got back and his friends told him that Jesus had stood among them – Thomas was incredulous. He could not believe them. He had seen Jesus die in agony on Friday. He had helped to take the body down from the cross. He had helped to carry Jesus’ lifeless body to the rock tomb. All of his senses told him that Jesus was dead. How could he then accept that Jesus was alive again?

Then it happened. Two weeks after Easter – as Thomas and his friends were there in the locked room once more. Jesus stood among them. This time he spoke directly to Thomas. He invited Thomas to place his fingers in the nail prints. Jesus invited Thomas to put his hand into the wound in his side – and urged him to believe what he now could see, feel, touch – Jesus was alive and among them again!

We are told that Thomas’ response was to worship the Risen Christ. Thomas gives the first confession of faith recorded in this gospel. Thomas declares: My Lord and my God!” The words of Thomas become the first confession of faith of the early church: “Jesus is Lord!”

As an aside this morning, I want to say that we all have heard Thomas referred to as “Doubting Thomas”, I think Thomas has gotten a bum rap – as the saying goes. In fact, Thomas was a man of deep faith and commitment even before this encounter with Jesus in the locked room, ten days after the Last Supper.

In this same Gospel of John, in the eleventh chapter, we have the story of Jesus’ decision to travel to Jerusalem – to the Village of Bethany – to visit his friends Mary & Martha – after the death of his friend, their brother, Lazarus. The disciples tried to dissuade Jesus from making this trip – because they knew that the authorities were determined to kill him. It was Thomas who said, finally,” Let us go with him, that we might also die with him.”

It was Thomas who was the one with the courage and determination to follow Jesus even though to do so put him in mortal danger.

There is good news in this story for Thomas and for us.

Thomas confesses his faith in the Risen Christ and takes his place as a leader in the early church. Tradition has it that it was Thomas who carried the gospel to India. The church there in south Asia – to this day – claims him as their patron saint.

Jesus’ response to Thomas’ confession was to say that because he had seen, he believed: “But blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That would be us. Jesus offered a blessing for us – as we have expressed faith and as we seek to follow Jesus in the Way.

In the Gospel of Mark, there is a story about a distraught father who brought his disturbed son to Jesus’ disciples seeking healing. (Perhaps the lad had epilepsy – the symptoms described sound like it.) Jesus responded with compassion to the Father’s pleas – proclaiming that anything was possible for one who believes. The Father responded:

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. (Maybe we could even say that often we are too hard on ourselves.) Sometimes we feel guilty about doubts and questions that arise for us. But I want to say this morning that doubting and questioning are part of believing.

Thomas – a man of deep commitment and courage – was face with doubt – but then came to be the one who first confessed his faith in the Risen Christ. And Thomas went on to be a great evangelist – the great bearer of the good news to a whole sub-continent of people.

That anonymous father in the story from Mark’s Gospel had faith enough in Jesus to bring his troubled, ailing child, seeking Jesus’ healing. Despite his doubts, Jesus acted in compassion to heal and restore his son. That father’s plea could be our own prayer today:

“Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!”

We can be sure that Jesus’ response to us is to offer us his blessing – and the gift of the Spirit.

Thomas wasn’t isolated and alone when he met Jesus gain – the Risen Christ. It was in community that Jesus came to him. So too, Jesus comes to us in community. We are called upon to embody the compassionate love of God for one another and for our hurting world.

Though we are alone this morning – though we are worshipping in our homes, separated from the gathered community with whom we normally worship on Sunday morning – still we are called and commissioned to take up Jesus’ Ministry – empowered by his Spirit. We reach out to one another and to our hurting community – by phone, by email, by text, on social media – to remind one another that God is with us – that God’s love is for everyone.

May God help us today and every day to live out that high calling. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thanks be to God! Hallelujah!

Amen.

Hymn of Reflection VU#185 “You Tell Me That the Lord Is Risen”

You tell me that the Lord is risen, that you have seen his face. Then tell me why you crouch in fear and hide within this place. You say that he spoke words of peace and stood just as before. But ‘til I touch his very flesh I will not trust your joy.
You claim a resurrection here, that God has broken death. No easy words like these will soothe the pain that tears by breath. How well do I recall his face, compassion, strength in fear. How deep my grief that he should die. Spare me your words of cheer!
“Now peace be with you. Come, my friend, my wounded body see. Let the rich courage of your doubt bring you to fresh belief. Fear not to wonder at the Word, to search the depths of grace. Reach out and touch, here is my hand. Receive the gift of faith.
“How blest are they, how fortunate who know without the sight. But Thomas, you are favoured too, for searching yields its light.” So may each pilgrim in the Way, each road to Christ be blest, ‘til lips declare, “My Lord and God!”, Christ’s body one at last.

We Offer our Gifts

When we gather for worship on normal Sundays, in response to the proclamation of the Good News of God’s unfailing love, we present our offerings for the support of the Ministry in our community and in the world. Although we can’t do that today, you are invited to continue to actively support your congregation by mailing in your Offering to the Church Treasurer – or in the case of Picton United Church, you can give on the Church Website. Thank you for your gifts.

And so, we sing: VU#541 “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God all creatures high and low; give thanks to God in love made known: Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Concern

Risen and saving Lord, Mary’s mistaken gardener, call out our names in compassion that we might recognize you.