Third of Easter, Year A Service – April 26, 2020
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
As our Worship Service begins, we invite you to light a candle where you are sitting – a reminder of God’s Presence with you always.
Invitation to Worship
One: As we gather for worship this morning, we remember the words of our United Church Creed.
All: We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
One: As we gather on this Third Sunday of the Easter Season, we are reminded of Christ’s call to us to be disciples.
All: We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s Presence; to live with respect in Creation; to love and serve others; to seek justice and resist evil; to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
One: In life, in death, in life beyond death,
All: God is with us; we are not alone. Let us worship God with grateful hearts.
And So, We Sing V.2 & Ref. VU#173 “Thine Is the Glory”
Lo, Jesus meets us, Risen from the tomb! Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom. Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord now liveth: Death has lost its sting.
Refrain: Thine is the Glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory, thou o’er death has won.
Opening Prayer
One: God of grace and glory, by taking upon yourself the brokenness and pain of the world, in the cross of Christ,
All: and by overcoming the powers of death; your reign of wholeness has been unleashed within our bent and broken world.
One: In our worship this morning, open us to your empowering grace
All: that we may be bearers of your world-redeeming love; that we might love the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Opening Hymn VU#245 “Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet”
Prayer of Reconciliation
One: Gracious, Loving, Present God, you made us in your image.
All: with a mind to know you, a heart to love you, and a will to serve you; but our knowledge is imperfect, our love inconstant, and our obedience incomplete. Day by day we fail to grow in your likeness.
One: In your tender love, forgive. In the quietness of our worship space, and in the silence of our own hearts and minds, we offer to you our personal prayers.
A Moment of Silent Reflection & Prayer
Kyrie Eleison – Lord Have Mercy VU#945
Assurance of God’s Unfailing Love
One: To all who turn from sin in sorrow, to all who turn to God in hope, this is God’s word of grace:
All: We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.
One: This gift we have from God!
All: Thanks be to God!
Hymn of Praise VU#958 “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah!”
Bible Readings
Our Bible Readings this morning are among those assigned for this Third Sunday in the Season of Easter, Year A – by the Revised Common Lectionary. As we hear these words and ponder their meaning, we are in the company of most other United Churches, many Presbyterian Congregations, as well as all Lutheran and Anglican parishes. Our use of the Lectionary is a good reminder to us that we are part of a worldwide community of those who are seeking to follow Jesus in the Way.
Responsive Reading Psalm 116, VU836
Refrain: How can I repay you, God, for all the goodness you show to me?
I love you, God, because you heard my voice when I made supplication,
Because you turned your ear to me, when I called upon your name.
The cords of death entangled me, and the pangs of the Grave laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called upon the name of God:
“O God, I pray, save my life!”
Refrain: How can I repay you, God, for all the goodness you show to me?
How can I repay you, God, for all the good things you have done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of God. I will pay my vows in the presence of all God’s people.
Refrain: How can I repay you, God, for all the goodness you show to me?
Precious in the sight of God is the death of the saints.
O God, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your maidservant.
You have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows to God in the presence of all God’s people,
In the courts of the house of God, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Refrain: How can I repay you, God, for all the goodness you show to me?
The Gospel of Luke 24.13=35
The Gospel of Luke is the first of a two-volume set of books by the same author. (The second is The Acts of the Apostles.) Together these two books comprise more than 27% of the New Testament. There is general agreement that this gospel was written between the year 80 of the First Century of the Common Era, and the year 110 of the Second Century of the Common Era. The author was a well-education Greek Speaking Christian who writes eloquently about the life of Jesus and the early Church. This morning we read again the story of the encounter of two disciples on the Road to Emmaus on Easter afternoon.
24.13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And Jesus said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 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?” 19 Jesus 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, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death (by the Roman Governor) and crucified. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third days since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 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.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as though he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So, Jesus went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus; and he vanished from their sight. 32 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?” 33 That same hour they go up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon! 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of bread.
A Lonely Road
You may know that I lived most of the first three decades of my life in that portion of Ontario that is north of the upper Great Lakes – Lake Huron and Georgian Bay primarily.
There, in northeastern Ontario, lies a country of lonely roads. There is nothing for miles and miles but miles and miles – especially so in winter. Winter, back then, was a season which usually lasted from early October until the end of May.
Winter was the season when, along those lonely roads, there was nothing but snow, frozen lakes, rocks, spruce, pine and white birch trees, and little else.
In February of 1975, Carol and I were living in the City of Sudbury. Carol was a Registered Nurse at Laurentian Hospital. I was working as a Regional Representative for Alcohol & Drug Concerns Inc. – working with young folk who were having problems with substance abuse.
Since Carol was on shift work, it happened that every few weeks she had a four-day weekend. This was to compensate for the rest of the month when she worked Saturdays and Sundays.
Now February, in Sudbury, can be pretty bleak. In those years, the temperature was regularly -40C. Often there was a wind blowing from the northwest. When the temperature got up to -20C, blizzards happened – with it not being unusual to have two feet of snow fall in an afternoon. So, it was not unusual, in this environment, for people to get “cabin fever”, and need to escape.
Carol and I had very dear friends who were living in Winnipeg. Both our friends celebrate birthdays about that time of year – late February & early March. We thought it would be fun to celebrate with them. One of the Orderlies in the hospital where Carol worked, farmed with his brother south of Winnipeg. He told Carol that he regularly made the trip from Sudbury to the farm, by car, in 12 hours. (This was in the time before Google Earth or Yahoo Maps & Mileage – but even so, it might have been wise for us to consult a road map!) The distance from Sudbury to Winnipeg is 1200 miles! In order for that gentleman to make the trip in 12 hours, he would need to travel an average speed of 100 miles per hour!
Never-the-less, being fearless and perhaps unwise young folk in our 20’s, we set out at about 3:30 one Thursday afternoon – destination Winnipeg. O yes, I should mention, we were travelling in a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle.
It was dark before we reached Sault St. Marie. North of the Soo, along the shore of Lake Superior, it began to snow. Then the snow became heavier. We continued our journey along the lonely road.
At about 12:45a.m. we were somewhere near Nippigon, well past Wawa. We suddenly saw the flashing lights of an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser behind us. We dutifully pulled onto the shoulder. The OPP constable approached the car. He politely asked us where we were going. When we told him, “Winnipeg.” – he inquired about how much gas we had? We had about a third of a tank. He asked if we were aware that the next gas station open was in Thunder Bay?
It was a lonely road.
Perhaps you have had your own experience of a lonely road?
Our gospel reading this morning relates for us the story of two disciples walking from Jerusalem to the Village of Emmaus, on Easter afternoon. We don’t know much about the identity of the two travellers. The author of Luke’s Gospel tells us that the name of one of them was Cleopas. Perhaps it was a husband and wife walking home after the terrible ordeal – witnessing Jesus’ arrest, torture and execution?
For these two travellers, it was a lonely road.
They were grief stricken. As they walked along, they talked together about the events of the past few days. Very likely there were tears. We can imagine that one had his arm around the other as a gesture of support and caring.
As they walked along a stranger came and joined them. The stranger asked them what they were talking about. Luke says simply: “They stood still, looking sad.” They were surprised that the stranger did not know about the terrible events that had occurred over the Passover Weekend – the events involving the arrest, trial, torture and execution of Jesus of Nazareth. They told the stranger that Jesus was a prophet mighty in word and deed – and that they had hoped that he was the Messiah – the one to redeem Israel – to free them from Roman domination.
As they continued to walk, this stranger spoke with them and showed them how these events related to the ancient prophets. The miles sped by. As they arrived at their home in the village, the stranger made as if to continue along the lonely road. They implored him to come in and stay with them – to avoid the dangers of the dark night that was approaching.
The stranger agreed and entered their home. As they sat down to a simple meal, they asked their guest to say the blessing over the food. As he took the bread and blessed and broke it, they recognized that it was Jesus! Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
We too walk lonely roads.
Over the past several weeks we’ve experienced the lonely road caused by this terrible COVID-19 virus. We’ve isolated in our own homes, walking the lonely road of anxiety, fear and loneliness.
Last Sunday morning, we all were horrified as the news broke about the murderous rampage that occurred during the night in the villages of Nova Scotia. Over the past week we’ve walked the lonely road of grief with sisters and brothers – even, in some cases our own children and grandchildren – who live there near the Bay of Fundy.
As individuals we have experiences of grief and sadness and loss in our lives. Even though we are surrounded by family and friends who care for us and reach out to support us – still we walk a lonely road in losing a spouse, a parent, a brother or sister, a child, a friend. The experience of grief is as unique and individual as those who suffer. We can’t, none of us can, know exactly how another person feels. In being supportive on the lonely road of grief, we need to offer comfort while still leaving room for the person’s own experience. That experience won’t be an exact replica of our own grief process. Grieving takes time – just as it takes time for us to make the journey along a lonely road from leaving home through to our arrival.
But just as the disciples along the lonely road to Emmaus were not alone – just as they were joined by a caring stranger who walked with them – so Jesus comes to stand by us, to walk with us, on our personal lonely roads. At times he comes to us incognito – in disguise – in the form of a caring friend. We can embody Jesus’ caring presence for one another. We are called to do so as “the Body of Christ” in the world.
As we walk our lonely roads, like those disciples on the Road to Emmaus, our eyes may be blinded by tears. Our vision may be dulled by grief for all that we have lost and might yet lose. Sometimes we are uncertain whether we have the resources we’ll need to complete the journey.
Jesus walks with us as congregations and as individuals on this lonely road. Jesus joins us, though we have trouble at times knowing he’s present.
Worship is more important than ever for us on this lonely road.
Community – the sharing of loving support – is more important than even for us on this lonely road. Even though we can’t be physically present with one another – we can reach out by phone, by text, by email, by Facebook. As we do so we embody Jesus’ caring for us on this lonely road.
We are not alone! The outcome of our journey on this lonely road is assured. We will arrive at our destination. Jesus walks with us.
Now the rest of the story of the Sudbury to Winnipeg odyssey.
That kind OPP Constable got on this radio and called ahead to a gas station just up the road. The gracious proprietor opened up so that we could fill our tank and journey on, confident of reaching Thunder Bay.
When we arrived in Thunder Bay at 6:00a.m. – after being on the road for fifteen hours – and Carol saw the sign that said we had still several hundred miles to go – she burst into tears.
We decided we couldn’t make it. We checked into the Red Oak Inn and called our friends to tell them we would not be coming. We then fell asleep in a comfortable bed. At 3:00p.m. on Friday afternoon, refreshed by the rest, we decided that since we’d come that far we might as well go on. We phoned ahead and told them to expect us. At about 11:00p.m. that evening we rolled into the driveway and were warmly welcomed by our dear friends. We arrived safely at our destination – at the end of that lonely road.
Thanks be to God who calls us forward – who walks with us on our lonely roads – who speaks to us and eats with us – and who will be there for us at our journey’s end – as individuals and as congregations.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hymn of Reflection VU#184 “As We Walked Home at Close of Day”
- As we walked home at close of day, a stranger joined us on our way. He heard us speak of one who’d gone, and when we stopped, he carried on.
- “Why wander further without light? Please stay with us this troubled night. We’ve shared the truth of how we feel and now would like to share a meal.”
- We sat to eat our simple spread, then watched the stranger take the bread; and as he said the blessing prayer, we knew that someone else was there.
- No stranger he; it was our eyes which failed to see, in stranger’s guise, the Lord who, risen from the dead, met us when ready to be fed.
- Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! As Mary and our sisters said, the Lord is risen from the dead!
In Response We Give
At this time in our worship each week, we present our gifts and offerings for the work of the church – locally and around the world. During these weeks when we are not able to worship together, the expenses of the congregation continue. Please prayerfully consider how you can help. You can send your offering to the Church Treasurer, or in the case of Picton United Church you can contribute on the Church Website. Th Church depends on your contributions to continue our work of caring.
Doxology: 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. Amen.
Prayer of Gratitude and Concern
Gracious & Loving God we give thanks this morning for the beauty of the world around us – for the unfolding once again of the life of springtime. For daffodils and hyacinths blooming; for tulips coming on; for forsythia and magnolia’s in their glory; for sunshine and rain we are grateful.
Even in these days as we walk lonely roads of anxiety and fear – we give thanks for warm comfortable beds, and for a roof over our heads; for technology that connects us with family and friends at a distance; for good food to eat.
Grateful for all your good gifts, we are aware that there are others walking lonely roads who are feeling abandoned. We remember especially those who are food and housing insecure in our community and beyond; we pray for the people of Nova Scotia – especially for First Responders and the families of those who have lost dear ones. We pray for sisters and brothers anywhere in our world who are grieving because of the loss of family or friends who’ve succumbed to COVID-19. We pray for Health Care workers and for residents of Long-Term Care facilities.
Help each one of us to embody your love for those who suffer. Empower and enable us to practical acts of kindness.
We pray for all people anywhere in our world who are suffering because of violence and war.
Give wisdom and guidance to the leaders of our community, our province, our nation and the world that they might know how to lead us all along lonely roads to the safety of our destination.
As Jesus taught us, so now we pray:
The Lord’s Prayer VU#959
Parting Hymn “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me” VU#635
- All the way my Saviour leads me; what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell, for I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
- All the way my Saviour leads me, cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. Though’ my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the rock before me, lo, a spring of joy I see!
- All the way my Saviour leads me; O the fullness of his love! Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above. When my spirit, clothed, immortal, wings its flight to realms of day, this my song through endless ages, “Jesus led me all the way!”
Fanny Crosby 1875
Commissioning and Blessing
May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again: May God hold you, in the palm of His hand.
Amen.
Sung Response “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace, never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of ev’ry day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true, know God will guide you in all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe, reach out to others, so all the world can see. God will be there, watching from above (walking by your side) Go now in peace, in faith and in love. Amen, Amen, Amen.
Extinguishing the Candle
As our Service ends, we extinguish the Christ Candle – but as we do so we remember that Jesus said: “You are the Light of the World.” So, we are invited to take the Light of Christ with us into all the places where we do our living – and to look for the Light of Christ in the faces of everyone we meet. Amen.
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