First Christian (Disciples of Christ)

Sheridan, Wyoming

Easter Sunday Worship at Home

April 12, 2020

5th Week in National Emergency [email protected]

Easter Sunday.

Christ is risen! Risen Indeed!

Announcements:

1. In this time of worship at home, you can also access Easter worship at: www.disciples.org or Disciples You Tube Channel. Our General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be leading worship there.

2. You can join Sunday School and/or Bible study via Zoom. Contact Doug for the connection codes.

3. Construction is moving forward on the Church building. This week it will be dusty as the concrete cutter does his work on a new entrance for the new Thrift Store, a drop off center and a cutout on the curb of the street.

Preparation for worship: You may want to find the hymns in your CD collection or electronic device so you can sing along. If you would like to receive holy , please prepare bread and cup in advance.

Worship is the work of the people. I totally sympathize with you. I do. With worship at home, you cannot just walk into the church building and sit down to enjoy worship. It does take some thoughtful preparation for meaningful worship. Remember: God is your audience.

To begin worship: Light a candle. Be still for a few moments (practice quiet, listening for the Spirit).

Greeting: Welcome resurrection people. It is good and right for us to be together. Even though we are spread out throughout the city, we are one in the Spirit. God is present in this place. Let us worship God singly and together.

Opening Hymn: (sing or speak)

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

All creation, join to say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!

Jesus died, our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! (quoted from Hymnal, 1739).

Opening Prayer: Powerful God, you who raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter morning. You who raised our loved ones from the grave and now hold them in your strong arms. You who will raise us up from the dead too. We come offering grateful praise for your abundant love, your endless gift of forgiveness, your steadfast friendship. Bless us, and all your faithful people, in this time of worship through Jesus Christ, the risen one. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

Years ago, I volunteered to serve as a chaperone for the High School band trip to Washington D.C. The kids toured our national treasures and performed mini concerts. One concert was in the Kennedy Center. The performance by our children made us all proud. Of course, with youth you have to channel energy. One afternoon, we went to a theme park. The kids took off in a thousand directions and the parents were left on our own. One mom said: “Let’s ride the roller coaster.” This was no roller coaster. It was one of those roller coasters that began with the letter “A.” Named after one of those South American Amazon snakes. The cars shot out of the gate at 90 miles per hour. Twisting and turning, up and down, upside down and right side up, fast, fast. The ride lived up to its snaky name.

As we were getting off the ride, there was a wall of photos taken during the ride. There we were on the wall of fame for everyone to see, the mom and me. The mom with her hands up in the air, big smile, and eyes wide open. Me? I was hanging on for life, eyes closed, teeth clenched!

This Easter morning, our attention focuses on the women taking hold of Jesus’ feet. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary grab on to the risen Christ and refuse to let go.

In John’s , Jesus tells Mary not to grab hold (Jn 20:17). Stand your distance. Sounds like the advice commanded to us in these days of living with the plague of the corona virus. Stay back. Don’t touch. However, in Matthew’s account of the resurrection, the women grab hold of Jesus’ feet. Fascinating that those early Christians understood the complexity of faith. In our day, the literalists jump on those experiences as justification for unbelief; whereas, the early Christians saw it as reason to build upon more faith.

One of the speakers at the Governor’s press conference last week made the comment: “We should begin thinking about recovery.” For several weeks now, there have been a number of articles on the topic of: What will we look like after we come through this testing time of life? What will change?

The women grab hold of Jesus’ feet. What are you holding onto in these days of stay at home? What do you think you will hang onto in the recovery? What will change?

For sure, you will want to hold onto the values of Jesus. Love God with heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. In short, you want to hold onto the feet of Jesus in friendship.

The cross represents friendship. Divine friendship. Human friendship. When you think about it, friendship is your strongest resource in these days where health and wellness dominate the news. Your friendships – who you know – make a huge difference in how you function in the present moment. To hold onto the feet of Jesus means you are committed to the well being of life. You are like that mom on the roller coaster, eyes wide open, hands in the air, smile on your face, knowing you are not alone in this adventure of life. Jesus, the risen Christ, your friend is with you and you are holding on to all that is good and right and just.

Maybe this experience will challenge some of your false assumptions. What will you hold onto? What should change? What do you want to change? And, will you facilitate that needed change? One thing is certain this Easter Sunday: While you are grasping to hold onto Jesus, Jesus already is holding onto you.

Pastoral prayer:

Gracious God, you who raised Jesus as the first born of the dead, we come offering our thankful praise:

Thank you, dear God, that we do not walk in this journey of life alone. Thank you for holding us in our times of fear. Thank you for understanding our sadness like no other. Thank you for comforting our sorrows. Thank you for instilling within our broken spirit, hope. We thank you for Jesus, the suffering servant and risen Lord.

We confess, dear God, that our commitment to the social good has it limits. We want to get out, to have life return to the old normal, to get through this ordeal unscathed. Encourage us to be patient and to persevere when and where needed for the good of all as well as our personal well being.

O Lord God, in these strange times, strengthen our resolve to serve your good purposes here on earth. Strengthen our friendship with you and one another. Strengthen our faith. Motivate us to reach out to others in appropriate ways, to build healthy relationships, to seek your good will.

Bless our friends who need your care: Milo Rinker (end of life issues), Peggy Pooley (medical testing), Hudson Sundberg (Cassie’s grand nephew – home from hospital), and ______.

Bless our friends celebrating birthdays: Tyler Williams, Rosie Buckley, Beth Leach and Phyllis Iddings.

Minister to each of us as we pray together the prayer Jesus taught us, saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, . . . . Amen.

Hymn: I know that my Redeemer liveth, and on the earth again shall stand; I know eternal life he giveth, that grace and pow’r are in his hand. I know, I know that Jesus liveth, and on the earth again shall stand; I know, I know that life he giveth, that grace and pow’r are in his hand. I know his promise never faileth, the word he speaks, it cannot die; tho’ cruel death my flesh assaileth, yet I shall see him by and by. I know, I know . . .

I know my mansion he prepareth, that where he is there I may be; O wondrous tho’t, for me he careth, and he at last will come for me. I know, I know. . . (quoted from Chalice Hymnal, 1893)

Receiving our offerings: Through the cross of Christ, God has richly blessed us with friendship. In response, we grateful give a portion of our wealth to support the ministry of Christ Jesus through the church. You may place your offering on the table and send it to: First Christian Church, 102 South Connor, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801.

Easter is one of our special offering Sundays. The Easter offering supports the General Ministries of the church. Please mark you offering for Easter offering and for our General Fund. Thank you.

Prayer of dedication. Gracious God, you who freely gives, we thank you for blessing life. We pray your healing power touches the earth through our offerings, we humbly pray. Amen.

Receiving Holy Communion: (In these strange times, communion is optional. If you feel comfortable to receive communion in your home, well and good. If not, that is okay too. God understands.)

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matt. 26:26-28)

Let us pray: Dear God, we thank you for this special day of Easter. Thank you for touching our lives with healing grace. Thank you for filling our soul with the nourishment of holy friendship. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Bless us now as we receive your holy gift of eternal love through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Closing prayer: Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May Jesus Christ incorporate you into his death and resurrection. May the Holy Spirit comfort you, guide you, sanctify you; and, bring you to wholeness of life this day and forever more. Amen.

May the peace of Christ be with you and your beloved. Amen. Amen.