Agape Feast, Peace Lutheran Church Easter 2020

This Easter we will not be gathering in communal worship to celebrate the resurrection. Although we cannot be together in body, nonetheless we are the , and as the living expression of God’s grace at work in the world we can celebrate the promise of the resurrection by incorporating into our family celebration the promise of Christ’s abiding presence. An (LOVE) Feast provides a great opportunity to experience God and share Christian faith in our homes. It builds on the experience of Jesus and his disciples as well as the early Christian Church as identified in Acts 2.42-47.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

We offer the following liturgy and activities as possible ways to engage in worship at home this Easter (we do invite you to watch our worship offering on Facebook [Heart of Peace] or YouTube [Pieces of Peace]).

Begin by invoking the Lord’s presence: L: We gather in the name of the Loving Father, the Resurrected Son, and the life-giving Spirit. A: Amen.

L: The Lord is Risen! A: He is risen indeed! ! L: Praise be to God who dared to take on human flesh to dwell among us; A: Praise God! L: Praise be to God who did not retreat in the face of evil and death; A: Praise God! L: Praise be to God who emerged out of the grave bringing life to the world; A: Praise God! L: Praise be to God for the women and all who gave witness to the God’s new creation; A: Praise God! L: Praise be to God as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the embrace of God’s eternal love; A: Praise God! L: Let us pray… Generous God, through your Son you overcame death and opened before us a promised new life. Even as we face the fears of a world- wide pandemic, help us to know you are present even now in our home. Give us your continuing aid as well as comfort, put good desires into our thoughts, and help us to see in Jesus the path by which our lives and the world might be transformed. Help us to live as a people reborn by the promise of Easter. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The Easter according to Mark:

16.1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

A couple of thoughts to encourage conversation (you can insert your own): 1. How have you been surprised by God? Did that teach you anything about God or yourself? 2. We are ‘alarmed’ by today’s news. Does God have a message of hope for us? 3. The women bravely made their way to the tomb, but left the tomb because they were ‘afraid?’ What were they afraid of? Would you have been afraid too? 4. Ultimately, Mark challenges us by asking, can we see God where others may only see the absence of God? Can we see life where others see death? Can we see love where others see hate? How do you answer Mark?

Activity: We invite you to watch on YouTube sometime this day, The Butterfly Circus (22 min.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98KAEif3bI

A couple of thoughts to encourage conversation (you can insert your own): 1. How does this movie challenge the idea of ‘God’s forsaken?’ 2. What does this movie say about second chances? 3. How does Easter change our perspective of the world in which we live?

Enjoy your Easter brunch/dinner, and we invite you to set your table with the unleavened bread you baked (see recipe) or an loaf of bread and a glass of wine or grape juice at the center of your table. Toward the end of the meal, we invite you to join in the following liturgy:

We’ve included a song to sing with the sheet music. The melody can be heard or played… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl2pj1-std0

Please light a candle (white preferred) with the following words: L: Father of light, shine forth on our gathering today; A: You are the Light of the World. L: Lord Jesus, fill the darkness with your light and life; A: You are the Light of the World. L: Spirit of light, may you shine through us this day; A: You are the Light of the World. Amen.

A reading from Scripture: .23-26 (The Apostle Paul writes to the Church) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We invite you to join together in the words that were spoken at your baptism (Apostle’s Creed): I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into the hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy , the of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Take the bread and pass it around your table, each taking some: Share a memory of a communion… after all have shared, eat of the bread with the words: Glory to God!

Then pour a small glass of wine or grape juice for each individual: Share a special memory of your family… after all have shared, drink from the cup with the words: Praise to Christ!

After you have eaten and drank, you are invited to join in the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Close with the following benediction: L: As you go from here, know that God is always with you. Do not be shaken, for he is right beside you. He will show you the way that leads to life! Amen. A: He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

You might close with the following song from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvFtXphmMU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLscNgnRSU