Fifth Sunday of Easter “Hosanna, Alleluia, Hosanna!!” May 2nd, 2021 Gathering Welcome Call to Worship Leader: God is our strength, our song, our salvation. People: And so we sing, we shout, we share stories of might and mercy. Leader: That God did not let death lay its hands on us, People: And so we pray, we praise, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Leader: The stone that the builders tossed aside has now become the most important stone. The Lord has done this, and we marvel. People: And so this day belongs to the Lord! Alleluia, let us celebrate! Opening Hymn#495 “We Know That Christ Is Raised” vv 1,2 & 4 1 We know that Christ is raised and dies no more. Embraced by death He broke it’s fearful hold; And our despair He turned to blazing joy. Alleluia! 2 We share by water in His saving death. Reborn we share with Him an Easter life As living members of a living Christ. Alleluia! 4 A new creation comes to life and grows As Christ’s new body takes on flesh and blood. The universe, restored and whole, will sing: Alleluia! 2 Poem “Easter Street” by Ann Barr Weems ©1992, Kneeling in Jerusalem The clapping is hollow, synchronized and Muzak. We simply find ourselves celebrating celebration, dragging our feet in the wildwood instead of running into the street. We want our Life from Birth. Instead we get Life from Death emptied from a tomb out of a garden into the street . When will we learn that the music will go undanced in the wildwood? The only living is on Easter Street. Call to Confession God says to us, “Do not be afraid. The tomb is empty. Go and tell others what you have seen. But all too often, our voices are rendered silent. Our amazement turns to apathy, and fear slows us to a halt. Through confession, though, God liberates our minds and hearts to preach the gospel of resurrection. Prayer of Confession We discover the stone rolled away. We see the tomb is empty. We hear that you are risen. But we do not believe. We race to tell the story. We walk and you stand behind us. Our eyes are opened. But we do not believe. We hear you explain it all to us. We break bread with you. We are blessed. But we do not believe. O Lord, help our unbelief! Forgiven 3 our stubbornness. Forgive our emptiness. Forgive our faithlessness. Help our unbelief! Open our mouths to speak. Open our ears to listen. Open our minds to comprehend. Help our unbelief! Empower us to preach. Enable us to practice. Call upon us to serve. Help our unbelief! The grave is silent. A new creation has taken hold. Thanks be to God. (SILENT PRAYERS) Assurance of Pardon Hear now the good news which assures us of our forgiveness: Do not be afraid! The tomb is empty! Anyone in Christ is born anew! We are forgiven, and new life has begun! Amen. Response “Arise, Be Clothed in the Light” Passing of the Peace of Christ Through his death, Jesus demolished all the things that divide us. The walls we put up to keep others out — walls of hatred; walls of fear; walls of pride. In his resurrection he proclaimed peace — peace to those both near and far: friends, enemies, neighbors, and rivals. Through him,. God dwells among us, and we live into his peace. Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. 4 The Word Prayer for Illumination Scriptures: John 20: 19-31; Luke 24: 36-48 John 20:19-31 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 Jews, 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[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark 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 his 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 [b] that Jesus is the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. Luke 24:36-48 36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[a] 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 5 [b] 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[c] is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. Leader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church! People: Thanks be to God. Sermon “Hosanna, Alleluia, Hosanna!!” Hymn#399 “We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight!” 1 We walk by faith and not by sight; No gracious words we hear From Christ, who spoke as none e’er spoke; But we believe Him near. 2 We may not touch His hands and side, Nor follow where He trod; But in His promise we rejoice, And cry, “My Lord and God!” 3 Help then, O Lord, our unbelief; And may our faith abound To call on You when You are near And seek where You are found. 4 That, when our life of faith is done, In realms of clearer light We may behold You as You are, With full and endless sight. 6 The Response to the Word Time for Response to the Sermon The Lord’s Supper COMMUNION PRAYER Leader: Christ is risen! People: Christ is risen indeed. Leader: Lift up your hearts People: We lift them up to God. Leader: Let us give thanks to God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks, O God. You formed the mountains, splashed the colors, brushed the textures; you gave the donkey and sparrow their songs; and us your signature. You set us in a good garden, and in love called us as a people. When we broke covenant with you, you sent prophets and judges to woo us back to your love. So we join our voices to those of your messengers who with the company of the faithful forever sing your glory. Holy, holy, holy Lord; God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Blest is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! You are Holy O God, and holy is Jesus, your child, who came among us sharing joy and sorrow. He gathered the poor, healed the sick, touched the unclean, and told your story. In your name Jesus challenged false authority and taught us to pray, giving all glory to you, almighty God and asking for your will to be done in our lives and in your world -- 7 Glorious God, we give you thanks and praise, for on this day creation sings, Christ is risen from the dead! The tomb is empty and He has burst forth to break the tangles of despair and death.