Bulletin – Sunday April 7, 2024 – Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Second Sunday of Easter
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
This candle’s flame reminds us of the light of Christ present in the world. The flame represents the risen Christ and is for us a symbol of life dispelling death.
Call to Worship
One: This is the message I have heard from him and now celebrate with you. Christ is risen!
All: He is risen indeed.
One: Blessed are you who have not seen him, yet you truly believe and trust him.
All: See how good and delightful it is when Christians gather together as one.
One: The Lord has commanded a great blessing:
All: Life for evermore.
Hymn – “This is the Day That God Has Made” (VU #175)
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
Christ has conquered death at last,
Left the tomb that held him fast!
Gone the sorrow, gone the night,
Dawns the morning clear and bright!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
Jesus lives who once was dead,
Lives forever, as he said!
Risen now our Saviour, King;
Songs of gladness let us sing!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Dear God, we come before you today with the desires of our heart. The desires are many, and many may be superficial. You know us, O God. You know when we are selfish and want everything to be our way. You know when we are generous and want the best for others and for creation. Help us to empty ourselves; help us to have the mind of Jesus within us. Let us be your humble servants and find the path that leads to fullness of life. In our prayers and in our worship, we exalt your son, Jesus, and give your glory. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Notice what love God has given us, that we are called children of God. That is what we are: children of God! In God’s time, our true selves will be revealed. In this hope, we purify ourselves as God is pure. Thanks be to God!
Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:32-35
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, 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), 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 that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Through the Walls”
Through the walls of fear and doubt, come, Jesus, come,
Though we try to keep you out, come, Jesus, come.
Death had claimed you for it’s own, till God rolled away the stone.
Holy One, we need you now – break through these walls.
Through the walls of deepest night, come, Jesus, come,
Break our shadows by your light, come, Jesus, come,
Breathe upon us with your peace; bid our fears and sorrows cease.
Holy One, we need you now – break through these walls.
Through the walls that separate, come, Jesus, come;
Walls we’ve built of greed and hate, come, Jesus, come,
Bring your life into our death; grant us peace with ev’ry breath
Holy One, we need you now – break through these walls.
Through the walls we yet must race, come, Jesus, come.
Hold us in your strong embrace; come, Jesus, come.
Nothing can keep us apart: you have bound us heart to heart.
Holy One, we need you now – break through these walls.
Meditation – “Morberg House”
Anthem – “Yearning for a Place”
Yearning for a place to thrive in, one that we can call our home,
Where we find our peace in fam’ly and return to when we roam;
It will fill us with belonging; there our injuries can heal.
Then may Christ reside within us and in trials with which we deal.
Do we notice there are others, homeless, sleeping on the street,
Forced to live in cardboard boxes, scrambling for enough to eat?
Trapped by illness or addiction, often battered by abuse;
Lonely souls who’ve been excluded, turned from friend into recluse.
So, wherever chance may take us, work for good in where we dwell.
Forge a space where all are welcome and indifference, dispel.
Could not we who live in comfort lend our hand to those in need?
Jesus, who could find no shelter, looks to us to intercede.
We Respond to God’s Word
Invitation to Share
We praise God here where we are by offering some of the blessing we have received. Praise is not just a spoken word or phrase; it is a life lived in thanksgiving. Because of this we bring our gifts this morning as an act of praise. Our offering will now be presented.
Offering Response – “Grant Us, God, the Grace” (VU #540)
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
Offering Prayer
God of questions and answers, of doubt and belief, these gifts we bring are our response to the queries about your way. As you invite us to share in all the mysteries of life, we give thanks that you bless us continually. Receive all that is presented—assurances, questions, answers, blessings, and longings. May our gifts be a source of new life in this world. Amen.
Prayers of the People
In the evening when the disciples meet frightened behind locked doors, You come to them with words of peace. For wicked plots have failed, and the cruelty of the world has come to nothing, and the betrayal and the denial of friends have not prevailed.
Life-giving God, we give your thanks for Jesus has risen. He comes to us with words of peace. Come to us today. In government rooms where politicians meet, in city board rooms where executive plan, in court rooms where lawyers debate, come with words of peace.
In hospital rooms where people are waiting, in prison cells where people are afraid, in homes where people struggle to make ends meet, come with words of peace. Come to us whenever we are afraid whenever we are grieving. Come to us now we pray in silence for those we care for and are worried about…(prayer list). Despite the strong and solid doors we lock to protect ourselves, to shut out the world. Come to us with words of peace.
This Easter breathe on us again with your Spirit. You have overcome evil and wicked plots fail. The cruelty of the world comes to nothing and the betrayal and denial of friends do not prevail. Renew us in the power of your Spirit that we may open the doors and go out into the world to bring words of peace to the people we meet.
Renew us in the power of your Spirit that we may have life in your name and go wherever you send us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
Called in partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment – fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspirit, Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together, gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus, new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.
So, God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving Hope and confidence and peace.
Benediction
Go now, sent by the one who was sent by God. Walk in the light; testify to the resurrection of Christ, forgive the sins of all, and life at peace with one another. And may God bless you with life forever; may Christ Jesus breathe his Spirit and peace into you; and may the Holy Spirit lead you into the life and light of God. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!” (VU #974)
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
(All resources are taken from re:Worship)
