Jesus Showed Himself Again

3 Easter          May 1, 2022

Acts 9:1-20   Ps. 30

Rev. 5:11-14    John 21:1-19 

 

Lectionary Link

 

The reason for the growth and success of the Christian faith can be explained in four words which are found in our Gospel reading for today: "Jesus showed himself again...."  The word show in the Greek is the same word for epiphany, which is in fact the name of the season after Christmas on our church liturgical calendar.

 

The post-resurrection appearances of Christ, are showings of Christ when he became known in distinctive ways to persuade and win the hearts of people.

 

Today, we have accounts of various kinds of epiphanies of the divine in our Scripture readings.

 

The divine showing for the Psalmist occurred when the Psalmist experienced rescue from death.  To have the experience of being rescued from death is quite a profound apparent awareness of God, one which will indeed make one into a writer of poetry and song, which is what Psalmist was, a poet and a musician.

 

John the Divine had been imprisoned on Patmos; the showings or revelations to him came in the form of nearly inscrutable visions giving him hope that the seeming great losers in the end will win.  The Lamb who was slain, Jesus, was victorious, and so John the suffering prisoner, comforted by fantastic showing visions, was given hope that though oppressed and persecuted he would eventually be raised up like the Lamb who was slain.

 

In the reading of the Acts of the Apostle, we have read the fantastic converting epiphany of the Risen Christ which happened to Saul of Tarsus as he was traveling to Damascus to seek to persecute, arrest, and even kill the followers of Jesus.  Perhaps we can understand how a showing to Saul might happen to one who was caught in the most serious event of religious hypocrisy imaginable.  Saul was a zealous Pharisee who knew the Torah backwards and forwards.  And yet he got himself engrossed in inter-religious competition.  He was offended and jealous of the devotees to Jesus of Nazareth, and angered that they would preach Jesus as the Messiah, when his particular sect, the Pharisees could not make that confession.  His anger led to his being an accessory to murder, simply because these followers of Jesus were in a Jewish sect which believed Jesus to be the Messiah.  Can we appreciate his religious pride steeped in anger at these followers of Jesus?  And Saul was acting out on his anger to the point of bringing followers of Jesus to public stonings.  Saul was ready to snap.  He was vulnerable for an event.  Why?  Saul knew the Ten Commandment, and the one which stated "Thou shall not kill;" and what did he find himself doing?  Killing in the name of Almighty God.  What a contradiction.

 

Saul snapped and his insides opened up to a showing of the Risen Christ.  The event was completely psychosomatic; it affected his physical sight.  He was blinded by the awful contradiction of being proud of his devotion to the Torah while killing in the name of the Torah.  The showing of the Risen Christ gave him a way out of his dilemma.  Saul was converted and eventually he recovered his sight as his inner moral self adjusted to new behaviors consistent with God's plans for his life.  Saul became Paul and he came to be the chief architect of Gentile Christianity, and as a former Pharisee, he rebuked Peter for being so stuffy about his behaviors toward Gentiles converts to the Gospel of Christ.  The showing of the Risen Christ converts and changes people.

 

Simon Peter walked with Jesus in his three years of ministry.  He had many showings of Jesus.  He confessed him to be the Messiah.  He was quite certain that he would be a strong and brave leader for Jesus.  In spite of his self-confidence, and his intimate time with Jesus, Peter still had need for further showings of Jesus.

 

What is one of the most painful things in life?  It is the experience of self-disillusionment.  "I thought I was more than I found myself to be.  A challenging situation put me to the test, and I failed my best friend, and I failed myself.  How can I ever let myself back into good standing with others, and with myself.  How can I be rehabilitated?"

 

The life of Peter is proof that we never stop needing another showing from the Risen Christ.  In the case of Peter, he needed to be rehabilitated and brought back into good standing with Christ and with his friends.  Jesus asked him three times whether he loved and liked him.  Peter had denied Jesus three times, and Jesus gave Peter three take backs.  "Peter do you love me,  do you love me, do you like me?"  "Yes, yes, yes, you know I do."

 

For you and me, when we need such really dramatic showings of the Risen Christ to deal with some serious problems, may we experience such wonderful breakthroughs.  But the showings of the Risen Christ do not have to be so traumatic and dramatic; they can be joyful caresses in the midst of the mundane, they can be the profound truth of beauty in art, music, and written word.  They can be in the middle of the night when we can't back to sleep.  The showings of Christ are waiting for us.  Let us not think that they have to be dramatic or traumatic to be truthfully meaningful.

 

And how do we know we are having these showings?  Joy, peace, smiling, laughing, caring, giving, loving and more, because the showings of the Risen Christ are tailored to the specifics of your life experience and mine.

 

And let the Gospel of our life today be: And Jesus showed himself again to us.  Amen.

Sunday School, May 1, 2022 3 Easter C

 Sunday School,  May 1, 2022    3 Easter C

Last Sunday, in the Doubting Thomas story, we learned that forgiveness was one of signs of the presence of Christ in the Church.

This Sunday, we have the story of the forgiveness and how Jesus gave Peter a special job to do in the church.

What is the best thing to do when we do something wrong?  Do we hide or cover up what we did wrong?  Do we lie about what we did wrong?  No, we recover from what we did wrong by doing something good.  If we said something wrong.  Then we say something good.

Jesus allowed Peter the opportunity to recover from what he said and what he did.  He allowed him to replace three bad things he said with three good things that he said.

Peter was afraid when Jesus was captured by the guards.  Peter had told Jesus that he would never leave Jesus or deny that he knew.  But when Jesus was captured and some people asked Peter if he knew Jesus, Peter said, “I don’t know Jesus.”  And he did this three times.  Why, because he was afraid that the guards might capture him too.

Peter was very sad about saying that he did not know his best friend Jesus.  He was worried about his friendship with Jesus being finished.

After Jesus died, he re-appeared to Peter.  In fact he helped Peter catch lots of fish and he fixed breakfast for Peter and his friends.  Peter was wondering if Jesus would still be his friend.  What did Jesus do?  He allowed Peter to tell him “I love you”  three times.  So Peter got to replace his three times of denying with saying that he loved Jesus three times.  This teaches us that we can work to overcome the mistakes which we make by doing good things.  Jesus did not just forgive Peter, he gave him a very important job.  He told him to “feed the sheep.”  The sheep were all of the people who needed know about God’s love and forgiveness.  Jesus is called the Good Shepherd.  And Jesus told Peter that his job now was to be a good shepherd too   Peter became a very good shepherd and leader in the church.  In fact he died in a death like Jesus.  The life of Peter shows us about the importance of the forgiveness that Jesus offers us.  Jesus does not give up on us when we make mistakes; he allows us to do good things to overcome the mistakes which we have made.   Jesus doesn’t only forgive us, he gives us very important work to do.  He makes us shepherds who can take care of the people who needs the kind of care which we can give.

Today, remember the forgiveness of Christ.  We forgive each other.  We work to do good things to overcome the bad things.  And we don’t quit trying to be good when we make mistake; we remember that Jesus wants us to keep trying to do good.  Jesus wants us to be good shepherds as we take care of people who need us.

A Children Sermon on Forgiveness

   I want to tell you a story today about the famous disciple of Jesus named Peter.

  Peter was a fisherman.  He was a follower of John the Baptist, but when John told him about Jesus, Peter began to follow Jesus.  He became a student of Jesus.  He travelled with him and listened to all of the stories that Jesus told.

  Peter was a very confident person; he was like you and I are sometimes.  We sometimes are wrong but never in doubt.  Sometimes we can be very confident of ourselves and sometimes that is good and sometimes it doesn’t work for us if we fail to do what we say that we are going to do.

  Peter had a big failure.  When Peter was a friend with Jesus, he bragged that he would always be faithful and loyal to Jesus.

  But you know what happened?  When Jesus was arrested and taken by the guards, Peter followed Jesus to the place of his trial.

  And when some people saw Peter, they said to him, “You are a follower of Jesus.”  Peter was afraid and so do you know what he said?  He said, “I do not know Jesus.”  And he did not just say it once but he said it three times.  And  so Peter said about his best friend, “I don’t know Jesus.”  And he said it three times.

  Well, Jesus died on the cross and he came back into the lives of his disciples.  So Peter got to see Jesus again.  How do you think that Peter felt when he saw Jesus again? 

  He probably felt sorry and ashamed.  He probably thought that Jesus would not like him anymore.

  But what did Jesus do with Peter?  He talked to Peter and he forgave Peter and he ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter answered strongly three times, “Lord you know that I love you.”  So, Peter denied Jesus three times but Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to tell him that he loved him, three times.  And Jesus accepted Peter as his friends.  But he also gave Peter a job, “He told Peter to “feed his sheep.”  And what did he mean by this?  He meant that Peter was to be like good shepherd and take care of those who could not take care of themselves.

  And Peter became a good shepherd too.  He also died on a cross like Jesus but he died upside down.  He became a hero in the church.

  Let us remember this lesson from Peter.  If we think that we disappoint God, our friends, our parents or Jesus, let us remember that Jesus is always willing to forgive us and let us be friends again.  We are not perfect and so we always need forgiveness so that we can live together.  Let us remember that Jesus forgave Peter.  Let us remember that Jesus forgives and gives us more chances to prove that we are his friends.  And let us remember to forgive each other too.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

May 1, 2022: The Third Sunday of Easter

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah!; Peace Before Us; I Come With Joy; O When the Saints

Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.

People: The Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hallelu, Hallelujah (Christian Children Songbook, # 84)

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord! 

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Revelation to John

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 30

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; * O LORD, be my helper."

You have turned my weeping into dancing; * you have put off my sad appearance and clothed me with joy.

Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; * O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.  When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song: Peace Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise,  # 791)

Peace before us.  Peace behind us.  Peace under our feet.  Peace within us.  Peace over us.  Let all around us be Peace.

Love,  3. Light, 4. Christ

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion  hymn: I Come With Joy   (Renew! # 195)

I come with joy a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians, far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends.  The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: When the Saints (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 248).

O when the saints, go marching in.  O when the saints go marching in.  Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.

O when the boys go marching in…

O when the boys go marching in….

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Alleluia!  Alleluia Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Conversion and Rehabilitation

3 Easter          May 5, 2019

Acts 9:1-20       Ps. 30

Rev. 5:11-14        John 21:1-19    

Lectionary Link
A few years ago, a Baptist preacher wrote a book entitled, "Love Wins."  And it was controversial for many in his faith community because he proposed that the Bible indicates that Christ is eventually persuasive for every creature.  For those who think that making hell less than eternal takes away the moral hammer to frighten bad behaviors, Rob Bell was regarded to be heretical.

The love wins view is found in the reading from the book of Revelations: John the Divine in his vision, heard every creature in heaven and earth blessing the Lamb on the throne.   If everyone blesses the the sacrificial love found in Jesus Christ, that would mean that such love eventually wins and persuades everyone.

It is not easy to say that in the end love will win and persuade everyone.  By saying this, it seems to be impossible to prove and it can seem to minimize the willful evil conduct of so many people who seem to never want to be persuaded by love.  It is such a great ideal that from our lives of living in a world full of willful evil, it is hard to believe.

But such an ideal does express what is desirable.  Wouldn't it be nice if in the end love wins and love reconciles all things?  For all people, for our nation, for our parish, our families and our own life.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone used their freedom to affirm that sacrificial love in Christ is the greatest?

What does it mean for love to win us and persuade us?

On the way to love winning all, which we cannot yet see, there many experiences of human freedom.  Two of those experiences are conversion and rehabilitation.  Conversion and rehabilitation are exemplified in lives of Peter and Saul of Tarsus about whom we've read today.

Now every experience of conversion and rehabilitation may not be as dramatic as Peter's and Paul's, but conversion and rehabilitation are events for us on our way to be completely won by God's love.

Conversion happens even to religious people. We are always committed or converted to the values of our lives.  No one was more zealously religious than Saul of Tarsus.  He was so religious that his belief included persecuting the people whom he thought were heretics.  Saul of Tarsus thought that the followers of Jesus were heretics; what do you do with heretics?  You persecute them and for most of history heretics were killed.  Heretic usually means "something that you believe that I don't approve of."  But wait?  Isn't there a commandment of God about not killing?  How could Saul of Tarsus be religious and be pursuing people to their deaths for mere religious disagreement?  Saul of Tarsus snapped.  He had a conversion experience.  Saul had the first Damascus Road experience, because after he had it, it became a metaphor.  Saul had an experience of the Risen Christ who asked Saul to quit persecuting him.  Saul became the apostle Paul.  He was a very religious person who had one of the biggest conversion events of history.  You and I have perhaps been raised within religion, even to the point of being religious people.  But we can still have conversion experiences.  I have had quite a few conversion experiences, events which brought about significant paradigm shifts in how I have seen and defined the meaning of my life and my actions.  As long as we are not completely converted to the God of love, we will continue to have conversion experiences, if we are sincerely seeking.  We as individuals, as family members, as a parish and as a country are always in need of our next conversion as we wait for the love of God to become more winsomely persuasive.

Peter had what I call a rehabilitation experience with the risen Christ.   Peter denied Jesus during his trial three times.  In the resurrection appearance of Christ to Peter, Jesus allowed Peter to replace his three denials with three affirmations of love.  This was an experience of rehabilitation of Peter.

We are often in need of rehabilitation.  Sometimes we can become lazy in the practice of some important values that once were honored.  Sometimes we disappoint ourselves by thinking that we are more committed than we actually practice.  Peter loved and followed Jesus for about three years.  He was proud and brash about his loyalty to Jesus.  Yet when he feared for his life and when Jesus turned out to be a suffering servant Messiah and not a Military General Messiah, Peter sinned against his love for Jesus.

What did Jesus do?  He rehabilitated Peter again in his love, grace and favor.  How?  He entrusted Peter to be a shepherd.  He rehabilitated Peter by saying, go, and teach because you have learned from your mistakes.

As we are on our way to being fully persuaded about the sacrificial love of Christ, we will need moments of conversion and rehabilitation, as persons, as family members, as a parish family and as a nation.

Let us be thankful for these two repeating experiences of the Risen Christ.  Conversion and rehabilitation toward the love of God.  Let us be ready for conversion and rehabilitation in the love of God in Christ when it comes.  Amen.

Sunday School, May 5, 2019 3 Easter C

Sunday School,  May 5, 2019    3 Easter C

Last Sunday, in the Doubting Thomas story, we learned that forgiveness was one of signs of the presence of Christ in the Church.

This Sunday, we have the story of the forgiveness and how Jesus gave Peter a special job to do in the church.

What is the best thing to do when we do something wrong?  Do we hide or cover up what we did wrong?  Do we lie about what we did wrong?  No, we recover from what we did wrong by doing something good.  If we said something wrong.  Then we say something good.

Jesus allowed Peter the opportunity to recover from what he said and what he did.  He allowed him to replace three bad things he said with three good things that he said.

Peter was afraid when Jesus was captured by the guards.  Peter had told Jesus that he would never leave Jesus or deny that he knew.  But when Jesus was captured and some people asked Peter if he knew Jesus, Peter said, “I don’t know Jesus.”  And he did this three times.  Why, because he was afraid that the guards might capture him too.

Peter was very sad about saying that he did not know his best friend Jesus.  He was worried about his friendship with Jesus being finished.

After Jesus died, he re-appeared to Peter.  In fact he helped Peter catch lots of fish and he fixed breakfast for Peter and his friends.  Peter was wondering if Jesus would still be his friend.  What did Jesus do?  He allowed Peter to tell him “I love you”  three times.  So Peter got to replace his three times of denying with saying that he loved Jesus three times.  This teaches us that we can work to overcome the mistakes which we make by doing good things.  Jesus did not just forgive Peter, he gave him a very important job.  He told him to “feed the sheep.”  The sheep were all of the people who needed know about God’s love and forgiveness.  Jesus is called the Good Shepherd.  And Jesus told Peter that his job now was to be a good shepherd too   Peter became a very good shepherd and leader in the church.  In fact he died in a death like Jesus.  The life of Peter shows us about the importance of the forgiveness that Jesus offers us.  Jesus does not give up on us when we make mistakes; he allows us to do good things to overcome the mistakes which we have made.   Jesus doesn’t only forgive us, he gives us very important work to do.  He makes us shepherds who can take care of the people who needs the kind of care which we can give.

Today, remember the forgiveness of Christ.  We forgive each other.  We work to do good things to overcome the bad things.  And we don’t quit trying to be good when we make mistake; we remember that Jesus wants us to keep trying to do good.  Jesus wants us to be good shepherds as we take care of people who need us.

A Children Sermon on Forgiveness

   I want to tell you a story today about the famous disciple of Jesus named Peter.

  Peter was a fisherman.  He was a follower of John the Baptist, but when John told him about Jesus, Peter began to follow Jesus.  He became a student of Jesus.  He travelled with him and listened to all of the stories that Jesus told.

  Peter was a very confident person; he was like you and I are sometimes.  We sometimes are wrong but never in doubt.  Sometimes we can be very confident of ourselves and sometimes that is good and sometimes it doesn’t work for us if we fail to do what we say that we are going to do.

  Peter had a big failure.  When Peter was a friend with Jesus, he bragged that he would always be faithful and loyal to Jesus.

  But you know what happened?  When Jesus was arrested and taken by the guards, Peter followed Jesus to the place of his trial.

  And when some people saw Peter, they said to him, “You are a follower of Jesus.”  Peter was afraid and so do you know what he said?  He said, “I do not know Jesus.”  And he did not just say it once but he said it three times.  And  so Peter said about his best friend, “I don’t know Jesus.”  And he said it three times.

  Well, Jesus died on the cross and he came back into the lives of his disciples.  So Peter got to see Jesus again.  How do you think that Peter felt when he saw Jesus again? 

  He probably felt sorry and ashamed.  He probably thought that Jesus would not like him anymore.

  But what did Jesus do with Peter?  He talked to Peter and he forgave Peter and he ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter answered strongly three times, “Lord you know that I love you.”  So, Peter denied Jesus three times but Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to tell him that he loved him, three times.  And Jesus accepted Peter as his friends.  But he also gave Peter a job, “He told Peter to “feed his sheep.”  And what did he mean by this?  He meant that Peter was to be like good shepherd and take care of those who could not take care of themselves.

  And Peter became a good shepherd too.  He also died on a cross like Jesus but he died upside down.  He became a hero in the church.

  Let us remember this lesson from Peter.  If we think that we disappoint God, our friends, our parents or Jesus, let us remember that Jesus is always willing to forgive us and let us be friends again.  We are not perfect and so we always need forgiveness so that we can live together.  Let us remember that Jesus forgave Peter.  Let us remember that Jesus forgives and gives us more chances to prove that we are his friends.  And let us remember to forgive each other too.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

May 5, 2019: The Third Sunday of Easter

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah!; Peace Before Us; I Come With Joy; O When the Saints

Liturgist: Alleluia, Christ is Risen.

People: The Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hallelu, Hallelujah (Christian Children Songbook, # 84)

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord! 

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Revelation to John

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 30

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; * O LORD, be my helper."

You have turned my weeping into dancing; * you have put off my sad appearance and clothed me with joy.

Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; * O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.  When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song: Peace Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise,  # 791)

Peace before us.  Peace behind us.  Peace under our feet.  Peace within us.  Peace over us.  Let all around us be Peace.

Love,  3. Light, 4. Christ

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion  hymn: I Come With Joy   (Renew! # 195)

I come with joy a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians, far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends.  The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: When the Saints (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 248).

O when the saints, go marching in.  O when the saints go marching in.  Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.

O when the boys go marching in…

O when the boys go marching in….

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Alleluia!  Alleluia Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!