Sunday School, April 30, 2023 4 Easter A

 Sunday School, April 30, 2023   4 Easter A

Themes:

Discuss the role of shepherd as it is presented in the Bible

The most famous chapter in the Bible is Psalm 23.  It begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

This poem was believed to be written by the famous King of Israel, King David.  Before David was a king, he was the youngest boy in the family and his family job was being a shepherd.  He would take the flock of sheep out into the wilderness and on the hills.  He would look for places that had grass to eat.  He would take the sheep to rivers, brooks and streams so they could drink water.  He would protect them from being attacked by wild animals.  If they got hurt or cut, he would tend to their wounds.

David knew that he was a good shepherd.  And he believed that God was like a good shepherd because he believed that God loved him and cared for him.

David became the model king for what we call “Messiah.”  Messiah means that to “anoint” with oil.  Anointing with oil was the ritual that was used to make a person a king in ancient Israel.  In the Greek language, messiah is translated as “Christos” or in English Christ.

Christians believe that Jesus is a God Chosen Messiah.  Jesus was a Good Shepherd because of his care for people in need.

A shepherd is someone who takes care of people in need.

Sheep represent people who have needs.

Some people who are not good shepherd do not care for people in need.  They run away from taking care of people in need.

We all are sheep at times because we need help from others.  But when we have ability, wealth and knowledge to help others, we need to be good shepherds too.  We need to help others, because that is what we want when we have needs.

Sermon

Today we have read about the Good Shepherd and we have learn that Jesus is like a Good Shepherd.

  A Good Shepherd takes good care of his sheep.  How does he do that?  He finds them a pasture with grass to eat.  He finds them water to drink.  He keeps them safe from wolves and coyotes.  He takes care of them when they are injured or sick?  Why?  Because the sheep need care.

  Do you know that we are both like shepherd and sheep?  A shepherd is one who gives care to someone who needs it.  A sheep is someone who needs care.

  I’m going to play a quiz game with you?  You tell me who is the shepherd and who is the sheep.

  When a person is really, really sick, she goes to the doctor and the doctor helps by giving her some medicine.  Who is the shepherd and who is the sheep.

  A father and mother go to work and they provide money for their children to have food and clothing.  Who is the shepherd and who is the sheep?

  A boy has a dog and the boy feeds the dog every day and brushes the dog furry coat.  Who is the shepherd and who is the sheep?

  An older sister is with her baby brother, and mom leaves the room.  And the baby brother drops his bottle and starts to cry.  So the older sister picks up the bottle and gives it to her little baby brother.  Who is the shepherd and who is the sheep?

  So any of us can be a shepherd or a sheep.  Why?  Because sometimes we need things and sometimes we need care.

  But most of the time we have the ability to provide care for someone else.  So when someone needs care, we need to be like a good shepherd.

  Jesus is the good shepherd because he cared for people who needed his care.

  So, we too need to be good shepherds too.  Why?  Because people need us, and we need people too.

  Just as you and I often need help and care for ourselves.  We should learn to give care to others when we can.

  Jesus as the good shepherd has taught to care for people in need. 

How many of you are going to try to be good shepherds this week?  I know that you can be a big help to your family and friends and to other people who need your care

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

April 30, 2023: The Fourth Sunday of Easter 

Gathering Songs: The Lord is Present, What Wondrous Love, Soon and Very Soon

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: The Lord is Present (Renew! # 55)

1-The Lord is present in his sanctuary, let us praise the Lord.  The Lord is present in his people gathered here, let us praise the Lord.  Praise him, praise him, let us praise the Lord!  Praise him, praise him, let us praise Jesus!

4-The Lord is present in his sanctuary, let us love the Lord.  The Lord is present in his people gathered here, let us love the Lord.  Love him, love him, let us love the Lord!  Love him, love him, let us love Jesus!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and 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 First Letter of Peter

For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; * I shall not be in want

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD 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 said, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheep yard by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." 

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:  All Things Bright and Beautiful,     (# 405, blue hymnal)

1-All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all. 

2-Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

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 our 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.

(Children may gather around the altar)

The Celebrant now praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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.

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, 

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

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:       Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion: He Leadeth Me, 

                               

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: Soon and Very Soon  (Renew!, # 276).

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  We are going to see the King.

2.  No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  No more dying there, we are going to see the King.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  We are going to see the King.

Dismissal:    

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

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

But We Had Hoped That...

3 Easter A.     April 23, 2023
Acts 2:14a,36-47 Ps. 116:10-17
1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35

Lectionary Link

In the accounts of what happened after Jesus died, his followers experienced disappointment and unrequited expectations, as was expressed in the words of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  They were speaking with the incognito Risen Christ who had engaged them in conversation and they said the sad words of regret: "But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel."

In many ways the Gospels are an explanation for this disappointment.  What had been the expectations for Jesus of Nazareth by those who followed and for those with prevailing notions of what a future superhero messiah would do for Israel?

In short, one of the messianic expectations was for Israel to be redeemed and this kind of redemption would mean that the people would be delivered from the oppression of the Roman occupiers.  One of the prevalent notions of the messiah was that he would be one like David, a military liberator.

The incognito Risen Christ walking on the Emmaus road with the disciples became a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures.  He began to point out that there was other attributes of the Messiah which could be found in the Scriptures, particularly the phase of the Messiah when he would be a suffering servant.

The suffering servant Messiah is a harder messiah to convince about to people who are also suffering and under the conditions of oppression.

So the question might be, what can this suffering servant Messiah do for us now?  How can his Messiahship be relevant to the lives of the followers of Jesus of Nazareth now that Jesus had died upon the cross?

Can we appreciate how this wisdom anecdote encapsulates the features of life experience of the members of the Lucan communities?  Can we appreciate the insights which this story has for us who live in the era of the post-crucified Jesus of Nazareth who is not seen but still is somehow able to register a dynamic connection which is characterized by the confession of there being a Real Presence of the Risen Christ?

The incognito Risen Christ suddenly hit his "reveal button."  And when did it happen?  When they sat down to break bread together, and then "poof" he suddenly disappeared.

The writer of the Gospel of Luke believed that his community lived in the era of the stealth of the Risen Christ.  In stealth, the Risen Christ, who is all and in all, could be known everywhere.  In particular, that presence could be made serendipitously recognized at any given moment especially within the gathering of people who met with expectant hearts following the command of Jesus to eat bread and drink wine together as one way of realizing a particular presence of the Risen Christ. The particular presences of the Risen Christ rose from the general presence of the Christ, who is all and in all.  The Risen Christ is known in Scripture and the breaking of bread without these two modes of presence exhausting the general presence of Christ.

You are invited to this dynamic on this continuum between the Risen Christ being known as all and in all in a sort of sustaining general mystical oceanic presence and the particular moments when the waves of the dynamic presence reaches the shores of our conscious life.  And in such moments, we confess with hindsight wisdom like Jacob of God, "God was here and I did not know it."

Or confess in the hindsight words of the Emmaus disciples,"Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

How many unrequited expectations cloud or baffle our lives today in our world with excruciating events which seem to hide or betray any seeming presence of God in Christ who is love?  How many times do we think, "but we had hope that there would be peace, healing, equity in a world without need or hunger?"

The truth is that the death of Jesus and the post-resurrection appearances of Christ are compatible with and co-exist with the awesome conditions of freedom in this world where the whole continuum of agony to ecstasy get chances at probable occurrence.

With the presence of the Risen Christ within our lives, we are commissioned to make the Risen Christ present in the effects of Christ like love and justice within the awesome free conditions of this world.  Why?

Because the best way to honor freedom in this world is through love and justice and to unite within this tradition of the death and resurrection of Christ to give greater effervescence to the goodness of love.  We commit ourselves to know the presence of the Risen Christ in obvious and unobvious ways so that we can honor the field of freedom of many probabilities with a distinct preponderance for the triumph of goodness and love.

By accepting the reality of the suffering servant Messiah, we commit ourselves to being acquainted with grief and sorrow of others so that the good news of the love of Christ can come to be honored in freedom.

Let us always overcome our unrequited expectations with the hope of a better and greater plan of God's love which is honest to the conditions of our lives.  Amen.

Sunday School, April 23, 2023 3 Easter A

Sunday School, April 23, 2023 3 Easter A


Theme:


Heirlooms and Memorial Things


Sometimes when we go away from mom and dad for the first time, we might miss them so much that it is very hard for us to be away. One way that we might help ourselves remember mom, dad and our home when we go away is to take something from our home with us, like our blanket or a toy or a bracelet that mom gave us. Whenever we get sad when we can see and touch mom and dad, we can look at the blanket, bracelet or the toy, and remember how the love of mom and dad is still with us and surrounds us even when we don’t see them.


Jesus left the world and when his friends could no longer see him, he left us things to remember that his love and how Christ was still with them.


The story about the disciples walking to the Village of Emmaus is a story about how the love and presence has remained and continued to be known by us in the church for 2000 years.


Two of the ways that we know about Christ’s love and presence with us is through reading the Bible and by gathering each week for the family meal when we obey Christ and we bless bread and wine and repeat the words of Jesus, “This is my body. This is my blood.” These words show us how Jesus taught his disciples to remember his love and presence. Just like we might use a blanket or a picture to remember our parents when we are away from them; Jesus gave us the bread and the wine as a way for us to remember his life so strongly, that we can feel him still being in us and with us.


Sermon:


How many of you have ever played the game of “Peek-a-boo?” It is one of the first game that we probably learned to play as a baby.
We cover our face with our hands and then we suddenly take them away. And say “Peek-a-boo” I see you.
Or we cover baby’s head with a blanket, and baby pulls the blanket off and we say, “Peek-a-boo.”
What is the meaning of this game? I pretend to be gone away and absent. I pretend that you cannot see me. And then I suddenly return by saying “Peek-a-boo.”
When you are a young baby or a child, can you see and touch your mommy and daddy all of the time?
No, they sleep in another room; they go to work. They go into the kitchen. You go to preschool or school. So sometimes we cannot see or touch or hear our mommy and daddy. But even though we do not see, or touch or hear them we know that they still live. We know that at anytime they can surprise us when they come to be with us.
And that is what our Gospel story is about. When Jesus died, they put his body in the tomb. And suddenly his body was gone from the tomb.
And his disciples suddenly began to have peek-a-boo games with Jesus. Suddenly Jesus would appear to them to let them know that they were okay and he was still alive.
And now God still plays peek-a-boo with us. Although we don’t actual see God or Jesus. We still know his presence.
In the love of our parents and friends, Christ is jumping out and saying “Peek-a-boo, I love you and I care for you.” In the fun that we have, in learning, in seeing the beautiful world that God has made for us, God also has hidden his presence. And God is saying to us, “Peek-a-boo, I see you….I love you and I care for you.”
And you and I, are to be God messengers for the game of Peek-a-boo. When we are loving and kind, when we care for one another and when we help each other, Christ is saying “Peek-a-boo” to this world through us.
So even though we don’t see or touch Christ, let us remember that Christ is still present in many, many ways and he is ready to surprise us at anytime with love and care, and he is saying, “Peek-a-boo, I see you and I love you and I care for you.” Amen.




Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist
April 23, 2023: The Third Sunday of Easter


Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah!; I Come with Joy, Amazing Grace; 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’s 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 Letter of Peter


Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.


Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God



Let us read together from Psalm 116


I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD'S house, * in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!




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 Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.


That very day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
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: I Come With Joy (Renew! # 195)
1. I come with joy a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.
2. I come with Christians, far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.
3. 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.

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 our 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.


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: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!


Words of Administration


Communion Song: Amazing Grace, (Blue Hymnal, # 671)
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.


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 girls go marching in. O when the girls go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, when the girls go marching in.
O when the boys go marching in, O when the boys go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number, 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!

Playing Comparative Religious Experience

2 Easter Sunday April 16, 2023

Acts 2:14a,22-32 Psalm 16

1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31

Lectionary Link

You've heard of comparative religions, the study of the various religions of our world.  But have you heard of comparative religious experience?  Probably not, but it is probably a introspective exercise which we have been involved in both in our private thoughts but also in our religious group identities.

Even though in theory, we believe everyone's experience is unique, we can't help but ponder the differences in religious experience and what those differences might mean.

Perhaps, we feel inferior in our spiritual experiences or maybe we feel special because of some Holy God moment which changed our lives.  Maybe we feel sorry that others who have not had a similar life-changing spiritual breakthrough or conversion or enlightenment.  Perhaps we can carry an unwitting superiority complex about our special God-experience or special knowledge.

I would like to suggest to us that the doubting Thomas story was a teaching which arose in the Johannine community in the year 90 or later to address the tendency of either proud or insecure members to get involved in the comparative religious experience habit.

Did this sort of comparative thing happen within the early Christians communities? Wherever there is evidence of strife, the comparative religious experience social phenomenon occurs.

St. Paul did not see Jesus when Jesus walked upon this earth.  He did not see him, touch him, or talk with him.  He was not at the cross or the tomb and he was not with the disciples who had post-resurrection experiences of Christ.

What did he say about himself and his experience of the Risen Christ?  He said he was like one untimely born; he had a dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus as he seeking to imprison the followers of Jesus.  He was stopped in his tracks and compelled into a complete turn around.

Of himself, he said that he was not the least of the apostles.  So even with St. Paul, there is a comparison of his spiritual experience with that of the other eyewitness apostles.

For those of us who are 2000 thousand years from eyewitnesses of Jesus of Nazareth, we may be like the people for whom the Doubting Thomas story was preached.  We might be involved in comparing our religious experience of Christ and perhaps come to some doubt about its authority or validity or worthiness.

Perhaps we sometimes let ourselves off the hook from doing full throttled Christ-like behaviors because we cite the inferiority of our experience.  "God, how can I be held responsible; I've only had second handed experiences of Christ, I've only heard or read hearsay testimonies?"

By the year 90 of the first century, the community of the Gospel of John did not have very many eyewitnesses to Jesus around, perhaps none.  Perhaps they were feeling their zeal for Christ flag and perhaps they were feeling inferior in their experiences of Christ.

If we appreciate this context, we can derive the full impact of the Doubting Thomas wisdom teaching story.  What does the voice of the Risen Christ say to the community of the Gospel of John? "Thomas, you are blessed because you have been an eyewitness and have believed; but what about all those who have not seen, what is their status?  Well, their experience is blessed too, valid, real, certain and sure."

Why?  Because it has brought you to faith and belief in Jesus as the Christ.  The modes of the self-authenticating presences of Christ are many; they cannot be limited to only the people who saw and walked with Jesus in his own earthly lifetime.

How have most people accessed their experience of the presence of the Risen Christ?  Through having the interpretative framework of words to identify the significance of their experience.  The Doubting Thomas story has a direct plug for the significance of word and writing.  John's Gospel begins with Word as God and creator from the beginning.  That Word became flesh in the body language deeds of Jesus who exemplified active love.  Jesus also spoke words, words to remember, and about his own words, he said, "My words are spirit and they are life."  The writer of John wrote:  "I have written these things so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that in believing you might have life in his name."

Can we appreciate that Christ as the eternal Word has become a presence in our lives through the words which have been handed down for many generations and these words have had the spontaneous "spirit effect" to conduct faith and belief which engenders the proof of the presence of the Risen Christ?  

So the Risen Christ is made present in and through written and spoken word.  But the Doubting Thomas story also gives us the following clues of having and knowing the authentic presence of the Risen Christ.

First in the experience of peace.  To live in peace personally and communally is a sure sign of the presence of the Risen Christ.  The liturgy of the church enshrines the evocative peace of Christ in the passing of the peace in our Eucharistic liturgy.  "The peace of Christ be with you."  This transaction of peace with each other is one of the preludes to knowing the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic gifts.

Next, a sign of the Risen Christ is knowing the presence of another Spirit, the Holy Spirit.  In the Doubting Thomas account, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Spirit."  Knowing the deep and peaceful Holy Spirit beneath all our inward realities of instinct, moods, desire, emotions, and thought is a sure sign of the presence of the Risen Christ.

Finally, the sure sign of the Risen Christ is the practice in community of forgiving sins.  Forgiveness is not always easy, even when we ourselves, know that we ourselves need it.  But the opposite of forgiveness is the demise of community caused by retaining the sins of others.  Most often we cannot forget harm and injury done in willful ways to us so how do we maintain community and move forward?  We activate the grace of forgiveness which enables us to be people who live together resolved to be reconciling with each while being honest about our weaknesses and faults.

In closing, you and I, like the Johannine community of old,  are encouraged to be blessed in our experiences of the Risen Christ as they are tailored to our own personal circumstances and our communities.  And if we are concerned about the authenticity and validity and blessedness of our experiences, let us test them from the criteria provided in the Doubt Thomas story.  Does our inward life exhibit the cleanness of motive and purity of heart of the presence of the Holy Spirit?  Do our behaviors manifest peace within ourselves and in our communities?  Are we practicing the forgiveness of sins?  And do they comply with coming to faith and belief in Jesus Christ as are found in the written words that have been past down to us in the Gospels?

I hope that you will find the Doubting Thomas event as reported by John's Gospel as an affirmation of your experience of the Risen Christ, in Spirit, in peace, in forgiveness and in written word handed down to you to confirm your faith in Jesus Christ.  Amen.