04/12/2020 Easter morning-it’s early for a reason! Easter blessings! I love you all! Pr. Jen+
Dearest Hope Family, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I am sending this out early for a reason. I am hoping that you will join with me in doing something tomorrow morning at 10am and wanted to give you fair notice. I am asking this-at 10am tomorrow morning, when we would normally gather for worship to celebrate the greatest gift our world has ever known, Christ’s resurrection from the dead so that all who are baptized into Christ share in his death and also his resurrection, I would like you to join with me in this-wherever you are-on your front porch or in the back overlooking a pool or water or your yard, in your apartment or you living room, dressed or in pjs, shoes or sandals or barefoot, coffee in hand or TV remote at your elbow, sitting in front of your computer or on your phone-I am asking that you share with me in saying loudly; “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” and then, join with me in singing (in your head and heart or out loud):
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.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.
In Confirmation class, we teach a definition for God’s grace-no, not the table blessing before we eat. God’s grace is God’s love, freely given. Grace is God’s love freely given. That is what we celebrate today. God’s love, God’s grace, freely given to us through Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross for us. No virus, no fear, not even death is stronger than that love, that amazing grace God has for you and me-all shown to us in Jesus. And we are given that grace, that love, to share-not to hold onto it but to share it so that it may multiply and spread through a world that so desperately needs it. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Easter blessings to you all! In God’s amazing grace, Pr. J+
Sunday, April 12, 2020 – Resurrection of Our Lord
Set out and light a candle, perhaps the one you used last night at the Vigil. You may wish to have a bowl of water as a reminder of your baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Prayer of the Day
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Jeremiah 31:1-6
1 At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2 Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, 3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. 6 For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.” Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 148
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for the | LORD is good; God’s mercy en- | dures forever.
2 Let Israel | now declare, “God’s mercy en- | dures forever.”
14 The LORD is my strength | and my song, and has become | my salvation.
15 Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents | of the righteous:
“The right hand of the | LORD acts valiantly! 16 The right hand of the LORD | is exalted!
The right hand of the | Lord acts valiantly!” 17 I shall not | die, but live,
and declare the works | of the LORD. 18 The LORD indeed pun- | ished me sorely,
but did not hand me o- | ver to death. 19 Open for me the | gates of righteousness;
I will enter them and give thanks | to the LORD. 20 “This is the gate | of the LORD;
here the righ- | teous may enter.” 21 I give thanks to you, for you have | answered me and you have become | my salvation. 22 The stone that the build- | ers rejected has become the chief | cornerstone. 23 By the LORD has | this been done; it is marvelous | in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the | LORD has made; let us rejoice and be | glad in it.
Second Reading Colossians 3:1-4
1 If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Matthew 28:1-10
The holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Reflection
This Easter we are indeed in the wilderness, as our first reading from Jeremiah says, and our life is indeed hidden. The fear of death is all around us. We are seeing people getting sick and dying- from regular illnesses, from age-related illnesses, and from this virus that has gripped our world. But because of Jesus, in the midst of all of this, there is such great and joyous hope. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that the ancient promises to Israel are now extended to us. In the resurrection, God loves you with an everlasting love. God will again build you up-God will build all of us up. Christ is your life and we are given new life in him. A life that allows you to be his hands and feet and heart in the world-knowing his life with joy and sharing his life with others so that they, too, may know that joy that is beyond all human understanding. Joy of forgiveness. Joy of mercy. Joy of kindness, and compassion, and love. Joy in knowing that this life is fuller and more beautiful because of Jesus in it, and the promise of life with him forever when this life is done. JOY. Today, by the power of the Spirit, Jesus may be seen alive in our own homes. As the angel in our Gospel said to the women, so Jesus says to each of us today, “Do not be afraid.” God has loved us with an everlasting love-all through Jesus. Against all sadness, this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Christ is risen. Alleluia.
Prayers of Intercession
Dear members of God’s family: on this Easter Day marked by both sorrow and joy, our prayers for the church, the world, and all in need include both heartfelt lament and fervent praise. God our Sanctuary, we lament that we cannot gather today for public worship, that death stalks the church, and that our sorrows and fears blunt our songs of Alleluia. Show the church your mercy: Your mercy endures forever.
And yet around the globe we praise you for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, for our baptismal washing in his life, for your presence come to us in the word, and for the hope the gospel brings. We praise you for the church: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
God our Creator, we lament that our lifestyles have harmed your creation and that our efforts to repair your earth are now postponed. Show the earth your mercy: Your mercy endures forever. And yet we praise you for the beauty of the natural world, for springtime flowers and budding trees, for the soil and rain that nourish the crops. We praise you for the earth: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
God our Governor, we lament that war and violence still rage, that countless people suffer injustice, that the plight of refugees seems beyond solution, that appropriate governmental action is delayed and inadequate. Show the world your mercy. Your mercy endures forever. And yet we praise you that there is peace on our streets, that some elected officials and many aid agencies are devoting themselves to save the people and to share our food, and that we are given connection to friends and family through technology. We praise you for community: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
God our Physician, we lament all who suffer, those we name here before you (especially. . .) but especially we lament the coronavirus and its incalculable suffering, the many thousands sick, the fear instilled, the loss of employment, the cancelation of plans, the overflow in hospitals, the scarcity of supplies, the exhaustion of medical staff. Show all the needy your mercy: Your mercy endures forever. And yet we praise you for health and well-being wherever it thrives, for the dedication of medical workers, for the goodwill of volunteers, for the generosity of benefactors, and for the comfort we receive from the power of the resurrection. We praise you for healing: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
God, our Everlasting Arms, mother us in our heartache and distress, receive now our personal laments, and help each of us to praise your name. We praise you for hearing my prayers: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
God our Life Eternal, we lament the thousands dead and the sadness of all who mourn, and we remember before you all who have died in the faith. Show to all humanity your mercy: Your mercy endures forever.
And yet here we join in our Alleluias, and we praise you on this Easter Day for your promise of an endless banquet of joyous life in your presence, when disease and sorrow will be no more. In life and death we praise you: Alleluia! Thanks be to God! God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are Source of life, Word of salvation, and Power of mercy, into your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your compassionate might, for the sake of him who lived, died, and rose for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
The blessing of the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, surround and sustain us, keep us from harm, and fill us with courage. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Leave a Reply