SEASON OF EASTER WORSHIP -SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 19, 2020
You may have a bowl and a pitcher or glass filled with water to pour to remember the flowing and forgiving waters of Baptism.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are raised with him to new life.
We join in thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water may be poured into the bowl.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden. In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock. When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life. We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere. Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
**You may make the sign of the cross with this water or wash your hands to remember your Baptism and your call to life in Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of their number is missing, and his unbelief prompts another visit from the Lord. 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
HOMILY The disciples were behind locked doors because they were afraid. They were behind locked doors on Easter Day, and a week later, they were still huddled behind locked doors, frightened, hiding, and, at least in Thomas' case, filled with doubt. They hardly appear to be the beginning a movement that will transform human history. But there they were.
~~~In one way or another, we all know what the disciples were doing. In this time in our world of sheltering in place, maybe we understand how the disciples felt more than ever. We know about living behind locked doors today better than we did even a few months ago. It is because of this point in history in which we find ourselves, living behind locked doors because of a pandemic that we can more than ever place ourselves in this story. Living behind locked doors-the disciples were doing it-and so are we.
~~~But the story of Easter doesn’t stop there — it goes on. It has more to say. The central thing the Easter story has to say is that God has gone through our locked doors, just as he did in the Gospel, and God has come to us in Jesus. Just like that. God did this before we were fixed, even before we were better. Jesus didn’t wait for the disciples to figure out that they didn’t need to be afraid anymore and unlock the doors themselves.
~~~Jesus didn’t wait for Thomas to stop doubting. He didn’t wait for any of them to do anything different, or to be anyone different. Jesus showed up. And loved them. That’s all. That’s what he did, that’s what he does now. He comes through the doors that are there, and right into the middle of whatever we are going through; and he loves us. That’s what the resurrected Lord does.
~~~In one way or another, we know that God is up to something. Jesus has come through the locked doors, and he has done all of this-dying and rising and appearing, all this to love us.
~~~Now, this is not magic. When God comes to us and loves us, everything doesn’t suddenly become perfect. Remember, all of the disciples lived and died in ways we would probably consider tragic. Legend has it that all of the Apostles died young except John, who spent his last
years in exile. Our world is still in lock down and people are still getting sick and dying from the virus or other things. Our economy is wonky and people are afraid. It doesn’t vanish. The desire and the reasons to stay behind the locked doors are still there. But things are different. Even if we don’t realize it, or totally believe it, things are different. God is up to something through Jesus.
~~~~When God loves us God doesn’t stop there. God does something to us — actually, God does at least two “somethings” to us. The first thing God does is the first thing we just heard Jesus do for the disciples on Easter Day. God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit.
~~~~God gives them God’s power, God’s grace and God’s guidance. This is what Jesus gave to the disciples when he breathed on them. This is the Spirit we were given at our Baptism; and this is the gift we have been given, over and over, as God reaches out to us and makes of us a new creation — whether we are aware of it or not. This is real — it is a part of who we are right now. We don’t have to know it for it to be true. When Jesus first breathed on the disciples, nothing much happened to them right then. A week later they were still hiding behind locked doors. The gift just sat there. It sat there because it took them a while to understand, and because, for whatever reason, it took them a while to begin-and that happens to us, too.
~~~You see, when Jesus came to them through their closed doors, and when Jesus loved them, and gave them the gift of the Spirit, he did one more thing — to them and to us. He said, “as the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” He gave them a mission, a purpose= he called them to service.
~~~And what the disciples discovered was that it was only as they tried to live out that mission and purpose, it was only as they tried to follow the Lord’s command to be servants, it was only then that they discovered within themselves that ability and strength that Jesus had given them. It was only then that they discovered that the Spirit Jesus had breathed on them was a Holy Spirit of power, and of fire. They didn’t discover that until they stepped out from behind those locked doors. It wasn’t there until they really needed it.
~~~Then things changed. It still wasn’t magic. They still weren’t fixed, but things were different. Most of their issues and worries were still there, but there was also something else. They discovered that it was possible to be more than they had imagined, and to do more than they had imagined. In this way. the story that had started with Jesus continued as the disciples’ story.
~~~That is where we are, each one of us. Jesus has walked through our locked doors and come to us in love. He has breathed on us the breath of the Spirit, and he has sent us into the world as he was himself sent by the Father. That’s who we are. That is who you are. What you do with it is up to you; but that is what is real. Our purpose to be led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all-that’s our purpose, our mission, our gift given to us through Christ sharing his Spirit with us. While we might be constrained by outside forces to remain physically apart for the greater good for now, that doesn’t mean we are to be socially, spiritually, lovingly apart from one another-we simply need to be creative about it and look for new and wonderful ways to share the Spirit of Jesus and his love with others in the world-through social media, through technology with phones and tablets, through handwritten notes or emails, through prayer, through kindness
and respect shown for all.
~~~You are a people loved, and given power, and sent into the world. Jesus gave us his Spirit and our purpose to be led by his Spirit to serve him and share his love with all people. Always remember that. Christ comes to us, wherever we are sheltering, bringing peace, forgiveness, and the Spirit of life and hope. While we cannot reach out together to touch his body in the Holy Communion for now, with our ears and eyes we touch Christ’s wounds in the Scripture itself. We are once again made witnesses to the resurrection for the sake of the world. Soon, we pray SOON, the doors will be opened and we will be ready. The Easter story continues, and we can continue to be a part of it. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession: Praying in our homes while gathered together in the Spirit of Christ, we ask God to bestow peace upon a needy world. A brief silence. Faithful God, we pray for the church around the world. Enter into our countless separate houses with your gift of peace. Guard the health of our bishops, pastors, teachers, and musicians. As Christians around the globe are united in their suffering through the coronavirus, so unite us also in the hope of life in the Risen Christ. A brief silence. Protect the church, O God, for we take refuge in you.
Creating God, we pray for the earth that you have given into our care. As human society is quieted by sickness, give your plants and animals, lands and seas, a time to renew and replenish themselves. Nurture the fields that will supply our food. A brief silence. Protect the earth, O God, for we take refuge in you. Righteous God, we pray for the nations. Give peace to our troubled world. Bless the efforts of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Strengthen democracies. Bring an end to violence between nations, across borders, within countries, between gangs, and inside homes. Uphold the governors of our land. Bless our country with integrity in government, attention to the needy, persistence in facing the pandemic, and wisdom in proceeding into an unknown future. A brief silence. Protect the nations, O God, for we take refuge in you. Compassionate God, we pray for all in any need. Comfort the bereaved. Accompany the sick, especially the multitude who have contracted the coronavirus, and those we remember in our hearts… Visit the homes of all who are isolated, and hold the lonely and fearful in your arms. Grant your peace to the millions of unemployed; give them food for today and hope for tomorrow. Help us find a home for refugees. Support medical care workers in their endless and sometimes fruitless tasks of attending to the pandemic patients. Provide needed medical supplies for hospitals. A brief silence. Protect the needy, O God, for we take refuge in you. Gracious God, we pray for children and youth. Shelter them from all sickness. Keep homebound children safe from hunger and abuse. Nurture teenagers with a vision of life beyond this pandemic. Give them assurance as they are separated physically from friends and mentors. Give to all children and youth forbearance beyond their years. A brief silence. Protect children and youth, O God, for we take refuge in you. Loving God, we pray for ourselves. Renew our spirits with the living hope of Christ’s resurrection, and hear also the private petitions of our hearts. A longer period of silence. Protect us, O God, for we take refuge in you. Eternal God, we praise you for the lives of all who have died in the faith. Sustained by the promise of healing and resurrection, free us from the fear of death, and bring us at our end with all the saints into the joy of your presence. A brief silence. Protect your people, O God, for we take refuge in you. With bold confidence in your peace which passes human understanding, we offer these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, now and forever. Amen.
A brief silence is kept before the prayer. Almighty God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection. Give us also the joys of life in your service, and bring us at last to the full joy of life eternal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and 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.
BLESSING: May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise us to new life, fill us with hope, and turn our mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL: Christ is risen, just as he said. Together, let us go to share this Good News, led by the Spirit, to serve God and share Christ’s love with all people. Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation.
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, residing in a healthcare facility.
Walter Crowley, husband of Catherine and father of Ginger Toomire recovering from pneumonia.
Pr Cheryll, Karl, and Nick Kaukis who mourn the death of Chris, beloved son and brother.
Jack Kraigenow, Linda’s husband, recovering from surgery.
John Greene, Millie’s husband, recovering from surgery.
Fred Schaible, Eileen’s husband and Pr. Jen’s dad, in hospice care.
Those recovering from storm damage.
Suzette, Katie McClay’s friend who is recovering after colon cancer surgery,
Norm Balint, Roberta’s husband, who is recovering from catheterization and two stents.
Those who are in need or ill in any way, those who are lonely, those who are frightened, those who grieve, those caring for those who are ill,
Pr Hans shared a free program to make calls to those who are alone. The organization Right At Home is making calls to those who live alone to combat the loneliness and depression that accompany this sheltering in place. If you know of someone who is in need of this service, please call 941-999-2609 and share the information about a person you are concerned for and they will make daily pone calls to offer calming reassurance and information about getting essential necessities.
A message from Susie Grigoni via email: I just want to send a special thank you for all the material I was able to buy at your church during your February bazaar sale. God knew it was going to be needed. Using that material I have made over 70 faces masks. Along with my quilt club who gave 240 masks to a local hospital here in Michigan. Pray that I will have strength to keep up with all the mask request. I would not be able to make so many if I had not gotten all that material. Thank who ever donates it and packages it in gallon zip lock bags. I will keep making them has need arises until the last of material is gone. God bless and keep you safe.
Dear friends of Jesus Loves You,
We hope you are keeping safe and sheltering in place during this time. While our thrift shop is closed, our doors to serve our community are
open. Campers are still able to receive showers, lunch and clothing and we have added additional services during this uncertain time. Starting March 27th , we partnered with the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition to provide dinner to the homeless of our community every single day, In addition, our dining room is used as a “school” for several of our homeless children. It’s been such a blessing to see the children thrive in their studies.
We would not be able to keep our doors open without our support! Right around the corner is the 2020 Giving Challenge. The 2020 Giving
Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation. It is a
24-hour giving challenge from noon April 28th to noon April 29th . Every donation given will be matched up to $100! It’s is an amazing
opportunity to raise unrestricted funds for JLYM to continue helping those in need. Please pray about partnering with us on April 28th @
noon. If you feel led, share this with friends and family as well. Our JLYM team is praying for each of you!
Links to give
https://www.thegivingpartner.org/organizations/jesus-loves-you-ministry-inc
https://www.givingpartnerchallenge.org/organizations/jesus-loves-you-ministry-inc
Leave a Reply