Saturday – Sunday, April 3-4, 2021, Resurrection of our Lord
April 4, 2021
My dearest Hope Family-
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Today is the Resurrection of our Lord-Easter-and we enter into the season of Easter-seven weeks of celebrating this ultimate event in our lives of faith-Jesus, who died on the cross for us, is risen from the dead and he shares that resurrected life with you and me and all who are Baptized and believe that he is our Lord and Savior. We will celebrate this week of weeks as we give thanks to God for this most incredible gift-Jesus who was born to die for us, granting us forgiveness for our sins as he died on the cross for those sins, saving us, as Martin Luther said, from sin, Death, and the Devil. This brings us hope for today, knowing that death is not the final word, and gives us hope for the future as we take comfort in the promise of life in heaven with Jesus. Such a gift of love from our God. Such a gift of love in Jesus’ sacrifice for YOU! For me – such a gift!
Earlier in March, we celebrated the Feast of St. Patrick. There is a blessing attributed to St. Patrick that I invite you to pray each day during this holy season of Easter. During this seven week season, take a moment each day to pray and reflect on these words and allow them to guide your daily life:
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Jesus the Christ is present with us through his Holy Spirit and he asks that we might be his disciples, his followers, who take time to be led by his Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all. We can only do that when we follow that Spirit to show our love for God by loving our brothers and sisters in the world. This is our calling, it is our responsibility, and it is our greatest privilege to share Christ with the world. During this Easter season, let us be even bolder is sharing the love of Jesus with others as we show our gratitude and love for God who sent Jesus to die and rise for us! In us, let them see Christ!
A blessed Easter be with you all! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!! In Christ’s love, Pr. Jen+
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.
Gospel Mark 16:1-8 The holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. The resurrection of Jesus is announced, and the response is one of terror and amazement.1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.Reflection A husband and wife attended worship regularly , and just as regularly, much to the wife’s annoyance , as soon as the sermon began, the husband fell asleep. The wife devised a plan to avoid this situation on Easter Sunday. She has a long hat pin pinned into her Easter hat. As the sermon began, the Pr. asked the congregation ; “Who is responsible for the joy and beauty we experience this Easter?” Seeing her husband asleep yet again, the wife poked him with the hat pin. The husband yelps loudly; “Good God almighty!” and the Pastor responds; “Exactly, my brother-exactly.” ~~~My brothers and sisters, who IS responsible for all the joy and beauty we experience this Easter? And yes, the answer is Good God almighty. God loves us enough, loves humanity enough, to send his only Son, Jesus. Jesus, who teaches and preaches and heals and loves and forgives, then Jesus offers his life on the cross-he does not die for HIS sins, but for OUR sins, for US. In doing that, we get to experience Easter joy and Easter beauty and new life-a promise of fulfilling life here and now as we live as Jesus’ disciples, and life forever with him in heaven. Who is responsible for all the joy and beauty we experience this Easter? Good God almighty. ~~~One of the greatest gifts in this life is God’s creation-and yet, I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of bugs. Anyone else feel that way? And don’t they grow them BIG down here? But butterflies – who can’t love a butterfly? Beautiful, ethereal, delicate-butterflies. And yet, think about it-butterflies start out as pretty ugly wormy caterpillars-bugs. right? But they don’t stay that way. The reason butterflies are associated with Easter is because of God’s plan that even though they begin as caterpillars-bugs – that’s not the end of the story. The godly plan is they change – metamorphosis – they are buried in a chrysalis, a shell, a shroud, and after a time, they appear to die before they emerge as beautiful butterflies. And butterflies are a wonderful sign of Easter for us. Butterflies remind us that change isn’t always easy, but it IS worth it. ~~~At Easter, Jesus’ earthly body died on the cross. He was buried, enshrouded in a tomb, but that’s not the end of the story. Jesus emerged in resurrected form on Easter. And it’s not just Jesus who experiences this-he went through all that he did to share this gift with us, too . Jesus died for us, rose from the dead to show he is stronger than sin and death, and shares that life with us through our Baptism into his saving love. What he did wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. ~~~Yes, we are born as simple, ordinary humans, but with our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection and the gift of his Holy Spirit, our lives today are more fulfilled as we share his love with others in our restored relationships with God. We are also promised the hope that even as our mortal, sinful bodies die someday, the essence of us, our souls, will emerge with the help of that same Spirit to soar to heaven. There, we will live forever with Jesus in a place beyond sickness, sadness, sorrow, and death. That’s the hope and promise of Easter. As disciples of Jesus we are invited to place our lives in God’s hands – to let his Spirit lead us so that we can serve God and share Christ’s love with all people. It isn’t always easy to live as Jesus’ followers, but it is ALWAYS worth the effort. That’s the butterfly promise-reminding us that change isn’t always easy but it IS worth it.
~~~My friends, contemplate the amazing beauty of a butterfly and recognize how it symbolizes the incredible love shown to us through Jesus and his Holy Spirit at Easter. We are Easter people-celebrating that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead and he shares that new life, resurrected life with us. We, too, can live a resurrected life because of Jesus and his love. And who is responsible for all the joy and beauty we experience at Easter? Good God almighty-through Jesus, our Savior. A blessed Easter to all of you butterflies! Amen. Christ is risen. Alleluia.
Prayers of Intercession
Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love. A brief silence.
Praise to you for your power revealed in the resurrection! Fill your church with the power of your love that is stronger than death. Send us to tell the good news wherever death holds sway. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Praise to you for your life at work in the resurrection! Fill all of creation with your life. Bring it to blossom and flourish; use it to remind us of your persistent grace. Cultivate our care for what you have made. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Praise to you for the peace made possible in the resurrection! Fill the nations with your peace. Draw together people of all nations and languages; reveal new possibilities and inspire new beginnings. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Praise to you for the hope of the resurrection! Fill all in need with hope: those who are afraid or confused, those who are sick or suffering, those who are dying, and those who grieve ( especially). Assure them of your promises. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Praise to you for the joy of your resurrection! Fill this assembly with joy as we are called your beloved in baptism. Multiply that joy so that we share it at home, at work, and in our community. Help us to join together with all the faithful who have gone before us in faith. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.
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!
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