Worship Service for April 14, 2024

April 14, 2024 – Third Sunday of Easter

Introit

Prelude

Lighting of the Christ Candle

This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.

Call to Worship

One: We gather with joy, for Easter brings us new life.
All: The Risen Christ is with us wherever we go.

One: Love breaks all bonds and unites us in hope.
All: Christ has defeated death. Let us rejoice and be glad!

One: Come and worship with hearts full of praise.
All: O God, receive our grateful Hallelujahs!

Opening Hymn

“Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord / Alleluia No. 1” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 260). Words and music (both 1971; tune: “Alleluia No. 1”) by American composer Donald Fishel (1950–). Arrangement (1982) by English Anglican priest Norman Warren (1934–2019). Descant by English composer Angela Reith (1952–). Words, music copyright © 1973, arrangement copyright © 1982 Word of God Music; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Descant copyright © Angela Reith.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

God our Maker,
We praise you for all the wonders in your creation: For the detailed perfection revealed in a baby’s tiny fingers, in pussy willows unzipping their jackets to greet the spring, in each rock face worn by wind and water, witnessing to your ancient design like wrinkles around an aging smile. Such details lift our hearts to praise you. So let the life, teaching and resurrection of the Risen Christ lift and instruct our hearts this day, that we may greet a new week as an occasion to discover him in our midst, making all things new in the springtime of your Holy Spirit.

God our Redeemer,
in raising Jesus from the dead, you showed us your power to defeat all that brings fear and sorrow to our lives. Yet we confess we are sometimes uncertain if we can trust the promise of resurrection for ourselves. Forgive us when we struggle to trust your goodness for us. Forgive us when we miss the signs of your love in our midst.

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.

Declaration of Pardon

Scripture teaches that there is a time for every matter under heaven. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. In confessing our sins to God, we have offered God our tears of regret. Now is the time to rejoice in God’s mercy: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God!

The Peace

One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

Guildwood Senior Choir Presents

“Be Not Afraid “. Words and music (1975) by American composer and Jesuit Robert J. “Bob” Dufford (1943–), a founding member of the St. Louis Jesuits. Words and music copyright © 1975, 1978, Robert J. Dufford, SJ, and OCP Publications; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)

We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.

“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions and music in the public domain.

Scripture Reading

Luke 24:36–48  <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible

Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Luke 24:36–48

36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

Sermon

Luke 24:36: “While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”

The Risen Christ came to his disciples when they talked to each other about the experience of encountering him by Cleopas and another disciple, possibly his wife Mary, on their way to Emmaus. This account differs significantly from the gospels of John or Matthew. In the Gospel of John, the Risen Christ appears to his disciples while they are hiding. In the Gospel of Matthew, the risen Christ comes to his disciples when they go to the place where Jesus had taught them to go, indicating that the Risen Christ comes to us when we practice our faith. However, in the Gospel of Luke, a different dynamic is presented.

It means the disciples stopped talking about everything they failed to do. It means they stopped blaming each other for not doing more to prevent Jesus from dying on the cross. It means they stopped blaming themselves for his death. It means they stopped talking about the experience of losing Jesus, the way he died, the betrayal, and the suffering, and they began talking about the moment he came back to life.

I hope we do not misunderstand the Gospel of Luke. It does not invite us to forget, ignore, or deny the difficult and painful stories of our lives, but rather challenges us to go beyond them.

The Gospel of Luke invites us to rediscover our God-given ability to remember, reflect, rewrite, and reauthor our own life stories. However, the Gospel of Luke challenges us to go beyond talking about Jesus and remembering the Risen Christ in our hearts, but to become the hands and feet of the Risen Christ.

The gospel of Luke 24:38–40, “38 He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus not only invites his disciples to look at his hands and feet instead of his side but also encourages them to touch and see them. While Thomas is the only one who tries to touch Jesus in John’s Gospel, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus extends this invitation to all of us. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes that our memory or remembrance of the Risen Christ or our loved ones should guide us to action in our reality.

Luke 24:40-43, “And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.”

“Have you anything here to eat?”…

The Risen Christ invites us to see what we have and what we are given. Jesus believes we have something to give, we have something to share, we have something to offer, we have something to make God alive. Jesus believes in us.

Please, join our Sunday worship service at 11 am, either in person or virtually, to hear the full version of the sermon.

Hymn

“Come to us, beloved Stranger” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 262). Words (1993) by American hymnwriter Edith Sinclair Downing (1922–2016). Music (tune: “Beach Spring”) attributed to American singing master Benjamin Franklin White (1800–1879), from the tune book “The Sacred Harp” (published 1844) that he compiled. Harmony by James H. Wood. Words copyright © 1993 Edith Sinclair Downing, published by Selah Publishing; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain. Harmony copyright © 1958, renewed 1986 Broadman Press.

Offering

As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.

Musical Reflection

We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.

Dedication of our Gifts

Our offering will now be received.

Doxology 306

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100^th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.

Prayer of dedication

God our Maker, you have filled the world with so much abundance.  We offer our gifts to you, knowing they are part of your abundance. Bless them and use them to bring hope and new life in Christ’s name to a world that so badly needs these gifts. Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

God our Maker,
Source of Easter power and hope, You have walked with your faithful people through many generations, people facing challenge and uncertainty, people seeking your purpose and promise. We still face challenges and uncertainty, even with Easter in our hearts. Walk with us and with those for whom we pray for this day, so that your resurrecting power may lead us in lives of faithfulness.

We pray for children and young people who must think about the future in uncertain times, facing threats old and new. Give them hope rooted in the knowledge that their lives matter to you. Show them how to make a difference in the world, whatever threats they face as they grow.

We pray for people for whom age or experience, illness or disability create barriers to full participation in your world. Surround each one in pain or despair with your comfort and renew in each one a sense of dignity and purpose. Show them how much they matter to you and to us.

We pray for all those facing grief and any kind of loss. Give them strength and comfort. We pray for communities challenged by forces beyond their control: natural disaster and environmental threats, conflict and violence, economic hardship. Give courage to those facing these challenges, and wisdom to those who lead, so that wellbeing may be restored and hope for the future prevail.

As signs of spring emerge, we pray for your creation, for creatures losing habitat and unique species at risk, for oceans clogged with plastic, and the earth aching for moisture as the climate warms. Jesus, you are the firstborn of all creation; help us to honour you by caring for the earth and its fragile balances in the ways we live and the priorities we set. Amen.

Closing Hymn

“I danced in the morning / Lord of the dance” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 250). Music (tune: “Lord of the Dance”) and words (both 1963) by English poet, songwriter and musician Sydney Carter (1915–2004). Melody from the American Shaker song “Simple Gifts”. Words and music copyright © 1963 Stainer & Bell Ltd; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Changing the Light

Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.

Benediction

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the risen Christ), the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.

Blessing

“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.

Postlude

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-04-21 22:30 – Added “Guildwood Senior Choir Presents” info.