Sunday Gathering - Apr 19

Call to Worship

[you may want to actually light a candle]

Take a deep breath and pause.
Be present to each other.
Take a deep breath and pause.
Imagine God's love, a warm light filling you and your prayer partner.
Take a deep breath and pause.
Send love and affection to the person with whom you are worshiping.
Express your appreciation to one another for this time and this contact at a distance.  

Opening Prayer

Holy One,
we come with our questions;
we come with our doubts;
we come with our certainties;
we come with our failings;
we come with our pride;
we come with our joy;
we come with our worries;
we come with our acceptance;
we come with our faith.   

However we come,
you receive us,
like a loving parent,
with open arms.   

In this time of worship
let us stand before you with Alleluias in our hearts. 
Amen.  

Reading (see below)

John 20:19-31 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.’ 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If 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. 25So 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.’ 27Then 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.’ 28Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29Jesus 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. 31But 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.  

Reflection

Several years ago, when I was living in Marpole, I made a trip to visit friends in East Van by transit. I’d traveled to downtown Vancouver by bus and was transferring to the bus out to East Van when suddenly I realized, I could not remember turning off the stove. I could remember stirring the split pea soup. I could remember fetching and folding the laundry from downstairs. But I had no memory of actually turning off the stove and removing the soup from the burner. I was sure I had, but I couldn’t remember. I was already half an hour away from the apartment! In pure panic, I jumped off the bus and started for home, calling my building manager at the same time. All was well. My building manager let herself in and confirmed I’d turned off the stove, removed the pot to a back burner, and the split pea soup smelled great.  

As I describe my “pure panic,” you know exactly what I’m talking about. Because you’ve had the same or a similar experience. You remember a time when you’ve lost or forgotten something: your keys, the iron, the dog, the kids. You know that gasping, empty, falling sensation of “What have I done!”  

Sometimes words are not enough to describe something we have experienced. Sometimes we can only describe an experience through analogy, comparison, and metaphor. The comparison only works though, if you have had a similar experience.  

So how do we describe a totally new experience?   How does one describe the resurrection?   How does one describe the Living Christ?  

John, our Gospel writer today, uses the story of Jesus as a parable to describe what it is like to experience the Living Christ. Throughout his account of Jesus life, and ministry, John describes the Resurrection and experiencing the Living Christ as “being born from above,” “living water,” “receiving sight,” “new life,” and being “raised from the dead.” These are all ways John tries to describe for us what the Resurrection, experiencing the Living Christ, is like.  

Thomas, in today’s story, gets a bad reputation in our tradition for being a doubter. But really, Thomas is just asserting the human condition, “Until I’ve had the experience for myself, how can I proclaim it?”  

Another story. While living in Brandon, I lived in a warehouse above a restoration business, in an industrial park. The pizza delivery people always had trouble finding my apartment because they were looking for a house, or an apartment, not warehouse. One night, I spent a good ten minutes trying to describe to a driver (whom I could clearly see down in the intersection), that I was waving at him up and to his left. But he kept looking to his right toward the houses. His expectations were getting in the way of seeing what he didn’t expect to see!  

We humans easily get so entrenched in our expectations that we aren’t open to anything new.  

The miracle of the story today about Thomas is that even though Thomas has a doubt, he isn’t so entrenched by his expectations that he can’t experience something new.  

To experience Easter, to experience resurrection, to experience the Living Christ, is to experience something totally new that is contrary to our expectations.  

Sometimes as individuals, as a community of faith, as a church, we are so entrenched in our antiquated expectations, we totally fail to experience the New promised us in the resurrection.  

The new experience promised us is peace, overwhelming joy, new life, closer community. We are going to find them where we least expect them.  

May we be an Easter People.
May we let go of our limited expectations enough
that something totally new might be revealed to us.
In the name of the Living Christ. Amen.  

Prayers

Resurrecting God,
in a doubting world,
keep us in faith that we may have life.  

We pray for the church universal.
Breathe on us your Holy Spirit,
that we may honour and pass on
the great inheritance we have received.
Keep us in faith that we may have life.  

We pray for Mother Earth,
that we may touch her wounds
with healing care and love.
Keep us in faith that we may have life.  

We pray for the whole world,
its nations, its leaders, and its people,
that your wisdom and peace may prevail.
Keep us in faith that we may have life.  

We pray for all those in need,
the suffering, the oppressed, the ill, the dying,
and all those who care for them.
Keep us in faith that we may have life.  

We pray for ourselves, our families and those we love.
Keep us in faith that we may have life.  

Blessed are you, O God,
who through Jesus Christ, crucified and risen,
and in the community of the Holy Spirit,
gives us an inheritance that is imperishable and unfading,
now and forever. *

*Feasting on the Word Liturgies for Year A Vol 1, p140 ff  

The Disciples’ Prayer

Our Father who art in Heaven…  

Sending Forth

Express your appreciation to each other for this time of closeness and prayer  

Announcements and Additional service materials

Giving

• if you are already on Pre-Authorized Remittance, thank you
• we do ask that you continue to offer your financial support even though we are not meeting face to face, our ministry together continues 
• at the very top of the screen you will see a "Donate Now" button. If you click on it, it will lead you to our donation page  

Readings

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  

“Witness Is My Compass”
retelling of John 20:19-31 by David Cathcart

Jesus was talking to his disciples and he explained that soon, he would be arrested, tried, killed and buried and three days later he would rise again.  

Thomas, known to be a doubter, was sitting in the corner.  He shook his head and said to himself:  

I don't believe in prophecies;
I don't believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;
No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.
A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,
Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge is my wealth;
I’ll only know what’s really real,
If I know it for myself.  

Well, Jesus was arrested.  He was tried and hung on a cross.  He died and his friends placed him in a tomb.  On the third day, Mary went to anoint Jesus’ body with spices and she returned to the group of disciples all excited.  

“The tomb is empty!” she said, “Jesus is risen!”  

Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said to himself:  

I don't believe in prophecies;
I don't believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;
No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.
A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,
Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge quells my fears;
I’ll only know what’s really real,
If I hear it with my ears!  

Later that day, two friends of Jesus’ were walking the road to Emmaus.  They met a stranger on the way.  As they talked to him about Jesus and scripture, their hearts were warmed.  When the stranger was with them in their home and broke bread with them, they recognized the Living Christ.  

They ran all the way back to the disciples in Jerusalem and announced, “We’ve seen Jesus.  He is risen!”  

But Thomas, known to be a doubter, shook his head and said to himself:  

I don't believe in prophecies;
I don't believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;
No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.
A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,
Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge is my guide;
I’ll only know what’s really real
If I see it with my eyes!  

Later that week the disciples were gathered together in a room and the door was shut.  They were grieving, sad about Jesus’ death, wondering what they should do now.  They were telling stories about Jesus and remembering what he taught and how he wanted them to live.  

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them.  

“Peace be with you,” Jesus said.  He breathed on them and said, “the Holy Spirit be with you.”  

Thomas wasn’t with them when Jesus came.  The disciples told him about Jesus.  

But Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said:  

I don't believe in prophecies;
I don't believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;
No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.
A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,
Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge is my rose;
I’ll only know what’s really real,
If I smell it with my nose!.  

The disciples went out fishing one night.  They fished and fished and fished, all night long, but didn’t catch a thing.  They were just about to row into shore, when a man on the bank said, ”Children you haven’t caught anything, have you?  Throw the nets in again.”  

The disciples did as they were instructed and there were so many fish in the nets, they couldn’t pull them back into the boats.  

Then they recognized Jesus and told everyone, “We’ve seen Jesus!  He is risen!”  

But Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said,  

I don't believe in prophecies;
I don't believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

I can't believe one rises from the burial tomb or grave;
No matter what their lineage, what they earned or what they gave.
A wispy apparition thus boasted of aloud,
Is not sufficient proof that Jesus tossed aside his shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge is my lands;
I’ll only know what’s really real
If I touch it with my hands.  

Once again, the disciples were gathered in a room and the door was shut.  This time, Thomas was with them.  They were telling stories about Jesus and remembering what he taught and how he wanted them to live.  

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them.  

“Peace be with you,” Jesus said.   

He showed his hands and side to Thomas and told him to touch his wounds. “You believe,” said Jesus, “because you have seen me.  But those who believe but haven’t seen me are really blessed.”  

Then Thomas, who was known to be a doubter, shook his head and said:  

I don’t believe in prophets
I don’t believe in boasts.
I can't confess the living dead,
Like zombies, wraiths, and ghosts.  

But now I’ve really seen him with my very own eyes.
He isn’t any living dead; he really did arise!
He’s not an apparition, boasted of aloud.
He’s living love incarnate: Love without a shroud!  

Witness is my compass,
Knowledge must be sung;
Now I know he’s really real,
I’ll praise him with my tongue!