Call to Worship

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

We have not seen the risen Christ
But we see him in the lives
of those transformed by grace.

We have not seen Jesus face-to-face
But we have seen him in the faces
of everyone whose love encourages us.

We have not touched the wounds from the cross
But we have been called
to bring healing to the scarred of the world.

Rock of Ages

Scripture Reading – John 14:15-17 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Death Where is Your Sting?

Scripture Reading – John 20:19-23 (ESV)

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

Prayers of the Church

Risen Christ, our eternal Savior,
Like the disciples,
we are gathered together the week after Easter:
wondering whether it is true,
marveling at the possibility,
and daring to hope.

Like the disciples,
we are sometimes afraid,
sometimes full of doubt.

But in your extravagant generosity, your boundless love,
you appear to us in our fear and love us in our doubts
and grant us the oceans of your peace.
Thank you for loving us as we are.

Teach us not to hide from our doubt,
but to recognize it as a door to mystery and to deeper faith.
After all, the disciples’ fear became a visitation
as they saw you among them, risen and triumphant.

This morning we pray for the many in our society
who have no faith at all.
There are so many who live without hope,
without knowledge of your resurrection,
without your light in their lives.
Grant us the courage to live as witnesses to your resurrection.
Risen Christ, be light in our world.

We pray for those in our congregation this morning
who find it difficult to believe.
Lord knows that they are not alone, but in the best of company:
even Christ’s own disciples struggled to believe
all that they had seen and heard.
Loving Christ, it is your presence
that removes all fear and erases all doubts:
so come, and grant the doubting in our midst
your presence & peace.

And grant to all of us, living Lord Christ,
renewed faith, great courage, and your boundless peace.

We spend a moment petitioning for others, those you’ve placed upon our hearts.

In this moment of silence, we offer up praises for those we know that are rejoicing. (Moment of silence)

Loving God, in this moment we petition for those we know that are struggling or doubting. (Moment of silence)

God of Peace, in this moment we petition on half of ourselves, requesting peace in the places in our lives where this is chaos. (Moment of silence)

Thank you Jesus for listening to us, for your Spirit dwelling within us, and the Father’s love that beckons us closer. Amen

Sermon

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Jesus Appears to the Disciples