April 19, 2020 Easter 2

THEME:Hitting the Isolation!   Jesus patiently deals with all the challenges brought to him from the Thomas and the other disciples on that first Easter evening. 

NOTES:


Scripture:

John 20:19-31
20:19 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."

20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

20:24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

20:25 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."

20:26 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."

20:27 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."

20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

20:29 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."

20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

20:31 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.



Morning Worship Text

Before we begin, gather a candle or small light, your Bible, a piece of bread and a cup of juice or water. Place them at the center of a calm area in your home and gather comfortable seating for all who will join you. Place your phone, tablet  or computer where you can see and hear it. You may want to connect a charger, rather than rely on battery. Add a piece of white fabric, a cross or bright spring flowers, like lilies to complete your worship center.


Welcome

Musical Meditation: "I Come to the Garden"

Focus

Lighting the Christ Candles      We light our candles or lights.
Voice One: In the beginning, God said,
Voice Two: "Let there be light, and there was light,"
Voice One:  We light these candles because God is with us at this time and in all these places.

Call to Worship    We read together responsively.
 Leader: Come to worship Jesus Christ, risen forever.
All: Come to rejoice in life born out of death.

Leader: Come to grasp hope in the face of fear.
All: Come to find forgiveness for your sins.

Leader: Come to release your doubts into the very presence of God.
All: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!




Invocation    We pray together in unison.
Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.Scripture: John 20:1-18


Sermon


Invitation to the Table The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.

Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution We break the bread and lift the cup as the words are spoken.

The Lord's Supper "O the Blood"
We share in the bread and cup as we hear the Musical Offering by Allison, Hallie and Brooke Harrison

Prayer of Thanksgiving "The Lord's Prayer"
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.


Prayers of the People
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
God invites us to bring our doubts and fears,
our joys and concerns, our petitions and praise,
and offer them for the earth and all its creatures.

Prayers of the People, concluding with: Risen Savior, hear our prayer.

-for those who suffer persecution
-for those who live or work in nursing homes and care facilities
-for those compelled to live away from their homes and those in quarantine
-for those who are helpless to protect their families
-for those who have lost their jobs and cannot get jobs
-for those whose faith is tested by illness, loneliness or problems they cannot solve
-for those who are about to enter God's rest

Receive these prayers, O God,
and transform us through them,
that we may have eyes to see and hearts to understand
not only what you do on our behalf,
but what you call us to do
so that your realm will come to fruition in glory. Amen.

Challenge for Discipleship

Blessing     We speak in unison.
All Voices: 
The Light that was in one place and at one time, is now in all places and all times, for God has placed the light in us.  We abide in peace!  Amen.