April 26, 2020 Easter 3

Morning Worship Text: April 26, 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
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:

Focus

Lighting the Christ Candles      We light our candles or lights.
Call to Worship    We read together responsively.
Voice 1:  We need your presence on the long road, Lord.
Voice 2: The road between fear and hope,
Voice 1: the path between the place where all is lost
Voice 2: and the place of resurrection.
Voice 1: Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,
Voice 2: we are in need of your company!
Voice 1: Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power,
Voice 2: let this time of worship, be a hallowed hour.

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/


Invocation    We pray together in unison.

Open our eyes, Lord. Without the gift of your revelation, our eyes are kept from recognizing you. Appear before us, suddenly, unexpectedly, in all your glory. So that we, too, may proclaim to a world in despair, that we have seen the risen Lord. Amen.

— written by Nathan Bierma, inspired by a sermon on Luke 24 by John Witvliet. https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/03/call-to-worship-emmaus-road.html


Scripture: Luke 24:13-35   Our scripture reading today will be a video performed by iServe and produced by Jonah Wooten.


Sermon 


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

Voice 1:
Easter is not an event that has occurred
it's an adventure that has begun
not a place that we have visited
but a path on which we stand

Voice 2:
A story not complete, but unfolding
characters still breathing
stations still teeming
with the promise of new life
not just for you and me
but for all people, in all places

Voice 1:
A cosmic crux, a turning point of time

Voice 2:
Easter is the season of wild hope, of dangerous intent, of potent promise

Voice 1:
Where the future flaps unfurled in the spirit’s breeze

Voice 2:
Where hopes bubble, with uncorked effervescence

Voice 1:
Where toes tap to free-form rhythms

Voice 2:
Where rainbow hues splash empty canvas

Voice 1:
Today, we continue the journey
we re-enter the story
to explore our questions
to uncover our doubts
to face our nagging need

Voice 2:
We walk the path
of two who traveled a dusty road
wrapped in confusion and despair
two who shared the company of a stranger
voicing their pain
airing their fears
and in the listening
heard words of hope and promise
and in the eating
received true bread of life

Voice 1:
Today we re-enter the story
with expectation that Christ
will also reveal himself to us
in sights and sounds
in words and symbols
in bread and wine


~ words by Craig Mitchell (2005) & Iona Community. In “Emmaus Worship Service,” posted on Mountain Masala: Exploring Spirituality, Culture, Media and Cuisine.”  http://craigmitchell.typepad.com/mountain_masala/files/Emmaus%20Worship%20Service.pdf


Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Judy Halstead and Dennis Blackburn.


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

The Lord's Supper We share in the bread and cup as we hear the music.

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

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.