Easter Sunday Worship Services

Well, both of our Easter Services were well attended and I thought both were very good services.  After the Sunrise Service (which we held indoors due to the chilly morning) we had a breakfast and then the children had an Easter Egg Hunt.  Ryan Daisy, Kim Daisy, Scotty DeVries, Jeff Franks, and I hid the eggs pretty much throughout the Church building and the kids had a wonderful time running around collecting the eggs.  It was amazing how quickly these little people cleared out all the eggs, it was just a fraction of the time that it took all of us to hide the eggs.

I've attached the video of the sermon given at the 10:10 am service and scripts for both services.  The sermon given at the Sunrise service is included in the script.

The sermon for the later service was over verses 1-18 in the 20th Chapter of the Gospel of John.

John 20:1-18New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Jesus

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

The focus of my sermon for this Easter Sunday had to do with the belief that Peter, the 'beloved' disciple, and Mary came to have in these scenes at the Tomb. (I choose not to identify the 'beloved' disciple as John as so very many do, as I don't personally believe that this disciple is John.  Rather I believe him to be one of Jesus' brothers, most probably James) Each of these three people came away with different thoughts and beliefs after this encounter with the empty tomb.  Peter, we are left to infer, doesn't know what to believe as one of the 'they' that did not understand the scriptures.  Apparently, the 'beloved' disciple has a clearer understanding as we are told he believed (though we're not told specifically what he believed).  It seems that he alone is leaving this tomb with the right understanding of our risen Lord.

Mary wanders away and encounters the risen Christ and once she recognizes him she 'believes' though I would point out that she doesn't need to believe she actually 'knows'.  She alone has thus far seen the risen Christ and is absolute in her faith in him as the Messiah.

The word believe is an interesting word, Marcus Borg tells us in a number of his books that the word believe comes to us from the same root source as the word belove.  To believe is to belove.

"To believe in God and Jesus was to belove God and Jesus. Namely, it meant to commit one’s self to a relationship of attentiveness and faithfulness." Marcus Borg

We recall the service earlier in 'Holy Week', our Maundy Thursday service; the word Maundy comes to us from the word for 'commandment' or 'mandate' in Latin.  It is in reference to Jesus' final commandment in the Gospel of John found at Chapter 13, verse 34:

John 13:34New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

We are commanded to love one another, to beloved by each other, just as we are beloved by Christ, just as we belove Christ we are to belove each other.  Taken in conjunction with the 'Great Commission' found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28, verses 19-20.

Matthew 28:19-20New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are commanded to love, and our commission is to take that love out into the world.  It's really that simple, (and that difficult as well) to 'believe' and to 'belove' and to convey into this wanting world His love.  Called to take God's love into an all too unloving world, may Christ strengthen and guide us in this task daily.

May you feel the love of Christ about you as you spread and convey that love to the world around you.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In All His Grace & Glory,

Roy

Sunrise Service Easter 2016, 7:00 AM

Call To Worship:

Leader:  Alleluia.  Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Leader: May His grace and peace be with you all.

People: May He fill our hearts with joy!

Leader: The tomb is empty.

People: Praise be to God!

Leader: Our Lord is risen!

People: Praise be to God!

Leader: Christ leads us on the road to life.

People: Praise be to God!

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

People: Christ is here!  Alleluia!

Opening Prayer:

Almighty and ever-loving God,

we gather to marvel at the mystery of Christ's resurrection.

In boldness you exalted the humble, empowering the weak.

In strength you snatched victory from the jaws of death.

In love you declared your crucified Son the savior of this world.

We celebrate this good news in an Easter festival of life.

With you we join in this joy-filled day.

Make your presence known to us through this service of worship.

In your grace-filled and Holy name we pray.

Amen.

Hymn:  'When I Survey the Wonderous Cross'      No. 195  All

First Reading: Psalm 21: 1-6

Second Reading:  Mark 16: 1-8

Message: 

This morning is so full of images - the empty tomb - the voice of angels -

Mary's encounter with Jesus - the promises made through the prophets coming

true   it is so rich - so full - so basic to who we are as an Easter

People.  

Friday - sad Friday - the day we call God Friday - is brushed aside in one

glorious moment of realization   one moment of startling fear and

overwhelming joy - a moment of holy awe - as the significance of what is

seen - and what is unseen comes crashing in.

Jesus is Risen.  Death could not hold him.  

And if it cannot hold him, it cannot hold us.

All that Jesus said about life and death

all that was understood only as idea - as a concept - as a vision

is made real in that empty tomb

and in that encounter in the garden.

And we today  

- we standing here - before these rough and rude crosses

- we standing here before these emblems of suffering and shame

We share in it.

We share in the promises made to Children of Israel

and to the entire world through the Prophets.

We share in the promises made to the disciples 

and to all who listened to Jesus as he walked towards his death

upon a slab of wood like these.

We share in it - for the word that he spoke to them - and to us 

-- is made true and real by what we testify to this morn,

it is made true by the resurrection.

And more yet - it is made true by the testimony of our hearts

hearts here among us - this very day - who have been touched

       by the spirit of the living Lord

hearts here which have heard Jesus knocking upon the door

       and have opened that door

       and had him come in and dine with them.

hearts that encountered the risen Christ what is now almost 

thousands of years after the stone was first rolled back

and the tomb shown to be empty

and our Lord risen.

                      

What is this Easter morn?

It is God's promise of a new day

It is God's promise of a new life

It is God's promise of a new world

coming to pass in our midst.

Christ has died.

Christ has risen.

Christ will come again.

Praise be to God for his great love

And to Jesus his only Son.

And to the Spirit 

All three in one.

Amen.

Hymn:  'Because He Lives'                No. 562   All

Closing Prayer: (In Unison)

Almighty God, 

who through your only‑begotten Son Jesus Christ 

overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: 

Grant that we, 

who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, 

may be raised from the death of sin by your life‑giving Spirit; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Hymn:  'Christ Arose'          No. 224

Easter Service 10:10 AM at Woodlawn Christian Church 

The Welcome, Announcements & Prayer Concerns                 Pastor Roy

The Community Gathers:

Prelude

                           

Call to Worship                                                                        Leon Hendricks

Leader: Christ has risen! 

People: Christ has risen indeed. 

Leader: Faith, hope, and joy are alive. 

People: A new age is dawning, and death cannot harm us. 

God of all creation, we praise you. 

God of resurrection and eternal life, we have gathered here today

to worship you and to celebrate your unending and unfailing love.

Opening Hymn 'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'                No. 216  All

Opening Prayer / Lord's Prayer                                       Leon Hendricks

Leader: Our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from death,

we praise you for changed lives and new hopes at Easter:

You came to Mary in the garden and turned her tears into joy.

For your love and your mercy:

People: We give you thanks, O Lord.

Leader: You came to the disciples by the lakeside,

and turned their failures into faith.

For your love and your mercy:

People: We give you thanks, O Lord.

Leader: You came to the disciples on the Emmaus road,

and turned their despair into hope.

For your love and your mercy:

People: We give you thanks, O Lord.

Leader: You come to us in our unworthiness and shame,

and turn our weakness into triumph.

For your love and your mercy;

People: We give you thanks, O Lord.

Leader: Lord Jesus, whenever there are tears or fear,

or failure, or despair, or weakness;

come reveal to us your love, your mercy, and your risen power;

for the glory of your name.

People: Alleluia!

Children's Chat                                   Pastor Roy

The Community Proclaims The Word of God

Hymn of Preparation  'Christ is Risen Shout Hosanna'            No. 222 All

First Reading             Isaiah 53:3-5 Leon Hendricks

Second Reading Acts 10:34-43 Pastor Roy

Sermon               John 20:1-18 Pastor Roy

Prayer Chorus   'I Come with Joy'                          No. 420 All

Pastoral Prayer

Leader: O Jesus Christ, risen master and triumphant Lord,

we come to you in sorrow for our sins,

and confess to you our weakness and unbelief;

we have lived by our own strength,

and not by the power of your resurrection.

In your mercy, forgive us.

People: Lord, hear us and help us.

Leader: We have lived by the light of our own eyes,

as faithless and not believing.

In your mercy, forgive us;

People: Lord, hear us and help us.

Leader: We have lived for this world alone,

and doubted our home in heaven.

In your mercy, forgive us;

People: Lord, hear us and help us.

Lift our minds above earthly things,

set them on things above.

Show us your glory and your power,

that we may serve you gladly all of our days.  Amen.

The Community Shares the Lord's Supper

       

Communion Meditation Pastor Roy

Leader: Loving Father, living God,

it is right and appropriate and our joyful duty,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

especially today, on Easter Sunday,

when we greet our risen Lord Jesus.

People: We praise you, God, for all that you have done for us in Christ.

We praise you for his life through which he showed your love;

for his victory over evil

and his obedience which took him to the cross;

for his triumph over death

and for his coming to be our living Lord.

We praise you for this bread and wine,

through which we remember;

through which our faith and hope are renewed,

through which we receive the power of your Spirit

and share the fellowship of your undying love.

Honor and glory and praise be to you, living God,

here and everywhere, now and forever.  Amen.

Communion Hymn    'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth'   No. 225  All

Prayers of Thanksgiving Elders

Words of Institution Pastor Roy

Sharing the Lord's Supper

Giving Of Our Tithes and Offerings

Stewardship Thought Pastor Roy

                 

Offering Music          

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication Pastor Roy

 The Community Departs For Ministry

Invitation Hymn    'Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain'            No. 215  All

Benediction Pastor Roy

Parting Hymn            God Be With You Til We Meet Again     No. 434

Almighty God, who through your only‑begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: 

Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life‑giving Spirit; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. 

Amen.

source: Book of Common Prayer, 1979 version, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA.

Maundy Thursday Service at Woodlawn Christian Church

Tonight at Woodlawn Christian Church, we held our 'Maunday Thursday' worship service.  This year I chose to perform a Tenebrae style worship service.  We had a dramatic reading of Psalm 22, a prayer and some hymns, communion was served, and then we had eight readers dressed in dark robes who did readings and who one by one extinguished candles seven of which were black candles and last of all the Christ candle.  After the readings and a solo Mark 8:31 was read and the Christ candle was relighted.  After another reading the congregation exited the darkened sanctuary.

Tenebrae services have always been meaningful to me personal, and I thought the service that I crafted did a good job of being meaningful and moving.  A HUGE thank you to Jodi Frank and Brenda Korleski for all they did to make it all work.  Also, thank you to all the readers, elders and our soloist Terry Watters.  Terry did a magnificent job with the solo!

I think next year we'll do a living 'Last Supper' but that's a long way off and I may well change my mind.

I've attached the script for the service, if you're another Minister feel free to utilize anything you find to fit your needs.

Many blessings and please remember...

To be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love & Grace,

Roy

Fellowship of the Upper Room

Prelude

Entrance  Psalm 22 Jim Bruce
Psalm 22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm, and not human;
    scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10 On you I was cast from my birth,
    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls encircle me,
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs are all around me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
17 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
    O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my life from the power of the dog!
21     Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
    May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it.

Call to Worship Pastor Roy Karlen
Let us hold fast to the faith we confess.
For we have a great high priest
who has gone into the very presence of God – Jesus, the Son of God.
Our high priest is not one
who cannot feel sympathy with our weaknesses.
On the contrary, we have a high priest
who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.
Let us be brave, then,
and come forward to God's throne, where there is grace.
There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us
just when we need it.

Hymn    An Upper Room with Evening Lamps Ashine      No. 428, v. 1 & 3

Opening Prayer & The Lord's Prayer Kolton Hildreth
Eternal God of mercy, we gather in awesome wonder to behold your
loving gift of Jesus Christ, who, coming to bring the world to wholeness,
was broken by it.  Yet by his death, we live and know your unbreakable
love.  As we gather to remember Christ's gift of fellowship at the table,
and to recall our frail failings of devotion, pierce our hearts with a
conviction of our betrayals, reassure us of your abiding presence, and
transform us by the Spirit of Christ, who teaches us to pray, saying,

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 sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn   What Wonderous Love Is This                 No. 200 All

New Testament Reading  John 13: 1-15 Pastor Roy Karlen
John 13:1-15  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

The Community Shares the Lord's Supper

Communion Meditation Pastor Roy Karlen
May this sacrament, Lord Jesus Christ,
bring life to us and pardon for our sins,
to us for whom you suffered your passion.
For our sake you drank gall
to kill in us the bitterness that is the Enemy's.
For our sake you drank sour wine
to strengthen what is weak in us.
For our sake you were spat upon
to bathe us in the dew of immortality.
You were struck with a frail reed
to strengthen what is frail in us
and give us life for all eternity.
You were crowned with thorns
to crown those who believe in you
with that evergreen garland, your charity.
You were wrapped in a shroud
to clothe us in your all-enfolding strength.
You were laid in a new grave
to give us new grace in ages likewise new.

Communion Hymn:     Let Us Break Bread Together          No. 425  All

Prayers of Thanksgiving Ellen O'Loughlin & Clyde Westcott
Prayer #1: Heavenly Father, show forth among us the presence of your life-giving Word and Holy Spirit, to sanctify us and your whole church through this sacrament. Grant that all who share the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ may be one in him, and remain faithful in love and hope. And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf, and these grapes from many hills into one cup, grant, O Lord, that your whole church may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.  Amen

Prayer #2: We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great and manifold mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord, whose nature it is to always have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.

Words of Institution Pastor Roy Karlen
On the night that he was betrayed, our Lord took the loaf... and after blessing it and giving thanks, he broke it, saying “This bread is my body broken for you, as often as you eat of it... do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same fashion after the meal he took the cup, saying “This cup is the new covenant poured out in my blood, as often as you drink of it... do this in remembrance of me.”
The Lord's body broken for you (holding up a piece of bread).
Your Lord's blood shed for you (picking up the chalice and dipping the bread into the wine)
The Lord's table is set, all come now and eat. (placing the chalice back on the table, holding the bread up and then eating it)

Sharing the Lord's Supper

Service of Tenebrae

Hymn: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me No. 214  All
(after Hymn the Sanctuary Lights are turned off)

Shadow of Betrayal Matthew 26:20-25 Jeff Frank
Shadow of Desertion Matthew 26:31-35 Judy Stern
Shadow of Lethargy Mark 14:32-41 Vicky Keonin
Shadow of Violence Matthew 26:47-52 Spencer Moon

Interlude

Shadow of Denial Luke 22:54-62 Jodi Frank
Shadow of Cynicism John 18:33-38 Joan Schaffer
Shadow of Irresponsibility Matthew 27:20-26 Norma DeVries
Shadow of Mockery Mark 15:16-20 Leon Hendricks
(after each of the first seven readings a black candle is extinguished, after the last reading the Christ Candle is extinguished.)

The Extinguishing of the Christ Candle Leon Hendricks

Solo  Terry Watters - “Were You There” (No. 198 in Hymnal)

Prophecy of Resurrection Mark 8:31 Kolton Hildreth
Mark 8:31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Relighting of the Christ Candle Kolton Hildreth

Prayer of Consecration Pastor Roy Karlen
Loving Creator, we thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ to be the Savior
of the world.  We thank you for the mystery of your love as revealed to us
in the cross.  We cannot understand all that the cross may mean, but we
feel your hand upon us and we would give ourselves afresh to you.  Love
so amazing, so divine, demands our lives, our souls, our all.  Take our lives,
use them in your ministry of reconciliation to a world deeply in need of love
and mercy and justice and righteousness.  Lord here we are as your disciples.
Send us out to do your work.  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen.

Please exit the Sanctuary in absolute silence.  We may gather in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and coffee.

Below are the Scripture readings listed above.

Reading #1 Shadow of Betrayal
Matthew 26:20-25 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

Reading #2 Shadow of Desertion
Matthew 26:31-35 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

Reading #3 Shadow of Lethargy
Mark 14:32-41 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Reading #4 Shadow of Violence
Matthew 26:47-52 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Reading #5 Shadow of Denial
Luke 22:54-62 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Reading #6 Shadow of Cynicism
John 18:33-38 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters[a] again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.

Reading #7 Shadow of Irresponsibility
Matthew 27:20-26 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!”23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Reading #8 Shadow of Mockery
Mark 15:16-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18 And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Palm Sunday 2016

This past Sunday was, of course, Palm Sunday.  The Scripture which I chose to preach over from the Lectionary was Luke 19:28-40; the "Triumphant Entry" into Jerusalem.  This was one of my longest sermons here at Woodlawn Christian and was honestly a bit rambling.  I've attached the video of the sermon for those that wish to take a listen.  Before I go any further, let's take a look at the Scripture itself...

Luke 19:28-40 New Revised Standard Version

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king

    who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven,

    and glory in the highest heaven!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Jesus has entered Jerusalem from the East on this first Palm Sunday, as Borg and Crossan point out in their wonderful book "The Last Week", Pontius Pilate would have entered the city in or around the same time period from the West side of Jerusalem.  One is a peasant procession and the other a Roman military parade.  One is a symbol of peace and grace, the other a display of power and might... where might makes right and the end justifies the means, the means of which is violence and power. 

Luke chooses to mention the 'multitude of the disciples' in his version of the entry into Jerusalem.  Let's think just a moment about those 'disciples'.  Among this motley and varied group we have a tax collector, some fisherman, and at least, one Zealot (personally I believe that there are two Zealots, those being Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot).

We often think of Jesus' message as being favored by the disadvantaged and down-trodden.  But, this isn't always the case, if we look at Lazarus and his two sisters we find a family that must have had some means available to them.  The perfume that Mary anoints Christ with is estimated at a value in today's dollars of $12,000 or more, this would seem to indicate some degree of wealth that would be beyond what we normally think of for Jesus' closest followers.  Then let us remember Joseph of Arimathea who provided a brand new tomb to be used for Jesus' body, along with Nicodemus who brought along close to one hundred pounds of spices to anoint the body.  I know that spices aren't cheap in today's world and I can't imagine them being any more of a bargain in the first century....What I'm driving for is that Jesus' following was much, much more diverse than we are used to considering.

We live in a world with a great deal of diversity in who we are and how we interpret Christ's message.  But, if we look at the original disciples and followers of Christ we see just as diverse of a group.  They literally came from every walk of life, with various political beliefs, different economic situations, different sexes, and different stages in their lifetimes.  This Christ of ours had something for them all and just the same he has something for all of us today.

One of the things that I always liked about the American Baptist denomination and which I also find equally among the Disciples of Christ is this steadfast belief in the autonomy of individual congregations and individual believers.  I absolutely love it that we can have a fundamentalist sitting in the same pew as the most liberal christian worshiping together on a Sunday morning.  This diversity makes us stronger and wiser.

Stronger and wiser as long as we remain respectful of each others diversity and are willing to be in dialogue with each other.  One of my own quotes is that "I'll never learn anything if I only talk to people I agree with".

God's blessings to you all and have a wonderful Holy Week!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace & Love,

Roy