Easter Sermons - One Livestreamed Easter Sunday - One Pre-recorded for Shady Oaks

Photo by Christian Begeman

This year I performed not one but two Easter sermons.  On Good Friday I recorded a sermon for the good folks at Shady Oaks Retirement Center (the second video below) and of course on Sunday we live-streamed an Easter message.

Below please find both sermons along with the scripture that was used for each.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Matthew 28 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Jesus
28 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests[c] had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

The Commissioning of the Disciples
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”[d]

Footnotes:
a) Matthew 28:6 Other ancient authorities read the Lord
b) Matthew 28:7 Other ancient authorities lack from the dead
c) Matthew 28:12 Gk they
d) Matthew 28:20 Other ancient authorities add Amen

Luke 24:1-12 New Century Version (NCV)
Jesus Rises from the Dead
24 Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them. 5 The women were very afraid and bowed their heads to the ground. The men said to them, “Why are you looking for a living person in this place for the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen from the dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee? 7 He said the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the third day.” 8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.


9 The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and the other followers. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had happened at the tomb. 11 But they did not believe the women, because it sounded like nonsense. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down and looking in, he saw only the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. Peter went away to his home, wondering about what had happened.

Easter Sunday Sermon - 2019, Woodlawn Christian Church (DOC & ABC)

We had a wonderful service for Easter Sunday, actually 'services' as the Sunrise Service went very well also, the weather cooperated and the rain missed us (though it was sprinkling slightly intermittently during the service).  Our organist Kathryn had to leave town suddenly for a family emergency and we were lucky enough that Sylvia Streufert was able to play for us during our 10 am Service.  Sylvia did a fantastic job, especially considering she was pressed into service so near to the actual service.  Kathy Brandt played her trumpet with Sylvia's accompaniment to start the service and we all very much enjoyed her playing.

I've included below the sermon from the service.  This year I preached over Luke 24:1-12 which is Luke's version of the chain of events on that first Easter morning.  During the sermon, I discuss the cross and the differences between the 'empty cross' and the 'crucifix', I have long confessed a fondness for crucifixes and at times I do think we Protestants would be well served to contemplate the symbolism of the crucifix.

The primary focus though was about the meaning and impact upon our faith of the 'empty tomb'.  I shared with the congregation the only witness (that I am aware of) to the actual 'resurrection' and that comes to us for the noncanonical source 'The Gospel of Peter'.  There is great meaning and import to this telling of the main event of Easter morning.

Please take a listen to the sermon, and I hope it has some meaning or message for you.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Luke 24:1-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Resurrection of Jesus
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.[a] 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women[b] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men[c] said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.[d] 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.[e]

Footnotes:
a) Luke 24:3 Other ancient authorities add of the Lord Jesus
b) Luke 24:5 Gk They
c) Luke 24:5 Gk but they
d) Luke 24:5 Other ancient authorities lack He is not here, but has risen
e) Luke 24:12 Other ancient authorities lack verse 12


The Gospel of Peter – 9:34-42 (translated by NT Wright)
9. 34. Early in the morning, when the Sabbath dawned, there came a crowd from Jerusalem and the country round about to see the sealed sepulchre. 35. Now in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were keeping guard, two by two in each watch, there was a loud voice in heaven, (36) and they saw the heavens open and two men come down from there in a great brightness and draw near to the sepulchre. 37. That stone which had been laid against the entrance to the sepulchre started of itself to roll and move sidewards, and the sepulchre was opened and both young men entered. 10. 38. When those soldiers saw this, they awakened the centurion and the elders, for they also were there to mount guard. 39. And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them supporting the other and a cross following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led reached beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the cross, there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’


The Gospel of Peter – 9:39-42  (alternate translation by NT Wright)
39 And while they were narrating what they had seen, they saw three men come out from the sepulchre, two of them raising up the one, and the crucified one following them (40) and the heads of the two reaching to heaven, but that of him who was being led out by the hand by them reaching beyond the heavens. 41. And they heard a voice out of the heavens crying, ‘Have you preached to those who sleep?’, 42. and from the crucified one there was heard the answer, ‘Yes.’ 


1 Peter 3:8-20   Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. 9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“He that would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking guile;
11 let him turn away from evil and do right;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? 14 But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ also died[a] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

Luke 9:21-22
21 – Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Luke 9:43-45
43 – While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Luke 18:31-33
31 – Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

Photo by Zackery Wicks

March Newsletter Article & More Reflections

I've attached below my Newsletter Article for the March Newsletter.  We've had a very interesting last couple of months with our weather and I'm certain we are all praying that it will just stop SNOWING... and being COLD!  As we look at the week ahead it doesn't look like we're going to have any warm weather at all and there appears to again be a chance for snow and ice by weeks end.

But just as we know that spring is right around the corner, we know that this week, this Wednesday, the Lenten season kicks off and the hope, grace, and resurrection of our Lord is right around the corner.  Praise be to God!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Pastor's Ponderings

If you aren't getting tired of winter yet, well... you're definitely in the minority here in the Midwest. It has been a winter to remember thus far with far too much snow and cold for most of our liking. We've had a number of cancellations of the Thursday night service, Sunday night service, and unfortunately Sunday morning as well. As I type this it's still snowing outside and hopefully, it will stop sometime this afternoon so we can clean the walks again as far as total snowfall, this one looks to be one of our largest of the season. Plus, they're predicting more snow for the weekend... you've gotta love the Midwest in winter. I know we've thanked Clyde before for his efforts on snow removal but we sure better keep lifting him up because he's a very vital part of our ability to function here after each snow storm. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Clyde!

The Concert Committee has set the date for the Concert as July 27th starting at 5:30 pm and plans are under-work to make this our best year yet. There will be a few changes and we're bouncing around some new ideas. At this writing we have booked two acts already, the 'Headliner' will be Jill Miller who performed for us last year as our second act. This year she will bring her entire band and will put on a great show. Everyone loved her last year when she performed an acoustic set and we're excited to hear her with her full band! Our second act will be Lisa Larsen a/k/a as 'High Heel', Lisa has been performing for nearly 30 years and is mostly known in the secular scene but she's recently taken on a more Christian focused performance. She will be bringing an unknown number of band members with her as she told me she has several friends and family members in the industry that want to come with her just to do our Concert. Lisa has a great deal of energy and I think you're all going to love her, she has a great testimony about her faith and she promised to share it with us all. Lisa has a wonderful voice and in fact, I had barely gotten the video of her singing started when Kathy Holm exclaimed: “she's good, hire her!” If Kathy says she's good well that says it all in my opinion! As I type this we're still working on booking an opening act but, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the opening act either. Please start telling everyone to make plans to come to this year's “Son Celebration” on July 27th right here at Woodlawn!

As I've been working on this article, I have received notice that Roxy Crandall has fallen again and unfortunately, she has now broken both bones in her lower leg. To make matters worse, this is the opposite leg from the bone she broke earlier in the year. Scott and Roxy are as I type headed to Des Moines where Roxy will be having surgery. As you all know this will take a long time for her to heal and we need to make/keep Roxy as a regular part of our daily prayers.

Tomorrow will be our February Soup Supper and I want to thank Kim Anderson for all her hard work on this event. I also want to thank all those who've pitched in and helped with all the other aspects of this important fundraiser. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Hopefully, the weather won't be a hindrance and we will have had a great turnout.
March 6th begins the 'Lent' season for us in 2019 and that evening we will have our Annual Ash Wednesday Service at 7 pm. We're getting a late start on the Easter Season this year but that's okay, maybe that will ensure that we'll have better weather for the Cross Raising and the Easter Egg Hunt... maybe, it will even be warm enough to have Sunrise Service out by the Cross this year! Please pray for that! Make plans to come and kick off the Lent season by attending the Ash Wednesday Service.

Lent begins, of course, the most Holy time of our Christian year and there can be no better time to implement a new practice of prayer or a daily time for Bible reading or reading a devotional. Think about adding something new to your daily faith journey!

As always... be a blessing to someone today!


In Christ, Pastor Roy

More about Thomas

Photo by Christian Begeman

This past weekend the Lectionary (as it does each year) led us to the story of the "Doubting Thomas" in the Gospel selection.  Since I tend to preach the most from the Gospel offering, that led me to the story of Thomas. Was there any new insight... and new message to be gleaned from these verses?  Well, I think there is and I hope you'll listen to the sermon and see what you might take away from the message.

One of the points that I struck up harder in my message on Monday to the folks at Shady Oaks was about the Disciples possibly being afraid of confronting Jesus due to their deserting Him in the garden.  The message here was that we all (if we're honest about it) a little bit apprehensive about coming face to face with Christ one day... we all have sin and we all have turned our backs in some fashion to God.  But, the stunning thing is that when Jesus suddenly appears among the Disciples in the locked room, that he doesn't start scolding, nor correcting, nor tormenting as commonly depicted in renderings of Hell and damnation... rather He says "Peace be with you".  That little snippet tells us a great deal about God and how He wishes to interact with us...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

John 20:19-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If 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[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.”

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.” 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Footnotes:
a) John 20:24 Gk Didymus
b) John 20:31 Other ancient authorities read may continue to believe
c) John 20:31 Or the Christ

Easter Sunday, April 1st, 2018

Below please find both the sermon transcript and the video of the sermon.  We had a wonderful day of worship at Woodlawn and I do want to once again thank all of our talented performers.  Nathan & Katie Burley played the piano for us and Eric Holm blessed us with a solo during the service.  Eric and his mother Kathy also sang a duet as part of the sermon and you'll hear them singing in the video below.

We also had the great, great blessing of baptizing three members of the Kuhlers family on Sunday morning.  Jared, Stephanie, and William all took the plunge and died to sin to be reborn in Christ.  Praise God!  It was a great witness to the rest of us especially seeing Jared getting baptized as an adult.  I've included at the very end of this blog post the transcript from their Baptism Ceremony.  Congratulations to you all Jared, Stephanie, and William!  God bless you all!

I posted the transcript to the 'Sunrise Service' yesterday, there was no video taken during the service.  Thank you to all who helped so very much during all the 'going ons' during 'Holy Week'.  A special thank you to Kim Anderson our Worship Chair, Kim does so much for the Church and we all appreciate it greatly!  Thank you, Kim!

I hope that all that wander through this little corner of the internet had a blessed Easter Sunday yesterday, and I hope you all realize just how much your God loves you... God bless you all.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy

Easter Sunday Sermon, April 1, 2018
"The Tomb of Remembrance"

Mark 16:1-8  (NRSV)
1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Just as we did a year ago, this year as part of our Easter celebration, we have performed several baptisms.  We just baptized Jared, Stephanie, and William and we are all very excited to count them now among our numbers.  Each of them has symbolically 'died to sin', entered the tomb, and risen again, resurrected just as our Savior was resurrected on that Easter morning so very long ago.

Last year I preached about how baptism is not a finish line, but a starting line. It isn't the point where you conclude your Christian education, your Christian participation, or your relationship with Christ. It's the beginning of something new, a deeper, a more involved relationship.  And just like last year, I want to again compare baptism to marriage. Marriage isn't the end of a relationship... well, at least hopefully not... NO, it's the beginning of a new depth to the relationship between a man and a woman, it is the same thing with baptism, you are committing to a new deeper relationship... between you and Christ.  Sad to say, however, far too often... baptism has become nothing more than a 'rite of passage', something we're expected to do around a certain age and so our parents or grandparents pressure us into going through with the ceremony. But truly, truly, truly... baptism is a NEW beginning, just as the open tomb was a new beginning, a new deeper relationship between God and His creation.

Let's stop for a moment and go back for just a bit, I mentioned the tomb, let's talk a little more about the tomb; the word for tomb in Greek is Mnémeion, it is derived from the Greek word Mousikós which means to remember, or to keep in memory, a tomb is basically a reservoir of memories. Which to be honest, is a very apt description of a tomb or grave; when we go to visit the final resting place of a friend or loved one, we can't help but stand there and reminisce about that person and our lost relationship with them. All of those memories, all those experiences, that entire relationship is in the past... the tomb at least as a metaphor... is a reservoir for those memories. There are no new experiences and thus no new memories, it is all in the past... all those memories though not forgotten are entombed in the past.

Let's also talk a little bit about what the women found when they showed up at the tomb, the tomb was of course already opened, but there was also someone sitting inside... this mysterious 'young man'. He is sitting there alone in the tomb, now you may not realize... or perhaps you may have forgotten... but this young man has shown up before in Mark's Gospel, in the 14th Chapter of Mark, verses 50-52 we read concerning the story of the arrest of Jesus in the garden:

Mark 14:50-52
50 All of them deserted him and fled. 51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

We could be a bit put off by this imagery of nakedness, we could be I suppose... a bit prudish and thus we would miss the message hidden in the metaphor, or we can consider what Mark is trying to convey to us... through this mysterious young man and his nakedness.

This 'young man' just like all of those following Christ has run away when Jesus is arrested, just as foretold in the 13th Chapter of Zechariah, the Shepherd has been struck and the sheep have scattered.  This young man just like all the rest, just like all of us, has run away from Christ. He has fled, naked... and exposed... all of his sin, all of his human failings, all of his human frailties, all of his shortcomings... exposed for all the world to see. His relationship to Christ has been severed, his relationship is now one of betrayal. But here, on this first Easter morning, we find the young man, alone in the tomb, waiting for the women. He is now clothed in finer garments than he had been in the garden, he has returned to Christ and been reconciled even before any of the others. Just as all of the disciples will eventually return to Christ and be reconciled unto Christ... and just like the 'mysterious young man', we too can return and be welcomed home in the fashion of the Prodigal Son.

We all whether we want to admit it or not, have an internal and eternal, longing to be reconciled with our Creator.  I have preached before about the importance of finding and staying in relationship with a congregation of believers. Quite simply, none of us is meant to be an island... we accept an obligation to not only our own relationship with God but to that of our fellow believers. That prayer we all stated in unison after the baptism today... was our commitment to these newly baptized Christians among us. We have an obligation to not only keep the spark and fire of Christ alive within ourselves but also to keep that fire alive within others. Recently, I saw a great short story on Facebook, I believe it was posted by Leon.  Now it's not a new story, in fact, it's one that I first saw many years ago.  But, it is a modern parable if you will, and please allow me to share it with you now;

The Lonely Ember
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.
After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.
As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

Quite frankly, we need each other, we have an obligation to each other... to love, to support, to even push at times... it was an obligation that we accepted when we professed our faith and took that plunge under those waters of baptism.  That baptistery which we associate with the tomb and the rising out of the water, Christ's escape from the tomb.

So we're back to the tomb...

The thing about the tomb is that it's not only empty... it's OPEN.  Remember that a tomb is a reservoir of memories... well, a closed tomb signifies the end of the making of memories... it's all about the past.  This tomb, this tomb is open... He LIVES, new memories are being formed each and every day.

We've been blessed this morning with some truly beautiful special music, and right now we're about to be blessed a little bit more by the sound of Kathy and Eric's voices.  And they both have such wonderful voices, but please listen to the words as they sing them... pay close attention to the message of this magnificent Hymn.

(Duet of "He Lives")

He lives!  Now certainly, we through the teachings of the Holy Scripture have 'memories' of Christ, but each of us also has memories of Christ through our own encounters with Him, and each of us shall forge many more memories of Christ.  For the tomb is open... and remember the words of the 'mysterious young man' 
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.

Our Lord lies not in a cold grave... but is alive... and well... and at work in this world.  He lives... he lives... you ask me how I know he lives... he lives within my heart.  He lives within my heart, he lives within your heart, he lives within the heart of every Christian, every man, woman, and child that has professed faith in Him and who has taken up the cross to do His bidding in this world.

You and I build new memories, and have new encounters with Christ through our interactions and cooperation with one another... as I look across this sanctuary today I see the face of Christ looking back at me and I can't help but have a smile deep within my soul... for HE LIVES!

And all His people cried out... AMEN!

Photo by Christian Begeman

Service of Holy Baptism:

Matthew 3:13-17  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Baptism is one of the two sacraments given by Christ to his followers.  In baptism, through faith, we are made one with Christ.   We are buried with Christ and with him raised from the dead to walk in new life.  The washing of our bodies with water is the outward and visible sign of the cleansing of our inner being through the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We are baptized not only with water but also with the Holy Spirit, and by this same Spirit we are baptized into Christ's body, the church, and made members of the whole people of God.

In obedience to Christ's command let us baptize these who have professed their faith in Him.

William, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(William – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, William Thomas Schmit, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit. (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon William and remain with him all the days of his life.  And may the joy of this moment be his forever.  Amen.

Stephanie, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Stephanie – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Stephanie Nichole Kuhlers, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon Stephanie and remain with her all the days of her life.  And may the joy of this moment be hers forever.  Amen.

Jared, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Jared – I do)

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Jared Benjamin Kuhlers, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  (dunk)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon Jared and remain with him all the days of his life.  And may the joy of this moment be his forever.  Amen.

We have done as Christ has commanded.  As those who have been baptized have confessed their faith and committed themselves to discipleship, let us all renew our baptismal vows as we pray together:

Gracious God, baptize us afresh with your Spirit.  May we know once again the newness of life so abundantly shown to these who have been baptized.  Open our hearts to receive them into our midst, that they may know among us the same spirit of love that was in Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.  Amen.

Easter Sunrise Service - 2018

Due to the cold weather today, we moved the "Sunrise Service" into the Chapel. Though it is always more moving to be literally at 'The Foot of the Cross' for this service on Easter morning, it certainly was much more comfortable.  We had a good turnout and afterward we all went down and had breakfast and then the "Easter Egg Hunt"

Thank you to Clyde Westcott and Bill Hungate for getting up early and draping the cross in white and taking down the placard and crown of thorns.

Be a blessing to someone today!

Christ is Risen!

Roy

Sunrise Service Easter 2018

Prelude: "Blessed Assurance"

Call To Worship:

Leader:  Alleluia.  Christ is risen!

People: The Lord has 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 has 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:  "Rock of Ages"

First Reading:

Isaiah 53:1-6 (NIV)

53 Who has believed our message

    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

    and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

Second Reading:  

Luke 24:1-12  (NIV)

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

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 Good 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 has 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 this rough and rude cross - we standing here before this emblem 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 after 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:  "Jesus Paid It 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: "Victory In Jesus"

Maundy Thursday Service 2018

Maundy Thursday Service: 3/29/18

Prelude:  Psalm 22 (video 1)

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, and come forward to God's throne, where we find His grace. There we will receive mercy and find His forgiveness, love, and reconciliation.

Music: EL SHADDAI (video 2)

Opening Prayer & The Lord's Prayer: Jordan Beidler

Eternal God of mercy, we gather in awesome wonder to behold your loving gift of Jesus Christ, who came to bring the world to wholeness, and who was broken by it. Yet by his death, we live and know your unfailing love.  As we gather to recall and celebrate Christ's gift of fellowship at the table and to lament our frail failings of devotion, pierce our hearts with the conviction of our betrayals, reassure us of your abiding presence, and transform us by the Spirit of Christ, who taught us to pray, by saying...
Our Father...

Music:  When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (video 3)

New Testament Reading: John 13: 1-15 Pastor Roy Karlen
John 13:1-15  Revised Standard Version (RSV)
13 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6 He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “You are not all clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, 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 so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Music: In Christ Alone (video 4)

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53 Jordan Beidler
Isaiah 53  Revised Standard Version (RSV)
53 Who has believed what we have heard?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
    he was bruised for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,
    and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb,
    so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him;
    he has put him to grief;
when he makes himself an offering for sin,
    he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
11     he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous;
    and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great,
    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out his soul to death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Seder Video:  (video 5)

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.

Prayers of Thanksgiving: Elders Jeff & Jodi Frank
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 loaf is my body broken for you, as often as you eat of it... do this in memory 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 memory of me.”
The Lord's body broken for you 
The Lord's blood shed for you 
The Lord's table is set, all come now and eat. 

Sharing the Lord's Supper:

Video: “One Bread One Body” (video 6)

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 today we give ourselves anew to you.

Love so amazing, so divine, demands our lives, our souls, our very being.  Take these 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 stand as your disciples. Send us out today to do your work.  In Christ's name, we humbly pray.  Amen.

Passing the Flame: Amazing Grace (video 7)

John 19:28-30 (RSV) Pastor Roy Karlen
28 After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Please feel free to extinguish your candles and leave the Chapel at your leisure.


Postlude:  (video 8)