Easter Sunday Worship 2020 – Knox Presbyterian Church Bayfield

Easter Sunday April 12 2020 Knox Presbyterian Church, Bayfield Rev Dolson

Greetings to my church family and friends. May the grace of God be with you. Happy Easter! Until we are able to gather together, I will continue to prepare my weekly sermons and post them on the website, send out by email, and deliver printed copies. Let me know which format you prefer.

Call To Worship [Responsive]

One: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: The Lord is our Shepherd.

All: God leads us beside still waters.

One: Christ restores our souls.

All: The Spirit leads us in right paths.

One: Even though we walk through the darkest valleys,

All: We fear no evil for God is with us.

One: Come, let us worship God, ever Three and ever One.

Music is one of our most beloved aspects of worshiping together. The lyrics and webpage links for several hymns are included. Note the additional hymns listed at the end. Unfortunately, some of the music links begin first with an advertisement despite my search for ad-free videos. Perhaps, for the more courageous among you, we could begin with a familiar hymn. If there are others at home with you, they may want to join in.

I danced in the morning, Lord of the Dance[1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf93gp-HafA with Divine Hymns

I danced in the morning, when the world was begun and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun. I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth, at Bethlehem I had my birth
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee but they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me. I danced for the fishermen, for James and John, they came with me and the Dance went on.

Refrain Dance, then, wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the Dance, said He. And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be and I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said He

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame. The holy people said it was a shame. They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high and they left me there on a Cross to die.
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black. It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back. They buried my body and they thought I’d gone but I am the Dance and I still go on.

Refrain

They cut me down and I leapt up high. I am the life that’ll never, never die

I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me. I am the Lord of the Dance, said he

Refrain x 2

Prayer For Illumination

Let your Word, O God, break open our hearts this day through the power of the Holy Spirit. God of wisdom, soften our hearts and direct our minds as we discern your holy scripture. May we be like fertile soil in which to plant your living Word. Amen.

Many of you will be familiar with today’s reading from the gospel of Matthew 28:1-10. It has been slightly altered to better identify the speaker and the shifts in the story. Take a moment to read through and reflect on the passage.

Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”

So they [Mary & Mary] left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Message

There is a deeply beautiful paradox within this tradition of Easter celebrations. It is a time to remember that hope became a reality in the midst of immense grief, fear and tragedy. The Messiah was recognized as he walked among them. God lives among us. There are signs everywhere around us. Look to our neighborhoods coming together to encourage one another with small tokens of hope. Look and see how we cheer each other on during times of trouble. Look to the missional efforts that provide help throughout the world when God’s creation is in need. We see evidence of God from the bursting forth of spring flowers to our relationships with each other.

This Easter we are encouraged by the expressions of hope within our community. Look to the signs before us today. The sidewalk chalk messages, ribbons around trees, signs in our windows and on our lawns, encouraging social media posts, and the sharing of essential goods and services. Yes, it is challenging at this time without our traditional worship services and family get togethers. We are not able to invite others, or be invited, to gather together. Yet, we can make contact – just not physical contact. We can call, email, or use virtual screens. No, we cannot shake hands with the essential workers to say thank you. We cannot hold new babies that we welcome into our families. Yet, we are still able to write our thanks and express our love in other ways. Notes can be sent to folks, including those at retirement homes and long term care facilities.

My thoughts have been turning toward the end of this crisis. That time is coming when we will venture out into our communities and then into the wider world. Thoughts of celebrations and joy-filled reunions lift my heart. I wonder, though, whether we will go back to the way we were? Perhaps we will be changed when the restrictions are lifted. These questions linger with me. Questions that need our attention as we move forward. Will our nations and communities develop better protocols for the next pandemic? Will we hold onto our hugs just a moment longer? Will we be more mindful of the needs of the less fortunate? I wonder if our collective experience might allow a deeper understanding of how we are inter-connected. Will we develop a better awareness of our responsibility to each other? Can we develop better systems to protect the most vulnerable among us? I wonder if our familiar existing ways of being will simply continue.

Familiarity can offer great comfort, particularly in times of transition. The familiarity of the gospel reading can offer reassurance, but familiarity can also block the reader from growth in understanding. There is a tendency to skim over a familiar reading. We may recall early teachings and carry a childhood understanding of complex scriptural messages. We can also become de-sensitized to the implications and depth of the story.

Perhaps it would be more helpful to imagine ourselves in the place of the character in the story. Who would you be? Imagine, walking up to the tomb in the hush of early morning. The quiet morning is disrupted by the sudden noise and violent shaking of an earthquake. Then, the divine angel appears and moves the huge burial stone to reveal an empty tomb. Can you imagine your reaction? There is much to process. Pause for a moment and imagine yourself in this story. Then, imagine how you would share your experience with others.

We are fortunate to have the access to the four gospels where the disciples provide different perspectives and details. Rob Bell, an American minister and author, is enthusiastically enthralled with the bible. Bell wrote, “The point is to enter into its stories with such intention and vitality that you find what it is that inspired people to write these books.”^[2] When we read the different accounts of who went to the tomb on Easter morning it is quite remarkable to notice the diversity of details. Have you noticed that Matthew shares a different perspective than some of the other gospel writers? He includes the guards at the tomb, the earthquake, and the conversation with one divine messenger at the tomb. Mark describes a young man, while Luke and John describe two angels. John tells the reader that Mary Magdalene was at the tomb alone, while Mark and Matthew agree that there were two women named Mary. Mark identifies the other Mary as the mother of James, plus a third woman, Salome. Luke includes Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, plus Joanna and other women.

If you are analytical in your approach, then this aspect of the gospels can be frustrating and confusing. Who was where and when were they there? It is almost reminiscent of the Laurel & Hardy “who’s on first?”. But, if you go too far down that path you will lose sight of the remarkable significance of this event. There is the amazing revelation that Jesus is no longer in the tomb and angels are explaining the situation! Matthew goes on to share that the women, the first at the tomb, were told to share the message with the other disciples. Rob Bell leans into this passage with an interesting perspective, “Which leads to another question: When Matthew tells us that some of Jesus’s followers doubted, does this undermine the story, or is this the exact kind of honesty that reflects how people actually are? When each of the Gospel writers includes the part about the women being witnesses, why risk it? What a strange thing to include knowing it would discredit their story, unless women actually were the first witnesses.”^[3]

Matthew uses imagery that inspires our imagination. Just before today’s reading, the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, received permission from Pilate to bury the body of the crucified Jesus. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.^[4]

In both Mark and Luke, the women find the stone already rolled away from the tomb when they arrive. In Matthew, however, the women experience the earthquake and see the angel descend, roll away the stone, and sit on it. The guards quake with fear at the events unfolding before them. The angel reassured the women, saying, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”

The gospel of Mark describes them as trembling and bewildered, while Matthew describes how they run with fear and great joy to announce the world-changing news. They encounter Jesus and he again tells them to fear not. He is alive and present with them. There is nothing to fear. Are you aware that this message ‘do not be afraid’ is given at least 365 times in the bible? Yet, we know that fear is not easily controlled or set aside. Our fear can be overwhelming and complex, with words of reassurance made meaningless. If fear in life does not break us, it can wear us down. Yet, we are reassured that by living into our faith our fears will dissipate.

Does the command to ‘fear not’ mean that they need not fear because all will go well? Is this an assurance that nothing can go wrong if our faith is strong? No. There is no reassurance that everything will turn out for the best. There is great and small suffering in our lives and in the world. This does mean that whatever may happen, we have great assurance that we will not face it alone. God has the power to strengthen us and uphold us. Nothing is stronger than God’s love. This is the premise of the command, do not be afraid!

The woman ran to share the message that Jesus will gather them together in Galilee, as a shepherd gathering the flock. Galilee is the place where he called disciples, taught the crowds, healed the sick, appointed the disciples, demonstrated compassion for suffering, offered rest for the weary, spoke in parables, fed the multitudes, blessed the children, challenged a rich man, and taught about a Messiah who would suffer. Our bible translation indicates that Jesus said, “go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me”. When I read this passage, I wondered, was that message intended only for the men? It seems that the Greek word is also translated as brothers and sisters. Yes, the message was intended for all the disciples, which included women and men. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus become the first apostles of the risen Christ as they ran out to share the good news with the others.

Matthew began his gospel with the account of a young virgin woman who, trusting in the Holy Spirit, became pregnant. Her betrothed, trusting in a visit from an angel, married her. Perhaps the faithful Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene can help us all to recognize that voice that continues to echo through the ages. Jesus commanding, Stop being afraid! Rejoice, and share the good news! We rejoice at Easter. Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. We rejoice as we seek to understand the ways of Christ. We rejoice as we shift our perspective to discover a world where everyone can thrive. We dream of a day when we will live more freely, each of us. We rejoice that the risen Christ is here among us. Easter celebrations, whether in a crowded sanctuary or alone in our home, encourage us to see with new vision. Praise be to God.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) [5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E with Matt Redman

Refrain Bless the Lord oh my soul, Oh my soul, Worship His Holy name

Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I’ll worship your Holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning. It’s time to sing your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me. Let me be singing when the evening comes. Refrain

You’re rich in love and you’re slow to anger. Your name is great and your heart is kind. For all your goodness I will keep on singing. Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. Refrain
And on that day when my strength is failing. The end draws near and my time has come. Still my soul will sing your praise unending. Ten thousand years and then forevermore, forevermore. Refrain x 2
Yes I’ll worship Your Holy name. Lord, I’ll worship Your Holy name. Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I’ll worship your Holy name. Jesus I will worship your holy name, worship your holy name

The Offering Of Our Life And Labour To The Lord

Quote: Remember the words of our Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

There is a bit of confusion about the process of donating to the church during this time of cancelled services. Donations may be made in several ways:

The traditional method of Canada Post mail, just be sure to include the post office box:
- Knox Church, Box 565, Bayfield, ON N0M 1G0
This is a good time to consider the consistency of postdated cheques or PAR. Both are easy to set up and easy to change.
- All cheques can be sent to the church by Canada Post. We would greatly appreciate monthly cheques, if possible.
- PAR, the Pre-Authorized Remittance, is an automatic monthly withdrawal from your bank.
- Contact Brenda McLean (519) 524-8645 or email brmclean@hurontel.on.ca She is an expert at setting up PAR (and many other things too).
- Adjustments are made to postdated cheques and PAR by contacting Brenda. All financial information is confidential.

All that we have is a gift from God. In faith and gratitude, we return a portion of what we have so abundantly received. During the worship service, we sing the doxology, a song of praise. You may actually hear an echo of the tune that Jean Walker and Betty Lou play each week.

We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be;

all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O lord, from thee.

Blessing Of Gifts *

Take a moment to pray for blessings on the gifts of time, talent, and financial offerings received by the church. Your generosity does much good within the community and the world.

Gracious God, we dedicate these gifts with deep gratitude. We are thankful for your call on our lives, for your guidance, and for blessing us that we may be a blessing to others. We pray you will multiply what we offer for your own good purposes. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymn: Breathe on me breath of God[6]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ph-t8P2r_I with Cassie Thompson

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure

Until my will is one with thine, to do and to endure

Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly Thine

Until this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine

Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die

But live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity

Prayers Of The People

You are encouraged to share your concerns and celebrations. Your requests will be shared in the prayers of the people and kept in my daily prayers and the prayers of others in our congregation. Let us pray for all people and all of God’s creation.

God of Easter Renewal and Resurrection, you have broken into our lives again today. You break into all our moments of celebration, joy, struggle, and sorrow. Help us to live with gratitude and a spirit of grace and understanding.

Holy God, we cry out to you for the suffering of the world. Be with your people as they struggle with illness, fear, poverty, and oppression. We pray for the church, both near and far, that we may always be on the side of the oppressed and not the oppressors. We pray for the gift of faith, that we may put our trust in you. We pray for those who suffer, that they may feel your presence with them.

We pray for those who follow in the way of Christ. Those who are like Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea, the men and women who care for those who struggle and for those who are dying. May you strengthen them in their service. We pray you will open us to be more aware, more supportive, and appreciative of their efforts.

God of resurrection and new life, you broke into the hearts of Jesus’ fearful friends. Now break into our relationships with one another. Where relationships are vibrant and life-giving, nurture them. Where they are strained by old hurts and misunderstandings, or carelessly taken for granted, we pray for renewal and growth in our life together.

We pray for all the families and all the nations of the earth, that they shall turn toward you and find peace.

Loving God, we lift up our people who are in need of your special care at this time. We lift up Ron, Sandy and their family as they continue to deal with the impact of Ron’s treatment. We lift up Brenda, Mark and family as they mourn the death of George and care for his widow, Evelyn. We lift up Ron Sangster, family, and friends as they mourn the death of Jean. We lift up Betty Lou’s daughter, Bonnie, as she continues treatment for breast cancer. We lift up Susanne’s extended family in New Zealand as they heal. We lift up Gayle’s granddaughter Courtney and great granddaughter Kyla. Be with them as they heal and grow together. We lift up Rob, son of Jane and Jim. Be with him as he lives with the impact and consequences of a brain tumor. We lift up Lisa, daughter of Grace, in her duties as nurse & caregiver. We lift up Marlene, daughter of Jessie, as she heals from her injuries.

Oh holy God, be with your people as they suffer and seek your peace. Allow your Spirit to linger with them. We pray for those who live in situations of violence. May they find protection and peace. We pray for the residents and care givers in retirement homes and long term care facilities. We pray for those who are in hospital and hospice. Be with those in isolation and quarantine. Be with all who struggle with physical distancing. We pray for all who are suffering financial hardship at this time.

Almighty God, we live in a time that is fraught with uncertainty at every level of society. The most vulnerable among us are the most at risk. Show us the ways in which we can find new ways of reaching out to people in need. Help us to continue our generosity of sharing our abundance with those who have little. We are thankful for the gifts you provide to those who care for your people. We pray that you will continue to bless the work of PWS&D, Presbyterian Sharing, and all others who devote their efforts to walking alongside those in need.

We pray for all who wrestle with their faith. We pray for people who are seeking you this day, for those who are searching for new meaning and purpose for their lives. Guide and direct them in their spiritual journey. Give them the vision to see signs of your promise, the wisdom to discern what is false and what is true, with courage and curiosity in all their searching. May the joy of Christ surprise them and lead them to a place of welcome.

O Holy One, although we are apart and cannot lift our voices together, we speak the words aloud that Christ taught his disciples,

Our Father who art in heaven, hallow’ed 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Where hope has grown tired and thin, Gracious God, lift our sights, so that we may see hope beyond hope, life beyond death, and you, lifted up before us. We pray all this through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, forever and ever Amen.

Benediction

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.

May the Christ who walked on wounded feet, walk with you on the road

May the Christ who served with wounded hands, stretch out your hands to serve

May the Christ who loved with a wounded heart, open your heart to love

May the grace of God, the love of Christ and the joy of the Spirit surround you … now and forever more. Amen

Closing Chorus and Postlude

May the Lord, mighty God bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, faith in every endeavor Lift your eyes and see His face, and His grace forever, May the Lord, mighty God bless and keep you forever.

Additional hymns include: Morning has broken, Thine be the glory, Be still my soul, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and Shine Jesus shine.

Hymn: Morning Has Broken[7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZAsfB1Np-8 Cat Stevens

Morning has broken like the first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven, like the first dew fall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning, born of the one light Eden saw play. Praise with elation, praise every morning God’s re-creation of the new day
Repeat first verse

Thine be the glory[8]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXzmjNE-yLA King’s College Choir

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son: endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won; angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son; endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing, for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Refrain
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife; make us more than conqu’rors, thro’ thy deathless love:
bring us safe thro’ Jordan to thy home above. Refrain

Hymn Be still my soul[9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV3DEtJtho8 with David Archuleta

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side, Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain, Leave to thy God to order and provide. In every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend, through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake to guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake. All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know the voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Hymn: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet[10]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RBc188biCs with Amy Grant & Michael Smith

Refrain Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path [x2]

When I feel afraid think, I’ve lost my way, still you’re there right beside me

Nothing will I fear, as long as you are near, please be near me to the end

Refrain

I will not forget Your love for me and yet, my heart forever is wandering

Jesus be my guide and hold me to your side, I will love you to the end

Refrain x 2 (plus) And a light unto my path, you’re the light unto my path

Shine Jesus Shine[11]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Fe7wCdrSw with Graham Kendrick

Lord, the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness, shining

Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us, set us free by the truth you now bring us

Refrain Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father’s glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth your word Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence from the shadows into your radiance by the blood I may enter your brightness, search me, try me, consume all my darkness

Refrain

As we gaze on your kingly brightness

So our faces display your likeness

Ever changing from glory to glory

Mirrored here may our lives tell your story

Refrain x2

[2] Rob Bell, What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything

[3] Rob Bell, What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything

[4] Matthew 27:57-61

[5] Songwriters: Jonas Myrin / Matt Redman 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group Source: LyricFind

[6] Traditional words by Edwin Hatch, Traditional music by Robert Jackson.

[8] Songwriters: Georg Frideric Handel, Source: Musixmatch

[9] – Kathrina von Schlegel, c. 18th century; trans. Jane Borthwick

[10] Songwriters: Amy Lee Grant / Michael Whitaker Smith Thy Word lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group Source: LyricFind