During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the song links within the liturgy. Thanks this week to Dave, Amanda, Beth, Carmen, and Heather.

PRELUDE: “O Love of God” (Klusmeier)

OPENING PRAYER

Risen One,
Burn within our hearts this day.
When we walk the road, you are there.
When we share a meal, you are there.
When we break bread, and bless you for it—
you are there.
Do not vanish from our sight,
but remain at our side.
Worship with us this day,
in the Spirit,
Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE: God we praise you for the morning

God, we praise you for the morning;
hope springs forth with each new day,
new beginning, prayer, and promise,
joy in work and in play.

God, we praise you for creation,
mountains, seas, and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing
in your bountiful hand.

God, we praise you for compassion,
all the loving that you show;
human touching, tears, and laughter,
help your children to grow.

God, we praise you for your Spirit,
Comforter and daily friend,
restless searcher, gentle teacher,
strength and courage you send.

God, we praise you for the Saviour,
come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising,
Christ is Lord of our days.

Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Christ is Lord of our days!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

We are tired, Lord.
For the road is long
and our journey seems without end.
You walk beside us,
but we often fail to see you.
Remind us, Lord,
that you live in us and others,
by the Spirit,
and that we can always find you
in the lonely,
in the broken,
and in the dispossessed.
Give us eyes to see you,
and hearts open to your love.
Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Jesus said to the disciples, “Take heart. Have no fear.”
As disciples, we no longer need to be burdened by guilt,
no longer need to be bound by fear.
Thanks be to God.

FIRST READING: Psalm 116.1-4, 12-14

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”

What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

SECOND READING: Luke 24.13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

HYMN: Come children, join and sing

Come, children, join to sing: Hallelujah!
Praise to our Servant King: Hallelujah!
Let all with heart and voice,
saved by God’s gracious choice,
now in this place rejoice: Hallelujah!

Come, lift your hearts on high: Hallelujah!
Let praises fill the sky: Hallelujah!
Christ calls his people friends,
the helpless he defends,
a love that never ends: Hallelujah!

Praise yet our Christ again: Hallelujah!
Raise high the joyous strain: Hallelujah!
The whole creation o’er
let all God’s love adore,
singing for evermore: Hallelujah!

REFLECTION

We’re seeing things we never thought we’d see.

Take the Thursday night “At Issue” panel. For avid CBC watchers, Chantal, Althea, and Andrew usually appear in the studio, around a fancy glass table. Now, we see a rec room or a loft, a rather nice exposed brick wall, and what appears to be a guest bedroom in the Coyne household. I don’t watch late night television, but I understand all the hosts are showing us a glimpse of their homes too.

Of course, this glimpse of the private from public figures is heavily curated, since we are only shown what they choose to show. It’s not like a spot inspection, or a random glimpse—there is still a private life behind this (strangely intimate) public face. Some would say this is nothing new, and that the rise of social media has prepared us for this moment. Facebook and Instagram are gateways to this new world, photos and “moments” that gave us a glimpse into the private, usually augmented by some sort of filter—a form of enhanced reality or even a distortion of the truth.

The terrible and tragic events in Nova Scotia take us down a rabbit hole once more: why didn’t people see this coming? How do ordinary and seemingly upstanding people turn out to be the opposite—a monster in our midst? This is the shadow side of unseen lives. In the weeks and months that follow, our society will need to untangle the threads of this terrible event and ponder. What should we know about each other, and what should we reveal? How do we address the pattern of male violence and massive loss of life? What control can we apply to random acts? There are many other questions.

And then, of course, we add this to the pile of things we are already trying to grapple with. Isolation, grief, uncertainty—just to name three—and the abiding sense that the world has changed. It’s all too much, and so we look for solace: in each other, in the God we worship, and the scriptures that animate our life together. I say trust the Bible to reveal what we need, to give voice to our hopes and fears, and to illuminate some truth for our time.

The first thing to note about the Road to Emmaus is that the story takes us back to the first evening of the resurrection, as two members of the fellowship are leaving Jerusalem. So we have to adjust our look to recognize that this is an early moment—with confusion and uncertainty still part of the telling. Next, we should note that Cleopas and his unnamed companion are not part of the eleven that remain. We are being introduced to more of the extended circle, the extended circle that symbolizes future believers like you and me.

Mostly, though, we need to remember that this takes place under the shadow of the cross: barely 72 hours earlier. The meaning of resurrection remains unclear—while the experience of Calvary and the cross is still very real. The first thing Luke tells us is ‘their faces were downcast.’ And their conversation with the anonymous stranger begins with a pain-filled question: “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who don’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”

I want to step back for a moment and admire Luke the storyteller. At least two things are happening in this question, so filled with heartache. First, we know the answer—we know about the things that have happened during these days. And in asking the question, Luke has made us insiders, made us part of the group. Next, we know this stranger is Jesus (Luke just told us) and we know what kind of story this is—a story of the hidden visitor. So let’s step out of the story for a moment to meet the hidden visitor.

The first and most familiar example of the hidden visitor is the Lord’s appearance in the form of three strangers. Abram (Abraham) welcomes them, feeds them, and leans in as they ask “pray, where is your wife, Sarah?”

“There, in the tent,” he says.

“Did you know,” one of the strangers says, “that when we return next year, Sarah will have a son?”

Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughs and says to herself, “I’m worn out, and he’s old, so how’s that gonna work?” But nothing is too hard for the Lord, as the Lord reminds them in the guise of a stranger, then departs. You could argue that this moment is the beginning of three of the world’s great religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam— three religions, one covenant.

The trend of the hidden visitor continues. Jacob wrestles with God throughout the night to secure a blessing, Moses encounters God in the burning bush, the commander of the army of the Lord appears to Joshua near Jericho—in each case, God is hidden then disclosed, unknown then revealed.

At Emmaus, Jesus is revealed in two ways, and I want to look at each in turn. The first is a partial revealing, or perhap the key to revealing, as Luke describes the dialogue: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Jesus uses the words and the stories of the Bible-he-loved to help them see, to help them understand the continuing covenant of love and mercy. The Old Testament is the story of God and God’s people, and Jesus asks us to locate him and locate ourselves in its pages. This does not supersede the covenant with our sister religions: it simply helps us in our walk with God—through all the ages.

The other way Jesus is revealed is in the breaking of bread. Why bread? Well, Jesus is the Bread of Life, so it follows. But bread is also the most common of foods, often broken each day. From the humble to the grand—kitchen table to well-appointed dining room table—bread is broken. “Each time you do this, remember me,” Jesus said, seeking a place in our every day. He is our daily bread, and he seeks a place at our table. Jesus is revealed when bread is broken, whether the table is crowded or we eat alone.

In truth, we’re seeing things we never thought we’d see. I have seen more baked goods in the last six weeks (at our house and online) than I’ve ever seen before. But I also see a continuity, a desire to show the positive and the creative, to show some normality in the abnormal times we inhabit. And I see signs of people reaching out, creating symbols of solidarity and comfort in a difficult time. Hope that feels hidden is being revealed, and many are doing their best to find hope in others. At the top of this page (online) is an effort to summarize this work: “seeing Christ in others” and seeing Christ revealed is the same work, from that table at Emmaus to the table in your home.

“Were not our hearts burning within us,” they ask, “while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Our hearts burn with the desire to walk with the Risen One, to see him in psalms and prophets, and to see him in each other. May God bless us, and hold us, today and every day. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC: “Lord, I Need You” (Maher)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

God of love and mercy,
we gather in this imperfect way,
trusting that you alone join us—one to another.
Hold us this day,
and surround us with your grace.

God of the brokenhearted,
we ache for the bereaved,
and lives turned upside down.
We pray for two sets of victims,
lost to violence and disease.
Be with those who mourn,
and those who struggle to understand,
and those who cannot be comforted.

God of the weary,
you alone know our fatigue,
everywhere we turn we feel the weight
of lost hope, and lost opportunity,
and loss of confidence in much
that we take for granted.
Heal our spirits,
with your Spirit,
and lead us back to you.

God of each day,
send us signs of your renewing presence,
reassure us in this time of trouble,
and give us new confidence
in the face of uncertainty,
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: I heard the voice of Jesus say

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your days be bright.”
I looked to Jesus and I found
in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk,
’til trav’ling days are done.

BLESSING

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear.  We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the song links within the liturgy. Thanks this week to Olivia Lee for reading the Gospel lesson, Taye for sharing a song, and Heather for the hymns.

PRELUDE: Without His Cross (Martin)

OPENING PRAYER

You extend your hands, Lord,
and invite us to behold the wounds
that cast away doubt and fear.
You breathe new life into us:
the same life found in the empty tomb.
Speak to us, this day,
through the Holy Spirit.
Find us, this day,
in your abiding presence.
Fill us, this day,
with your breath—
to bring hope and comfort,
and lasting peace.
Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE: As comes the breath of spring

As comes the breath of spring
with light and mirth and song,
so does your Spirit bring
new days brave, free, and strong.
You come with thrill of life
to chase hence winter’s breath,
to hush to peace the strife
of sin that ends in death.

You come like dawning day
with flaming truth and love,
to chase all glooms away,
to brace our wills to prove
how wise, how good to choose
the truth and its brave fight,
to prize it, win or lose,
and live on your delight.

You come like songs at morn
that fill the earth with joy,
till we, in Christ newborn,
new strength in praise employ.
You come to rouse the heart
from drifting to despair,
through high hopes to impart
life with an ampler air.

You breathe and there is health;
you move and there is power;
you whisper, there is wealth
of love, your richest dower.
Your presence is to us
like summer in the soul;
your joy shines forth and then
life blossoms to its goal.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Forgive us, God,
when we are consumed by doubt.
We see the state of the world,
and we feel only doubt:
doubt that we can manage,
doubt that we can move forward,
doubt that we can see a world
after COVID-19.
Arrest our doubts, God,
and show us the wounds of the Risen One,
that we might see resurrection,
and find new life once more.
Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God visits us with love and mercy,
forgiving our shortcomings and leading us home.
These are words we can trust. Amen. 

FIRST READING: Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

SECOND READING: John 20.19-28

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the religious leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as the twin), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

HYMN: Jesus stand among us

Jesus, stand among us
in your risen power;
let this time of worship
be a hallowed hour.

Breathe the Holy Spirit
into every heart;
bid the fears and sorrows
from each soul depart.

Lead our hearts to wisdom
till our doubting cease,
and to all assembled
speak your word of peace.

REFLECTION

To be human is to judge.

Mostly we judge ourselves, but when we set that aside we are generally expert at judging others. It is in our nature. Moments after we left the primordial ooze we started comparing ourselves to others, and along came judgment. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with comparison, because in comparison we improve ourselves, or we improve the elements of the life we share. Innovation, progress, renewed application—all these come when we imagine a better way.

On the shadow side, we judge to make ourselves feel better. Again, comparisons are inevitable, because most people want to do the right thing. When someone is being foolish, we should name it—and at the same time acknowledge that we’re far from perfect ourselves.

So I see two problems: the first is that every time a news item says “do this” or “don’t do that,” we lapse into comparisons, yet we fail to remember that “this and that” are constantly changing. The second problem is never knowing the full context, and making comparisons without all the information. My quick example is seeing a couple at the Dollarama wearing N95 masks. For days, we were told that these were for frontline health workers only—but there they were, amid the Easter chocolate, wearing their priceless masks. My internal reaction surprised me, but then I remembered I have no context to judge—I don’t know what struggles they face that would lead them to wear these masks. So I have to try to reserve judgment.

So what about the reading Olivia shared? The first and obvious thing to note is all the judgement implied in the passage. Where was Thomas when Jesus first appeared to the others? Something more important going on? And why does he need all that proof? Can’t he just take their word for it? They are his best friends, after all. And why does he get special treatment? Surely everyone in the group had doubts, or some unique need in the face of these events.

And then there is a whole other layer in the passage. Why were they so fearful of the religious leaders? As far as the Romans and their allies were concerned, the threat had been neutralized. And why does Jesus need to share this homily on forgiveness? What’s that about? You can bet we’ll come back to that question. Then, a week later, the doors are locked again! Jesus was both clear and generous (in week one): “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” If you have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and you have been commissioned by the Risen Christ to reenter the world, what on earth are you doing behind locked doors?

I’m not going to attempt to answer all these questions. But they will be here, resting online, for you to ponder all week. Since this week belongs to Thomas, we should begin there. In preaching class, they taught us to never psychologize Jesus, but the rest of the people in the story are fair game. So Thomas. He is the guy who needs that extra layer of proof, that extra bit of convincing before he can accept the truth. But we don’t know his background. We don’t know what losses he suffered, or his experience of death before this moment. How can we know? And it is for this reason we step back.

Thomas, like the rest of his companions, understood that death was final. “You are dust,” God said, “and to the dust you shall return.” Formed of dust, we are animated by the breath of God. But when that breath leaves us, we die. Thomas and the others understood that the dead were ‘gathered to their people’ (Gen 49) or ‘descended into Sheol’ (Ps 139)—somewhat vague descriptions that do not undermine the static nature of the death. Yes, there were equally vague references to the resurrection of the dead, and there were metaphorical resurrections in the Valley of Dry Bones, but these did not erase the finality of death.*

So this left three options for Thomas: either his friends were wrong, or Jesus was temporarily resuscitated like Lazarus, or resurrection was possible. Taken together, the last option seemed the least likely, since Thomas knew the first two options were very possible, and the last was just a vague hope. So we forgive him his doubt, and we applaud the fact that he immediately stopped his doubting and believed.

The other reason Thomas gets a pass in this story is the general misunderstanding that comes with resurrection. The other disciples were likely feeling all smug and judgy, when it’s obvious that they didn’t believe in resurrection either. The first clue is the locked door, but there is more to it than that. When they describe resurrection to Thomas they do so in the most prosaic way they can: “We have seen the Lord.” And what they do say only highlights their lack of understanding, a lack of understanding based on what they could have said: ‘We have been resurrected by the Lord.”

Consider: like the Valley of Dry Bones, God (in Jesus) has breathed life into them, said “receive the Holy Spirit,” and resurrected them to new life in Christ. They were no longer witnesses to the resurrection, they were resurrected themselves! St. Paul understood, having been resurrected on the Road to Damascus: “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Rom 14) Paul had the benefit of high drama, but the disciples would need more convincing. Nevertheless, that day, and for all time, both the living and the dead are resurrected, alive forevermore!

And just when we’re tired out from thinking about those that need proof, and the slow to comprehend, and those who remain behind locked doors, Jesus has a word for us: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

We shelter in place, but the doors of our hearts are not locked. We struggle to understand God’s grace, but it’s still freely given. And we practice forgiveness: for the proof-seekers, the quick-to-judgers, and even ourselves. We are resurrection people, and the resurrection is our own, alive with Christ, now and always, Amen.

*Walter Brueggemann, Reverberations, p. 47.

SPECIAL MUSIC: Home “The Arms of God” (Sorenson)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

This prayer, in the form of a poem, was written by Marg “Bunny” Todman.

God, give me patience
That I will not rush
The hours of the day
For each hour has a gift to give.

God, give me understanding
That I may be able
To understand the troubles of others
For each solution can be beneficial to many.

God, give me appreciation
For the many different things
That come my way
For everything enters our lives for reason.

God, give me common sense
That I may see past the pretenses of people
And be able to assist them
In their time of need.

And God, give me time
Time for people,
Time for prayer
And particularly time for you.

HYMN: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks

Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks to the risen Christ;
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
firstborn of all creation. R

Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and is risen. R

We have been crucified with Christ,
now we shall live for ever. R

Come let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Saviour. R

BLESSING

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Christ is Risen! (He is Risen Indeed!) Easter blessings from Central United Church. Special thanks this morning to Heather and the Morley Sisters.

PRELUDE: Morning has broken

CALL TO WORSHIP

The tomb is empty,
come within!
Set aside your fear
and look no more!
The one you seek: he is not here.
He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
The grave could not hold him,
death could not hold him,
no earthly power could hold him:
He is not here—he is risen!
We stand today with those blessed few,
first witnesses to the resurrection!
We stand with the women at the tomb,
afraid, but filled with joy,
ready to worship our risen Lord.
Help us, Lord, that we might see
how cross and cave have been transformed.

PRAYER:

Creative God, you breathe life into dust
and bring new life out of death:
we are your Easter people,
raised up with Christ in resurrection hope.
We come with hurts and confusion, with despair,
and with the sting of death familiar still.
Yet you, Lord, open our hearts to new life in Christ.
We thank you for this great gift;
may our whole lives express our gratitude.
We pray in the name of our risen Saviour. Amen.

OPENING HYMN: Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is risen today, hallelujah!
our triumphant holy day, hallelujah!
who did once, upon the cross, hallelujah!
suffer to redeem our loss. Hallelujah!

Hymns of praise then let us sing hallelujah!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, hallelujah!
who endured the cross and grave, hallelujah!
sinners to redeem and save. Hallelujah!

But the pains which he endured, hallelujah!
our salvation have procured; hallelujah!
now above the sky he’s King, hallelujah!
where the angels ever sing. Hallelujah!

Sing we to our God above, hallelujah!
praise eternal as God’s love; hallelujah!
praise our God, ye heavenly host, hallelujah!
praise the Son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!

FIRST READING: Psalm 118.1-2, 14-24

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.

SECOND READING: Matthew 28.1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped 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.”

A NEW CREED

We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

HYMN: In the bulb there is a flower

In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

REFLECTION

Unnatural but not unprecedented.

It seems quite unnatural that we are apart on Easter Sunday. Giving up church for the end of Lent—if that’s what we did—was strange enough, but missing the Queen of Sundays is hard to bear. But bear we must, remembering that we have done this before.

From September to November 1918, the Spanish Flu ravaged our city. Boards of Health across Canada took the same stringent measures we are experiencing today: churches were closed, along with schools, entertainment venues, public meetings and the like. And there was push-back. When one downtown pastor complained about the order to close, he got a rebuke from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, who suggested that the minister needed “a truer conception of God’s relationship to man and of man’s humanity to man.”

Mostly, though, churches and fraternal organizations got on with the business of serving others. An example: at what is now Central Tech, the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire set up a kitchen, sending out 675 quarts of custard, 899 quarts of broth, 147 quarts of lemonade, and 689 quarts of gruel over the course of the outbreak. If you’re tired of pasta, imagine a diet of custard, broth, lemonade, and gruel.

So this is not the first time we’ve closed for an extended period. And while this may be the first Easter we have missed, we are challenged by a chorus of theologians to remember that every Sunday is a “little Easter.” All the Sundays that preceded this time, and all the Sundays that follow this time will be Easters, and we will celebrate the resurrection with the same fervour as we would if we were together today. Christ is Risen!

Today we read Matthew’s account of the empty tomb. It isn’t the shortest (Luke) but isn’t the longest either (John). The basic outline is the same: the women discover that Jesus has risen, and they become the first messengers to the resurrection. They receive the essential message (“He is risen!”) and they pass it on.

Yet Matthew gives us an additional gift, by recording part of the emotion of the day. In the midst of his telling, he shares this: “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Afraid yet filled with joy. Ponder that for a moment. It’s hard to hold these two emotions at once, but this is the power of resurrection. The birth of belief is exciting but fearful. It inspires awe—not sunset awe—but fear and trembling awe, like standing on holy ground.

So let’s stay here for a moment: the resurrection is the birth of belief. First, Jesus is the touchstone of righteous living. Then, Jesus’ death on the cross defeats the power of death over our lives. But the resurrection—the empty tomb—is the beginning of belief. The meaning is not fully-formed (that will come in time) but the women who leave this moment with fear and joy were the first believers, the first to understand that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Therefore, “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.38-39)

This love, manifest in Jesus, and completed at the empty tomb, means that every one of us is a messenger of the resurrection. To have belief, to embrace the fear and joy of this event, transforms us into Easter people. It defines us, it animates our fellowship, and connects us to a cloud of witnesses—from those first women down to today. He is risen!

It is bittersweet, of course, to talk about fellowship and connection in the time of COVID-19. It’s hard to feel like a community when we can’t meet. And to this bittersweet sense, I want to add another layer to our resurrection story: “the church invisible.” Remember that chorus of theologians who called every Sunday a little Easter? They also want us to think about the nature of the church in the world.

St. Augustine had a first look at the question of the ‘church invisible,’ complaining that when the Roman empire became Christian it became harder to spot the Christians. Later, Luther and others made a distinction between the church that needed reforming and the believers that wanted reform: the church invisible. Last century, Karl Barth took up the topic and said “we do not believe in the Church; but we do believe that in this congregation the work of the Holy Spirit becomes an event.”**

In other words, the ‘church visible’ is the one that is not meeting at this moment, but the ‘church invisible’ is very much alive. The Holy Spirit holds us together: united in belief, sustained by love, afraid yet filled with joy. Like the time immediately following the resurrection, we experience longing, separation, fear, and joy. We feel these emotions all at once, and we take solace in the knowledge that nothing can truly separate us—from each other—or the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.

*https://www.tvo.org/article/how-ontarians-came-together-to-fight-the-spanish-flu
**Douglas John Hall, Confessing the Faith: Christian Theology in A North American Context, p. 106

MUSIC: Now the green blade rises

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

This adapted prayer, from the Church of England, was written to speak to children and adults alike.

God of love and hope,
you made the world and care for all creation,
but the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right medicines
to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these hard times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe.

God of love and hope,
We have friends who are anxious and sad.
They feel alone and that makes us sad too.
Please be close to them.
Please be with the people who are looking after them.
Please help them to feel better
and to know that you love them.

God of love and hope,
We thank you for Jesus,
for the hope we feel at Easter,
for the joy we see in others,
for the love we enjoy from those near to us.
We thank you for Easter,
the empty tomb means new life.
Bulbs and birds and flowers mean new life.
Jesus with us, alive forevermore, means new life.
Amen.

HYMN: Thine is the glory

Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where the body lay.
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son:
endless is the victory 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 the Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting. R

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. R

BLESSING

God of Easter
send us forth to live the power of resurrection,
that we and all creation might be one with the living Christ;
to whom with you and the Spirit, one holy God,
be honour and praise, now and forever. Amen.

SONG TO GO FORTH

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Our shift online in the midst of crisis allows us to embrace the tradition of Holy Week services. From Holy Monday to Holy Saturday, we will share a short service each day—as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” —Lamentations 3.22-24

PRAYER:

You are with us, Lord,
even in the waiting place—
particularly in the waiting place
where cross, tomb, and glory meet.
Hold us fast, God, and wait with us
speak words of comfort
as we inhabit the uncertainty of this time.
We know you are ever near. Amen.

READING: Matthew 27.62-66

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

REFLECTION

The creeds of the Christian Church agree that Jesus descended into hell on Holy Saturday. Remarkably, they are not clear on what he was doing in hell—but there are some clues. In 1 Peter 4 we learn that Jesus “preached even to the dead” and in Ephesians 4 we get this curious reference to descending: “he made captivity itself a captive.” Obviously the doctrine of descending into hell stood, but the meaning remained unclear.

Enter Ælfric of Eynsham, abbot of a small monastery in Oxfordshire. Abbot Ælfric was a noted preacher and writer, born in the latter part of the Anglo-Saxon golden age. It was Ælfric who coined the phrase, the “harrowing of hell,” describing the process of releasing souls from hell. Wonderfully, harrowing has two meanings: it can mean “tormenting” (tormenting the tormentor) and it also means “the process of breaking up the earth with a harrow.”

Both meanings work for me. Jesus descended into hell to “make captivity itself a captive,” underling that death is defeated by going to the very place where forgiveness is needed most. In my view, this is the end of hell itself, cleared by the atoning work of God in Jesus. And I love the idea of “breaking up the earth” to plant the seeds of salvation wherever sin exists. Thanks be to God.

HYMN: My song is love unknown (verse 4)

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine!
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

PRAYER

While we wait, God,
help us to use the time for prayer.
We pray for everyone who is waiting:
for a word from loved ones,
for a word of comfort,
for a word of hope.
We wait for news, any news,
that might lighten the load we carry.
We wait for some sure sign
of your kingdom, the kingdom
where death is no more,
where suffering ends,
and your reign of glory remains.
Wait with us, God,
We trust in you. Amen.

BLESSING:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

A long tradition of shared worship continues as we mark Good Friday. Thank you to the Rev. Dr. Lance Odland for sharing in the preparation of this service and reflecting on the Good News of Jesus Christ through Romans 6.5-7. Many thanks to Taye and Jenny for special music.

PRELUDE

OPENING PRAYER:

Holy One, speak to us again
as we hear of the suffering and death of Jesus.
May we hear your Word
above the shouts of the crowd,
and hearing,
may we follow faithfully,
even to the cross.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
who died for us. Amen.

HYMN: Jesus keep me near the cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me. R

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me. R

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river. R

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:

And this is the judgment:
that the truth has come into the world,
and we loved our illusions,
rather than reality.
God is true:
in God there is no falseness at all.
For God was in Jesus,
not to condemn the world,
but to restore the world.
Everyone who does evil hates the truth
and does not live in the spirit of love.
But all who do what is true,
live in the Spirit. Amen.

SILENT REFLECTION AND SUNG RESPONSE:

Christ, you lead and we shall follow,
stumbling though our steps may be,
one with you in joy and sorrow,
we the river, you the sea,
we the river, you the sea.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God will give us what we need:
strength for today,
hope for tomorrow,
and forgiveness
for all that is past.
Amen.

FIRST READING: Psalm 22.1-18

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the cry of my distress?
O my God, I cry out in the daytime, but you do not answer;
at night also, but I get no relief.
But you are the Holy One,
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
They called to you, and you rescued them.
In you they put their trust,
and you did not disappoint them.
But I am a worm, less than human,
an object of derision, an outcast of the people.
All those who see me laugh me to scorn,
they curl their lips and toss their heads, saying:
‘You trusted in God for deliverance.
If God cares for you, let God rescue you!’
But you are the One who took me out of the womb.
You kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
On you have I depended from my birth.
Even from my mother’s womb,
you have been my God.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is close at hand,
and there is no one to help me.
Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
They open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravenous, roaring lion.
My life pours out like water;
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart has melted like wax within my breast;
my mouth is parched as dry clay;
my tongue clings to my palate.
I lie in the dust of death.
Dogs surround me;
the wicked hem me in on every side.
They bind my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones,
while they stand staring, gloating over me.
They divide my garments among themselves;
they cast lots for my clothing.

SECOND READING: Romans 6.5-7

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

REFLECTION:

For most of the year we celebrate the new life given to us through Jesus Christ, rejoicing in God’s grace and walking in the Spirit. On Good Friday, however, the cross of Christ looms before us. In a world where the Easter bunny is an “essential service” and chocolate eggs fly off the shelves as fast as toilet paper, where many at this time of year think mainly about family feasts, we hold forth Christ’s crucifixion as what has saved human beings from utter destruction. Jesus was executed in our place. On our behalf he was put to death; for our sake he died and was buried. His death was “once for all,” serving to restore relationship with God, however mysteriously, for all who in and through and with him come to know God as Father.

Death, assuredly, has a gravitas which we cannot dismiss since everything living comes to an end. While many consider this to be simply the order of nature, the circle of life, the dead passing away, or as some say, passing, death is revealed in Scripture to be both a physical and a spiritual reality, the consequence of sin, the inescapable end-point of living apart from God. Since every human being has at some point spurned God and been consigned to disobedience by the holy One (see Romans 11:32), every human being suffers death of body and soul.

Indeed, the New Testament does not shy from the truth that even the living are as good as dead, our self-directed lives judged as missing the mark of God’s holiness. Apart from Christ, we are without hope; apart from Christ, everything and everyone perishes. Yet Christ died to put an end to our death-dealing ways, laying down his life for us. Now, if we have been united with Jesus Christ in baptism, then we have been crucified with him and are to think of ourselves as dead to sin, our old sin-ruined selves put to death and buried.

But death has lost its sting! We have been given a living hope since Christ has been raised to God’s right hand in order to lead us into eternal and abundant life. While united with Christ in his death, we now live united with him in his resurrection, granted new life apart from sin through the gift of the Spirit. This God-centered life is Christ-given, a life in communion with Jesus, a life of service and sacrifice, wherein God’s will is done and not our own; and there is joy, eternal joy!

So, even on Good Friday we are able to rejoice, singing songs of love for the one who died on the cross. Now we truly know that the love of God in Christ never passes away.

SPECIAL MUSIC

THIRD READING: Galatians 2.19-20

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

REFLECTION:

I’m sure you’ve met someone who is best described as animated. When we say someone is animated, they are generally “full of life” or uniquely spirited, maybe they seem excited or particularly energetic. And then there is the other meaning of animated: when a character is “brought to life” through animation—more commonly called cartoons.

And it is this second meaning—brought to life—that gets to the heart of Paul’s massage. When Paul says “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” he is talking about being animated by the presence of Christ within him. Crucified with Christ, the old Paul (Saul) is gone, and the new Paul lives—by faith—with the Son of God within him. He is a new person.

In many ways, the letters of Paul represent working out the meaning. Paul is writing to others, but you get the sense that he is also writing to himself. On the road to Damascus, he was crucified with Christ: learning that his life was no longer his own, and that the one who loves him, lives in him. Paul is desperate to help people understand that what happened to him can happen to others—in the cross.

Good Friday is overwhelming. When we enter the story, we are never bystanders. We feel the pain and the shame, the tension and the terror, and we are changed. Peter Abelard said that just hearing the story can turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. Whoever has “ears to hear” (as Jesus loved to say) will be transformed by the telling, and can become a new person.

So we are animated, transformed, and renewed. And like Paul, we respond to this gift by sharing it with others. We become witnesses to the saving power of God, and take on the task of “liberating others from whatever prevents them from fulfilling themselves as human beings and as daughters and sons of God.” (Gutierrez) The result is a world made new.

May the God of self-giving transform us once more, ever alive in Christ. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

This prayer, from the Church of England, allows us to pray through the details of Christ’s passion.

Let us pray to God
who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son
to give us life.

Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross for your Son.
Give us grace to lift heavy loads from those we meet
and to stand with those condemned to die.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Your Son watched the soldiers gamble to share his clothes.
Transform the hearts of those who make a profit from their victims,
and those whose hearts are hardened by their work.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

The thief, who was crucified with Jesus,
was promised a place in your kingdom.
Give pardon and hope, healing and peace
to all who look death in the face.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

From the cross Jesus entrusted Mary his mother
and John his disciple to each other’s care.
Help us also to care for one another
and fill our homes with the spirit of your love.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

In Mary and John your Son created a new family at the cross.
Fill our relationships,
and those of new families today,
with mutual care and responsibility,
and give us a secure hope for the future.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

The centurion was astonished to see your glory in the
crucified Messiah.
Open the eyes of those who do not know you
to see in your Son the meaning of life and death.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Joseph of Arimathaea came to take your Son’s body away.
Give hope and faith to the dying and bereaved,
and gentleness to those who minister to them.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

Simon and Joseph, Mary and John
became part of your Church in Jerusalem.
Bring into your Church today a varied company of people,
to walk with Christ in the way of his passion
and to find their salvation in the victory of his cross.

Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

and make us one in heart and mind
to serve you in Christ our Lord.
Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: What wondrous love is this, O my soul

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this,
that caused the Lord of life
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I Am,
while millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing;
while millions join the theme I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on.

BLESSING

May you find in the cross
a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven.
And may the blessing of God
go with you, now and for ever more.
Amen.

SONG TO GO FORTH

Christ, you lead and we shall follow,
stumbling though our steps may be,
one with you in joy and sorrow,
we the river, you the sea,
we the river, you the sea.

Maundy is an Old English word derived from the Latin mandatum meaning “commandment.” Jesus commanded his friends to love one another, no matter the circumstances, whether together or apart. Today (or tonight) we commemorate one gathering and two rituals. The first, foot-washing, we will mark by taking time during the service to wash our hands. If you are sheltering with one or more people, perhaps you can wash each other’s hands. Next, we remember the Last Supper, and we encourage you to break bread and lift an appropriate beverage—juice or wine—as you reenact this meal. While it is not communion, we celebrate our common life nonetheless. Take time to prepare these elements before you begin.

CALL TO WORSHIP:

Of all nights, why do we gather on this night?
We gather to find the living God,
here, amid the gathering darkness,
and the approaching gloom.

And where is our God to be found?
With his friends, giving them comfort—
while those who would harm him
plot his destruction.

Did he not predict this moment, just days ago?
Jesus said: “Destroy this temple,
and I will raise it again in three days.”
For tonight, though, the meaning is unclear.

What more can he do on this night of nights?
Jesus will wash the feet of those dear to him,
to show that the Master is truly a servant,
and the least and the last are the greatest of all.

And how will it end, this night of such darkness?
A table is set and soon we will gather,
where words of remembrance and glory will tell—
the fruit of the field and the vineyard we’ll share.

And what of the meaning, eternity’s purpose?
The day that shall follow will see it revealed,
when cross and crowd will conspire together:
the wondrous result, too precious to name.

OPENING PRAYER AND SUNG RESPONSE:

Holy God,
we come to worship in the gathering shadows
of Jesus’ suffering and death.
We gather with a cloud of witnesses,
to experience love in action:
service and sacrifice,
commemoration and grace.
Stand with us as we remember,
and encourage us, as mark this day.
Amen.

Christ, let us come with you
to the upper room where the feast is laid,
to the bread and wine where our peace is made:
Christ, let us come with you!

FIRST READING: John 13.1-5, 12-17

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

HANDWASHING

SUNG RESPONSE:

Teach us your serving love:
to become as friends, to become as one
that the world believe what your life has done:
teach us your serving love.

THE LAST SUPPER

As we begin, tell me about this God we worship.
God is comfort in a time of confusion,
A companion in the darkness of our fear.
Even in the face of death and betrayal, God is with us.

And what of Jesus, where can we find him?
Jesus is setting the table of heaven,
a table of the broken, the outcast, the sinner.
He sets a place for each of us, calling our name.

What happened on the night he was betrayed?
Jesus met his friends in a room just like this one,
around a table, just like this one,
with friends and disciples, like you and me.

And what did he say to his loving companions?
This bread that I break is my body now broken,
The wine that I pour is my blood shed for you:
To each time remember you do this for me.

What is the mystery revealed on this night?
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

And what is the hope we proclaim at this table?
We hope that the Spirit will once more descend,
on us and on others at tables like this one:
as the body of Christ is present tonight.

Bless then, this table, the One and the Three:
Through Christ and with Christ,
in Christ and the Spirit, all glory is yours.
Both now and forever—the God we adore. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against
us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE LOVE FEAST

Partake or share the simple elements.

SUNG RESPONSE:

Christ of the open hands,
you have brought us close to be loved and fed,
you have touched our life, now you walk ahead:
Christ, let us come with you!

SECOND READING: Psalm 116

I love you, God, because you heard my voice
when I made supplication,
because you turned your ear to me,
when I called upon your name.
The cords of death entangled me,
and the pangs of the Grave laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called upon the name of God:
‘O God, I pray, save my life.’
How can I repay you, God,
for all the good things you have done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
and call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows
in the presence of all God’s people. Amen.

BLESSING

Even as we turn away, Lord,
you cannot turn away.
Even in the face of denial and betrayal,
you never turn away.
Even in death, death on the cross,
you will never turn away.
To you be the glory, Lord,
now and ever, Amen.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Our shift online in the midst of crisis allows us to embrace the tradition of Holy Week services. From Holy Monday to Holy Saturday, we will share a short service each day—as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay! —Psalm 70.4-5

PRAYER:

You, Lord, are our help and our deliverer:
you rescue us when we falter,
and you hold us in our time of need.
Draw close, this day,
and help us as we pray.
Surround us with your Spirit,
and remind us of the great cloud of witnesses
that are ever near.
In the name of our Redeemer, we pray.
Amen.

READING: Hebrews 12.1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

REFLECTION

The art of theological reflection means drawing the Word together with our experience, and discovering something new about both. Pondering this passage from Hebrews, I would say that the image of running a race is pretty far removed from what is happening right now. Certainly, we must have perseverance in the face of this crisis, but a race is not the first image I would reach for.

Unless it’s a marathon. Like this crisis, a marathon is something to be endured. It’s uncomfortable, it’s unnatural, and even those who train can falter. There is also the same emotional range: lighter moments, some fear, and even anger. One of our coaches said that there would be a moment—after about 35 kilometres—that we might lash out: and sure enough, it happened. This is my confession.

The reason we read this passage in Holy Week is much the same. Lent and Holy Week can feel like a marathon, making our way to the cross and all that the journey entails. Those who have spent time in candid self-reflection may feel shame. Some grow weary, and some may lose heart. But Jesus endured the cross for sinners, dying that we might live. Recall that his last word, on that far away hill, was “forgive.”

HYMN: Take up your cross (verse 2)

Take up your cross; let not its weight
fill your weak spirit with alarm;
Christ’s strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

PRAYER

Help us, God,
to persevere in prayer.
Guide our hearts as we turn to you,
and give us the words
to express our need for your aid.
Help those dear to us,
and help the countless others who struggle
in the face of illness and death.
Remember everyone assisting others:
give them courage
and help them endure.
We pray in the name of the pioneer
and perfecter of our faith,
Jesus the Christ, Amen.

BLESSING:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Our shift online in the midst of crisis allows us to embrace the tradition of Holy Week services. From Holy Monday to Holy Saturday, we will share a short service each day—as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES:

In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress. —Psalm 71.1-3

PRAYER:

We would see Jesus, Lord,
and stand in his presence.
We know that his hour draws near,
and more will be the glory.
Draw us nearer to the week ahead,
allow us to pray with him,
and wait with him,
and follow him.
And remind us, God, of the great reversal:
that the one who could use saving
chose to save us instead.
Amen.

READING: John 12.20-26

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

REFLECTION

Pity the poor Greeks. They arrived at the eleventh hour of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They were too late. Yet they become a proxy for everyone who seeks to see Jesus, who seeks to understand the life he offers. The simple phrase (“Sir, we would see Jesus”) has become part of Christian memory: that there will always be those who want to know more, to understand Jesus and his way.

Still, we can ask: were they too late? Reading between the lines, there may be more here. John carefully records the steps taken in the story: Greeks ask Philip, Philip asks Andrew, Philip and Andrew ask Jesus, and the response is made. I think it’s fair to assume that Andrew and Philip carried this message back to the Greeks—meaning that they still learned the Good News: the Seed that dies will live, and produce more seeds for eternal life.

Finally, the lateness of the hour, and the hurried response, was only part of the story. They did not have the audience they sought, but they were witnesses to all that happened in the Holy City. They get to witness the turmoil, the crowds, the rituals of Roman justice, and Calvary itself. They weren’t too late—they were just in time. They (and we) get to experience the week ahead. May we walk together. Amen.

HYMN: My faith looks up to Thee (verse 2)

While life’s dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread, be thou my guide,
bid darkness turn to day;
wipe sorrow’s tears away;
nor let me ever stray from thee aside.

PRAYER

You will never let us be put to shame, Lord.
The passion that leads to death,
is never a source of shame for us—
but the path to eternal life.
Help us prepare for the time to come.
Allow us:
to pray the words you pray,
to cry the tears you cry,
to carry the cross you bear.
Save us from the time of trial,
incline your ear and deliver us,
And hear us as we pray. Amen.

BLESSING:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Our shift online in the midst of crisis allows us to embrace the tradition of Holy Week services. From Holy Monday to Holy Saturday, we will share a short service each day—as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES:

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. —Psalm 36.7-9

PRAYER:

Gracious God,
we have traveled this way before:
The journey up to Jerusalem is long,
and the road is hard,
but we travel with you by our side.
Help us, this day, to call to mind
our first, halting steps toward toward
the passion of Jesus Christ.
Remind us that the journey is as important
as the destination, and that our formation
as your disciples, is always one step at a time.
Amen.

READING: Isaiah 42.1-4

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

REFLECTION

From the very beginning, disciples and new believers turned to scripture to understand what they were experiencing. It follows then, that they would look to Isaiah for insights into Jesus. He was (for them) the “servant of the Lord.” They understood that God delighted in him, and that he brought to life much of what the prophet described.

The best single-word summary of the passage might be fortitude. It’s an old word, fortitude, coming from the Latin fortis meaning brave. Anyone familiar with heraldry will recognize fortis, appearing on numerous coats of arms. But fortitude is more than bravery, it’s also courage in pain or adversity: the bruised reed that will not break, and the smouldering wick that cannot to put out.

It is fortitude that our Lord and Saviour will need as the events of the week unfold. But this is not courage for his own sake, but rather for our sake. God’s Spirit is within him: to bring justice to the earth, and teach us the ways of God. We will be shown his righteousness, that we might cast the same light and show others.

HYMN: Be still, my soul

Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.

PRAYER

God of reed and smoldering wick,
you will neither break nor be extinguished.
We turn to you in the most difficult times,
trusting you will never falter,
nor be discouraged.
Encourage us, in this time,
and give us good courage.
As we shelter, remind us that we do so
under the shadow of your wings,
and beside the fountain of life.
Protect those dear to us,
and strengthen those who serve us.
And help us to put our trust in you.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

BLESSING:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

We remain in unfamiliar territory, marking Palm Sunday online. Many thanks to our young people, creating a virtual palm parade for us to enjoy. We pray that the Holy Spirit will speak through what follows, offering a sense of comfort and connection. Special thanks to Dave Hewitt, singing “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Please feel free to forward this service to others.

PRELUDE: “What a Wondrous Hope” by Heather Sorensen

OPENING PRAYER

Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
We shout “save us” Lord,
trusting that you alone are our salvation,
the rock on which we stand.
Find us in the crowd, God,
and hear our cry!
Whether our steps are halting,
or we rush ahead,
we remain one people:
blessed is the one who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest!

HYMN OF PRAISE: All glory, laud and honour

R: All glory, laud and honour
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

You are the King of Israel,
and David’s royal son,
now in the Lord’s name coming,
our King and blessed one. R

The multitude of pilgrims
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present. R

To you, before your passion,
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise. R

Their praises you accepted;
accept the prayers we bring,
great author of all goodness,
O good and gracious king. R

Words and music by Theodulph/Teschner

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

We love a parade!
We love to get what we want.
We love for things to unfold
according to our plan
and not the divine plan—
a plan that remains a mystery to our eyes.
Help us to trust in you, O God,
and help us to set aside our desire for your desire,
and our will for your will, now and always. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God will give us what we need:
strength for today,
hope for tomorrow,
and forgiveness
for all that is past.
Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Psalm 118.19-29

Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[a]
The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

SECOND LESSON: Matthew 21.1-11

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

HYMN: Tell me the stories of Jesus

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus’ face.

Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea
tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee!
And how the Master, ready and kind,
chided the billows and hushed the wind.

Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas! Jesus is king!

Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;
and of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Words and music by Parker/Challinor

REFLECTION

Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

In my mind’s eye, the palms are waving, having shared the keyword “Hosanna!” (there, did it again).  I hope you have some sort of rudimentary palm branch nearby—window blind maybe, or unravel a toilet paper roll.  And thanks again to our younger members, who have been busy improvising since midweek. “Hosanna!”

One of the curious aspects of the Palm Sunday story is the ever-growing nature of the audience.  Like the “one that got away,” the size of the crowd grows with each retelling. In Mark, written first, “many people” gather to greet Jesus.  In Luke and Matthew we go from “a whole crowd of disciples” to a “very large crowd.” And finally, in John’s Gospel, a “great crowd” forms to welcome the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Based on the evidence presented then, we can assume it was a small crowd—not socially-isolated small—but small nonetheless.  And this assumption, rather than diminish the story, makes it more dramatic. In any form of protest there is safety in numbers—and in this case there was not.  These brave few took a big risk that day, something that seems to get lost in the excitement of the day.

The primary clue will come a week from now, when the disciples will lock themselves away for fear of the authorities.  And this tells us that danger was present in this earlier episode, but more an implied danger than the overt danger that will follow the events of Good Friday.  So, excitement and fear, in equal measure, as Jesus enters Jerusalem that day.

It’s hard to make a direct comparison to what we are collectively experiencing, but I’m going to try.  These days we are trying to walk each day, usually down to the lake, through a fairly quiet residential neighbourhood.  Even still, there are a few people around, with everyone trying to do the polite thing and make space. So, there is the excitement of getting out of the house, and the fear which is now implied in every encounter on the street.  And it’s a complex fear: fear that we’re scaring others, fear that we’re offending others when we scramble across the street, and fear—of course—that someone we meet may be ill. It’s a mix of the rational and the irrational, and it’s a way of living that I pray is short lived.  But here we are.

Having shared all that, I think you can see the parallel I’m beginning to draw.  Imagine the mixture of excitement and fear as Jesus does this new thing. Even his initial instructions (“If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them”) suggests confrontation.  By the end of the story the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The extra character in the story is the anonymous other: the one who might demand an explanation, or the one who might bristle at this overt act of defiance.  The whole city becomes a character, and the description “was in turmoil,” which actually tells us very little.

Why turmoil?  Well, the answer is in the text, because soon after dismounting the animal he has been riding, Jesus heads straight for the Temple.  You know the story— he’s turning over tables, he’s making an improvised whip of cords, and he’s explaining as he goes: “This house of prayer,” he says, “has become a den of robbers.”  He pauses to heal some people—he always pauses to heal some people—and then the fight comes. As the words “Hosanna to the Son of David,” still surround him, the so-called religious ones protest: “Do you hear what we hear,” they ask, but Jesus has a verse.  He always has a psalm in his back pocket, this time from Psalm 8:

From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise.

Again, it’s praise but it’s also protest.  By blessing the “one who comes in the name of the Lord” they are also blessing his program, the program where “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Luke 7.22)  In other words, the existing order is coming to an end and a new creation is dawning. Friday may be a bump on the road, but the road still leads to a new heaven and a new earth.  

And change on this scale is always threatening.  One of the unknowns in this current crisis is what happens next.  There are questions about underfunding in healthcare and public health, but larger questions about income inequality, mounting personal debt, and the cost of housing.  Do we rush back to “the way things were” or do we take time to reflect on how our current structures have made this crisis even worse?  

The end of our passage is also a good place to end.  “Who is this?” an anxious city asks. And the answer comes back: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Remember this name, and hold a place in your heart. He comes in the name of the Lord, and his name is blessed. Hosanna (“save us”) the people say, and the wonders begin.  Amen.

MUSIC: “Sweet Hour of Prayer” by William W. Walford

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

This prayer was published by the United Church of Canada as part of our denomination’s response to COVID-19.

We pray for those who struggle.
We pray for those who struggle at this time of huge uncertainty;
for political leaders faced with unforeseen challenges, uncharted ways, difficult decisions,
Holy One, we will acknowledge wise choices, we will offer words of support.

We pray for those who struggle.
We pray for those in situations never before experienced.
We pray for moms and dads who struggle with having children at home all day.
It is difficult to find new activities; it is hard to stay creative.
Holy One, we will listen carefully to the challenges, we will encourage fresh ways of communication with good friends.

We pray for those who struggle,
We pray for those whose day is radically different.
We pray for those who must leave their usual workspace,
for those breadwinners who must work at home.
Holy One, we will support the new priorities, and be patient with ourselves and others.

We pray for those who struggle.
We pray for those who have lost their jobs
We pray for those whose financial security has gone,,
who have anxiety around paying rent or providing for family needs .
Holy One, we will be there in the testing times, we will assure them of their self-worth.

We pray for those who struggle.
We pray for those who have been affected by the Covid 19 virus.
Those who are sick at home and those who have been hospitalized, in their suffering, and in their fear.
Holy One, we will hear and respond to their distress, we will be a safe but compassionate presence to their loved ones.

This prayer we offer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: My song is love unknown

My song is love unknown,
my Saviour’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
O who am I that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?

He came from his blest throne
salvation to bestow,
but people scorned, and none the longed-for Christ would know.
But O my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way,
and his sweet praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then ‘Crucify!’ is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine!
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Words by Samuel Crossman

BLESSING

God’s goodness and mercy follow you.
Christ’s compassion surround you.
The Spirit dwell with you
–in the house of the Lord–
now and forever.
Amen.

SONG TO GO FORTH

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Words and music by Rankin/Williams