April 19, 2020 2nd Sunday of Easter

PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Worship via Blog            2^nd Sunday of Easter                      April 19, 2020

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Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service. Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in the eye, we are still the Pioneer faith community, gathered as children of God to worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be equipped to go out to serve in Christ’s name—though we do it differently during this crisis.

Announcements: The blog continues to be our resource for worship and communications. If you are having difficulty using the blog or setting up a shortcut to it, please call Jean or Jon and we will walk you through it or Jean will stop by and put a shortcut on your computer—keeping appropriate distance, of course. (Unless you have an Apple.)

Now allow yourself a brief time of silence as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.

BAPTISM:         Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.

CALL TO WORSHIP

We are children of the resurrection. We worship in hope and joy knowing that our risen Lord is with us anytime, anywhere … every time, everywhere. Jesus is risen and now we worship in the sure promise of the resurrection: new life now, new life forever. Praise God.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Holy God, amazing God, you brought joy out of the darkest hour for the followers of Jesus when you raised him from the dead. You created in them a hope that could not be broken by the struggles and adversity they faced after that. All this time later, you give us that same hope. No matter what we face, we do it with the knowledge of the resurrection, with that promise that despite what happens in life, we too have the promise of new life in Jesus. We claim that promise now as we pause in worship and praise. Amen.

OPENING PRAISE SONG:          “He Is Lord”

CALL TO CONFESSION

As an Easter people, we live in the promise of the resurrection. We do not do it perfectly. When we stumble, when we doubt, when we fail to live up to the new life in Christ, God still welcomes us into his grace. Let us confess our need for that grace.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. (add your own personal prayers of confession …….)

In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.*

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.

          The old life has gone; the new life has begun.

Friends, believe the Good News!

          In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and restored to new life!

PASSING THE PEACE

          May the peace of Christ be with you.

                   And also with you.

Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart and prayer to God’s children everywhere.

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

TIME WITH CHILDREN

Hello Zoey and Fiona. Did you have a good Easter? Did you have an Easter egg hunt? When I was little, that was one of the things we looked forward to at Easter. Mom and Dad would hide eggs in the yard—lots and lots of them, all in pretty colors. We needed lots because there were five of us kids. We would hunt for the eggs and were delighted when we found them. Sometimes we would even find an egg that had been missed the prior year. We didn’t put that one in the potato salad, though. Yuck! Sometimes, too, we would find a nest of eggs with a hen sitting on them. We didn’t take those eggs either because we knew pretty soon baby chicks would hatch. Baby chicks are a good reminder of new life.

Did you color the pictures I sent you? And did you remember about new life when you colored the butterflies and eggs and ate chocolate bunnies? Those are reminders to us of Jesus and Easter. Can you name some other examples of new life that comes in spring? How about the leaves coming out on trees and flowers coming up from the ground?  Calves are being born now and birds are starting to build their nest so they can raise baby birds. When you go out in your yard, see if you can spot new life. We can thank God for all the new life that comes with spring. Let’s do that now.

Dear God, thank you for all the new life and new growth we see around us. It makes us happy to know that even though we can’t go to church and other places to be around people that you are still here with us and you make things grow—even us! Thank you. Amen.

         

HYMN:     “Jesus Loves Me”

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

Recollect how, following each children’s time, they return to their pews or class as the congregation links hands in an arch over the aisle and over their heads. They go down the aisle knowing that they are part of our worship, that they count, that they are important. As we sing, we remember that this song is for us as well. Jesus loves us. The Bible tells us this truth over and over again. We tell each other. Our hearts tell us as well.

SCRIPTURE 1:  John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

SCRIPTURE 2:  1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith -- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

SERMON: “Living Hope”                                                    Rev. Jean Hurst

          What is this ‘living hope’ our text relates to new birth? Jesus, in his conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus, talked about being born from above, born of the Spirit. Is this different? One would think so, since Jesus was still alive when he told Nicodemus he needed to be born from above. But now, according to the text, we are living under a whole new promise—a promise precipitated by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

          With that new birth comes an inheritance, that to which we are heir as a result of that new birth. This is not the sort of inheritance one would get from an earthly parent when that parent dies. This is an unending benefit—one that will never perish, will never be defiled, will never be depleted. It’s not one we receive here on earth. (Though there are earthly benefits we’ll discuss shortly.) Rather than it being the sort of inheritance we receive when a parent dies, it is, instead, an inheritance we receive when we die. It’s kept in trust for us in heaven. This eternal inheritance we are to receive is called salvation. With it comes eternal life.

          The scripture passage assures us that our inheritance is being protected by the power of God through faith. That raises a question. What exactly is faith? What would make that faith be sufficient for God to protect our inheritance of salvation? According to the Heidelberg Catechism it means that we have to trust and believe in that salvation. The verse that, in part, prompted the Reformation says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

          The verse from Ephesians holds two important truths. One, salvation is a gift of God, a gift of grace that we don’t earn or deserve. It is prompted by love. The second truth is really embedded in the first in the word ‘grace’. It is not about what we do, it is about what God does. There is mystery in salvation and none of us have the full or final answer.

          Questions abound. Does a person have salvation without faith? Does God’s gift of grace extend to those who don’t believe in Jesus? Does the gift extend to those who don’t even know they should have faith? Does it include those who have a different way of believing through other faith paths? Does it include those who claim to be atheist, who don’t believe God exists? How about those who have died? Perhaps closer to home for many of us is the question of whether God’s gift of grace will still apply to us if we believe … and still doubt. Good questions, all.

          When I struggle with those questions, I am reminded that God didn’t appoint me to that task. I’m not going to second guess a God who loved humanity so much that God would not give up on us but instead shed the divine, took human form, came to us in our lostness, taught love, modeled love, commanded love even toward those who don’t deserve it, suffered and died because of that love for humanity, then rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. Is God going to start putting conditions on love and grace after the fact? Does God truly love us only if we believe the right things, say the right things, do the right things? I think I’ll leave those issues up to the God of love. (If you’d like an exploration of this topic, read the book, Love Wins by Rob Bell.)

          Setting aside our tendency to judge whether or not God’s love applies to the other guy, the question of doubt is relevant. I think that’s why the story of Thomas is included in the gospel. The disciple Thomas, forever dubbed Doubting Thomas, struggled with being able to believe the unbelievable. (Might the unbelievable also be God choosing to love the unlovable and give himself for them?) Thomas operated from the perspective of reality in the human life he’d experienced. And yes, as a disciple he’d likely witnessed Jesus restoring people to life after they had died—Lazarus, the son of the widow of Nain, and the synagogue ruler’s daughter. He must have believed what he saw when Jesus performed a miracle. But how could the miracle-maker himself possibly be restored?

          The other disciples can claim no superiority over Thomas. Jesus told them ahead of time that he would die and come back to life. They had been told by the women who had been to the empty tomb that Jesus was alive. But still they huddled in a locked room out of fear instead of joyfully carrying on Jesus’ ministry, proclaiming the incredible news. Jesus had to appear among them to get them to believe. They told Thomas that Jesus was alive based on their own experience after Jesus had proved it to them. Thomas hadn’t had that experience. He doubted until Jesus himself proved the truth to him also.

          If we’re honest, we’d have to admit that at times we too doubt. It might be a doubt as great as that of Mother Theresa. Ben Young, writer and teaching pastor at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, wrote an article that begins, “All my heroes walk with a limp.”  He goes on to say, “They limp because their faith was forged in pain, suffering, and doubt.” Such was the case with Mother Theresa who wrote, “I feel just that terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me, of God not being God, of God not really existing.” The doubts that plagued her were not momentary, but occurred throughout most of her ministry—yet she ministered anyway. She also expressed doubts about Jesus. “Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.”¹

            The range of our doubt can be as big as the existence of God and as … big … as believing God’s love and grace applies to others but not to ourselves. Those questions and doubts can lead cause us to suffer and question our salvation or they can lead us to seek a deeper understanding and living out of our faith. Jesus revealed himself to Thomas and Thomas responded with fervent belief, “My Lord and my God!” We have those times of unshakeable belief as well even though we’ve never seen him. Of us, and the millions of other believers in the same situation, Jesus said “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

          Doubt happens. Doubt does not negate our salvation. We do not forfeit our inheritance because we question. As the author of the Peter letters wrote, even though our inheritance—our salvation--is being protected by God, we will still face the normal struggles of life. As Christians, we are not shielded from the realities of living. The doubt and suffering we encounter in life is not a sign that we have failed in our faith. No matter the doubts, no matter the sufferings or challenges we experience in life, we still live in hope. It is a living hope.

          What is living hope? Is it that hope lives or that we live in hope? David Bartlett, professor and dean at Yale Divinity School, offers this: “Hope lives because it is based in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, his triumph over death. Hope lives because death cannot overcome it. Hope lives because even in the face of tribulation it does not back down or grow faint. Living hope is hope that gives life.”²

            I like that definition of living-hope, viewed as a noun. The text reflects that, speaking of a living hope. But I think there is more. What if living hope is also a verb? As children of the resurrection, we are called to live hope. We are called to live that hope of salvation. We are called to live each day embracing that promise God is protecting for us, the promise of eternal life that will not end, will not be spoiled, and will not diminish over the eons of eternity. That hope lives; it is God-breathed; it grows our faith; it moves us to greater depths … and height and breadth of love.

          Just as Jesus told Thomas, the author of today’s text tells those first century followers and us, “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” That knowledge of Jesus and his resurrection gives us the joy and hope that sustains us through this earthly life, through all its struggles and sufferings and doubts as we look forward to the promise of our own resurrection—that salvation which is our inheritance. That is living hope!

          Now, as you consider living hope, knowing that you are a child of the resurrection, what do you want your life to be? What, for you, would be evidence of believing in a living hope? What would reflect new birth and new life for you in your daily living, in your relationship with God, in your relationship with each other, in your thoughts and attitudes and actions? What would it feel like to live hope in a way that proclaims the resurrection? That is living hope!!

¹https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-you-can-learn-about-doubt-from-mother-teresa.html

²David Bartlett, The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume III, p. 250, Abingdon Press, Nashville             

           

HYMN:     “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

          Still your hearts and minds as you feel God’s presence surrounding you and God’s love holding you. (silence …)

          Almighty God, we come before you in thanksgiving. You have loved us and believed in us despite all the ways we have failed to live up to your vision for us. Rather than give up on us, you took on our form and came among us to show us the way. In Jesus you died for us and then did the incredible—you conquered death so that we might live. Your ultimate promise is that we will return to you, that we will come home, that we will live with you. Creator and Redeemer, hear our prayers of thanks ……..

          Until that time of homecoming, empower us by your Holy Spirit to live as disciples of Jesus in ways that are pleasing to you. Touch those places in us, tender God, that are lonely and anxious and confused and uncertain and fearful. Lift us above our times of pettiness and resentment and suspicion. Heal those wounded places within us that are so deep and so painful we cannot even speak of them. Bring us into the fullness and joy of life. Pour out your love of the world through us and guide us in serving your people in ways that bring light and hope to those in need.

          We lift up to you those of our congregation and community who need your presence, your peace, and your healing touch: Sandy … Sandi …Trisha … Dave … Jacob … Linda … Joyce … Jennifer … Chuck … Courtney … Ethel … Helen.

          We pray for the victims of the coronavirus, for the healing of those who are ill, for comfort for those who grieve, for peace for those who fear. For those whose businesses are in jeopardy, help them through this time. For those who must make hard decisions, give them the wisdom and courage they need. This pandemic becomes an all-consuming focus, but there are so many struggles that people face beyond the virus and so we lift them up to you—those struggling with the impact of natural disasters, disease, poverty, and addictions, for those who are frail in body and spirit, for the lonely and afraid. We pray for the people of Africa whose lives are threatened by locust invasions as well as the pandemic. All of these are your beloved children so help us to see them as our brothers and sisters and open our hearts in compassion.

          We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray: 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

OFFERING

We bring before God the gifts of our hearts and labors. (The financial gifts you can mail to the church.) The gifts of our hearts, of our time, our energy, our talents is something we commit to God, then live out each day in our interactions with one another. Take a moment to make those heart offerings to the Lord.

DOXOLOGY

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Holy and Faithful God, we bring before you the gifts of our hearts and labor. We offer these out of gratitude for your many blessings, out of the resources you have entrusted to our stewardship, out of our desire to be part of your kingdom work that others might know the joy and hope we have found in your grace. Thank you. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN:     “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

You have a serious charge for your Christian walk. Live hope. Jesus handed off to his followers the charge to go into the world and share the good news of the gospel. We do it in our personal living. We do it in our speech. We do it in our actions. Christ is alive! Show the world that it’s true. Show the world that it matters.

As you do, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

CHORAL RESPONSE

May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.

*Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, 1993, Westminster/John Knox Press.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Worship and church activities are suspended until the coronavirus is contained and it is once again safe to come together and worship. Use the church blog to access worship and spiritual support articles and to keep up with what’s going on. If you have trouble accessing or using the site, call Jean or Jon.

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Sandy Cargill (aortic valve replacement), Sandi Posz (lymphoma), Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave Clark (kidney cancer), Jacob Cunningham, Linda Kaesemeyer (knee surgery), Joyce Sahlberg (health issues), Jennifer Schirm (Parkinson’s), Chuck VanHise (leg/walking rehab), and Courtney Ziegler (Huntington’s).

LECTIONARY FOR 4/26/20

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35