Continuing in the Covenant of Baptism: To Serve all People, Following the Example of Jesus

 

Continuing in the Covenant of Baptism: To serve all people, following the example of Jesus

A midweek evening prayer service for Lent 4 

Opening Dialogue

Behold, now is the acceptable time;

now is the day of salvation.

Turn us again, O God of our salvation,

that the light of your face may shine on us.

May your justice shine like the sun;

and may the poor be lifted up.

 

Hymn of Light – O Light Whose Splendor Thrills (ELW# 563)

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Thanksgiving for Light                                                                                                                    

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you called light into being, and you set light in the sky to govern night and day.

In a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night you led your people into freedom. Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ: may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and with all your creatures we give you glory, through your Son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Psalmody: Psalm 25:1-10 spoken responsively by half verse

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in you I trust;

    do not let me be put to shame;

    do not let my enemies exult over me.

Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;

    let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

    teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth, and teach me,

    for you are the God of my salvation;

    for you I wait all day long.

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

 

Hymn – Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (ELW #712)

                         Listen Here

A reading from the Gospel of John 13:31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Here ends the lesson.

Thanks be to God.

Reflection - Pastor Jennifer

We are nearing the end of this series of continuing the covenant of baptism. Thus far we have contemplated on the first three promises

1. to live among Gods faithful people
2. to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper
3. to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed.

The focus of this week is To serve all people, following the example of Jesus. 

Recall a time in your life when you came in from outside and your feet were hot and dusty, perhaps feeling tired and sore.

You ran a bit of water in the tub, perhaps put in some nice body wash or maybe some epsom salts. You sit on the edge of the tub and place your tired, dusty and dirty feet in the water. 

You close your eyes and allow the sensation of the water swirling around your feet to linger. 

an audible deep sigh is let out. relief. 

and as you take the washcloth and rub between your toes and on the soles of your feet washing away the dust and dirt- you feel refreshed. your whole body feels refreshed, not only your feet. 

taking your feet out of the water the air touches your wet feet making them tingle. then a dry towel is wrapped around your feet further increasing the sense of refreshment. After wiping them dry, you wiggle your toes on the bathmat, smiling at your clean feet, glad to be rid of the dirt and grime of the day. Refreshed and renewed 

It is a sign of hospitality to have your guest’s feet washed when they come in from their journey. For us it is an off-putting thing. but in those countries and places where people walk along dusty roads and paths it is normal, it is expected as it is part of the culture. However it is not the host who washes but the house servant who does this.  

I experienced this when I travelled to Madagascar. We had been walking quite far in a rural area  and our feet were dry and dusty and quite tired form our journey. We arrived at our host's residence and the servant came out and motioned to us to sit on a long bench in the shade. We sat and she removed our sandals and then one by one she came by and poured cool refreshing water over our feet and scrubbed our feet with a cloth and then dried them. At first I was uncomfortable mostly because I was aware of my white colonial privilege in an African Country but as soon as that cool water touched my feet and her hands gently held my feet rubbing away the dirt and grime of the journey I understood in my depths what this act of servanthood was all about. I met Jesus that day. 

Jesus is sharing a meal with his disciples, his friends. During the meal he washes the disciples' feet. The host is not to wash the guests feet, it was a task reserved for the servant not for a teacher, friend and rabbi. 

Jesus knows that his friends will betray him and indeed Judas has just left the room and yet Jesus still offers this sign of servanthood, of love to show them that this is how God will use us to love, bless, heal and feed people in this world. 

Jesus says “A new commandment I give you, just as I have loved you, you also love one another.”  

If we want to understand the promise we make in our baptism to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, we have only to look at Jesus’ life and actions. The foot-washing in which he so recently engaged sets the tone for the humble service that Jesus expects his disciples to render to each other.

In community we are to love and Iive among God’s faithful people. Jesus also calls us to love our neighbours and our enemies because God loves the world and all people in it. 

This new commandment Jesus gives the disciples is positive and open-ended. Rather than focusing on the “Thou shalt nots,” of the ten commandments and the laws of Leviticus, it says, “thou shalt.” 

Where many Old Testament laws were very specific, this law is very broad. We can never claim full compliance, because there is no end to the requirement. When have we loved enough? There is always need for more love. People could respond to the old law with a bookkeeper’s mindset. Not so with this new commandment!

The focus is on loving action rather than loving feelings. In chapter 15, Jesus will repeat the commandment, saying, “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). In his own life, Jesus translates love into action that benefits the beloved. He calls us to do the same.

This makes it possible to obey.  

While it might be impossible to feel affection for some people, it is not impossible to help them. Our action-love is a gift of Christ, who loved us, showed us how love behaves, and makes of us a new people born again in his image and capable of loving with his love. We can truly obey this commandment when “it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

If you believe yourself to have a valid excuse not to love a particular person, consider the context in which Jesus tells the disciples to love one another. Jesus has just told them that one of them will betray him, and they do not know who that will be. The betrayer Judas has departed (v. 30), but the disciples do not know that (vv. 28-29). Jesus commands them to love one another anyway—in spite of the fact that they do not know who the betrayer will be—do not know who it is that they cannot trust.

Our Christian witness can take many forms, from supporting food banks to solemn liturgy,  but it always involves love.

The church grew rapidly after the resurrection, in part because of the powerful witness of Christian love. “See how they love one another,” the pagans said (Tertullian, Apology). It is difficult not to respond to the witness of a loving person.

Ignoring this new commandment is not an option. Paul warns, “If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal,… If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

But, as with all commandments, this one ultimately requires us to rely on God’s grace rather than our compliance with the law. 

Most of us fail daily to act in loving ways, even toward loved ones—and even more so toward people who rub us the wrong way. 

The Good News is that God loves us anyway! We must pray for grace to keep the commandment—and for grace when we fail. 

Let us pray:

Though you are God,

with all the influence and status that the name implies,

you refused to pull rank,

and parade your power among us.

Instead, you chose to step down into our experience,

living among us, as one of us,

with all the struggle and suffering

that goes with being human.

More than that, you adopted the role of slave,

washing feet, serving people of no reputation or social standing,

and giving of yourself completely.

As incredible as it sounds,

you are the God who serves,

and we can respond in no other way

than to give ourselves to you in praise.  Amen*

* The God who Serves by John van de Laar  https://sacredise.com/the-god-who-serves/

Scriptural Dialogue                                                                                                              

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,

but in these last days God has spoken to us by the Son.

 

Gospel Canticle – My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness (ELW #251)

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The Prayers

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the health of the creation, for abundant harvests that all may share, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For public servants, the government, and those who protect us; for those who work to bring peace, justice, healing, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel, for those who are sick and suffering, and for those who are in captivity, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance in the time of affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all servants of the church, for this assembly, and for all people who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

A time of silence follows.

Giving thanks for all who have gone before us and are at rest, rejoicing in the communion of all the saints, we commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to you, through Christ our Lord.

To you, O Lord.

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen.

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected us today. We ask you to forgive us all our sins, where we have done wrong, and graciously to protect us tonight. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray as Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven,

    hallowed be your name,

    your kingdom come,

    your will be done,

        on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

    as we forgive those

        who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

    and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

    and the glory are yours,

    now and forever. Amen.

 

Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Silent Witness - The Shroud

Silent Witness - The Shroud

The Gathering

Welcome

Hymn    Here is Bread (ELW #483)

                        Listen Here

Leader: In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets,

All:         but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.

Christ  the Life of all the Living,

                Christ, the death of death our foe,

                Christ, yourself for me once giving

                To the darkest depths of woe:

                Through your suff’ring, death and merit

                Life eternal I inherit.

                Thousand, thousand thanks are due,

                Dearest Jesus, unto you.

Leader: No one has ever seen God

All:         The only Son, who is in the bosom of the father, he has made God known.

Leader: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

All:         We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father.

Leader: Therefore we must pay close attention to what we have heard.

All          It was declared at the first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him

Leader  While God himself also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles

All          and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will

Leader  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely,

All          and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us

Leader: Looking unto Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith

All          For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God

                Lord, you were so pure and stainless,

Wrapped in true humility,

That your death makes dying painless

And brings life and joy to me.

Clothed in glory, fading never,

I shall live with you forever.

Thousand, thousand thanks are due,

                Dearest Jesus, unto you!

Leader  These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled

All:         We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him

Leader  When we cry ``Abba Father,`` it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God

All          and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ

Leader  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony all nations.

All          We are witnesses to these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him

Leader  You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses.

All          We are witnesses to all that he did.  They put him to death by hanging him on a tree:

Leader  but God raised him up on the third day and made him manifest,

All          not to all people, but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses.

Christ, the faithful Witness, sharing

Living words from God above:

Christ, yourself the Word declaring

All the wonders of God`s love:

Let your Word, rich fruit now bearing,

Be the seed of my declaring.

Grant, O Lord, that I may too

Faithful witness bear for you

Prayer of the day

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, renew in us the gifts of your mercy; increase our faith, strengthen our hope, enlighten our understanding, widen our charity, and make us ready to serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson                                        Isaiah 53:9-11

They made his grave with the wicked

    and his tomb with the rich,

although he had done no violence,

    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.

When you make his life an offering for sin,

    he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;

through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.

    Out of his anguish he shall see light;

he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.

    The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,

    and he shall bear their iniquities.

Psalmody                                            from Psalm 22

Leader: The snares of death encompassed me, the horrors of the grave closed in on me

All:         I will tell my people what you have done; will praise you in their assembly: “Praise him, you servants of the Lord!   Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!  Worship him, you people of Israel!  He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering; he does not turn away from them, but answers when they call for help.”

Leader: The snares of death encompassed me, the horrors of the grave closed in on me

All:         In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done; in the presence of those who worship you I will offer the sacrifices I promised

Leader: The snares of death encompassed me, the horrors of the grave closed in on me

All:         The poor will eat as much as they want; those who come to the Lord will praise him.  May they prosper forever!

Second Lesson                                  1 Peter 3: 8-15

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For

“Those who desire life

    and desire to see good days,

let them keep their tongues from evil

    and their lips from speaking deceit;

let them turn away from evil and do good;

    let them seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;

Theme Hymn     Were You There (ELW #353)

                        Listen Here

Silent Witness…what testimony would be given if things could speak?

The Shroud

**This sermon is a dialogue between two persons and is from the “Silent Witness” series.**

Excuse me. As you may have heard, we are gathering information from witnesses to the crucifixion of the one called Jesus. We were told that you played a significant role in the events of those three days. So, if you would be so kind, we’d like to hear from you about what happened as you witnessed it.

I know that you have already heard from other silent witnesses. Perhaps you have even found their accounts fascinating. It seems to me that some of them would be hard to believe. I guess I would have difficulty accepting them as accurate too, except for the fact that I too participated in that historic event. If I hadn’t been so close to the events myself…well, maybe I had better just tell you what happened.

Perhaps you could begin, as the other witnesses did, by telling us a little bit about yourself.

I think you ought to know that I came from a very humble beginning. After being scattered along with many other flax seeds, I grew to be a slender, straight flax plant with beautiful blue flowers, if I do say so myself. It’s difficult to match the natural beauty of the flowers of the earth, even the flowers of plants which seem to many to be weeds. It’s amazing, too, what changes can take place that make the common precious, the average valuable, and the simple elaborate. That’s what happened to me.

Even though you started as a weed.

Yes, I did start as a simple weed in the fields, but I was selected – along with many, many others, to be sure – to be carefully prepared for a special purpose. You see, with the proper care and preparation, what seems to be no more than a somewhat pretty weed in the fields can be turned into a gift fit for a queen. I had wondered as I grew if I would become more than I was. How excited I was when I was “picked” (literally!) to be woven into linen. That’s what they do with some flax, you know: they make it into linen.

Linen. That is more impressive!

It may surprise you to know that linen is often as fine and smooth as silk, and it can have a beautiful shine and amazing strength. That come about by all of us individual plants of the field being properly prepared and working together. There is a spinning and a weaving that takes place, and the plants become threads and the threads become the beautiful, strong piece of linen.

Is there a lesson in all of that?

Someone has commented that people could take a lesson from us. It has been said that some people are simply happy to grow tall and let their blossoms bloom for all to see. The sad part is that they are unwilling to allow themselves to be gathered with others in order to become more beautiful, more useful, and stronger. For some it is difficult to give of themselves in that way, but oh, what a fantastic difference when the spinning and weaving are finished! But becoming a piece of linen is only one part of the miraculous change and use made of former flax plants. Once the change has taken place through the skilled hands of spinners and weavers, there are any number of ways we can be used.

Used?

Many pieces of linen are used to adorn the tables in palaces during the grand banquets which are commonplace among those with much money and in positions of authority. Some of us linen is used to hang and display our beauty for all to see. Some pieces of linen are used to make clothes to cover the bodies of those who can afford us. (You see, linen is not only very nice and pleasant to the eyes, but linen is cool as well. In this area of the world, cool is in demand!) So, as you can see, it is one thing to be transformed from flax into linen, but then there is the anticipation of how one will be finally used. Personally, I had hoped to be a fine garment wrapped around the body of a king, or prince, or queen. The again, I guess I’ve always had high expectations, considering that I began as a simple plant of the field.

I appreciate your beginnings and certainly agree that expectations don’t always agree with reality, but please, get on with your testimony.

Apparently, my hopes were too high; I found that out when my use was finally made clear. It was a blow to my ego, if linen can have an ego. Maybe I had better just tell you what happened.

I wish you would!

A man named Joseph – I believe he was from Arimathea – came in, asking for a piece of linen. At first glance I was excited. I knew it was my turn to be sold for use since I was now on top of the stack. Well, this man Joseph was very will dressed. I assumed he was a person of high position. I found out that he was a member of the Council; that means he was a leader among the church officials. Knowing that, my mind raced with thoughts of adorning a fine table, or hanging to be appreciated by those who gazed at my silken sheen and beautiful weave. I could picture myself draped over the noble body of this man, or his wife. I knew I was about to become famous! I was right…in a way. I was wrong, too.

I don’t understand.

This man, Joseph, told the shop keeper that he needed a piece of linen to be used as a burial shroud. Can you imagine the cold, drafty, damp feelings that shot through my fibers at that moment? Here I had seen myself as an important part of nobility or royalty, only to find out that I was to be wrapped around a corpse and buried away in a dark, dank tomb, never to be seen or appreciated again.

How humiliating!

How utterly degrading! I wished that I had been left in the field to die and go to seed. At least then I would have served a purpose and would have left my mark on the face of the earth. But, to be stuck away in a hole!

It’s enough to unravel even the finest linen.

I was sold and taken from the shop by the man named Joseph. Shortly, we met up with a man named Nicodemus, another member of the Council. He and Joseph seemed a bit ill at ease. I found out later that what they were about to do could get them into a lot of trouble with the other members of this Council.

More humiliation.

Anyway, Nicodemus had bought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. It was the custom to wrap a body in linen and place spices and aloes between the wrapped layers. This was supposed to preserve the body somewhat. I’m sure that people will come up with some better means of doing this as the years pass. However, it was certain now that I was to be wrapped around a body and stuffed with all these spices. (What if I’m allergic to them? No one bothered to think about that!) I finally accepted that my hopes were gone, my usefulness a sham, and my purpose…you call this a purpose? Not me! Then, things got even worse.

Worse?

That’s right: things got worse! I was set down on the ground so the two men could get the body I was to be wrapped around. And here’s where it got worse. The body was hanging on a cross! I was to wrap the corpse of a criminal who had been crucified! Why didn’t they just toss him into the pit over there. Or let him be prey to the birds the way they did with others who had been crucified? After all, criminals weren’t entitled to a burial! Why was this man special? He didn’t look special; he just looked dead. Well, they got him down and began to wrap me around him. I had to be used in strips; that’s the Jewish custom for burial – strips of linen with layers or myrrh and aloes between.

This sounds quite different from the other accounts we have heard. Oh, don’t get me wrong; I’m certainly not doubting what you say. It’s just that what happened to you was very different. Please go on.

Remember, please, how I told you that my beginning was unique, in that I had come from being a simple plant into being fine linen.

Yes.

I also told you that I had high hopes of possible serving a use for nobility, or even wrapping around a king to dress him in finery to keep him cool.

You did.

And, I also told you that I had given up all hope of any of that happening. I said that, didn’t I?

Yes, you did.

Well, I don’t know how to get you to understand, but I’m just going to tell you how it was, and you can wrestle with the confusion. That’s what I’ve had to do.

OK.

Here’s what happened: When the body of the crucified man first touched me, there was a sensation that passed through all of my strands and bridged the gaps in my weave. It was as though I was being fused into one solid mass, a mass with strength, beyond the strength of common (or even fine) linen, a mass with a sheen beyond that of the finest silk, a softness to surpass the flesh of an infant. Now, one would expect a different kind of feeling from touching a body, don’t you think?

I would.

It was clear that this couldn’t be the body of the average criminal who was crucified. This was someone with special powers, or purpose. There was no doubt that the man was dead, yet there was this sensation which made me feel alive and stronger, while he lay dead and weak as I was carefully wrapped around him. Are you still with me?

I think so.

If you’re finding this hard to understand, imagine how I felt! All of a sudden, I felt that being able to touch this man and serve as his shroud was far more important than any other use I could have ever imagined. I knew that I had been set apart from the time I was shooting up as a sprout in the field. I was not just one of the flax of the earth; I was a small part of a great plan to accomplish something magnificent. I never imagined, in my wildest dreams, that something as simple as I could be put to such an important use! But I knew that it was true. I didn’t understand it, but I knew it. I could feel it through every fiber of my being. Finally, I was completely bound around the body. I pressed tightly against his lifeless flesh. There was no movement, no breathing, no trace of a heart beating. He was indeed without life. How shameful!

Shameful?

I had no idea who this man had been, but if in death he had the power to change and affect me as he did, can you imagine what he could have or must have done for human beings when he was alive?

If only he could have lived longer and changed more people!

It is probably not my place to second-guess the God who created this power-filled man and even created me as simple flax. How thankful I am, though, that God saw fit to allow me, as a humble piece of linen, to come in contact with such a great, life-changing person as this crucified one. Even though I was confused about all of these events, there was a sense of confidence and security as I was allowed to hold his precious body resting in death. Even though I knew he was truly dead, there was a feeling that it wasn’t over yet, a feeling that there was more to happen, an excitement which replaced the usual depression at a time like this.

How do you mean?

I no longer felt myself to be a useless rag wrapping a corpse; rather, I felt as though I was being used for a very special purpose, one that I might never understand. But I was content to accept that and be thankful for it.

Oh, how unbelievable that feeling must have been – to be so close to the crucified one!

We were moved into a new grave – the crucified one and I, that is – and laid to rest. We were sealed tightly inside by a huge stone. Darkness, quiet, and emptiness surrounded us. We lay motionless for a couple of days, I guess, and then…I don’t know if I should even say it.

Say it, please!

We were lying as still as death itself…and I felt a movement. I figured that it must be another earthquake; what else could be moving in a grave? The movement was slight. It was a tugging, a straining against me. It was as though the body I held was trying to expand, as it would if breath were to re-enter it. It was a rhythmic movement, as though the silenced heart were pumping once again, pumping life back into the limp body. Yes, that was it – it was the movement of life! I had no sooner realized what it was when I found myself alone on the slab.

Alone?

I was in place; I was still wound, I was still filled with spices; but I did not surround a body any more. Something beyond imagination had occurred, something I cannot explain. I can only tell you as an eyewitness it happened! And I, a simple flax plant transformed into linen, had been transformed into a shroud of life! I didn’t give life to the crucified one, mind you, but I was allowed to serve him by holding him only as long as he chose to be held. He was never really bound. And now, so I hear, neither are you! He is free from that which held him. And so are you! I used to think death was the end. Obviously, it’s only the beginning.

Obviously!

Hymn    Saviour when in Dust to You (ELW #601) verse 1, 3, 4

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Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.*

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, by your redeeming love

All:         We have been called into your kingdom, gathered as holy people, enlightened by the word of Your Gospel, sanctified to serve you in our various callings, and kept in your strong care

Leader  Though we are dust, you shared our life and died for us the death that sets us free

All:         Now cover us with the bright shining garment of your forgiveness

Leader: Remove from us all discontent, and make us willing witnesses to this, Your cleansing and renewing love.

All:         Knit us together Lord we pray, and scatter us, according to your calling and the gifts which you provide, to demonstrate by word and deed the mercies which transformed us so.

Leader: And when the day of resurrection comes – your final calling, gathering, enlightening, sanctifying day –

All:         unite us then, we pray by your forgiving grace, with those whom you have clothed in light that never fades.

Leader: All this we ask in Your redeeming name, and as you, Lord have taught us to:

Lord's Prayer

    Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as in heaven.

    Give us today our daily bread.

    Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
    who sin against us.

    Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

    For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen. 

Offering Hymn - My Song is Love Unknown

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The Great Thanksgiving

The Invitation

He was always the guest.  In the homes of Peter and Jarius, Martha and Mary, Joanna and Susanna, he was always the guest.

At the meal tables of the wealthy where he pled the case of the poor, he was always the guest.

Upsetting polite company, befriending isolated people, welcoming the stranger, he was always the guest.

But here, at this table, he is the host.

Those who wish to serve him must first be served by him, those who want to follow him must first be fed by him, those who would wash his feet must first let him make them clean.

For this is the table where God intends us to be nourished; this is the time when Christ can make us new.

So come, you  who hunger and thirst for a deeper faith, for a better life, for a fairer world.

Jesus Christ who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be guests at his table.

Hymn – Eat This Bread (ELW #472)

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The Story

What we do here, we do in imitation of what Christ did.  To his followers in every age Jesus gave us an example and command rooted in the experience he shared with his disciples in an upstairs room in Jerusalem.

Reader:

On the night on which we he was betrayed, and as they were sitting at a meal, Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it.  He gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body.  It is broken for you.  Do this to remember me.”  Later, after they had eaten, he took a cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death.  Drink this all of you, to remember me.”

Presider:

So, now we do as Jesus did.  We take this bread and this wine, the produce of the earth and fruit of human labour.

In these, Jesus has promised to be present; through these, Christ can make us whole.

Eucharistic Prayer

Presider               Let us Pray

                                The Lord be with you

All                          And also with you

Presider               Lift  up your hearts.

All                          We lift them to the Lord

Presider               Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

All                          It is right to give our thanks and praise

Presider            It is indeed right, for you made us, and before us, you made the world we inhabit, and                             before the world, you made the eternal home in which, through Christ, we have a                                     place.

                                All that is spectacular, all that is plain have their origin in you; all that is lovely, all who are loving point to you as their fulfillment.

                                And grateful as we are for the world we know and the universe beyond our ken, we particularly praise you, whom eternity cannot contain, for coming to earth and entering time in Jesus.

                                For his life which informs our living, for his compassion which changes our hearts, for his clear speaking which contradicts our harmless generalities, for his disturbing presence, his innocent suffering, his fearless dying, his rising to life breathing forgiveness. We praise you and we worship him.

                                Here too our gratitude rises for the promise of the Holy Spirit, who even yet, even now, confronts us with your claims and attracts us to your goodness.

                                Therefore we gladly join our voices to the son of the church on earth and in heaven:

Sanctus                Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest

Benedictus         Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.   Hosanna in the highest

Presider               And now, lest we believe that our praise alone fulfils your purpose we fall silent and remember him who came because words weren’t enough.

                                Setting our wisdom, our will, our words aside, emptying our hearts, and bringing nothing in our hands, we yearn for the healing, the holding, the accepting, the forgiving which Christ alone can offer

Silence

Merciful God, send now, in kindness, your Holy Spirit to settle on this bread and wine and fill them with the fullness of Jesus.

And let that same Spirit rest on us, converting us from the patterns of this passing world, until we conform to the shape of him whose food we now share.  Amen

Fraction          (Taking and breaking bread)

Among friends gathered around a table, Jesus took bread, and broke it, and said, “This is my body – broken for you.”

(Holding up a cup of wine)

Later he took a cup of wine and said “This is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death.  Take it, all of you, to remember me.”

Jesus , firstborn of Mary

All                          Have mercy on us

                                Jesus Saviour of the world

All                          Have mercy on us

                                Jesus, monarch of heaven

All                          Have mercy on us

He who has suffered for our injustices is now present in this bread.   He whose body was hung on a cross is now offered to us in this cup.

So take this bread and this wine.  In them God comes to us so that we may come to God.

The sharing of the bread and the wine

The Peace

Leader:                 Please Stand

                                Christ who has nourished us, is our peace.

Strangers and friends, male and female, old and young, he has broken down the barriers to bind us to him and to each other.  Having tasted his goodness, let us share his peace. 

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All                          And Also with you

 

Concluding Prayer

Leader                  Let us pray

In gratitude, in deep gratitude for this moment, this meal, these people, we give ourselves to you. Take us out to live as changed people because we have shared the Living Bread and cannot remain the same.

Ask much of us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us.

So, Lord, may we live to your glory, both as inhabitants of earth and citizens of the commonwealth of heaven.  Amen

Closing Blessing

As we go now from this moment,

as we leave behind our time together.

May we walk with one another,

may we help each other on the way.

 

As we go now from this moment,

as we go into the future together.

May we treasure one another,

may we realize how precious we are.

May we realize how precious we are.

May we realize how precious we are.

Sending Hymn - Beneath the Cross of Jesus (ELW #338)

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