This week we return to a central pillar of our faith, and one that must inform all that we do as we seek to follow Christ – the idea that life is eternal, that God saves, and that resurrection emerges from death. This is, of course, more than just an idea, but is a lived experience as we face death in all its forms and manifestations in our world, and as we cling to the hope that the Gospel offers us. Without the hope of life, of resurrection, it is pretty much impossible to remain committed and effective in dreaming of and working towards a more peaceful and just world.

May we be filled and empowered again by resurrection life in our worship this week.

READINGS:
Haggai 1:15b-2:9: God comforts the returning exiles as they grieve the loss of former glory, and face the reality of a new, simpler, less prosperous and glamorous life. God’s presence is assured, and a promise of future glory is offered as comfort and inspiration.
OR Job 19:23-27a: Job affirms his faith that God will ultimately defend, justify and restore him, in spite of the accusations of his friends.

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21: God is worthy of praise, fair and faithful, and always near to, and protective of, those who love and trust God.
OR Psalm 98: A song of praise inviting all creation to celebrate God’s salvation and mercy.
OR Psalm 17:1-9: A prayer for God’s protection and justification based on the innocence and obdeience of the one praying.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17: Paul addresses the rumour-mongering and fear of the church, assuring them of God’s love and salvation, and their secure hope in Christ.

Luke 20:27-38: Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees about life after death, using the story of a woman who, through Levirate marriage, is married to seven brothers consecutively. He responds with an affirmation of resurrection, proclaiming that God is the God of he living, not of the dead.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
Although the passages this week appear to be completely unrelated, there is, nevertheless, a thread that runs through all of the readings. In the face of difficulties – exile, persecution, and even death – God gives God’s people the assurance of God’s protection and salvation. The returning exiles are assured that God is with them and will restore their temple beyond its former glory (which, historically, motivated them to continue working on the temple for centuries!). Job, in the face of his accusers, pleads his innocence and affirms his faith in God’s justification and restoration. The Psalmists celebrate God’s mercy and salvation and plead, in faith, for God’s deliverance. Paul reassures the Thessalonian church that they have not been abandoned or left behind by God, but are guaranteed God’s love and a place in God’s eternal realm. Finally, Jesus, in the face of the Sadducees’ taunts, reaffirms the resurrection, and that even in death we are not separated from God and God’s life.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: While the promise of an afterlife has sometimes been used as an excuse for oppression or a reason to keep away from engagement in justice issues in the world, the truth is that the hope we have in Christ is more often a motivator to work toward that hope in this life. If our work to bring about a more peaceful, equitable society has no hope of success – which is the case if it depends only on us – then we will ultimately find ourselves growing cynical and disheartened, and falling into a “if you can’t beat them, join them” view. If, however, we can nurture our faith in God’s purposes, God’s life and God’s resurrection, we find hope. Our efforts are not ours alone, but are inspired and empowered by God’s Spirit, and at some point – even if only in a distant future – the work we do now will result in the world of which we dream. And, further, the life we live and to which we contribute now, lives on beyond the grave. So, what we do does matter, and every small act of mercy, compassion and defense of the most vulnerable is a manifestation of God’s life. We are participants in God’s work of resurrecting the universe! Once we allow this truth to sink into our souls, we begin to engage the world’s systems from a different, less desperate, more confident and compassionate place. Ultimately, in all of the world’s most effective activists this irrepressible hope is visible. As followers of Christ, how much more should this hope characterise us?

LOCAL APPLICATION: It takes tremendous courage and faith to live an alternative set of values and practices from the people around us. Unfortunately, though, our world has somehow become captured by short-term, expedient values – the quarterly report, the next new product or experience, the quick gratification. Long term hope, and the commitment to work and wait for the greater good are somehow seen as quaint but outdated ways of living. In our churches we can fall into exactly the same trap – measuring our success by numbers, money, buildings, new fashions, new trends and new equipment. when this happens, our message is lost, and the call for justice is silenced. When we renew our faith in the eternal, in the unending life of God, and in our hope of resurrection, all sorts of things change. We begin to view the world and its history through the lens of God’s reign, and the wide sweep of salvation history, rather than just the immediate moment. We begin to work for a better world, even though we may never see the fulfilment of our dreams ourselves. We grow in our commitment to make short term sacrifices in favour of long term justice and peace. Ultimately this faith enables us to change what we drive and how we use energy – even though it may be less convenient – to protect our planet. It enables us to give up our short term needs and hurts in favour of long term relationship building – even with those we may consider enemies. It enables us to sacrifice some of our own comfort in the short term – to buy less, consume less and throw away less – in order to ensure that there is enough to go around, and that what we use is justly and fairly sourced and produced. Hope in the resurrection – in God’s eternal gift of life and salvation – really does inspire us to live differently, if we will only allow it to capture our hearts and souls

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
The Life That Ignores Limits
Invincible Life
That Life Would Teach Us
What Life Can Be

Hymn Suggestions:
There’s A Light Upon The Mountains
O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing
O Spirit Of The Living God
We Shall Go Out With Hope Of Resurrection
Sing With All The Saints In Glory
There’s A Light (Upon The Mountains): Chord Chart; Mp3 (Amazon.com Download)
Everlasting God (Link to YouTube video)
Hosanna (Link to YouTube video)
Lord Of The Dance (Link to YouTube video)
Shine Jesus Shine (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet

Video Suggestions:
A Theology Of Rebirth
Psalm 17
Life From Death

The Resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event, or a source of praise and adoration. It is also the centre of God’s calling on each of us. As we are impacted by the life of Christ, as we commit ourselves to follow Christ, we find ourselves in a similar position to that of Peter. Like him we have failed Jesus and ourselves. Like him, we may want to forget about trying again – to just go back to our ‘normal’ lives, and not risk failing so publicly again. Like him, we may see others who we feel are more faithful, more equipped, more ‘spiritual’ and wonder why God doesn’t call them. But, like Peter, God does not let us off the hook, and calls us anyway – so that God’s grace and glory may be seen in and through us, and so that God’s life may touch others through us.

May God renew your sense of call as you prepare, and as you worship, this week.

READINGS:
Acts 9:1-6, (7-20): Saul travels to Damascus with the intention of arresting any followers of Jesus, but on the road, he is confronted with a vision of Christ that changes him into a disciple himself.

Psalm 30: The Psalmist experiences a time of great suffering, but experiences God’s deliverance, and commits to a life of praise and thanksgiving.

Revelation 5:11-14: The Lamb is worshipped by the creatures and elders around God’s throne, because he was slain, was victorious, and is worthy.

John 21:1-19: Peter is restored by Jesus at the breakfast on the beach, and then called, once again, to leadership and to follow Christ – even to death.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
This week the lectionary takes us from last week’s simple, but profound, proclamation of worship, as reflected in Thomas’s encounter with the Risen Christ, to the challenge of Easter, as reflected in Peter’s restoration and calling. Calling is, perhaps, the word that most clearly reflects what the Scriptures seek to tell us this week – Saul’s conversion and call to be a follower (ultimately apostle) of Jesus, the psalmist’s rescue and commitment (calling) to live as a worshipper, the worship of the heavenly beings offered to the Lamb who faithfully fulfilled his calling to be slain and to conquer death and evil, and of course, Peter, forgiven for his denial, restored to leadership of the apostles and called to follow Christ even to his prophesied death.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: A sense of calling can be a double-edged sword on the level of global politics. From the ancient “divine right of kings” to the current sense among some nations and leaders that they are appointed by God as God’s special agents, much injustice and harm is done in the name of a divine calling. However, when the calling of Christ – to sacrificial, other-centred living – is recognised, the result is a powerful contribution to the world, and the increase of justice. Often this calling leads us into conflict with the powers-that-be and their own sense of entitlement – think of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela – and this is where the sacrifice comes in. But, as more and more followers of Christ take up their place in challenging the wrong use of power, so the world is slowly transformed. Where can you identify abuse of power in your world, nation or community? What can you do to stand for the values of Christ  and challenge this abuse?

LOCAL APPLICATION: Two struggles that plague our world, and contribute to the pain and cruelty that we inflict on each other, are a sense of meaninglessness and a focus on self-interest. The first leaves us in despair and apathy, without motivation to reach for our best – God-created – selves. The second drives us into the endless tyranny of our own appetites and addictions, and leaves us unable to connect effectively with others and with our world. The results of both are anger, aggression, and a lack of compassion. The Gospel’s clear call to a different, higher, God- and other-loving life is an antidote to these plagues, and offers us both a personal sense of purpose, and a commitment to the well being of others and to the world in general. When we hear and answer God’s call, we find ourselves connected with the universal activity of God’s reign, but we live and work it out locally in our own neighbourhood. What specific calling has God given you and your church community? How can you re-affirm that calling today?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Called
Damascus Road
Admitting My Gifts

Hymn Suggestions:
Amazing Grace
Jesus Calls Us O’er The Tumult
Dear Jesus In Whose Life I See
Take My Life And Let It Be
Let Me Shine (Track 9 from my CD Songs for the Road. Click here to listen to a preview)
Made To Worship (Link to YouTube video)
Living For Your Glory (Link to YouTube video)
May The Words Of My Mouth (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Eucharist

Video Suggestions:
Saul’s Conversion
Ignorable Calling
My Calling
I Am Called

Image:
Beach Image

Christ is Risen indeed! As the long Easter celebration continues, the readings this week move us into praise and proclamations of faith. Now is the time to pull out all the stops and allow our worship to be true celebration.

One thing I have long found curious, though, is the lack of contemporary hymns that reflect on the empty tomb. I offer the suggestions below as an attempt to find some contemporary music that can support this week’s theme, and allow for the celebration of this season to be expressed. If you have any better suggestions for contemporary resurrection songs, please feel free to leave a note in the comments.

READINGS:
Acts 5:27-32: The apostles are arrested for refusing to stop preaching about Jesus.

Psalm 150: The closing song of the Psalter calling God’s people- and all creatures – to praise with everything they have.

Revelation 1:4-8:John’s introduction to the Revelation, praises Jesus as the resurrected witness, the one who has given us life, and who is God eternal.

John 20:19-31: Thomas, who is not present at the first appearance of Jesus to the disciples, is confronted with the Risen Christ, and invited to put his doubts to rest. He responds by affirming his faith in the Risen One.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
While this week’s Gospel reading naturally draws us to reflect on doubt and faith, the other readings encourage a slightly different approach, which focuses instead on Thomas’s final proclamation of worship. My suspicion is that we make far more of Thomas’s doubt than Jesus does. The focus on praise, however, draws us into a whole different place. It is their faith and determination to worship Jesus that makes the disciples so bold in the face of the threats from the religious leaders. It is the worship of the Psalmist that provides the celebration at the end of the Psalter – bringing all of the lament, grief, pain and suffering that we find in those songs into this moment of final celebration. It is John’s worship of Jesus, and his faith in the Risen One, that moves him to write about his vision of hope and grace in the final consummation of Jesus’ saving work.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear, cynicism and despair. It is these negative forces that constantly lead our world into violence – from the World Wars, to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to religious conflicts like those in Nigeria recently. It is these negative forces that so often lead to oppression, exploitation and abuse of those we fear. To commit to hope and justice and life is, in the light of this, a subversive and confrontational act – as the disciples found out. The challenge, of the resurrection then, is to be people who refuse to co-operate with the forces of fear, cynicism and despair, and who work constantly to bring faith, hope, life and worship into places of fear and pain. What global movements of prayer, faith, hope and worship can you join or initiate – even if it means joining or inviting those you disagree with? It is these acts of unity that defies the power of fear and cynicism, and prophetically offers hope and life. If you live in the United States, what might this have to say about the ongoing failure of bipartisanship in your political life?

LOCAL APPLICATION: It is tempting, even in faith communities, to align ourselves only with those with whom we agree. People who are different are challenging, and move us out of our comfort zone. This can make them frightening. It is also tempting to stick with ideas, practices and customs that we are familiar with, because they are safe. New ideas and ways can be threatening and difficult to navigate – which is why we so often struggle with change – and so we easily find ourselves resisting them automatically. Neither response – staying only with familiar people or familiar situations – lead us into life, though. It is when we are willing to embrace the other, the new, the different, with faith, hope and love, that we enter into the life that Jesus offers. When we can believe in resurrection enough to build our lives on this faith, hope and love, then we begin to be able to move out of our safe spaces, and find life in all the unexpected places where it is hiding. What new people, new experiences, new ideas or new practices can you explore as a faith-action this week in your community?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Defiant Praise
We Choose Not

Hymn Suggestions:
Hallelujah! What A Saviour
How Can We Sinners Know
To God Be The Glory
Blessed Assurance
I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship
OR for a contemporary version click through to the Sacredise site (scroll down for the preview)
Jesus Messiah (Link to YouTube video)
Hallelujah! What A Saviour – Vicky Beeching (Link to YouTube video)
Grace Like Rain (Link to YouTube video)
A Tomb So Cold
Glorious (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet
A Liturgy for Easter Sunday

Video Suggestions:
Doubting Thomas

What does Easter Sunday have to say to a world of injustice? Everything! When life triumphs over death, when insignificant women are the first witnesses, when the powers of empire cannot silence a ragtag band of ordinary people, something different is at work in the world. This is our hope, our inspiration and our challenge. May your Easter be a moment, not just of celebration, but of awakening and of mobilisation to find life, bring life, create life in every place of death in your world. He is risen! Alleluia!

READINGS:
Acts 10:34-43: Peter preaches to the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house & reminds them of Jesus’ life, death & resurrection.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24: A song celebrating God’s mercy and strength, and celebrating the restoration of God after struggle – foreshadowing “the stone that the builders rejected” who “became the cornerstone”.

1 Corinthians 15:19-26: Christ is the one who died and came back to life in order to bring all people to life. Finally, death itself is destroyed.

John 20:1-18: Mary finds the empty tomb and reports it to the disciples. Peter and John investigate and witness the empty tomb, but Mary remains and becomes the first to meet the Risen Christ.

OR Luke 24:1-12: The women find the tomb empty and meet two angels who report that Jesus is risen. They return and report the event to the disciples, who are initially skeptical.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
This Easter the focus is, of course, on the resurrection, but the particular emphasis is on the liberation that Jesus brings. It is notable that the Acts reading is included, reminding us of that great moment of inclusion in the church’s history, where Peter proclaims, “But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean.” In addition, both Gospel readings focus on the women’s role in the great resurrection drama, especially Mary Magdalene – another great moment of inclusion in the history of God’s people. The message is clear – the resurrection is not just about finding life for after we die. It is a doorway to life now for all who are denied life through exclusion, oppression or judgment.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: Easter is celebrated the world over for the life that Jesus brings to us all. Unfortunately, though, the Easter message of inclusion, liberation and life is often subverted by versions of faith that project Christ’s life only into the heavenly future, and only for a select few. In the name of this Gospel, people of other faiths and nations have been exploited, oppressed and even killed. Many of the global inequalities in the world today are the product of this distortion of Christ’s message and purpose. In the light of this, it may be appropriate to spend some time in repentance, and in renewing our commitment to share Christ’s inclusive liberating life with all people. This commitment applies to issues like immigration, poverty, war, people of other cultures, religions, races, genders and even sexual orientations. What specific places of oppression may God be calling you to reach out to with resurrection life?

LOCAL APPLICATION: Every community wrestles with the forces of death both within and without. Within, we must confront the temptation to exclude those who disagree with us, the temptation to form closed, and critical cliques, and the temptation to keep Christ’s life to ourselves, and as a future hope only. In addition, the power struggles that beset every group of people are not absent in the Church, which always leaves some among us feeling silenced, sidelined and wounded. Without, we face the temptation to turn a blind eye to the dark places in our communities, to stand on the sidelines and judge those who are suffering, or to blame them for their own pain, and to close our doors to those who don’t fit our profile of a Christian. But, if we are to embrace the true power of resurrection life, we must turn our backs on our fears and prejudices, release our hold on power, and invite the hurting, the different, the marginalised into Christ’s liberating life. Who are the people in your community who need to hear this invitation in your community this week? How can you be a community that leads others into a liberating encounter with the Risen Christ?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Witnesses
Resurrection
Committing To Life

Hymn Suggestions:
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
Thine Be The Glory
Hail! Thou Once Despised Jesus
Up From The Grave He Arose
Crown Him With Many Crowns
We Shall Go Out With Hope Of Resurrection
Mighty To Save (Link to YouTube video)
Crown Him (Link to YouTube video)
Easter Song (Link to YouTube video)
Everyone Belongs (Link to Amazon.com preview & download page)
Lord, I Lift Your Name On High (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for Easter Sunday

Video Suggestions:
Because He Lives
Tell Everyone
Resurrection
He Is Risen (An Easter Benediction)

Image:
Resurrection