Liturgy

For those who are lost, we mourn.
For all that is broken, we cry out.
With those who weep, we weep.
Suffering Servant, hear our prayer.

For all who are alone, we invite your presence.
For we who are trapped inside, we ask your freedom.
For those without a safe place, we beg your protection.
Help of the helpless, shelter your people.

For those who labor on our behalf, healing,
tending, delivering, we give thanks.
For those whose work has been taken, we ask provision.
For those to whom the world looks for guidance,
we entreat your wisdom.
Shepherd, guide us through this shadow of death.

For all that is obscured, we ask for light.
From all our selfishness, we repent.
From all our anxiety, we turn.
God of love, cast out our fear.

In the name
of God, the Creator,
of Christ, the Risen One,
and of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.
Amen.

(Emily Cool Greener & Lynn Domina)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the reading of John 20: 19-21 and 24-25.

19 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.”

20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” …

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them
when Jesus came. 25 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.”

The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 4.19.20 – Peace Be With You

How might we engage our senses in order to experience peace and extend peace to others?

What are our spaces of disbelief that might offer ways to experience peace in an unexpected way?

How might wounds serve as a reminder that our story isn’t finished?

Benediction

Beloved family of God:
open your hands now and receive
these words from a God who loves you:

do not let your hearts be troubled,
do not let them be afraid.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, for I am
with you to the very ends of the age.

Do not let your hearts be troubled,
my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Do not let your hearts be troubled,
my peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.

So go in the name
of God, the Creator,
of Christ, the Risen King,
and of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.
Amen.

(Luke Helm)

Go in peace and live the church.
May you find safety and rest throughout the week.

[Photo by Kate Zak @ Flickr]