Blessed by the Unexpected is our worship theme for Easter Sunday, April 8,
2012. Our focus scripture is Mark 16:1-8.
In our services in April we are
focusing on the blessings that God bestows through the events of Holy Week and
Easter. Yet at first glance, Mark’s account of Easter Sunday leaves us up in the
air to say the least. Astonishing news awaits the women as they journey to
Jesus’ tomb to embalm his dead body. The heavy stone which sealed the entrance
is rolled away. Inside a young man dressed in white calmly tells them that
Jesus is no longer there… that he is risen from the dead. Though he tells them
not to be amazed, the women are awestruck. They are prepared to face a dead
body. They are unprepared for a living Lord. The Greek words that Mark employs
tell us that they are gripped by both terror and ecstasy. The young man
instructs them to go and tell Peter and the disciples. But they race from the
tomb so startled they say nothing to anyone.
Can there be a blessing in the
unexpected? Is God always out in front of us, often far beyond our view? Does
God move in a mysterious way, God’s wonders to perform?
Here is a Responsive Reading of
Mark 16:1-8, plus two Calls to Worship and an Easter Affirmation of Faith.
Please feel free to use or adapt anything helpful to you.
Bible Reading Mark 16:1-8
L: As soon as
the Sabbath is over Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy
spices to preserve Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning they go to the
tomb, just as the sun is rising.
P: They
worry together, “Who is going to roll the stone away from the doorway of the
tomb?”
L: Then they
look closer. They see the huge stone rolled back. They walk right into the
tomb, and they see a young man in a white robe sitting on the right hand side.
They are awestruck.
P: He says to them, “Do not be amazed. You are
looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen
from the dead. See, the place where they laid him is empty… But now go. Tell
his disciples and Peter that he is going on before you to Galilee. There you
will see him, just as he promised.”
L: The women
bolt out of the tomb and run from it. Terror and ecstasy seize them. They
tremble with fear and say nothing to anyone…
Call to Worship
L: Sing out,
sisters and brothers!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
L: The tomb is
empty!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
L: Death has lost
its sting!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
L: Love is
victorious!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
L: Hallelujah!
All: Hallelujah! Amen.
Call to Worship
L: This is the
day!
P: The day our tears turn to laughter!
L: This is the
day!
P: The day our fear of death vanishes away!
L: This is the
day!
P: The day Christ sets us free to rise!
All: For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia! Amen.
Affirmation of
Faith (from I Corinthians 15:45-49)
L: Let us affirm the faith we share:
P: The first man, Adam, became a
living being.
The last Adam became a
life-giving spirit.
The first man was from the
earth, a man of dust.
The second man, Jesus, is from
heaven.
As was the man of dust, so are
those who are of dust.
As was the man of heaven, so are
those who are of heaven.
Just as we have borne the image
of the man of dust,
so we will also bear the image
of the man of heaven.
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