Monday, April 2, 2012

Blessed by the Unexpected


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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