Blessing by Bread

Blessing by Bread is our worship theme for the third Sunday of Easter, April 22, 2012. Our focus scripture is Luke 24:13-49.

Our focus passage is the familiar story of two followers of Jesus who are journeying to Emmaus on the day Christ is risen. They have heard reports of the empty tomb and even of the women encountered angels telling of Christ’s resurrection. Yet they apparently didn’t put much stock in the reports because they are despondent and on their way out of town. Even when they meet a remarkable stranger they remain consumed by their grief and frustration. Only at the end of the day, when they press the stranger to break bread with them, are their eyes opened. Then their eyes are opened. They recognize him in the breaking of the bread. They race back to Jerusalem to tell the others and soon experience another appearance of Jesus.

Throughout the Bible and in our culture bread is an important symbol of nourishment. There is bread for the body and bread for the soul and both are often mixed together. What are the blessings Christ gives us as we break bread in his name? How do we share the bread of his continuing life with others?

Here is a Call to Worship based on Bible passages where bread occasions a blessing. Please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post which is helpful.

Call to Worship                             Blessing by Bread

Genesis 18:6, Exodus 16:15, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 14:19, John 6:48-51, Matthew 26:26, Luke 24:31

L: Sisters and brothers, time and again God blesses us in bread!

P: In her old age, Sarah entertains God in the form of a mysterious stranger.

     She blesses God with bread. God blesses her with her son, Isaac.

L: As they wander, starving in the wilderness, God blesses the people with manna:

     the bread from heaven.

P: Tempted in the wilderness Jesus won’t turn a stone into bread, blessing us

     with knowledge: we do not live by bread alone; our true bread is God’s word.

L: But later in the wilderness Jesus blesses a huge crowd that is hungry.

     He multiplies five loaves to feed five thousand.

P: Then he proclaims himself the Bread of Life: “Those who ate manna died.   

     Those who eat my bread are blessed with eternal life.”

L: At the Last Supper Jesus blesses his disciples with the bread of his body:

     “Take and eat, this is my body broken for you. Eat this to remember me.”

P: And on the road to Emmaus he meets his followers as an intriguing stranger.

     Soon they are blessed to recognize Christ risen in the breaking of bread!

 All: Gracious God, you bless us with bread to nourish our bodies.

         You bless us with spiritual bread to nourish our souls.

         We praise you! Bless you for your goodness!

Blessing by Breath

Blessing by Breath is our worship theme for the second Sunday of Easter, April 15, 2012. Our focus scripture is John 20:19-29.

This passage contains the familiar story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the first day of his resurrection. Earlier Mary Magdalene had encountered him outside the tomb. And now, although they are hiding from the religious authorities behind locked doors, Jesus suddenly comes and stands with them. Only Thomas is absent. But when the other disciples tell him what has happened he refuses to believe it unless he can also examine the wounds he knows Jesus has received. Then, of course, Jesus appears a week later and grants his request.

In our service on Sunday, however, we will focus less on Thomas and his difficulties believing and more on Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit into his followers. Jesus does this for a reason. He is sending his disciples to continue his mission. “As the Father has sent me,” Jesus says, “so I also send you.”

In his long sermon following the Last Supper, Jesus has told his disciples that they will be given a new Advocate, even the Spirit of truth. This Spirit will come to their aid as they build Christ’s body of believers and as they suffer the same persecutions that the world has given him. Now the risen Christ breathes this promised power and presence into his followers. With it comes authority. His disciples will now have authority to forgive sins. Even as they fear the same religious and political powers that executed Jesus, they are given a divine authority of their own that far surpasses anything they could expect.

In our time, we are a continuation of that original body of believers, and we need Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit no less than them. The risen Christ breathes into us. How do we breathe with him?  

Here is a Call to Worship based on scripture passages about the breath of God. Please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post which is helpful to you. 

Call to Worship    The Breath of God  

From Genesis 2:5-7, Job 32:8, Ezekiel 37:9, John 20:22, Ephesians 4:15-16,Psalm  150:6

L: Sisters and brothers, the breath of God is life-giving!

P: When God made the earth and the heavens nothing was yet growing… Then God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul.

L: The breath of God gives wisdom and discernment!

      P: But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding.

L: The breath of God gives new life!

P: Then God said, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”

L: The breath of God instills God’s Holy Spirit!

P: Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

L: The breath of Christ energizes the Church!

P: We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do...

His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so we grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

L: Let us give thanks to God for the gift of breath!

    All: Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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.