Welcome & Intimations
Welcome to our joint service for this week, where we continue our journey in the light of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. This week we explore elements of what it means to live in the light of greatest story ever told.

Call to Worship (Psalm 150: 1, 2, 6)

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
     praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
     praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

HYMN 132 – Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Prayer c/w Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray:

Your people gather
behind locked doors,
drawn together through grief,
worrying about what comes next.
Into this You come, declaring:
Peace be with you

Into all times of life,
in hope and in fear,
in joy and in despair,
in wonder and in praise.
Into these You come, declaring:
Peace be with you

We gather this morning
sharing our alleluias
for death overcome
and for joy to come.
Into this you come, declaring:
Peace be with you

Assure us of Your presence,
surround us with Your love,
hold us close to You,
and give us lives full of thankfulness.
Come into our midst and declare:
Peace be with you.

Lord Incarnate,
Creator of all
from fragile flower to great galaxy.
To You we confess we are imperfect.
We lack the words that encourage,
and the vision to heal hurts.
We speak too much
and do not listen or see as we ought.

Forgive us through the hands
that reached out to all.
Forgive us through the hands
that stretched out on the cross.
Forgive us through the hands
held out to bring peace.

In Christ we are offered hands
leading us to a future.
In Christ we are offered hands
upholding us in love.
In Christ we are offered hands
bearing the promise of forgiveness.
In Christ we are offered hands,
freeing us from the burdens that bind.
Accept those hands
reaching out
touching you, touching me,
and be set free.

Let us now come together
in the words of Christ Jesus,
saying together:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Scriptures:

Revelation 1:4-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.


John 20:19-31
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.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

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

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

HYMN 413 – The day of resurrection!

Reflection:

The first Easter was a life-changing moment that changed the course of history. It set disciples, then and since, upon unimaginable. Yet how do we celebrate this transformative event? We celebrate with chocolate eggs and bunny rabbits! This time of year in this part of the world has always been about new life so perhaps these things make sense in a way.. However, remember that the first Easter was wrapped up in the impact of a death. It was wrapped up in the effects of grief. It was wrapped up in fear. The disciples, who would soon bring Good News to the world, were in hiding. The doors were shut and locked.

I imagine, to varying degrees, that we can all picture the scene. It helps that it has been portrayed in both painting and drama over the centuries. It is a scene of ten men, and sometimes some women, huddled in an upstairs room. The door is barred from the inside. Fear is clearly present. Into this image appears Jesus, having seemingly found walls and door to be no barrier to him. A week later an almost identical group are present. This time there are eleven men as Thomas is present as he was not on the previous week. He had heard their stories of resurrection and of meeting their risen Lord but had his doubts. We call him doubting, but was he? Was he simply wanting empirical evidence to back up the claims of his friends before he could believe that Jesus had risen form the grave? Or was there something else that made him await evidence?

However we look at this story, these appearances, we find a series of contrasts. On the first appearance of Jesus the fear and need for hiding make sense but not so a week later. This time, though, there are differences. Jesus is with them for longer. He proclaims peace to them not once but three times. Further, he breathes his Spirit upon them while, at the same time, commissions them. In that upper room, behind locked doors, Jesus commissions the eleven to go. He sends them out into the world. If we read the equivalent parts of the other Gospels, we find that they are sent out to ‘all creation’. Like Jesus, they are being sent to anyone and everyone. They are sent to baptise. They are sent to proclaim a message of forgiveness. They are also sent to proclaim a parallel message of judgement. They are sent to proclaim both triumph and final resurrection, just as we heard form the passage form Revelation. Importantly, though, they are sent like Jesus on a mission that could lead to suffering and death.

It is this, latter, sending that I believe holds the key to understanding what motivates Thomas. Perhaps he alone understands the truth that suffering could follow them in their calling. He had witnessed it with Jesus, the Lord whom he followed. Perhaps he had already faced threats and abuse because of his allegiance. We may never know. Perhaps it was not that empirical evidence was needed to enable belief in resurrection, but that sight and touch of wounds were needed to verify that Jesus had suffered. The idea that Jesus didn’t suffer but that it was an illusion or similar was an idea that circulated for several centuries after the resurrection. Thomas, though, receives his proof. As the writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” His reaction to this is the dramatic declaration, “My Lord and my God.” Starting out from confusion and fear we reach the point where Thomas says this to the man who bears the scars of his humanity, and the wounds of redemption. Thomas declares that the crucified one, Jesus, is God.

Unlike Thomas and the other ten remaining disciples we were not there. Neither do we have the luxury of film footage or contemporary press reports to support the claims that would make their way into the gospel texts. What we do have are those writings and the history that has flowed from them. The breathing of the Spirit in that locked room would eventually reach full effect from the day of Pentecost. The transformation of lives and communities by that message has been recorded down the centuries. John, in his writing, does offer us a means of sharing in the story. Unlike Thomas we cannot see and believe, but we can read and hear.
Amen.

HYMN 237 – Look forward in faith

Prayers

Let us pray:

We turn to the Lord,
who is and was and will be.
Let us raise our prayers
for the people who sit around us,
for the people who join us online,
for the people who have already worshipped
long before we were even awake,
for the people who are yet to see the dawn
and will continue the uplifting of prayers.

We pray for the people we know and love
and for their presence we give thanks.
We pray for the people whose lives are easy,
and we give You thanks.
We pray for the people who are anxious,
and we give You our worries.
We pray for the people whose lives are limited,
and we give You our concern.
We pray fora the people whom we have lost,
and we trust to Your care all those whom we love.

We pray for our Church
in the way we seek to serve and live
in the light of Your Resurrection.
May we seek how we can live well,
serving our communities,
and blessing Your Name
in all that we do and say and are.

We pray for our communities, country and world.
We pray for peacekeepers,
who reach beyond the boundaries,
offering a hand of hope and understanding.
We pray for healers,
who tend to the wounds of ancient hurts.
We pray for justice bringers,
who uncover hidden abuse,
to enable justice and healing,
and a different way of living.

These prayers we make in the Name of the Creator,
the Redeemer, and the Perfecter of our Faith.
Amen.

HYMN 286 – Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7QWLyDWe8
(from Arundel Cathedral)

Sorry, this video can not be embedded: click on the link to play it, but there may be adverts first.

Benediction

Go from this time
in the name of the One who created you,
the One who restores you,
and the One who upholds you.
As you go
may the blessing of that same God
go with you evermore.
Amen.

Sung Amen

Acknowledgements:
Bible Quotations taken from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

English translations of The Lord’s Prayer, © 1998, English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC), and used by permission. www.englishtexts.org

Prayers adapted from Church of Scotland Weekly Worship.

Embedded content from YouTube complies with copyright requirements:
https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms

Welcome & Intimations
Welcome to our Easter Day service. In a world of darkness and despair we turn to the light and hope of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Call to Worship:

Christ is risen
   He is Risen indeed!
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

HYMN 410 Jesus Christ is risen today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA_ggfwGOZQ

Prayer c/w Lord’s Prayer

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings forgiveness:
That we may be cleansed.

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings healing:
That we may be whole.

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings hope:
That we may have faith.

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings love:
That we may have compassion.

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings light:
That we may have vision.

Lord, draw us to Your Cross which brings life:
That we may live for You.

Forgive us daily, Lord, the sins which crucify you anew.
Forgive the hatred of the crowd which chose Barabbas,
and the hate that we allow to lie so often in our hearts.
Forgive the selfishness and ambition of Caiaphas,
and the selfishness and pride in all men and women.
Forgive the weakness of Pilate, and our inability
to resist temptation and take a bold stand.
Forgive the brutalities of the soldiers,
and all the cruelties so evident in our world.
Forgive the hard-heartedness and sneers of those who passed
by, and forgive us when we sneer at holy things,
soften our hearts to the plight of the suffering,
and the guidance of Your Holy Spirit.
Take all these sins from the world, crucified Saviour; bear
them away in your dying body, let evil die and be
conquered for ever, cast out by your undying love.

Let us pray together the prayer Jesus taught his closest companions

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Scriptures:

Luke 24: 1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.


John 20: 1-10
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

HYMN 417 Now the green blade riseth

Reflection: Three little words

It is Easter Day, and so it is not surprising that our readings are two of those which speak of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. There are many things we could speak of, and passages we could refer to. This year, though, I would like us to focus on just three words from our readings. Just three little words. Actually, in English translation it is the same word that appears three times in quick succession. It is the word ‘saw’.

The first occurrence is when the unnamed disciple, the Beloved Disciple, often believed to have been John, stops at the entrance of the tomb and looks inside. The second is when Peter rushes past, enters the tomb, and sees that the grave clothes are folded and laid to one side. Finally, the first disciple enters the tomb, looks, and believes. That there is so much to be found in the three uses of that one word is due to an unfortunate feature of translation. In the original Greek these are three different words, each with importantly different meanings.

The first, unnamed, disciple stopped at the edge of the tomb and looked within. We are not told why he stopped but he would have had good reason not to continue. First, as an observant Jew, he would not have wanted to risk entering a tomb where they may be a body. Second, although the tomb was large, being that of a wealthy man, the entrance was small requiring some effort to get in. In this part we find the use of the word ‘saw’ meaning nothing more than being able ‘to see what lies before’ him. It is ordinary physical sight.

Next comes Simon Peter, rushing in where wiser men would have feared to tread. Entering the tomb, he must have thought nought of making himself ritually unclean, unlike his companion. This was Peter at his impetuous best, not stopping and thinking but running and acting. He sees the folded grave clothes. This time the word ‘saw’ means something different than before; it means to ‘observe, to scrutinise, to think about’. Perhaps it was no more than the effect of seeing the clothes; perhaps something else about the seen stopped him in his tracks. Whatever it was it caused him to think about what lay before him.

Finally, our first disciple overcomes the barriers before and within him entering the tomb. He must have seen what Peter saw. Perhaps he, too, reflected upon the sight. Whatever it was it caused him to believe; something in that place convinced him of the resurrection. Our translation states that ‘he saw and believed’. This time around the word ‘saw’ means to ‘understand’ or ‘be aware of the significance’ of something. Our unidentified disciple goes beyond Peter and sees the meaning behind the sight.

Usually the first Christians did not believe in the resurrection solely because the tomb was empty; they believed because they both saw and met the resurrected Jesus. Here was something of an exception; this disciple believed as a result of seeing the empty tomb, before meeting the resurrected Jesus. Remember, too, that the resurrection of Jesus had not been expected by His followers. Had it been then we could assess this as a case of people seeing what they wanted to see. What happened at the empty tomb was not what they expected. After the crucifixion and burial of Jesus they had gone into hiding, afraid for their lives and doubtless wondering how they could have been so wrong. Despite the teaching of Jesus, the disciples did not expect this.

Three little words yet with such profound implications. Three little words in everyday use yet here taking us from physical sight to eternal truth. Three little words yet with meaning for the world.

What, though, do these words mean for us? Peter is named, and the other is not. It is Peter who does not understand what it is he is witness too, but the unnamed one does. This beloved disciple represents every disciple whom Jesus loves. That is why he remains unnamed. He is close to Jesus at the Last Supper. At the Cross he is the one disciple recorded as present. Along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, it is the Beloved Disciple who is designated a part of the first community of believers. The Beloved Disciple is both you and me.

Three little words yet full of meaning for those who would follow Jesus. They offer us hope in the face of trying circumstances. They offer us faith when we struggle with what we can see. They offer us belief when doubts assail. Can we, like these two disciples, see what lies before us? Can we reflect on the signs of the love of God all around us? Can we believe that He is there, and that He has Risen?
Amen.

HYMN 425 The Saviour died, but rose again (Para. 48 vv 5-9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TjSjoPOPrY
(from the Virtual Choir of Troon Old Parish Church)

Sorry, this video can not be embedded: click on the link to play it, but there may be adverts first

Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God
whose goodness and grace overflowed when you raised Jesus from the dead,
let your goodness and grace continue to flow upon and through us now afresh.

We pray for those, like the women of old,
whose lives have been stopped
because they couldn’t roll away a stone
that was blocking their path to new life and hope.

Roll away the stone
of despair and hopelessness
that the light of Jesus Christ may shine
into the darkness
to bring joy and warmth again.

Roll away the stone
for those still stuck at Good Friday
those whose strength is failing through ill-health
whose spirits are flagging through mental-health struggles,
whose determination is being sapped through addiction.

Lord God roll away the stone
that they might better see the path stretching out before then
a path unused except for your guiding footprints
etched out in the fresh morning dew.

In the light and the glory of Your resurrection
we pray for our world
for areas of violence and hostility
for lands where famine and disease are rife
for peoples who look in vain for the rains to come to guarantee a harvest
for all those who today would struggle to find joy in the resurrection story.


Bless all the members of the governments in Westminster and Holyrood
that they may lead our country with all righteousness and justice.
May Your all- knowing Spirit draw near to all leaders of all nations.
We pray for unity.

We pay for wisdom in the face of potential global war.
We pray for creativity in the face of economic challenges brought on by war in the Ukraine and many other factors.

Bless our Church of Scotland; its ministers and office bearers that they may offer wise and sensitive leadership at this unsettling time. Encourage our membership that they may be true to their calling to follow the Risen Christ wherever he leads. Bless all our partner churches at home and abroad that we may journey with them on this adventure of faith as we discover where You are asking us to go. Give us Your church the courage to take bold new steps to extend Your kingdom in the light of your resurrection power.

On this Easter Day hear now our own prayers in silence as we remember before you those nearest and dearest to our own hearts confident that Your heart aches and that Your hear the earnest prayer of every humble heart….

We offer these prayers to you Lord God always mindful of the great company who surround You the ransomed and the redeemed of all the ages. As once they inspired us by their living so may they continue so to do till the day of our homecoming to you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

HYMN 419 Thine be the Glory

Benediction

Go from this time of worship
in the light and love of the resurrection.
As you go,
may the blessing of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
go with you
now and evermore.
Amen.

Sung Amen

Acknowledgements:
Bible Quotations taken from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

English translations of The Lord’s Prayer, © 1998, English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC), and used by permission. www.englishtexts.org
Prayers and final blessing adapted from Church of Scotland Weekly Worship