WORSHIP -- SUNDAY, APRIL
Prelude
“Now
is the Time to Worship”
Call
to Worship
(Psalm
16)
I
bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart
instructs me.
I
keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Hymn
“Love
Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Opening
Prayer
O
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we receive the legacy of a
living hope, born again not only from his death but also from his
resurrection. May we who have received forgiveness of sins through
the Holy Spirit live to set others free, until, at length, we enter
the inheritance that is imperishable and unfading, where Christ lives
and reign with you and the same Spirit.
Help
us to trust you during these days of self-sheltering and waiting.. Today, we pray for:
Those
who health is compromised by the coronavirus or other health issues.
Those
who suffer from the economic impact of the virus.
Health
care workers, first responders and other public servants who put
themselves in harms way for us.
For
the leaders of the world, our country, states and cities as they seek
to help manage this challenge.
God,
it can be overwhelming, but you have told us again and again, “Be
not afraid.” Lead us by your Holy Spirit as we put our trust in
you. We ask this in the name of our Risen Savior, Christ Jesus, who
taught us pray, saying
Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth
as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory forever. Amen
Special
Music “Ten
Thousand Reasons (Bless the Lord My Soul)”
Children’s
Message “Seeing
is believing
Source:
www.sermons4kids.com
Let’s
start by watching a video about a cool trick. Maybe after you watch
it, you can try it for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Dhxrks_Gs
Wow!
That is really cool, isn't it? Now that you have seen it, do you
believe it? Sometimes we must see something before we believe it,
don't we?
On
the evening of the first Sunday after Jesus had been crucified, his
disciples were together in a locked room. They were afraid that those
who had crucified Jesus would also want to put them to death.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared there in the locked room with the disciples.
It was hard to believe, but they saw him and Jesus showed them his
wounds in his hands and his side, so they knew it was him.
One
of the disciples, whose name was Thomas, was not with the others when
Jesus appeared to them. When they told Thomas that they had seen
Jesus, he did not believe them. He had seen him crucified and buried,
how could he be alive? Thomas said, "Unless I see the wound in
his side and put my finger in the holes where the nails were in his
hands, I will not believe it!"
A
week later, the disciples were in the locked room again and this time
Thomas was with them. Again, Jesus came and stood among the
disciples. Jesus, said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my
hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and
believe."
Thomas
fell on his knees and answered Jesus, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus
said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
You
and I have never seen Jesus with our own eyes. The question is, will
we be a doubter, or will we be one of those who Jesus said were
blessed because they believe, even though they have not seen?
Dear
Father, help us to believe in our heart the truths we find in your
Holy Word, even though we have not seen them with our eyes. In Jesus'
name we pray. Amen.
Giving
Thanks Even
though we are not able meet together, please continue to financially
support the mission of God and the ministry of Christ through your
gifts and offerings by contributing either through the mail or by
electronic giving. Thank you.
Special
Music “God
Leads His Dear Children Along”
Prayer
O
God, you have blessed us. We find it hard to name and explain your
blessings so that they will make sense to others. Yet, they are real.
We are grateful for friends, for faith, for freedom. Now, we offer
these gifts in thankfulness and in joy. We are giving money and
rejoicing about it. We can’t explain it, even to ourselves, as we
offer these gifts. We rejoice because we offer this money to be used
for good in this world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Song
of the Heart
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
Scripture
Reading John
20: 19-31
The
Message “Believe
without Seeing” Pastor
Dave Barrett
HE
IS RISEN!
HE
IS RISEN INDEED!
Now
say it like you really mean it!
HE
IS RISEN!
HE
IS RISEN INDEED!
Having
now lived in southeast Iowa, specifically in Lee county for over
thirty-five years, I have discovered that there is be a real
advantage to living this close to Missouri. There is the advantage
of shopping for certain items which are traditionally cheaper on that
side of the Des Moines River. For example motor fuel taxes are lower
in Missouri, therefore gasoline is always cheaper. The same is true
for cigarettes and liquor. But the real advantage is the
understanding within the state motto. You may adopt it and say,
“Show Me!”, when you doubt or question a specific statement.
This
statement of “Show Me”, has traditionally been applied in this
scripture lesson to the personality of “doubting” Thomas. But
this morning I want to not only review the personality of “doubting”
Thomas; but also spend a little time within the context of the story
line and the scripture lesson.
Let’s
begin by reviewing the personality of Thomas. We meet Thomas in John
11:16. Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
He is discussing Jesus’s decision to go to Bethany. There Jesus
wishes to not only visit and comfort Mary and Martha upon the news of
their brother, Lazarus having just passed away; but also to raise
Lazarus from the dead. However, Bethany is in Judea, very near
Jerusalem and many in the Jewish leadership were looking for the
opportunity to kill Jesus. The action of raising Lazarus from the
dead would certainly antagonize that situation even more. So there
is real fear for his life. But Thomas very clearly states that the
disciples should go with Jesus, and if necessary die with him.
So
how does hard charging Thomas, not afraid to die Thomas become
“doubting” Thomas in this scripture lesson? The answer is that
he does not. Read the scripture lesson very carefully. The question
is whom is he questioning? Whom is he doubting? Is he questioning
the statement that Christ is risen? Or is he doubting that the other
disciples have seen the Lord? You decide your answer.
A
few years ago, Sally and I went on a bus trip to the Ark Experience.
The Ark Experience is a full-scale replica of Noah’s ark located
just south of Cincinnati in the rolling hills of Kentucky. If you
have not visited the Ark Experience, I would encourage you to do so.
It is one of those once and done visits. The structure is
impressive. The interior is handicapped accessible. It is ramped
for easy access to all levels. There are two large concrete block
towers located on the back side containing elevators and
air-conditioning units, keeping the interior of the structure very
comfortable. The exhibits are educational as they explain how God
called the animals, how the animals entered the ark and how Noah and
his family cared for all the animals. You may also visit Noah’s
family accommodations located on the top deck.
As
usual we stopped in the gift shop and I bought a t-shirt. The
t-shirt quotes John 14:27, “Let your faith in God be bigger than
your fear.” Obviously the t-shirt quote at the Ark Experience was
directed at Noah. However, the quote from John’s gospel was
actually directed to Jesus’ disciples. It is part of the final
discourse, Jesus’ instructions to his disciples during and
following the last supper. The quote is proceeded by two questions.
One question is from Thomas, “Lord, we do not know where you are
going”, and a second question is from Phillip, “Lord, show us the
Father”, and provides Christ with the opportunity to state the
promise of the Advocate, God’s Holy Spirit,
The
promise of the Advocate, God’s Holy Spirit, is fulfilled in today’s
scripture lesson. When John records that Jesus breathed on his
disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”, that is the
fulfillment of God’s promise. That fulfillment is what enables the
disciples to believe. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that
enables “doubting” Thomas to move from hard charging Thomas, to
questioning Thomas to believing Thomas. It is the power of the Holy
Spirit that enables him to clearly state, “My Lord and my God”.
It
is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to believe and
replicate believing Thomas as we state, “My Lord and My God”.
May we always carry within us the power of God’s Holy Spirit that
will enable us to believe without seeing, and clearly state, “My
Lord and my God”!
Let
us pray:
Thank
you Lord for the power of your Holy Spirit. May it always live
within us. May it always encourage and strengthen our faith. May it
always permit us to believe in you and your goodness without seeing.
May it always grand us the ability to say not only, “God is good,
all the time”; but also affirm our faith as we state, “My Lord
and my God”. We pray all this in the holy and everlasting name of
your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reflections
1.
Where in your life are you a “doubting Thomas” What areas of
your life do you need to let go and trust them to God?
2.
How does today’s scripture and message speak to you at this point
in your life? How can God’s word help us deal with life during a
pandemic?
Song
of Sending
“He
Lives”
Benediction
May
the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine
upon you, and be gracious onto you. May the Lord lift up the light
of His love upon you and give you peace. Go in peace. Serve the
Lord. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Going
Forth “God
Will Take Care of You”
“Go
Now in Peace”
Happy
Holy Humor Sunday!
“I
Got the Lord on My Side”
HOLY
HUMOR SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE – April 19
7:00
pm Livestreaming on Donellson, Embury and Fort Madison UMC
Facebook
pages
8:15
pm Livestreaming on youtube – https://youtu.be/ks045BFBbQM
Join
us for some laughter during this celebration of the divine practical
joke.
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