Easter 2 A (12th April 2026): Open Doors/Doubt and Discipleship

Bible readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31

About the Images:
Upper Left: Free from http://www.brazilbrazil.com/scenic.html
Upper Right: Free Microsoft clipart to which I have added the Bible text and the cross
Middle Left: Sunrise or sunset pictures are useful when talking about what we trust to happen each day - that the sun will rise or set without fail etc.  This is my image of  sunset in Lightning Ridge - an opal field in Outback Australia.  Please visit http://lightningridgeinfo.com.au/ if you want to know more about this place and its fantastic sunsets (and opals).
Middle Right: Thinking about the fact that the whole Thomas story takes place behind looked doors and the encouragement we need to go out into the world.  This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Lower Left and Bottom Left and Right:  These are free images from the Sundaygraphx site. See my link column at left. 

Lower Right: Another brilliant image from Cerezo Barredo.

A DIY Home service based on the resources below :
https://1drv.ms/b/s!ArWFF7A3pipHqX3cjGB_CT9gVN-6?e=YBzika

Listening Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
By U2 on their album, Joshua Tree (pictured at left) or Best Of 1980-1999. This song matches in well with how Thomas is thinking.

Drama: You'll Never Guess What Happened
Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 53 ff (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: Thomas Reflecting
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 210 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Prayer: Glory be to You
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 195 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Story: The Death of Doubt
Found in The New Century Version Youth Bible, Word, 1991, ISBN 0849909252, page 1095 (pictured at right). This is story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: Love of God
Story 409 in 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers by Craig Brian Larson and Leadership Journal, Baker Books, 2002, ISBN 0801091551 (pictured at left). This story goes well with the 1 Peter reading.

Story: Weakness
Found as story No 291 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929 (pictured at right). This story matches up well with the 1 Peter reading. 

Meditation: Fear and Loneliness
Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose publications, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 50 (pictured at left).

Quote: Alexander McLaren
"He puts the key of the treasure chamber into our hand and bids us take all we want. If someone is admitted into a gold bullion vault of a bank and comes out with just one cent, whose fault is it that he or she is poor?" Found on http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/page.php?page_id=4504

Response Activity: Keys of God's Treasure Chamber
Give everyone a business card with a key printed on it. Project the Alexander McLaren quote. Ask people to think about what it is that they need from God today - is it reassurance, love, the power to be a follower, the Holy Spirit, peace, or direction? Give people a silent space to talk about this need with God.

Also:

Poem and prayer: peace be with you.

Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 21 (pictured at right). These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: No Faith without doubt

Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 78ff (pictured at left). This is based on the Gospel reading .

Lots of Useful Stuff

Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 100ff (pictured at right).

Kids: The Sea-Breeze Hotel 

By Marcia Vaughan and Patricia Mullins (pictured at right) with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 13 (pictured at left). This goes well with the Acts reading.

Taize Service: Overcoming Doubts

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 18. This is based on the John reading.

For Children and Families: God is everywhere

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5. This is based on the gospel reading. 

A Chapter of Resources for Easter 2:

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 48-78 (pictured at left).

Reflection: Scars Reveal Resurrection

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 106ff (pictured at left).

Reflective Poem: Thomas, my twin

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 109ff (pictured at left). This is based on the Gospel reading.

Opening or Closing Response 

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 120 (pictured above left). 

Various Ideas: Power to Communicate the Message

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 34. Connected with Acts. 

Drama: The Testimony of Thomas the Twin

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 47. This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Beautiful Illustrations of John's Gospel  connected to the Australian Outback

Found in The Gospel According to John Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 9780646912462, page 62-63.

Poem: In the midst of dense places
Found In Due Season by Herbert F. Brokering, Augsburg Publishing House, 1966  in the spring section. Based on the 1 Peter reading.

Drama: A Matter of Faith
Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 56ff.  This drama is based on the gospel reading and is an interview with Thomas.

Discussion Questions: Scepticism and Blind Faith

Found in Chapter 3 of The Gospel According to the Simpsons Leaders Guide for Group Study by Mark I Pinsky and Samuel F Parvin, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 0 664 22590 X.  These questions are based on the John reading.

Activity: A dramatic Meal

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 21. This is based on the John reading.

Song: Psalm 16 - Keep Me Safe

By Sons of Korah on their album, Fractures, 5ive, 2017

Easter Day A (5th April 2026): Easter is an earthquake/ What Holds You Captive?

Bible readings: Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

About the images:
Top Left: This is a photo of a tomb in Israel with a rolling stone door. This photo was taken by Mr John Nicholson and permission is given for it to be used for worship and other related activities.
Top Right: This is a photo of a replica of the inside of a rock tomb in Israel. This is my photo and permission is given for it to be used for worship and related activities.
Upper Left: This is a free imagebank image - see my link to their excellent site at left
Upper Right: Another excellent free image form Church Galleries - see my link column at left.  This site is one of the few I gladly subscribe to; however, the site is down at present.
Middle Left and Lower Left and Right and Bottom Left: This is a free image from the old Sundaygraphicx site which no longer posts. See my links column at left for more images.

Middle Right: A free image from the excellent Heartlight site - see my links colum on the left.

Decor:
Have the Good Friday cross totally wrapped in the brightest material you can find - strips of satiny stuff looks great. Have it covered in black material until an appropriate moment.

Connection with Good Friday
Show a few images of Good Friday with some down music (I used Endorphin by Burial from the album, Untrue - pictured at left), followed by a silence with no image at all and then show lots of images of the resurrection to a piece of upbeat or music that builds (I used Intermezzo from Karelia Suite by Sibelius but stopped it before it tapered off again).

Prayer: Jesus We Greet You
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 188 (pictured at right). This prayer is based on the gospel reading.

Prayer: Here Are Your Disciples
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose,1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 198 (pictured at right). This prayer is based on the gospel reading.

Kid's Story: Some Things Are Scary
By Florence Parry Heide (Author), Jules Feiffer (Illustrator), Candlewick, 2000, ISBN 0763612227 (pictured at left)

Kid's Story: Mary and the Gardener

By Andrew MacDonough, Lost Sheep Books, 2017 (pictured at right). This goes with the John reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only cost around $A7 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Drama: The Three Women
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 192 (see picture above right). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Drama: If Only
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 58 (pictured at left). 

Film Clip: Amistad
(pictured at right) Show the scenes where Yamba looks through the bible and afterwards, on his way to court, notices all the cross symbols everywhere. These two scenes are amazingly powerful and full of Easter messages

Film Clip: The Amazing Adventures of Mr Bean
Show The Exam (pictured at left)

Discussion on Mr Bean Volume 1.
1. How does doubt, confusion and fear affect Mr Bean?
2. How do they affect us in our Christian lives?

Listening Song: Libera
On Robert Prizeman's album of the same name (pictured at left)

Listening Song: He Reigns

By the Newsboys and found on their album, Adoration, Sparrow Records or on WOW 2004 .

Poem: Psalm 118:22
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 in the Summer section under Psalm 118:22.

Story: Imprisoned
The day Harry Houdini couldn't escape - find this story at http://dev.bible.org/netbible/illustration.php?topic=794

Story: Prison
In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl tells the story about some of his fellow prisoners in the Dachau Nazi prison Camp during World War II. They had been held captive so long that when they were released he said, “they walked out into the sunlight, blinked nervously and then silently walked back into the familiar darkness of the prisons, to which they had been accustomed for such a long time.”

Story: Prison Accidently Opens Gate for 500
Found in Incredible Illustrations by Mikal Keefer, Group Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0764426141, page 62 (pictured at left). 

Meditation: Every Day is Easter
This is a great response written by Roddy Hamilton and found via his Mucky Paws site (see my links at left) archived under March 2008.

Response Activity: Resurrection Remembrances II
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 207 (pictured above right). This activity is based on the gospel reading (pictured above right)
.
Response Activity:
Give everyone a balloon and string or streamers to wave at appropriate parts of the service and then to take home to be tied to their car aerials and/or to be fixed to their gateposts, letterboxes or front doors.

Multiple ideas: "I Have Seen the Lord"

Found in Multi-Sensory Seasons by Wendy Raynor and Annie Slade, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271757, page 36 

Lots of Useful Stuff:                                                                                  Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual 2014  by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 94ff (pictured at right). 

A Chapter of Resources for Easter Day:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 19-46.

Response Activity: Love and Determination
Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 55ff. This is based on the John reading .

A Chapter of Resources for Easter Sunday:
By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 223-244 (pictured at left). 

Also:

Poem and prayer: still dark.
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 21 (pictured at left). These are based on the John reading.

Story Plus Other Stuff: Roxsanne Makes Good

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 37.

Opening and Closing Responses:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 20.

Drama: Peter and Mary
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 87. This is based on the John reading.

Drama: Easter Egg-citement

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 94. This drama is based on the John reading.

Drama: The Feast of Victory 

Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 92. This drama is based on the Matthew reading.

Beautiful Illustrations of John's Gospel  connected to the Australian Outback

Found in The Gospel According to John Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 9780646912462, page 60-61.

Drama: Isn't it Wonderful?
A monologue in which a joyful Mary announces the news of Jesus' resurrection. Found in Let's Make a Scene by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, page 52ff (pictured at left).  This drama is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: Could it Be True?

Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing, 1991, ISBN 085910608, page 59. This drama is linked to the Matthew reading. 

Drama: The Story

Found in Let's Make A Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing, 1991, ISBN 085910608, page 66. This drama is linked to the Matthew reading. 

Drama: In the Courtyard

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 59. This drama is based on the Matthew reading. 

Drama: In the Upper Room

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 63. This drama is based on the Matthew reading. 

Drama: An Exceptional Day

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 68. This drama is based on the Matthew reading. 

Service Starter: Dying  - and Rising to Victory

Based on the Matthew reading, this is found in The All-Age Service Annual Volume 4, published by Scripture Union, 2010, ISBN 9781844275199, page 41.

Poem: Stones
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 98 and based on the Matthew reading. 

Drama: Stop the Presses

Found in Let's Make a Scene for..... by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1998, ISBN 0859108937, page 70 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Matthew reading. 

Meditation: Prayers That Jesus Hears

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 93ff.  This is based on the John reading.

Poem and Painting: I Could Not Believe My Eyes

Found in A Bloke Called Jesus by Pro Hart and Norman Habel, Rigby, 1982, ISBN 0 7270 1758 6, page 44. These are based on the John reading. 

Sharing Stories: Change!

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 95. These are based on the Matthew reading. 

A Time to Rejoice

By Maria I. Tirrabassi and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 53. Based on the Matthew reading.

Easter Poem

By Mary Taylor and found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and Maria I. Tirrabassi (Eds), Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 978 0 8298 1750 8, page 62. Based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer/Action: Light

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008, pages 106 and based on the Matthew reading. 

Prayer/Action: Snow

Found  in Going Home Another Way by Neil Paynter, Wild Goose Publications, 2008,pages 125 and based on the Matthew reading.  

Resurrection

Found in Welcome Mat:  A Resource for Opening the Bible with Children, Families and Teens by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union, Victoria, 2010, pages 65 (small group resources), 109 (preschool resources), 128 (adult resources) and 160 (dramas).

Based on the Matthew reading.