Easter 2 C (April 27): Love in Spite of the Shadow of a Doubt

 

Bible Readings: Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31

About the Images:
Upper Left : A Microsoft free clipart image with my text.
Upper Right:  My photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Middle Left: A free clip art from Cerrezo Barredo - see my link column at left.
Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website. This site is down at present. 
Lower Left: Free clipart from the Hermano Leon site - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: A free clip art from Don Silva (may he RIP) at  https://sundaygraphx.blogspot.com/

Bottom Left: A free image from the excellent Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

Listening Song: With Every Breath
By Leigh Nash and Dan Haseltine on the album, City on a Hill (pictured at left) or on the album, WOW 2002. This song links in well with Psalm 150.

Film Clip: John 20:19-31
From The Gospel of John by The Visual Bible Society -an excellent film streets ahead of any other similar film (pictured at right).

Film Clip: Doubting Thomas
From the Work of the People - see my link at left. 

Drama: Blessed Are They
By Darryl McCollum and found at www.dramatix,org This drama is based on the gospel reading. 

Drama: The Visit
Found in The Dame Cecily Spume Drama Notebook by Nick Page, Minstral, 1990, ISBN 1854240978, page 105 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading.

Illustration: Doubt
Index 1223-4 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. This goes well with the gospel reading

Discussion Activity:
Give out or project the following four statements:
1. I know Jesus is alive because I can feel in my heart that he loves me. Sometimes Jesus feels very close to me.
2. Jesus' love was too strong to die. When people love each other they show that Jesus' love is still alive in the world.
3. I am not sure what happened when Jesus died. I do know that whatever happens to us when we die, we will always be with God.
4. Jesus died, then God raised him to life again. People saw him and talked to him. Jesus spirit is still present in our world today.

Ask people to choose the statement that best suits what they believe and talk with others who feel the same way. (You may need to specify four areas to meet in). Encourage them to address the following questions in their discussion:

1. Why did you choose this statement - what did you like about it?
2. What would you like to change or add?
3. What difference should this view of the resurrection make to our lives?
4. How can we help each other to do this?

Have the four groups report back when you reassemble as one group.

Discussion Activity:

Divide people into a number of groups and have them discuss the "My Own Story" questions from the Serendipity Bible on John 20: 19-21 (pictured at right).  

Story: John Wesley's Last Words
Found in Rivers in the Desert by Rowland Croucher (Ed.) Albatross, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 34 (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading

Story: Christian in Doubting Castle
This is also found in Rivers in the Desert (see above), page 35. This also goes well with the gospel reading.

Story: Obedience
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, story No. 179 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the gospel reading.

Prayer:
Say something along the following lines: Think to yourself one way the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in your life. In the silence, talk to God about how you will realise the difference and make it an obvious part of your life.

Also:

Taize Service: Overcoming Doubts
Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 18 (pictured at right). This is based on the John reading.

Responsive Reading:

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 25 (pictured at left).  This is based on Psalm 150.

Prayer Exercise: Prayers of Examen

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 54 (pictured at right).  This is based on the Psalm reading.

For Children and Families: God is everywhere
Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SUVictoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035 (pictured at left), 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 right).

Reflection: Scars Reveal Resurrection

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

Reflective Poem: Thomas, my twin

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

Opening or Closing Response 

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, page 130 (pictured at right). 

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 (pictured at left).

Poem: Seasons do not stop
Found in In Due Season by Herbert F Brokering, Augsburg Publishing, 1966 (pictured at right) in the Summer section.

Drama: Unsolved Mystery
Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson, (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 103. This drama is based on the John reading.

Psalm 150

Found in The Psalms: An Artist's Impression by Anneke Kaai and Eugene Peterson, Piquant, 1999, ISBN 0 9535757 0 5, page 54. 

Blessing

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 149. This activity is based on the Psalm.

Call to Worship

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 83. Based on the Psalm reading.

Call to Worship

By Maren C Tirabassi 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 72. Based on the Psalm reading.

Activity: Abstract Art Bible Pictures

Found in Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1 84427 166 8, number 30. This is based on the Psalm 150 reading.

Easter Day C (April 20): Easter Dreaming

 

Readings: Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12                                                                                                                                            All the images above come from the Hermano Leon site and are free for use in worship and related activities. This site sadly appears to have closed. 

Call to Worship:
A time of silence. Then play Anthem Part 3 from the album, Powaqqatsi, (1988) (pictured at left) while showing six 20 second Good Friday images. When the music reaches the fanfare, show an Easter Day image. Then fade the music enough so that a reader can read Isaiah 65:17-25.

Call to Worship: King of Glory

Play King of Glory by Third Day found on their album, Carry Me Home (pictured at right) or on WOW 2001. For each verse, show an image of the crucifixion and for each chorus show an image of the resurrection. Show a resurrection image for the last verse and then as the choir on the CD begins to back the Third Day singer, fade the music and have somebody read the Psalm.

Call to Worship: Change
Found in Mucky Paws Volume 4 or in the April 2007 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left).

Call to Worship Activity:
If you had an old wooden cross in the church for Good Friday, give everybody a streamer or coloured ribbon as they enter and ask them to decorate the cross before sitting down.

Kids: Butterflies and Flowers

Tell the Easter story using the cocoon and butterfly, seed and flower analogies. Have a dead branch at the front of the church and either have them make paper flowers or butterflies to decorate the branch with. This works very well as a congregational activity. Alternately have the kids give everyone in the congregation a tiny butterfly or flower sticker - people really run with this and wear them immediately putting them on lapels, collars, watch faces, spectacle frames etc etc.

Drama: What's Easter All About:
Found in Mega Drama 3 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109178, page 87 (pictured at left). This drama goes with any of the readings.

Video Clip: Fantasia 2000
Show the Firebird Suite segment after the fire when everything greens up. In the clip below which I have embedded so you can see how it works. You could easily start at around anywhere from the 4 or5 or 6 minute mark depending on how much time you have and how much you want to show. 


Discussion: Fantasia
How does Easter bring new life to the world?

Story: Stephen's Egg
Found in More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 1995, ISBN 0310207681, page 159 (pictured at right).

Story: Nikolai Church and the Fall of the Berlin Wall
This story can be found often and easily by googling.

Story: Easter
Found in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch Books, 2003, ISBN 1854245929, page 51 (pictured at left).

Biblical Reflection:

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 32 - 38 (pictured at right).

Listening Song: Early in the Morning

By David Meece on his album, Once in a Lifetime (pictured at left) .

Listening Song: Libera

By Robert Prizeman on his album, Libera (pictured at right).

Prayer: Yes/No 
Found in the 21st March 2008 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left)
 
Pass the Peace:
Give everyone a balloon to blow up. Toss them, catch a new one and pass the peace using Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Response Activity:
In groups or individually get people to name their easter dreams for the world, for their church, for themselves and to use these as starters for a prayer time.

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). 

Opening and Closing Responses:

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 20-45 (pictured above).

Also:

Poem: Risen
Also a great prayer and collect included on the same page.  Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 150 (pictured at left). 

Sermon Thought: Forgiveness has Risen from the Grave 

Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year C by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2012, ISBN 9781921945083, page 64ff (pictured at right).

Words For Easter
Found in Before the Amen by Maren C Tirabassi and  Maria I. Tirabassi (Eds), The Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, 2007, ISBN 9780829817508, page 78-81 (pictured at left). 

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.

Drama: Peter and Mary

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 87 (pictured above).

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: Adam's Family History
Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson, (Ed.), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 95. This drama is based on the Corinthians reading.

Poem: Jesus Came to Save Us
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 96 and based on the Luke reading. 

Poem: North Hinksley Village Church
Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew, 2003, ISBN 1844170411, page 110 and based on the Luke 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.  

Easter Dawn C (April 20)

                                                                                    

 

Readings: Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12

About the Images:
Upper Left: Buds shoot from the bark (epicormic shoots) of a eucalyptus (more commonly known as gum) tree devastated and defoliated by bush fires in the Australian High country. This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Upper Right: The beach at dawn in Paynesville where the Mitchell River Parish hold their dawn service. For more info on this area visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gippsland_Lakes. This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Middle Left: This is an image of a replica of Jesus' tomb in found in the Garden Tomb complex in Jerusalem.  This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Middle Right: This image comes from the awesome Church Galleries website.  This site is closed at present.

Lower Left:  If you live in the city and want to do a dawn service, find a nearby park with a pond or a lake. This is my photo so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities
Lower Right:  This is an Image bank free clipart.  This site has closed down.

Bottom Left: This is a free image from the Hermano Leon site which also appears to have closed down.

Location:
Have this service near a lake or beach if possible - if you live inland, then choose a high point - if you live inland on a plain then find a nice river - if you live inland on a plain in a desert (most of Australia) then you will have plenty of beautiful places to choose from even if you are not all that close to a water source.

Call to Worship or.....:When The Inevitable is no Longer Sure
Found at http://holdthisspace.org.au/when-the-inevitable-is-no-longer-sure/ These words could be used in all sorts of ways. This site can also be found in my links (above left) and is well worth a look. Cheryl Lawrie's writing is excellent, relevant and creative.

Easter candle:
Have a camp fire or a fire pot instead.

Prayer: Jesus We Greet You
Found in Stages on the Way by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 188 (pictured at left)

Prayer: Lord God, Early in the Morning
Found in Stages on the Way as above, page 184 (pictured at left)

Meditation: I Have Seen Jesus
Found in Mucky Paws Volume 4 or in the April 2007 Mucky Paws archives (see my link above left - Roddy Hamilton writes excellent stuff)

Meditation: Prayers That Jesus Hears
Found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 20028, ISBN 0901557642, page 95 (pictured at right)

Response Activity 
Cook fish and middle eastern bread over an open fire or on a plough disc. A great pita bread recipe can be found at http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread