Worship for Second Sunday of Easter

Reunion - Thomas and Christ, Ernst Barlach (1870-1938)

GreetingWelcome in the name of Jesus. Peace be with you. Amen, and also with you!Alleluia. Christ is risen.He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Call to worshipWe come from a world confused about truth.We come with our own uncertainties.Let us bring the darkness of human understanding

into the presence of God, who is light.Let us bring the story of our search for truthand share in fellowship the things we have heard and seen and touched.

We light a candle

Gathering PrayerGod, whose light shines in the darkness,shine on us today.God, made known to those who met Jesus,touch us through the experiences of our lives.God, who gave Thomas what he asked,give us what we need – that we too may come to believe. Amen.

CollectRisen Christ,for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:open the doors of our hearts,that we may seek the good of othersand walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,to the praise of God the Father.Amen.

Song: I Am A New Creation

Confession (Saying Sorry to God)Trusting in God’s forgiveness, let us confess our failingsand acknowledge our part in the pain of the world:

Like Mary at the empty tomb,we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.

Like the disciples behind locked doors,we are afraid to be seen as your followers.Christ, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.

Like Thomas in the upper room,we are slow to believe.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.

God’s forgiveness is declared:May the God of love and powerforgive you and free you from our sins,heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.Amen.

Bible Reading: John 20:19-31Jesus Appears to the Disciples19 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.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.’

26 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.’ 27 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.’ 28 Thomas answered him,

‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 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.

Pause for ThoughtToday we are thinking about how the disciples hid themselves away after Jesus died because they were afraid. Then, the risen Jesus came to them, and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit which changed their fear into joy.

If you would like something to do whilst we pause for thought, we are going to make paper windmills. Like wind, you can’t see the Holy Spirit but you can see the difference it makes.

To make a windmill, you will need:- A square of paper- Something to decorate your paper with, such as

colouring pens or crayons, or stickers- A pencil or piece of wooden doweling

- A noticeboard pin (the ones with the coloured plastic ends) or a drawing pin

- Scissors- Glue stick

Song: Breathe on me, Breath of God

PrayersLoving God,In the evening when the disciples meet,frightened behind locked doors,you come to them with words of peace.Your Spirit transformed their fear into joy. Be present with us now, in our own fears and doubts, and reassure us with words of peace. Risen Jesus, come with words of peace.

Come to us today:in government rooms where politicians meet,in city board rooms where executives plan,in court rooms where lawyers debate;come to our schools, our homes and our places of work. Risen Jesus, come with words of peace.

Come to us today:in hospital rooms where people are waiting,in prison cells where people are afraid,in homes where people struggle to make ends meet;Risen Jesus, come with words of peace.

Come to those who feel afraid,to those who are in distressand to those who grieve. Come to those we care for and are worried about,and to those who hide themselves away behind closed doors, too afraid to face the world. Risen Jesus, come with words of peace.

This Easter breathe on us againwith your Holy Spirit;reassure us of your presence,and fill us with your joy. Renew us in the power of your Spiritthat we may open our doors and go out into the worldto show forth your hope and peace to the people we meet.Risen Jesus, come with words of peace.

Renew us in the power of your Spiritthat we may have life in your nameand go wherever you send us.In Jesus’ name we pray.Amen.

Lord’s PrayerRejoicing in God’s new creation,as our Saviour taught us, so we pray: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 sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and for ever. Amen.

Statement of FaithLet us declare our faith in God:

We believe in God the Father,from whom every familyin heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,who lives in our hearts through faith,and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,who strengthens uswith power from on high.

We believe in one God;Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Amen.

Song: See, what a morning!

Final PrayerFather, your Son Jesus did not reject Thomas. Help us to value questions and questioners, and not to reject either when they are awkward; to discern what kind of evidence is appropriate and trustworthy in different situations; and to have the courage ourselves to be questioners and seekers of truth. Amen.

BlessingMay Christ,who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future,fill you with his new life;And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

EndingWe go into the worldto walk in God’s light,to rejoice in God’s loveand to reflect God’s gloryin the name of Christ, Amen.

DismissalHe is not here. He is risen.Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am a new creationNo more in condemnation,Here in the grace of God I stand.My heart is overflowing,My love just keeps on growing,Here in the grace of God I stand.And I will praise You Lord,Yes, I will praise You Lord,And I will sing of all that You have done.A joy that knows no limit,A lightness in my spirit,Here in the grace of God I stand.

1 Breathe on me, breath of God:fill me with life anew,that I may love as you have lovedand do as you would do.

2 Breathe on me, breath of God,until my heart is pure,until my will is one with yoursto do and to endure.

3 Breathe on me, breath of God;fulfil my heart's desire,until this earthly part of meglows with your heavenly fire.

4 Breathe on me, breath of God;so shall I never die,

but live with you the perfect lifeof your eternity.

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"See God's salvation plan,Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!The voice that spans the years,Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,Will sound till He appears,For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.Honour and blessing, glory and praiseTo the King crowned with pow'r and authority!And we are raised with Him,Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;And we shall reign with Him,For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!