Christ Church Gabriola, Easter 2 April 7, 2024 

Christ Church Gabriola  

A Collaborative Anglican – United Church

Open to All

Easter 2

April 7, 2024 

Hybrid Church

A Celebration of Easter Readings and Carols

Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, 

ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here

Welcome & Announcements

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

This service of Easter Readings and Carols draws on Scripture from the whole of the Judeo—Christian tradition.  It is patterned after the Christmas “Lessons and Carols” and Good Friday “Stations of the Cross”.  This is a completely new version making use of New Testament Resurrection texts; Psalmody and resurrection embedded phrases from the Hebrew Scripture.  Along with poetic responses to the Scripture, prayers and lively Easter music it invites us to celebrate our Fifty Day Season of Easter.  

Lighting Christ Candle

In this Easter Season we share and sing the glad news of Resurrection!

Jesus Christ has risen indeed!

We light this candle because Christ is here among us.

            We are here.

     God is here.

     This place is sacred ground.

Opening Prayer                                                                                                                             Deborah van der Goes

Grant, we pray, O God, 

that we, who share in the Easter paschal celebrations,

may, through your goodness,

hold fast to them

in the way we live our lives;

through Jesus Christ

who is alive with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.    

            Amen                                   

The Disciples Prayer 

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.

Easter Carol: Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen                                                                                      CP #220

(For each Station: a reading, a bell sounds, followed by a prayer ending with)

Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

          Loving God, hear our prayer.

Station 1 – Jesus is the One risen from the dead

READER ONE: Angela Nutter

“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. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. The angels said to Mary, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. (John 20)

Surprised by the empty tomb, 

Mary is shocked, disappointed, and disoriented.

Mary weeps. 

Jesus, whom Mary knew as teacher and friend, 

no longer to be seen!  

no longer is to be touched! 

The final gesture of her loving tender care now denied. 

Presider: A resurrection prayer from the Psalms: 

“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up . . . I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit”.  (Psalm 30)  …..Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

 

Loving God, hear our prayer.
 

All Sing: The tomb is empty! Come and see                                                                                 (CP #230 v1)

            where once the body lay.     

            Can it be true that Jesus Christ is raised to life today? 

 

Station 2 – The men run to the Empty Tomb

READER ONE: Angela Nutter

Mary 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 toward 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. (John 20)

Peter and the beloved disciple

are surprised by Mary’s news.

They must check this out for themselves.

They run.

They look, hesitate, and go on in.

Is it true someone had stolen Jesus body?

But the burial wrappings are there!

The head cloth is right there!

Can it be?

Presider: A prayer from Jonah:

 “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. . . . I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.” (Jonah 1-2)  …Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.
 

All Sing: The tomb is empty! Come and hear                                                                               (CP #230 v2)

            These words of life and peace: “He is not here.

            He lives again in all your Galilees.”  (CP 230 v.2)

Station 3 – The Risen One Appears First to Mary Magdalen, 

Apostle to the Apostles

READER ONE: Angela Nutter

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).

Mary hardly believes her ears.

It is her name.

Just the way Jesus always says it.

That same inflection,

That same warmth

That exact loving tone. YES!

Surprised, recognized, 

Restoration begins.

Presider: A resurrection prayer from the Psalms: 

 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30) …. Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.
 

All Sing: The tomb is empty! Come and touch                                                                             (CP #230 v3)

            The folded shroud.  Christ lives indeed. 

            Alleluia! Believers shout aloud!  (CP 230 v.3)

Station 4 – The Risen One appears on the Road to Emmaus

READER ONE: Angela Nutter

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. (Luke 24)

Out of their minds with deepness of grief

they walk.

Barely remembering to put one foot in front of the other

To keep moving.

To keep talking,

To keep telling their story

Surprised that this stranger would ask 

to hear

Presider: A resurrection prayer from the Psalms: 

 “O Holy One, You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. (Psalm 71) Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer

 

All SING: The tomb is empty!  Come and meet                                                                            (CP #230 v4)

the risen Christ our Lord In whom we have

            our victory, in whom is life restored. 

EASTER CAROL: “Christ is Risen, Shout Hosanna”    CP #223

Station 5 – The Risen One is recognized in the Breaking of Bread

READER TWO: Susan Brockley

They drew near to the village to which they were going. He (the stranger) acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” … Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24)

That kindly stranger was such good company

Our hearts were warmed around the edges

Our stricken minds were softened

Was it really Him?

He blessed and broke

And shared bread with us

The very same way.

Presider: A resurrection vision from Isaiah: 

He will swallow up death for all time,

And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,

And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;

For the Lord has spoken. ..….Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                      CP #360

            Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s Holy Name.

            Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.  

 

 

Station 6 – The Risen One Appears to the Community of Followers

READER TWO: Susan Brockley

 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (also known as Peter), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (1 Cor 15)

It seems all we can talk about.

We see the Risen One

Others see the Risen One

A whole crowd saw the Risen One just last week.

Or did we?

James will tell us.

Presider: A prayer for resurrection from Hosea

Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.(Hosea 6) … Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                      CP #360

            Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s Holy Name.

            Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.  

Station 7 – The Risen One Provides 

READER TWO: Susan Brockley

They saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish,…. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

It was that good outdoor smell of fish being cooked

The air filled with invitation

That spoken invitation

“Come and have breakfast”

How could we hesitate?

Fish and bread.

Bread and fish.

Bread broken.

Fish shared

YES!

Why are we still surprised?

Food for the hungry.

Presider: The vision of Resurrection from Isaiah

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.” (Isaiah)  …..Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                     CP #360

            Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s Holy Name.

            Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.  CP 360

Station 8– The Gift of Peace from the Risen One

READER TWO: Susan Brockley

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, 

with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 

Jesus came and stood among them 

and said, “Peace be with you.  

The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; 

just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 

O Joy!

Yes, it is Jesus.

Suddenly we were just as he wished us to be.

At peace.

He said is so simply.

“Peace be to you.”

He said it so confidently”

“Peace be to you.”

He said it so…

Dare I say?

He said it so lovingly.

“Peace be to you.”

 

We couldn’t help ourselves.

So I say to you now

“Peace be to you.”

Presider: A resurrection prayer from Isaiah 

““Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. and the earth will give birth to the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. (Isaiah 26:19-20) ….Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.
 

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                      CP #360

            Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s Holy Name.

            Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. 

 

Easter Carol: Christ is Atonement                                                                                                         CP #243

Station 9 – The Risen One Breathes on Us

READER THREE: Pat Armstrong

And when Jesus had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” (NAS John 20)

So near I felt his breath

Sweet.

Warm.

Life giving.

Surrounding us.

My hardened doubts

And failings melted.

I stepped lightly through that locked door

Into possibility

Generosity

A loving future

For you too?

Presider: A resurrection prayer from the Psalms: 

 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:1) 

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                      CP #360

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s Holy Name.

Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.  

Station 10 – The Risen One Strengthens our Faith 

READER THREE: Pat Armstrong

But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”….Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Yes.  It was me.

Caught up in my doubts.

Wanting to be sure.

Wanting to be so perfectly right.

One hundred percent correct.

I didn’t believe the others.

I had to see for myself.

I had to touch for myself.

Jesus even invited me to touch.

So I touched his wounds.

I touched so gently

He did not wince.

I saw and touched for myself.

YES!

Will you 

Who touch only now, who see today,

have confidence of faith?

Jesus invites you to touch and see.

Presider: A resurrection Prayer from the Psalms

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. (Psalm 17:15) …. Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                     CP #308                                                

            In the Lord rejoicing! Christ is risen from the dead!

            Alleluia!                    

Station 11 – The Risen One Counts on Us

READER THREE: Pat Armstrong

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

Yes, I admit it.

I was vexed at Jesus.

Three times I was asked.

Three times said “YES”

How I wish to forget 

all my times

of denial,

refusal, 

disbelief.

But maybe it takes 

that many “YESSES” to make clear.

Maybe it takes many more “YESSES”

To be dedicated 

To be determined 

To the ever changing and growing work

Of feeding, caring,

More feeding,

More caring.

Feed my sheep 

He told me.

That we will do.

That is our work

That is our mandate

That is our mission

Presider: A declarative prayer from Job:

 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19) ….Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                      CP #308

            In the Lord rejoicing! Christ is risen from the dead!

            Alleluia!                  

Station 12 – The Risen One Sends Us into the World

READER THREE: Pat Armstrong

Jesus, as the dedicated Jew of his time, 

knew and loved the Prophet Isaiah.

The writer of Isaiah tells us: “God will swallow up death for all time,

And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,

And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;

For the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8)

This is how the Gospel of John ends in telling the story of Jesus and Resurrection

The writer of John concludes: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20)

More than we can ask or imagine

God’s Resurrection of Jesus

brings endless and frequent surprise

to our world.

To find the way through dark valleys

for a larger vision 

Confidence includes doubt

Faith contains distress

Healing brings forth strength

Love is for all

Our spirit is refreshed

Our soul revived

Our energy gathered

Presider:  A prophesy from Ezekiel

Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, “Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:7-10)…

Healing God, transform our hearts and give us courage to act.

Loving God, hear our prayer.

Sung Response:                                                                                                                                        CP #308

             In the Lord rejoicing! Christ is risen from the dead!

            Alleluia!                    

Offering Invitation  

Let us now gather our offerings (quiet music is played)        

Take, O Take Me As I Am                                                                                                                          MV #85

Summon out what I shall be;

Set your seal upon my heart and live in me.

Closing Song: Morning Has Broken                                                                                                          CP #3

Blessing

Bless you and protect you!יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ {ס}          יהוה 

deal kindly and graciously with you!  שָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}          יהוה

bestow [divine] favor upon you 

and grant you peace! (The contemporary Torah-Numbers 6:24-26)

 

Presider: Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia. 

Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia. 

Postlude:

 

The power of daffodils (photographer unknown)

“Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whi