BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

EASTER SUNDAY

WORSHIP SERVICE & AGAPE MEAL

April 4, 2021

The video recording of this service at can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Jesu Joy – Bach, arr. Craig Duncan - Violin: Leslie Wade

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we celebrate Easter with an Agape Meal!! Let this day fill you with joyful celebration and excitement as we proclaim that we are made alive in Christ and Christ is made alive through us!

In this time of provincial shutdown, we can still gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am with a maximum number of 22 people. The Public Health strongly recommends staying at home but if you wish to attend our service, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual health protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer our worship service in audio, video and text formats. Check our website at bcuc.org to access the worship service and the weekly announcements including Sunday School resources for your family. You can also listen to the service via telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. In this time of lockdown, please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Friends, on this Easter Sunday, let us remind ourselves that the Easter message of Jesus is all about love. To remember that now is the right time to put this love into action. So with hearts filled with alleluias, let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Acolytes: Wendy Morrell & Dan Lanoue

We are here on this Easter morning,
surrounded by the promises of faith.
We give thanks to God for light:
the light shed by the sun, moon and the stars,
the light that guides our way.
We light this Christ candle knowing that we are the body of Christ.
This is the light that we give each other as we share
our joy, our trust, our Easter hope.
We are risen in Christ and Christ is risen in us!
Hallelujah!

Anthem: Risen Up! – Lantz Soloist: Keith Bailey with BCUC choir – recorded live 2017

Call to Gather & Prayer of Approach:[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Come to settle into the comfortable rituals of worship,
gathering from a physical distance or within a distance of time.
We come longing for the familiarity of life’s rhythms when so little is familiar.
Come to celebrate our faith story of resurrection
joy and of new life – of hope lived into a future
where the risen One blazes light into our gloom.
We come to breathe deeply the fresh air of
renewed faith welling within us.
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Hallelujah! God is good!

With trust in the Spirit’s leading and in the story we treasure, let us pray:
God who gathers us, who upholds us, and who
enlivens us, we praise you for your joy that springs out of despair;
we honour you as we humbly receive your healing loving-kindness;
we submit to your path of self-giving love
proclaimed in the Risen Christ.
In our separation, unite us.
In our isolation, connect us.
In our loneliness, embrace us.
Into the risen Christ’s light,
lead us into dance of possibility. Amen.

Hymn: This is the Day More Voices #122 - BCUC music team (remastered from 2020)

1 This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad! 2x
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad! 2x

2 Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie. 2x
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.

Repeat verse 1

Greetings from Chipembi (Rev. Lwao’s message)

Today we share the joy and hope of Easter with followers of Jesus around the world. We are reminded of this in this greeting from Rev. Lwao and our friends in the congregation of the United Church of Zambia in Chipembi.

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Happy Easter everyone! Do you have any plants in your house? Sometimes people have plants for a very long time. They can tell you stories about where this plant came from and how long it has been in their care. Sometimes those plants were a gift from someone or maybe they were started from a little cutting from someone else’s plant.

We have this Christmas cactus at our house. We used to have one that was enormous! It was given to Neil by an elderly lady named Thelma at our last church. We think it was about 50 years old! People were always amazed to see it when they came to visit. It grew and grew and sometimes, pieces would get broken off the long leaves. Neil would sprout those pieces and plant them in new pots. We could give our friends and family new plants that had come from Thelma’s original Christmas cactus. It was a nice way to spread the joy of that magnificent old plant far and wide.

When we moved into our new house in Almonte, we just couldn’t find a good place for that huge plant. The places that were big enough didn’t get enough light and the spots by the windows just couldn’t accommodate its size. So, we had to give it away. Our daughter, Sara, has it at her house now – and she loves it just as much as we did. A whole new group of people are seeing that beautiful plant and they are excited to take a cutting home to grow their own. Thelma’s cactus is still spreading joy – and cuttings are growing into new big plants, just as beautiful as the one Thelma gave to Neil.

We were sad to say goodbye to that old plant when we sent it to Sara’s house – but we know that it is still alive and thriving. We still have this smaller one with us. It started from a piece that broke off of Thelma’s Christmas cactus. You know, even if that huge old plant dies, it will continue to bring joy and beauty all over the place! All those new plants are carrying on the life of the original one – and so Thelma’s Christmas cactus will always be alive as long as we take care of those new ones, and as long as people keep telling the story and passing on new clippings.

This past week – Holy Week - is a difficult one in the life of the church. We remember that, after the big parade that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches and shouts of “hosanna”, things got dark and scary for Jesus and his followers. A few days later Jesus was arrested and at the end of the week he died on a cross. His friends and followers were scared and upset. They thought their time with Jesus was over forever and that all the good news and hope he preached was gone with him in the tomb. But on Easter Sunday, our stories tell us that that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was alive in the world!

I think the story of Jesus is a bit like the story of Thelma’s Christmas cactus. We don’t have that big plant with us anymore but we know that it continues to grow with every small cutting that someone plants and cares for… and as long as people continue to nourish those plants and tell the story, and share cuttings with others, Thelma’s Christmas cactus will live forever.

We don’t have Jesus, the man, with us today but he is still alive in the world. We meet him in every scripture story told, every prayer that we say, and most of all, in every act of hope and love that is done in the world. We keep Jesus alive by remembering the things he taught, by loving our neighbours and by taking care of each other and all of creation. As long as we continue to nourish those things and share his message, Jesus will continue to live and his love will grow in new places and in new hearts.

Won’t that make the world beautiful? That sounds to me like a good reason to shout, “Hallelujah!”

Hymn: Hey Now! Singing Hallelujah! - More Voices #121 (verses 1,3,5) – CGS/Bell Canto

Refrain:
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
Hey now! The morning has come!
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
The tomb was empty at the rising sun.

1. Jesus loved people and he made them friends,
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He called to the children and the women and men.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

3. Jesus loved people and they said he was a king.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He turned all the tables on everything.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

5. Jesus loves people and he lives again!
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
Calls us disciples and he calls us his friends.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

Prayer for Illumination[2] Reader: Ellen Boynton

The light of Christ has entered this place. Now let the light enter our hearts, as we receive the words of scripture. Send your light, O God, like the first morning; send your spirit, like the first bird. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: The Resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-18- NRSV)

20 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. 2 So she 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.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 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. 13 They said to her, “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.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

May we find ourselves renewed in this Easter story. Thanks be to God!

Song: Sing Allelu! - Schram CGS & Bell Canto – Director Erin Berard

Sermon: “Jesus: A Wisdom Teacher” Rev. Kim Vidal

In modern Jerusalem, I was told, that if you walk beyond a place called the Damascus Gate for a block or so, you will see the Garden Tomb, a place, as tradition has it, where Jesus could have been buried. It is hard to miss. It is now a huge tourist attraction in Jerusalem. There are big tourist buses all around and a steady stream of pilgrims and tourists heading up the narrow alley to the ticket gate. Outside the garden, there are vendors of all kinds, selling everything from olive rosary beads to prayer shawls and artifacts. Before reaching the Garden Tomb, there are sellers of another kind, those who would have the tourists believe in the idea that Jesus’ tomb is right in the garden. There it is just off to the left as you enter, a deep cave carved out of a stone wall. An enormous rock is rolled to the side and inside, an outer room and an inner one. It is not hard to imagine that this is an ancient burial place where Jesus might have lain. But one finds it difficult to be gripped by terror and amazement, especially because the Garden Tomb Shop seems to be doing a bustling business, while dozens of tourists are busy taking selfies and pictures standing close to the boulder outside the tomb.

The Garden Tomb reminds me of the gospel writer John’s depiction of the first Easter filled with dramatic presentation. “Early in the morning, while it was still dark….” That’s where Easter really begins. It begins in darkness. It begins with fear, uncertainty, pain, death and a profound loss.

Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, went to the tomb and discovered the unexpected. The stone covering the tomb was removed. In her panic, Mary rushed to tell Peter and the beloved disciples, John, about what happened! “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and I do not know where they have laid him!” In those days, tomb robbers were very common. Mary must have thought that someone stole Jesus’ body! Upon hearing Mary’s news, Peter and John sprang into action. They ran to investigate The Mystery of the Empty Tomb! The two disciples took off to verify that Mary’s announcements were true! You see, in those days, women’s words were not taken seriously. Women could not even stand as witnesses in a court. Peter and John must attest to her testimony and verify it with their very own eyes.

A little humour was included by the Gospel writer when John the beloved disciple outran Peter. It was like a marathon contest! John arrived at the tomb first and won the gold medal while Peter settled for silver. John bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there but did not go in. For John, that was enough proof that indeed, the body of Jesus was missing! But Peter was the better investigator. Or at least the more curious one. Peter entered the tomb. John quickly followed him inside and they confirmed Mary’s story: The stone rolled away? Check. Empty tomb? Check. Linen wrappings lying there? Check. Cloth from Jesus’ head rolled up and lying separately? Check. OK – everything’s in order. What Mary said was true. Nothing more to see here. It’s time to go home! Despite their anxious running and curious investigating, they just got up and leave. Peter and John’s role at that point was over.

In contrast to the two male disciples’ reactions, Mary stayed. She stood beside the entrance of the tomb and wept for the longest time in her life. The Good Friday event still lingered in her mind. Her beloved Jesus was crucified. He was dead and now his body was missing. What will happen next? Don’t we all have that moment when we all weep for something that was taken from us? or when someone we love dies? or when we have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? In her distressed state, Mary bent down to look into the tomb and saw angels sitting where Jesus’ body was supposed to be lying and asked her: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Foolish angels! Don’t they know that people cry in graveyards to grieve someone’s death? Mary’s honest response was: “I am weeping because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him! Where will I find him now? Will I ever see him again? I’ve lost him forever!

In that weeping and wailing, meanwhile according to John’s account, Jesus was standing there, and asked Mary the same question, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking that he was the gardener, Mary said: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” For Mary, without the body, she is still living in a Good Friday world. Like Mary, we still live, as if it is always a Good Friday world; a world where violence, suffering, greed, and death reign with stubborn propensity. Our world is still stuck in the despair of Good Friday. Even this morning, I know that some of you are still grieving for lost loved ones or anxious because of illness or broken relationships; the world is still mourning the death of thousands of people due to COVID-19; fear looms large as we hear news of the pandemic shutdown in many parts of Canada; people are still put down or killed because of their racial ethnicity or religious beliefs; poverty and famine continue to affect third world countries. For many of us, it seems that every single day is endlessly Good Friday, with no hope in sight. But take heart. In every sadness, there is joy. In every Good Friday, there is Easter Sunday.

Then Mary heard her name being called. “Mary!” Jesus called her by name as he had done so many times before. “Mary!” Mary turned around and just what did she see? Did she see someone that looked like the Jesus she had followed? Was it the Jesus on the cover of Time Magazine? or the one painted on the stained-glass window? Had her tears or her grief so blinded her that she couldn't see well enough to recognize that familiar face or does a resurrected body somehow looked different with scars and wounds? He called her name again. “Mary!” as if saying: “Stop looking for a dead body! I am not there anymore – look at me with a new faith and a new hope.” Was it Mary’s imagination that told her that it was Jesus? Excitedly she called out to him: “Rabbouni! Teacher!” In that very moment, Mary claims her place as Jesus’ rabbinical student and disciple.

Mary looked up to Jesus as a wisdom teacher. In Ancient Near East, a “wisdom teacher” is a recognized spiritual leader. In addition to priests or prophets who have religious authority, there was also a third category called in Hebrew as a “moshel moshelim”, or wisdom teacher, a teacher of the transformation of a human being—in league with the authors of the Hebrew wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes, Job, and Proverbs. Wisdom teachers may be the early precursors to the rabbi whose task it was to interpret the law and culture of Judaism. The hallmark of these wisdom teachers was their use of aphorisms, short sayings or riddles, and parables rather than prophetic pronouncements or divine decree. They spoke to people in the language that people understood, the language of story rather than law. Parables, such as the stories Jesus told, are a wisdom genre belonging to mashal, the Jewish branch of wisdom tradition. Jesus himself must have had an enlightenment experience. Jesus invites his hearers to leave conventional wisdom behind in order to live by an alternative wisdom.

In her joy, Mary ran to touch Jesus, her wisdom teacher, with every intent to embrace him. But Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.” “Mary, do not touch me. Stop holding onto me; stop clinging to me. Let me go. You can't keep me. It can't be like it was before. Things are different now. Let go of the details of my old self.” Jesus is free of the grave. His spirit, his memories, his wise words and teachings about love and justice are roaming at large in the world now. He will not be confined again – not even in the tomb where they have laid him at first. He asked Mary to tell others about him. Mary went back to her community and announced, “I have seen the Lord!”. I interpret Mary’s words like this: “I have experienced Jesus’ presence in my life!” To Mary and those first disciples, the risen Christ was more than a memory and more than a strong cause for justice. To them, he was a living memory that continues to shape their lives and gives them a sense of hope. This hope emanates in the lives of followers for generations every time they remembered Jesus in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of the stories.

As a young girl, I literally believed that Jesus rose —physically, bodily from the dead. That’s what I was taught by the pastor of our church and my teachers in Sunday School. As long as I believed in that kind resurrection, I thought it was safe and I belong to the fold of believers. Later, as an adult, I began to question the true meaning of resurrection and through my seeking and questioning, I was able to discern that the story of resurrection was a metaphor, a parable - not as a literal, historical fact, but a powerful story of transformation, renewal, and rebirth. After reading some scholars’ works on the writings of Paul, followed by Mark, Mathew, Luke and John of their accounts on resurrection, I concluded that resurrection happened in the life of the first believers. Jesus’ friends and followers experienced Jesus’ continued presence even after he died and that became a profound meaning of resurrection for me.

The question that Easter asks of us is not, ‘Do you believe in the doctrine of the resurrection?’ but rather ‘how have you experienced the risen Christ? How have you encountered the risen Christ in the particulars of your own messy and beautiful lives? Carter Heyward says it beautifully: “resurrection was no longer “an event in the life of Jesus; resurrection happened in the life of his friends.” It happened to Mary. It happened to his first disciples. It happens to you and me. The power of resurrection is with us here and now. We are the body of Christ. We are the church. What does Jesus' resurrected body look like today? It may look a lot like you and I. Look around you, today. Look for the life of Christ in one another. Look. The faith community, both past and present, is Christ’s spiritual body. And through this resurrected body, we know where the Risen Christ lives: it lives in this body of believers. Seen this way, Easter becomes the resurrection of Jesus’ vision, values and hope, his message of love, freedom and justice through us - through those who follow in his way.

Easter calls us to gather in the traditions of love, freedom and justice that are critical in our time. Easter is Black Lives Matter. Easter is Against Asian Hate. Easter is embracing the LGBTQ and Two Spirit Community. Easter is Partnership with Chipembi. Easter is giving hope to people in this pandemic time. We follow the road to Easter as did the unridden colt, who carried Jesus into Jerusalem, not knowing where the road will lead, but remained faithful to the journey. Easter alleluias are not cheap acclamations that we can chant meaninglessly. Alleluias emerged from the courage of the broken, weeping hearts of Good Friday people who did not give up and looked forward to Easter hope.

On this Easter Sunday, as we break bread and share the cup of grace, may we celebrate the power of life over death, the strength of love over hatred, but also immense beauty in our brokenness and pain. May we experience Christ in the face of others, in places where love and healing is needed, and in every moment of joy and sorrow. May we declare with Mary, with Peter, with John and with the first followers of Jesus these powerful Easter words: “We are made alive in Christ!” and “Christ is made alive in us!” “Alleluia! Amen!”

Sources:
BCUC Lectionary Group
Nancy Rockwell, “Easter Visions”, patheos.org
Debie Thomas, “I Have Seen the Lord” April 14, 2019, journeywithjesus.net
Barbara Lundblad, Commentary on John 20: 1-18, workingpreacher.org
Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—A New Perspective on Christ and His Message
(Shambhala: 2008), 23-24.
Marcus Borg, Jesus as Wisdom Teacher in Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.

Prayers of the People: “A Prayer for Easter” by Ted Dodd Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God of Easter,
Roll away the stone of sadness, turn our mourning into dancing.

God of Resurrection,
Race with us to the site of new life, turn our crying into mirth.

God of the Empty Tomb,
Help us to see angels who make holy inquiry, turn our grief into joy.
In our world of pandemics, it can feel like we are in perpetual night.
COVID-19 continues despite denial and vaccines.
Violence rages in homes and on the streets.
Creation is groaning.

God of Easter, grant us hope and a sense of daylight.
In the face of the challenges of this year, so much is
confusing,
upsetting and
stressful.

God of Resurrection, grant us peace and a spirit of prayerfulness.
In this virus world of social isolation, a lot of us are weeping,
in grief,
in fear,
in anxiety.

God of the Empty Tomb, grant us reassurance and a willingness to see the world without despair.
Despite death and misunderstanding and tears,
Easter happened.
A stone was rolled away.
Angels appeared.
Jesus spoke Mary’s name.

God of the gospel good news,
speak each of our names, that we might know assurance and faith.

God of Easter,
roll away the stone of sadness, that we might be people of hope.

God of Resurrection,
race with us to the site of new life, that we might live in courage.

God of the Empty Tomb,
help us to see angels, that we might experience strength. Amen.

The Agape Meal Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal

“Agape” is the New Testament Greek word for “self-giving love”. The kind of love that comes from God and models God’s loving choice for our well-being and all of Creation. In the Christian tradition, agape is also the name for informal meals and times of togetherness and mutual sharing which remind us of all those meals Jesus shared with his friends and the unity that his Spirit continues to give us even today.

Hymn: We Gather Here – Voices United #469 – BCUC music team

We gather here in Jesus' name,
his love is burning in our hearts like living flame;
for through the loving son God fashions us as one:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

No one is a stranger here, - everyone belongs;
finding our forgiveness here, we in turn forgive all wrongs.

He joins us here, he breaks the bread,
the One who pours the cup is risen from the dead;
the One we love the most is now our gracious host:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

We are now a family of which Christ is the head;
though unseen he meets us here in the breaking of the bread.

We'll gather soon where angels sing;
we'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King;
now we anticipate the feast for which we wait:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

Proclamation (Kim)

We enter the story when a meal has been shared,
when prayers of thanksgiving have been spoken, when fellowship shared.
This is the place and this is the time.
Here and now, God waits to break into our experience.
We remember that when Jesus was with his friends, he took a piece of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: "Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Whenever you eat this, remember me." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying: "Drink. This cup poured out for you is God’s eternal love, making a new covenant. Whenever you drink it, remember me."

Loving One of wondrous stories, we remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we praise him for the love he poured out to all people of colour, race and creed. And so, recalling the spark and wonder of his life, the anguish of his death, and the hope of his resurrection, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ reigns in our hearts.

Prayer of Consecration & the Lord’s Prayer (Lorrie)

Let us pray.
Loving friend and companion, we welcome your presence with us. May these gifts of bread and cup, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds. And may our spirits be refreshed as we live in the light of your presence, with us now, and at all times and places. Send now your Holy Spirit upon this bread and this cup, O God that they might be our remembrance and our proclamation of the presence of Jesus Christ with us, through us and in us. Let us now recite the prayer that Jesus taught his followers:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kin-dom come.
Thy will be done in 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 kin-dom, The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup (Kim)

Let us now share and partake the bread and the cup reminding us of God’s unconditional love.
This is the bread – food for the journey. Take, eat and be nourished by God’s love.
This is the cup – drink for the journey. Take, drink and be sustained by God’s grace.

Prayer after the Meal (Lorrie)

We give you thanks, O God, for your gifts of hope, love and justice. With gratitude, we acknowledge that the broken bread and the cup poured out have brought us into unity with one another. In our common sharing of the feast this Easter, you have graced us by your presence, transforming us in the life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Wisdom Teacher. Amen.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

On this Easter Sunday, as we celebrate our unity as a community of faith, we joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer or canadahelps.org. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Hymn: What Can I Do? - More Voices #191 - BCUC music team

What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

Offertory Prayer

Rejoicing! Celebrating! Giving thanks!
Gracious God, hope and new life are your amazing gifts to us.
As we offer our gifts back to you, remind us that we are Easter people
and you call us to sow seeds of love and justice in the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

Face your times of mourning and weeping;
God brings us face–to-face with the empty tomb.
Face your doubts and your fears.
We take courage from Jesus, Rabbouni, Wisdom Teacher.
Go forth this Easter Day filled with faith, hope and love.

May the blessing of God who is Love,
of Jesus Christ who is known in the breaking of the bread
and of the Spirit who gives us new life be with us all.
Hallelujah! we are risen in Christ!
Hallelujah! Christ is risen in us! Amen.

Hymn: Welcome, Happy Morning – Voices United #161

1. "Welcome, happy morning!" age to age shall say:
hell today is vanquished; heav'n is won today.
Come the, true and faithful, now fulfil your word;
This is your third morning: Rise O buried Lord!

Refrain: Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say;
hell today is vanquished, heaven is won today!

2. Earth with joyful welcome clothes itself for spring;
Greets with life reviving our returning king:
Flowers in every pasture, leaves on every bough,
Speak of sorrows ended; Jesus triumphs now! Refrain.

3 Author and sustainer, source of life and breath;
You for our salvation trod the path of death:
Jesus Christ is living, God forevermore!
Now let all creation hail him and adore. Refrain.

Departing Music: Jesus Christ is Risen Today - Voices United #155

(slides - Easter Memorial Flowers) BCUC congregation recorded live 2017

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Gord Dunbar, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021 (Year B). Used with permission.

[2] Robin Wardlaw, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021 (Year B), with words from Morning Has Broken. Used with permission.

Sunday Worship Service - April 4, 2021