BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 24, 2022 – 10 am
Eastertide Theme: “The Way of Being”
* The live service will be broadcasted and recorded on YouTube, check your email for the link. The audio recording of the live service should be available by phone Monday afternoon at 613-820-8104
Gathering Music: How Great Thou Art (Hymn request by Archie King in memory of his wife, Joyce)
Welcome
Rev. Kim Vidal
Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this second Sunday of Easter also known as Low Sunday. After a spiritually intense and emotionally draining week particularly the celebration of Easter Sunday, we are so ready for a low-key Sunday. Thank you for joining us in today’s service.
Minute for Social Action
Ellie Topp
Centering for Worship
Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of our welcoming God who calls us to gather with a joyful heart and alleluias. Let us gather in worship.
Lighting of Christ Candle
Acolytes: Davidson Family
(Bob Root, Gathering, L/E 2022 Year C. Used with permission.)
Each new day reminds us of the light that dwells within us –
the light God has placed deep within our hearts.
We light the Christ candle, remembering that we are made of light and love,
Remembering that we are called to bring light and love to others and the world.
Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle VU 958
(Words: trad, liturgical text; Music: anon., arr. The Iona Community, 1980)
Halle, halle, halle-lu-jah (3X)
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle-lu-jah (3X)
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Call to Gather (Responsively)
Rev. Lorrie Lowes
(Kate Crawford, Gathering, L/E 2015 Year B. Used with permission.)
We come to worship bringing many things:
burdens and joys, weariness as well as celebration.
We come to worship seeking many things:
comfort and strengths, answers, doubts and questions.
We come to worship hoping many things:
peace for the world, hope for the future, life for all of creation.
Gather all of our gifts, our desires, our hopes,
and let them be our worship this day.
Prayer of Approach[1] (Together)
Creator God, we bring our doubts and our questions,
and as you touch our second thoughts,
you turn them into adventures.
Come now, O loving spirit,
and create a moment of awakening
where we can sense you among us
and the world can witness in us
the good news that resurrection brings. Amen.
Hymn: Joy Comes with the Dawn VU 166
(Words & Music: Gordon Light, 1985, arr. Nan Thompson, 1995)
Refrain:
Joy comes with the dawn;
joy comes with the morning sun;
joy springs from the tomb
and scatters the night with her song,
joy comes with the dawn.
Weeping may come;
weeping may come in the night,
when dark shadows cloud our sight. R
Sorrow will turn,
sorrow will turn into song,
and God’s laughter make us strong. R
We will rejoice,
we will rejoice, and give praise,
to the One who brings us grace. R
Storytime
Rev. Lorrie
Last Sunday we celebrated Easter, didn’t we? Did you shout “Hallelujah!” with us? I’m sure you were excited when you found the treats the Easter Bunny left for you – but I hope you also shouted it because of the big message of Easter that we celebrate as Christians – that even though Jesus was put to death on the cross, that wasn’t the end of his story. He is still alive in the world!
We know this now, but at the time that all of this took place, 2000 years ago, his followers and friends didn’t understand that yet. They were upset because Jesus had been killed and they were scared about what might happen next. They were scared that something bad would happen to them too.
So, in today’s Bible reading, we hear that Jesus’ disciples were in hiding. They were all together in a locked room and they were afraid to go out. Can you imagine how they were feeling? They were sad and they were afraid. They just didn’t know what to do – they really felt like they couldn’t carry on.
But something amazing happened. Jesus appeared to them in that locked room and he said, “Peace be with you!” It reminds me of the many times we have heard messages from God in our Bible and they always start with, “Don’t be afraid!” I think that’s what Jesus was trying to say to his friends too. “Calm down, I am here with you.”
Our reading tells us that he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. He told them they had the power to do things like forgive people for their sins. He was reminding them about all the things he had taught about how to change the world – forgiveness, and love, and trusting that God is with us. I think that’s exactly what those disciples needed to hear. It was a message that said, “You have great power! Don’t stay locked up here!”
Have you ever been so worried or anxious about something that you feel like you just want to hide away and forget it? I remember just before the pandemic when I was really busy with work and school and church interviews… sometimes I just wanted to stop. I was overwhelmed with how much work I had to do, how many essays I still had to write and classes I had to take. Some days, I was really tempted to give up. Sometimes, I thought I just couldn’t do it anymore.
Then, one day, a friend sent me this special present. It reminded me that I had already accomplished so much and that I had the power to not just keep going but to do it in the best way possible. Her present told me that she thought I was amazing – and that made me feel like a super-hero!
Can you guess what she sent? (Show my Wonder Woman socks!!)
Now, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I think about these socks and the faith my friend has in me that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
I think that’s what Jesus thinks about all his followers too. He has given us the power to change the world. Sometimes, like those disciples who were hiding in the locked room, we just need to be reminded. So, put on your Wonder Woman socks or your Spiderman underwear or your Superman t-shirt… let’s go do what Jesus wants us to do and let’s change the world!
Let’s have a short prayer:
Amazing God, sometimes we feel like we are too small or too weak to make a difference in the world. Help us remember the power you have given us through Jesus. Help us be your super heroes. Amen.
Hymn: Where Two or Three Are Gathered MV
Prayer for Illumination (Together)
Reader: Alison Bridgewater
O God, like the disciple Thomas, we were not in that room when Jesus appeared among the disciples breathing peace. With your Word of Life, help us to understand that the Risen Christ is in our midst. May we carry the Good News of your love to the world. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 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.”
Jesus and Thomas
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.”
The Purpose of This Book
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.
May we find ourselves renewed in this Eastertide story. Thanks be to God!
Ministry of Music
BCUC Choir
Sermon: “Being Thomas”
Rev. Kim Vidal
The sign in the novelty store says, “Pretty to look at, lovely to hold, but if you break it, consider it sold!” Makes sense but I don’t get it. How could I possibly buy something if I could not even touch it, smell it or scrutinize it? How do I know that what I am paying for is worth my money? How am I sure that something is authentic without even touching it or verifying its make? I need to see it, feel it, check it. A basic human instinct! And Thomas is very much like any of us. I learned from Sunday School that we should not emulate him. We call him “the doubter” or the “bad seed”. Some would call him a “show-me disciple” because he needs to see proofs before jumping to conclusions. What is wrong with him, anyway? Is doubting too bad that it made Thomas carry this label for over 2000 years of Christianity? I confess, I am a Thomas, too – or perhaps most of us - maybe we are all his twin sisters or brothers!
The name, Thomas, sounds very English but it is in fact a transliteration from an Aramaic word “toma” which simply means “twin”. In Greek, he was “Didymus” which also means “twin”. So we don’t know Thomas’ real name at all. And we certainly have no idea who his twin was. In fact, we know very little about him. All we know for certain comes from John’s gospel and there Thomas makes his own voice heard only three times — all towards the very end of Jesus’ life on earth. It was him who said boldly at Lazarus’ death: “"Let us go and die with Jesus." What he’s saying is simply this: “If Jesus is going to die, I for one don’t want to go on living.” This was not a Gloomy Thomas, for me he was a Loyal, Allegiant Thomas.
The next time we meet Thomas is at the Last Supper. Jesus is boldly telling the disciples about the Father’s house. “In it there are many rooms,” he says. “I’m going to get some ready for you, and then I’ll come and take you there. Don’t worry; you know where I’m going.” All the other disciples are nodding wisely. But Thomas gives Jesus a “what-are-you-trying to tell us look”. “No I don’t get it,” he says. “We haven’t the slightest idea where you are going. How can we know the way?” And we might be tempted to think: What an awkward thing to say. Thomas here is just expressing a very real concern that he really doesn’t have a clue what Jesus is talking about. He was not Awkward Thomas, he was Honest, Inquisitive Thomas.
And now, this morning, we meet Thomas for the third and final time. Last Sunday, he was missing. So where was Thomas anyway? Why was he not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them behind closed doors? The gospel writer John doesn't tell us. My own guess was that he could probably went to his own little niche grieving the loss of Jesus; or he might be checking if the territory is safe again; or maybe he is trying to find out the truth why Jesus was killed; or a good guess would be that he was out and about getting on with his life, looking for food to sustain him and the other disciples for the long haul. Why do I say that? Because I think Thomas was a realist, a practical, concrete guy. "Except I see the mark of the nails in his hand and touch his side, I will not believe." He is plainspoken and straight to the point. He is not embarrassed to ask questions even for some perhaps the questions are senseless. He wants plain answers so he can truly understand what’s going on and be able to take the next steps. So while we do not know where he was that night – we know for sure he was not with the disciples who were locked in the upper room for fear of the religious and political leaders. For Thomas, life must go on!
When Jesus appeared the second time to his disciples in the closed room, Thomas was there. And far from rebuking or criticizing Thomas, Jesus offered to meet his conditions. "OK Thomas –you get what you want- put your fingers in my hands and touch my side.” It was through this personal encounter that Jesus was made real to Thomas. In fact, Thomas exclaimed his confession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas experienced the welcoming presence of Jesus. Through Thomas, we were given the “thumbs up” to question, to doubt, to quest, to seek. For that moment in time, Thomas becomes the, “real twin”, the alternate identity of every human being who loves to inquire, to explore, to seek answers. According to historical accounts, Thomas was regarded as the patron saint of the converted Christians in India. He was believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala State of India.
I wonder why we take part in dismissing Thomas so easily. Perhaps because we’ve often found ourselves in Christian communities where voicing one’s doubts or even questioning the Bible is a big no-no! We do not often talk about our uncertainties or failures because of fear that others might put us down or judge us as unbelievers or faithless people. And in churches that display mostly niceties, I’ve discovered all sorts of anxieties and resentments confronting people. I’ve talked and listened to a number struggling alone with deep questions because they were afraid of how others might react to their doubts and skepticism. Doubting and raising questions sometime frighten us. That’s why we easily reject Thomas and what he stands to be—Thomas who dares to bring doubt into our lives of faith.
Rev. Dr. William Self, a Baptist preacher tells us that “half of us are like Thomas; we are afraid to believe. Half of every heart is a Thomas. Doubt does not overtake us in the night but, rather, it creeps up on us slowly, one step at a time.” Several years ago Rev. Self spoke on a university campus, and when he finished speaking, a young man approached him in the hall. The young man said, "I don't like what you had to say in there." Rev. Self asked him why. "The young man replied, "Actually, I didn't hear you. I just don't like preachers." And here’s a dialogue that transpired between Rev. Self and the young man: "Well, what are you?" - "I'm a seeker." "That's interesting. Where do you meet?" - "We don't meet." “What are you seeking?" - "We're seeking truth.""Well, what have you read?" - "I haven't read anything in particular." They went on with the conversation for a short while. Finally, Rev. Self looked at the young man and said, "I don't think you are a seeker. I think you are a runner. I think you are hiding. For you see, not to decide is to decide. You have decided that you want to hide in unbelief." And Rev. Self finished with these challenging yet wise words: “Doubt is like a front porch. All of us go through it before we get into the house of faith.”
Through Thomas, we are given the “thumbs up” to doubt, to seek, to question. Thomas becomes the “real twin” of every human being who loves to inquire, to explore, to ask. He is a twin for every person who has ever doubted anything but made sure that something is done about it. Some of us who are skeptical quickly jump to Thomas’ defense because let’s admit it - many of us are unafraid to express doubt and ask hard questions. In fact, we claim the importance and necessity of doubt and questioning. In that moment as Jesus stood face-to-face with Thomas, there is a seamless movement from the depths of grief, confusion, and questioning into the light and life of his beloved friend, Jesus. More than looking and seeing, Thomas touches and feels. He feels the wound, the pain, the horror of the crucifixion, the separation and the love. As we witness Thomas’ quick conversion, we must ask ourselves, how do we come to believe?
There was a time when, in the scientific world, the earth was considered flat and that the sun circled around it. The idea was accepted, but a few brave souls, Galileo in particular, bravely dared to doubt that theory. Deeper examination shows that every scientific advance started with doubt. Galileo was right when he called doubt the father of discovery. Jesus himself was a doubter. He doubted that violence was the way, so he said, "Forgive one another." He doubted that the long prayers and rigid dietary laws were essential to faith. So he preached about a compassionate and just faith. He doubted that Samaritans and Syropheonicians and those deemed to be second class citizens such as the poor, the widows, women and children were an inferior race. He told parables pointing that these inferior people constitute God’s kin-dom. The capacity to doubt is the prelude to faith. Strong faith always has to be fought for.
It's true that Jesus asks for faith, but he does not ask for a blind faith. I am convinced that Jesus wants us to have an open-minded, well-informed faith. The poet Rainier Rilke offers this wisdom, "Live the questions now…you will eventually live into the answers."
Live into the answers. That would be the promise for all of us today. Because sometimes the demand to see and touch, the need to question and to seek answers, the call to be like Thomas, are not indications of a short-sighted faith. They are marks of true faith. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Kim
Let us gather our hearts in prayer.
Surprising God, like Thomas, we often find it difficult to see signs of your welcoming presence, to believe that your Spirit is alive among us. Open our eyes to receive your presence in our lives. Thank you for coming through the locked doors of pride and isolation when our fears overwhelm us. Thank you for revealing yourself to the disciples, when all they could think of was their grief and fear of the unknown. Thank you for your patience with Thomas and with us in our quest for proof and unanswered questions that we carry.
Like Thomas, we sometimes fail to experience the Spirit of Christ because we are not paying attention. Remind us that we experience him in the lives of those transformed by your grace. We have seen him in the faces of everyone whose love encourages us. Call us to bring healing to the scarred people and places of the world.
We thank you for all who are connected to us and who need care and compassion. We hold them in our hearts and pray for the healing of mind, body and soul. We pray for those awaiting medical test results and those who are facing treatments and surgeries. We pray for those who are alone, who are alienated from their families, those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We ask for your healing love and blessings for those who are in the hospitals. May your presence be felt by all those who are staying at home and for those who are fighting to survive from the ravages of this COVID pandemic. Sustain us with courage and comfort us with your peace. We also continue to pray for the people of Ukraine as they confront the horrors of war. Now in silence, hear the deepest concerns of our hearts.
Empowering God, may we live the Easter Spirit of renewal, greening and growth, this day and always. Give us peace and remind us of your welcoming presence. Help us to see you this week, to take note, to experience the beauty of this earth or hear your grace in the word that someone speaks to us. These we pray in the name of the Welcoming Christ who taught us this prayer long ago:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done, on 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,
Forever and ever, Amen.
Invitation to Offer
Rev. Lorrie
On this Second Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate the power of resurrection 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 mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer (Together)
Holy God, help us to share your power so that this offering is multiplied
and brings relief to those needing to know you, the Risen One. Amen.
Sending Forth[2] (Responsively)
Rev. Kim
May the Risen Christ come through the locked doors of our hearts
and make his home deep within us and in our world.
May the Risen Christ find here hospitality and welcome,
justice and peace for all.
May the blessing of God be ours as we leave:
The blessing of doubt to be our guide;
The blessing of peace to calm our troubled spirits;
The blessing of friendship to be our companion.
Go in peace. Amen.
Hymn: We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection VU 586
(Words: June Boyce-Tillman, 1993; Music: Trad. Irish melody, arr. John Barnard, 1982)
We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
We shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
We shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
Tales of a love, that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
We’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
We’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
Within the vision of new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
We’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
We’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer.
Expressing love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping.
Raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
We’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
Including all in circles of our love.
Departing Music: Be Thou My Vision
(Hymn request by Eithne & Charles Barker in memory of Eithne’s twin sister, Marion Galloway)
[1] Inspired by the prayer of Peter Chynoweth, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B.
[2] Bob Root, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015.