Easter Sunday Service - April 12, 2020

Bells Corners United Church

EASTER SUNDAY
WORSHIP SERVICE & AGAPE MEAL

April 12, 2020

[The video recording of this service can be found here]

Verse to Ponder: “But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)

Gathering: Risen Today – string trio: Leslie Wade, Daniel Parker, Sarah Parker

Words of Welcome & Announcements

Good morning! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on behalf of Bells Corners United Church as we celebrate Easter!! I hope that today is a day filled with joy, celebration, and excitement as we celebrate together as the risen body of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are, whatever time of the day, whoever you’re with or just by yourself, I am so glad you have joined us!

In place of a communion, I invite you to join in an agape meal with your family and friends or by yourself. So bring out some bread or crackers and whatever beverage that you have – juice, water, wine or milk and join in the agape meal at a later part of the service.

In this time of church closure, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Please check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with our weekly announcements and updates. You can also follow us on Facebook if you wish.

Beyond worship service, there are other weekly activities and meetings offered online. And everyone is encouraged to make a difference by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Thanks again for being part of this Easter celebration!

Welcome to our worship service.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Lorrie

(light a candle if you wish or turn on a battery-operated flashlight or a lamp)

We are here on this Easter morning, surrounded by the promises of faith. We light this Christ candle knowing that it is Christ who draws us together as one body. We are risen in Christ! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather[1]: (inspired by Colossians 1: 19-22) Lorrie

In the face of a culture of death
a world of killing fields
a world of the walking dead
Jesus Christ is at the head of the resurrection parade
transforming our tears of betrayal into tears of joy
giving us dancing shoes for the resurrection party
This is the dance of the new creation
this is the dance of life out of death
and in this dance all that was broken
all that was estranged
all that was alienated
all that was dislocated and disconnected
-is reconciled
-comes home
-is healed
-and is made whole
We are risen with Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

[1] excerpted from targum 2: subversive poetry in a postmodern world col 1:15-20, published in Colossians Remixed: Subverting The Empire by Sylvia C. Keesmaat and Brian J. Walsh.

Prayer of Approach: “God Within Us” written by David Stafford

God moves within us –
Feel the stirring and whirring inside.
God moves within us,
In God’s love we abide.

God moves within me -
I feel God every day.
Guiding, teaching, moulding,
Leading me on the way.

God stirs within me.
God’s peace is in my heart,
God’s courage, strength, conviction,
Help me to do my part.
And while God is within me,
I share God’s love with you.
Because God is in all of us,
Yes – even you! Amen.

Opening Hymn: This is the Day MV 122 Eng/Fr/Eng

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

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

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

Words and music © 2003 Bruce Harding evensong.ca song# 117875
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Dance Movement: “Alleluia Meditation” with Wendy Morrell

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie

HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!

It feels good to be able to say that again after this long time of Lent – and maybe it’s even better today when we have something to celebrate amidst all this change around Covid-19.

I hope you and your family are finding fun ways to celebrate Easter this year – and I hope the Easter Bunny was able to get to your house last night!

I’ve been thinking this week that Easter just isn’t the same when we’re practising social distancing. It would be so much better if we could get dressed up and go to church to sing all the hallelujahs with the choir and the congregation. It would be better if we could have a big family gathering for dinner tonight…

But then, I thought about what it must have been like on that first Easter morning. There sure wasn’t any celebrating happening when the women were walking to Jesus’ tomb with their spices. They were mourning his death. They were going to pay respect to his body. Imagine how sad they were feeling…

And then, when they got to where Jesus had been buried, they found that the stone had been rolled away and his body was gone! I don’t think their first reaction would have been one of joy, do you? I imagine they thought someone had stolen his body – and that would make them really upset…

When they looked inside the tomb, what did they see? Someone all dressed in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been! I bet they were scared!

But, it wasn’t a robber, it was an angel, and the angel said, “Don’t be afraid”

Wow! That reminds me of the time that an angel appeared to Mary and to Joseph way back during Advent… Remember what the angel said to them? “Don’t be afraid”

And then, when Jesus was born and the angels came to the shepherds in the field, the first thing they said was…. Right! They said “Don’t be afraid!”

It seems to me that whenever an angel shows up that’s the first thing we hear – and then there is good news. For Mary and Joseph, it was that they were going to be the parents of a very special baby… for the shepherds, it was the birth of a saviour.

For the women that day it was that death didn’t win! Jesus was still alive in the world! Now that’s a reason to celebrate for sure! It’s such good news that we are still celebrating it today – 2000 years later!

On that first Easter morning, Jesus’ friends and followers weren’t getting together to celebrate. They were hiding because they were worried about what might happen to them if the Roman soldiers knew they were Jesus’ friends. Even when the women came to tell them that Jesus was alive, they had to stay hidden away.

That’s a little bit like what’s happening in our world right now, isn’t it? We are all staying home because of the bad news of the Corona Virus. The news is getting better though – Don’t be afraid! - and not as many people are getting sick… but we still need to stay at home and practise social distancing because that’s what is going to make this threat go away for good. So, we can celebrate – and we should celebrate today! – but we will do it safely at home.

Maybe our celebrations this Easter are more like the celebrations of that first Easter so long ago… But, lucky for us we have modern technology to help us stay in touch with those we love. I hope you will spend lots of time today talking to your friends and family – by phone, or facetime, or however you are making this happen these days…

So, even though things are different and sometimes a bit uncomfortable these days, there is still lots to celebrate! Family, technology, better news about the virus …

And, through us, Jesus is still alive in the world!

HALLELUJAH!!
HALLELUJAH!!
HALLELUJAH!!

Children’s Hymn: Joy (Amy Grant)

1. I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy (joy)!
I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy (joy)!
I've got the joy (joy), joy (joy), joy....! Hallelujah!
Down in my heart (clap, clap)
Down in my heart (clap, clap)
Down in my heart to stay,
Down in my heart to stay.

2. I've got the love...

3. I've got the light...

arrangement Amy Grant
CCLI Song# 1263591 CCLI lic# 11199365

Prayer for Illumination

Let us gather our hearts in this prayer for illumination

God of joy and delight, open our hearts to receive your Word anew and give us hope as Easter people. Amen.

Gospel Reading: The Resurrection of Jesus Mark 16: 1-8 with the Shorter Ending of Mark (NRSV)

16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Shorter Ending of Mark:

And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

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

Sermon: “He Has Been Raised! He Is Not Here!” by Rev. Kim Vidal

Dawn is breaking in Jerusalem. The sun is about to spill its golden rays over the horizon. Maybe there was fog in the air that day - that hung over the city and countryside like a shroud. There wasn’t much conversation on the way to the tomb. Hearts were too heavy. Jesus had been crucified and now buried in a tomb somewhere. Three women went to visit the tomb that early morning. Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome. They brought with them spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body as was the custom in those days to control the smell of decomposition and help minimize unpleasant odors. They went to deliver the fragrance of life to the place of death. This for me is an astounding act of love. When they set out that morning, the women I’m sure did not know what to expect besides the eerie tomb and the foul smell of death. And their first worry came out in the open: “Who will roll away the stone for us so we can enter the tomb?”. They know particularly well that stones sealing tombs in those days were very heavy that needs few people altogether to move them. But the women still show up for each other, in an act of love that goes beyond fear and hopelessness, a love that denies the end of a relationship. Jesus was a big part of their transformation. And so they went and add a new episode of their sad story even when that episode is filled with uncertainty.

But as the women approach the tomb, they could not hide the surprise in their faces. “Look! Look at the stone! It’s been moved…” They run up to get a closer look: “Who could have done this?” The women silently exchanged glances, and then, one at a time, they crouched down and entered the tomb. But as they scan the cold darkness they realize their worst fears- Jesus is gone… the tomb is empty - a metaphor telling us that death had been defeated and the spirit of Jesus Christ is on the loose! Jesus and what he stood for is free of the grave and roaming at large in the world. Jesus cannot be held down, defined or controlled. Jesus’ spirit is on the loose!

In the cold, dark, empty tomb, the women saw a young man dressed in white robe, interpreted to be an angel, who greeted them with some news. “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.” An alarming news descended upon their hearts. Jesus’ body is gone. Someone must has stolen, not just his body, but the last moment they would share with their friend and rabbi. They have taken him away. There was nothing to do but hold each other, and weep. They have taken Jesus away!

The preacher Anna Carter Florence interprets this text today to note that Jesus was literally taken away from people in so many ways. She says: “I’ve heard it from the seminary students who said: Oh, they’ve deconstructed my Bible; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. I’ve heard it in youth groups, too, when the teenagers start losing what little idealism they had, and coming to terms with the world we’ve left them: Oh, they’ve ruined my planet with violence and hypocrisy; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. And I hear it in the church, whenever a group of people gets scared that things are going to change if we do this or that, and what if we don’t like it? … Oh, they’ve desecrated my church with heresies; they’ve taken away my Jesus, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him. I think the church is weeping not for the crucified Jesus but for a stolen body, and a desecrated tomb. Do you hear that weeping and wailing? It breaks your heart, even as it makes you crazy.”

Could it be true what the angel had said? He has been raised! He is not here! Who raised him up? Where is he now? Could Jesus have really come back from the dead? Could he really be alive again? We certainly can give several propositions here. NT scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, co-authors of the book, The Last Week contend that “Jesus who was crucified by the political authorities has been raised by God. This means that God has said “yes” to Jesus and “no” to the powers who killed him. God has vindicated Jesus…Easter is God’s “yes” to Jesus against the powers who killed him. Another possible interpretation that Jesus has been raised is grounded in the experience of Jesus’ followers. It was this body of the believers who raised him up. They declared that Jesus lives forever in their hearts and in their minds. They make Jesus, to this present day, a living reality in their daily lives.

Another explanation connected somehow to the body of the believers proclaiming that Jesus lives forever is found in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Writing in 40 common era, ahead of the gospel writers, Paul is the first writer who attempted to define what resurrection is. Another NT scholar, Bernard Brandon Scott in his book The Trouble with Resurrection asserts that Paul doesn't describe or debate the "how" of resurrection. Paul doesn't even know the story of the empty tomb nor the details around it. This is not important to Paul: not the empty tomb, or the nitty-gritty facts of the Easter stories in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

According to Scott, Paul understands the word resurrection in simple Greek word, “anastasis” which means “standing up” and “egeiro” meaning “to get up”. These are common everyday words, like getting up in bed or standing up from a chair, that do not carry any theological meanings at all. Paul believed and taught his congregation that Jesus was raised not with a physical body but with a spiritual body. The faith community, both past and present, is Christ’s spiritual body. The faith community is resurrected with Christ. And through this resurrected body of the believers, Paul says God has made a statement about where the Risen Christ lives: it lives in this body of believers through love -- and love is victorious over all, even over death itself. This is Paul's answer to the Messengers at the tomb who asked "Why seek the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Paul says, “You don't! You seek and find the Risen Christ in your own living, for this is where life is found.” Can we really trust in Paul’s teaching? Or, like those who have heard the news on the first Easter simply think that it's an idle tale? We can only answer this question for ourselves. I do know this, however, that Jesus is found when we, the body of Christ, continues to make Jesus Christ alive in the world through our acts of love, justice and peace.

In that bewilderment and moment of agonizing fear, the women ran out of the tomb, carrying the spices that were meant to anoint a dead body. Too often, we, like the women, choose to run away from the empty tomb bewildered by the absence of the body and paralyzed by our own emptiness. 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 in many parts of the world; 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 everyday 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.

At the Tuesday’s lectionary group, a consensus was put in place. The mission of the three women who brought the spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body was totally changed and redirected to something more remarkable. The women whose original intent was to spice up the dead body of Jesus, were commissioned instead by the angel, a messenger of God, to go and tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee. And there they will see him. The women the first human messengers of Easter. Yes, Mark indicates that the women left in trembling in fear and didn’t say a word at first. And yet, after fear and anxiety had left their hearts, I’m sure they went and told the disciples about their experience. They went out to spice up the world with good news!

Have you been there? traveling toward the tomb- like the women ready to anoint a dead body… and the spices you carry with you are scented with your own expectation- and then redirected to share the good news of the empty tomb? Or are you like the disciples and Peter? Sitting in a dark room… defeated… sad… alone… grieving for something you lost… and not seeing God’s presence in the midst of your sorrow? Or are you like Paul who taught the people in Corinth what to make of this doctrine of resurrection? Scratching your heads as to how you make sense of this archaic belief about a bodily resurrection?

My friends, we know these people, don’t we? In fact, they are so much a part of our Christian upbringing. We know them so well that we can tell their story by heart- because each of their stories is also our story! This is the Galilee where Jesus had gone to meet us. And hearing it gives all of our life stories… hope.

So we stand here this morning, a human community in the midst of a broken world with a renewed sense of hope. On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the power of life over death, the strength of love over hatred, but also immense beauty in our brokenness and pain. We experience the life-giving Christ in the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup. We declare with the women, the disciples and Paul these powerful Easter words: “We are made alive in Christ!” and “Christ is made alive through us!” “Alleluia! Amen!”

Prayers of the People

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

Easter God, we look around expecting death, but instead we see new life. Like a seed planted in the cold dark earth that sprouted with leaves, flowers and fruits, your gift of hope is within us and in your whole creation! The sick and despairing discover healing; the vulnerable discover boldness; the troubled and distressed discover peace; the depressed and downhearted discover joy; the church discovers a new vision of community and service. Each of us discovers that we can truly be followers of Jesus.

In the common sharing of our faith as Easter people, the Risen Christ who lives in our hearts leads us into new life where forgiveness and love abounds. You make us witnesses to the peace that is your work in the world. You send us into broken hearts and relationships as agents of reconciliation. You move us to live in the power of your healing love as we remember those among us who are troubled in body, mind or spirit. Help us to be your voice, your enfolding arms, your listening ear to those who are discouraged, dissatisfied, disheartened. Grant forgiveness, peace and joy to all who call upon you. And in this spirit, we lift up our brothers and sisters in our prayer and those among us who need your healing love. In silence, listen to the longings and celebrations of our hearts.

Risen Christ, we remember the many parts of the world where you walk on wounded feet and reach out with scarred hands. We pray for your body in the world, wounded and scarred, not only by violence or hatred, but also by our own actions that have wounded others. And as we break bread and share the cup of grace, may we all proclaim that we are made alive in Christ and that Christ is made alive through us! May it be so. Amen.

The Agape Meal

“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.

Proclamation (inspired by 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

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.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took a loaf of bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance
of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim Jesus who gives us Easter hope.

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. Amen.

Prayer of Consecration & the Lord’s Prayer

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 Kingdom 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 kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup

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

For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you, loving God. Empower us to live as Jesus has lived, to bring new life to others and to give light to the world. Amen.

The Offering

This is now the time to offer 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 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

Go forth this day filled with faith, hope and love.
May the blessing of God, sustainer and creator,
of Christ who is known in the breaking of the bread,
and of the Spirit who gives us new life,
be with us all this Easter Sunday
and in the days to come. Amen.

Closign Hymn: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Give Thanks VU 179

Refrain: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, give thanks to the risen Christ;
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, give praise to God’s name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
First born of all creation. Refrain.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth.
Jesus has died and is risen. Refrain.

We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live forever. Refrain.

Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour. Refrain.

Words and music © 1973 The Word of God Music Arr © 1987 Songs for Gospel People
song# 74756 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Departing Music: Thine is the Glory – String trio: Leslie Wade, Daniel Parker, Sarah Parker

Good Friday Service - April 10, 2020

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
Good Friday Service

April 10, 2020

Moment of Silent Reflection: Bach Cello Suite V – Sarabande – soloist: Daniel Parker

Words of Welcome

Dear friends and companions in the faith, good morning.
We gather again on this day, at the foot of the cross, which calls us on, not in shame, not in fear, not in violence, but more deeply into the costly journey of truth-telling and risk-taking.
We gather here
In Sabbath preparation
and to grieve
with his disciples and friends
We are all grieving something
Or have been
Or will be
Loss of family member…
Spouse…child…parent…pet
Friend…broken trust…betrayal
Mobility…stability…
Or…even … God
There is wounding, there is weeping, there is pain. But in Jesus as the promised one,
life is found. God is there.
Today I invite you to listen with your heart. Through these words and music, may we find our hearts warmed by a love that is stronger than our fear,
and stronger even than the finality of death.
Welcome to Good Friday.

Invitation to Gather and Opening Prayer

I now invite you to gather in worship:

This is a day of grief, a lonely day, forlorn.
This is a moment of mourning, a hurting, tear-stained moment.
A time to remember that Jesus died – crucified, abandoned, mocked and rejected.
May the painful death, the sadness and the intense horror of this day touch our hard-heartedness
and disturb our indifferent shallowness.
May it remind us of the brokenness around us and within and convict us in faith and action.

Let us pray. Into the shadows of chaos, the light of the world stops. From the silence of death, the word of God breaks free. For the emptiness of our souls, the Bread of Life is broken. O God, I stand in the sunshine of this spring day, smelling the earth and the growing grass. I feel as green as life, but a shadow falls across my path: a cross stretching over centuries, making holy all sorrows, sanctifying all tears, ennobling every scar, transforming every wound, healing the broken heart of the world. In the shadow of the cross, draw me into life. Help me to grow as green as grass. Amen.

Ministry of Music

Gospel Reading: “Pilate Questions Jesus” John 18: 33-38

A reading from the Gospel according to John chapter 18 verses 33-38 and I’m reading from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.

May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Quid Est Veritas - What is Truth?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Quid est veritas? “What is truth?” It is a question that we ask almost all the time. Here we are on Good Friday and this Gospel reading in John throws us right into the middle of a trial that we are not prepared for in any way. Jesus has been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, condemned by Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, was denied by Peter, and was brought before Pontius Pilate to be put to death. Quid est veritas? “What is truth?” This is the question that Pilate asked Jesus. It is a good question. The truth is, Jesus was both political and religious threat to Rome. The truth is, the religious leaders lied to execute Jesus. The truth is, Pilate didn't find Jesus guilty of any crime, yet he sentenced him to die anyway because the truth didn't matter to him.

The Good Friday truth is that Jesus was put to death by crucifixion. For what reason? What was his crime? Jesus was killed not because the whole crucifixion stuff was God’s plan. Not because Jesus was pre-destined to die on the cross. Not because we are all guilt-ridden people and we need a scapegoat to absolve our sins. Jesus died because he had angered the religious authorities for chasing the money changers out of the temple. Because Jesus had disobeyed the purity laws by healing people on the Sabbath. Because he broke barriers and taboos of his time by mingling with the ritually unclean and ate with sinners and prostitutes. Because he upheld women and children as important members of the society. Because he challenged those in power who took advantage of widows, the poor, and the outcasts. Because he mobilized a movement that threatens those in power. This is the Good Friday truth and we better believe it.

Jesus came to testify to the 'truth' - a kin-dom of truth', which is the exact opposite of what the Roman Empire is all about. The empire is about oppression, marginalization, hunger, poverty, violence and depraved morality. That is not what the kin-dom of Truth is all about. That is not the kin-dom Jesus lived and preached. Jesus knew from his heart that Truth resides in God’s reign. He lived and preached the truth of love, peace, hope and justice that transforms the world.

Quid est veritas? What is truth? Truth is not just an idea or a mystery that needs to be solved. Truth is not simply a collection of facts proven to be true, like the fact that the earth is round or that the sun shines even on cloudy days. Truth is not just based on fact-finding or scientific proof of things. Truth starts from a small seed of faith. Truth is why Jesus did what he had done. Jesus wants to open the people’s mind, their heart and their eyes to the social, political and religious realities of their time. Truth cannot be left alone to rot and spoil – someone has to stand, protest and speak against evil realities. It was time for Jesus to speak the truth. Jesus wants the people to experience the true meaning of shalom – food on the table, roof over their heads, to walk on the streets without being threatened, to live an abundant life. He wants people from all walks of life – sinners or saints alike to be included in the kin-dom of God. Yet, truth demands a choice – a choice to follow God or to follow Caesar.

Did Pilate acknowledge what Jesus was trying to convey? Is Pilate aware of what Jesus was trying to say when Jesus said “my Kin-dom is not from this world”? Jesus here is telling the truth – his world is not the Roman empire – his world is about love and justice and peace and all what God stands for. I think Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, yet he could not bring himself to act with honour, or with courage and integrity. And the truth is, we too can be just like Pilate. We can be aware of God's truth, but sometimes we choose instead to live by the easy lies and deceptions of this world. A quote from the Desiderata reminds us this: “The world is full of trickery but this let not blind you to what virtue there is.” I love what theologian Nancy Rockwell has to say about truth: Truth, like God, escapes definition, as, like God, truth also escapes our control. Job learns that truth is beyond human understanding. Jacob learns truth is a blessing that hurts. Mary learns truth emerges from the grave when her broken heart weeps. The disciples in Emmaus learn the power of truth when they have walked to the end of their despair.

There are times when we are blinded by a culture of indifference, greed and pride, and consequently we neglect that which would nourish our souls. Sometimes we compromise truth and integrity for high-paying jobs or settle for lies or whatever will work for us… what we think gets us ahead, what will pay the bills, what will delight the eye, whatever feels like success and allows us to achieve what we want. But truth is not always the road to comfort, success or popularity. Truth doesn't always win the promotion or advancement or get all the things and pleasure that this world values most. And sometimes, truth gets you beaten, mocked, laughed at, or worse, be hanged on a cross. Good Friday is about truth-telling.

On this day, Jesus has been betrayed and abandoned by his friends. He is mocked, and stripped and tortured and crucified. The Good Friday truth is that life hurts. All of us have experienced that truth at some point in our lives. We, like Jesus, know how it feels to have someone we love disappoint us, perhaps even betray and abandon us. There may even be times when life hurts so much that we, like Jesus, have thought that God has abandoned us, and cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Life sometimes hurts. We know what it means to be hurt and to suffer. We know the pain when our bodies betray us; when our bodies no longer work like they used to – the loss of our body's ability to walk or to remember; the cancer, the failing of eyes and ears. We, like Jesus, experience the truth of death. The agony and emptiness when someone we love dies, or when we face our very own death.

Jesus said to Pilate: "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate did not listen. John's gospel tells us that after Pilate asked the question, he left Jesus, walked away, and confronted the temple leaders. Pilate knows that Jesus was a victim of life’s unfairness and was sentenced to be crucified. But those of us who listen to Jesus know something more. Jesus stood for God’s truth. That even in death, Jesus will never again be a victim of injustice. Jesus died fighting for truth and he did not die in vain. Those of us who listen to Jesus have heard the good news of Easter and can hold it close to our hearts on every Good Friday of our lives. We cling to it when life hurts and when we face death. Good Friday is truth-telling. And then there’s the truth about Easter. Good Friday doesn’t end in death. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of those who follow Jesus’ way.

And finally, Jesus invites us to listen to his truth. Where love is, God is there even in the darkest moment of life. That is the truth. Let us this day live by that Truth. Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Dismissal

And now receive God’s blessings:
As we go into the growing shadows of this Good Friday into the silent unknowing of Holy Saturday, may we carry in our hearts, the crucified Christ.
May our hearts open like a waiting tomb, a tender womb,
and in the sheltered silence, may we cradle all that is wounded, all that is broken.
We go embracing all that is touched by pain and fear until we feel the pulse of new life begin to stir. For God is not done with us yet.
Go in peace and in love. Amen.

Departing Music

Maundy Thursday Service - April 9, 2020

Preparation

Dear Friends,

As part of our Holy Week observances, I have created a Maundy Thursday service that you can use to celebrate at home. In order to participate fully, you will need to gather a few things to prepare for this service. First of all, this is a celebration of the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. The reason for this particular meal was Passover, an important event in the Jewish faith story, and one that is still celebrated by Jewish people today. As with the important events in our Christian calendar like Christmas and Easter, Passover is a time to celebrate together with a special meal. So, I encourage you to treat it that way… cook (or order in) something special; get out of your Covid-19 pyjamas and dress up; set the table with your best china and linens! Like us, Jesus and his disciples were experiencing a very stressful time – but they paused to celebrate God’s love, and so should we.

As Christians, we celebrate this night as the inspiration for our sacrament of Communion. It was the time when Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends and gave them his final instructions. It was his commissioning to his disciples – and to all of us who follow him.

Here are a few things that you will need during the service:

• Dinner!

• A basin, soap, a jug of warm water, and a towel

• Wine, juice, or some other beverage that can be shared, and bread for passing around. Make it something delicious and beautiful if possible! This is an Agape Meal - a celebration of love.

I hope you will pause in this week to share in this special celebration.

Blessings,

Lorrie

A Family Maundy Thursday “at-home” Service

[If you prefer to print the service, please find it here in PDF format.]

Good evening everyone and welcome to our Maundy Thursday “at home” service. I’m disappointed that we can’t all be together tonight but I hope that you and your family will find this meaningful. Earlier this week we posted a list of a few things you’ll need at hand as the service progresses (listed above). If you haven’t had a chance to do this, I hope you will pause and gather them now so that you can participate fully.

On the evening before Good Friday, we celebrate with a meal to remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.

At BCUC, we usually gather together at the church for worship and prayer. There is always food involved! Sometimes it’s a pot luck dinner, other times just snacks. But, when I think about the story of that last supper Jesus had with his friends, I realize that we have an opportunity this year to celebrate much like that “family” celebrated so long ago.

If you find yourself alone tonight, please reach out to a friend or loved one with whom you can share this special time. Perhaps you can set up a video chat (thank goodness for technology today!) or even just a voice call. If that doesn’t seem possible, I hope you will play the audio file of this service and read along with us as you eat your meal. Know that you are a special part of our BCUC family and loved beyond measure.

The reason for the celebration that Jesus and his disciples shared was Passover. It was – and still is – a significant part of the Jewish faith story. And because it is a story from the Old Testament, it is part of our Christian heritage too.

Exodus 12:1-13

12 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7 They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10 You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This is the story of the Israelites escaping from Egypt and beginning their journey to the Promised Land. Each year, thereafter, the Jewish people have observed this night when God struck down the Egyptian people but “passed over” the faithful, allowing them to escape from slavery.

This is the special festival that Jesus and his disciples were celebrating that night. It was a “family” dinner, with special food. They would have dressed in their best clothes and set the table with their nicest dishes. For Christians, this day also carries a very special significance as the event that inspired our sacrament of Communion. It deserves a special celebration for us today!

This year, in these strange days of Covid19, I hope you will take the opportunity to celebrate with your family, just as Jesus did so long ago. After these weeks of being isolated at home, this is a chance to get dressed up, to share a special dinner, to share the story of that special night, and to remember that Christians all over the world are doing the same.

So, cook (or order in) something special, set the table with your best china and linens, dress in your finest, and celebrate this important night with Christians all over the world. I hope the service below will help you.

Materials needed:

Basin, soap, a jug of warm water, towel Wine, juice, or some other beverage that can be shared, and bread for passing around (make it something delicious and beautiful if possible! This is a celebration of love.)

Opening: John 13:1-7 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

In Jesus’ time, people wore sandals, if anything on their feet. There were no paved roads, so after being outside for the day, it was important to wash your feet when you came into the house. Who knows what you might be bringing in on those feet! As you can imagine, this was not a particularly pleasant job and so it was given to a servant to do. By washing the feet of his friends, Jesus showed them that he loved them so much, he would do whatever it takes to keep them clean and healthy. Even though they saw him as their leader, he was willing to be a servant to them.

In today’s context of the Covid19 pandemic, we might see a connection between the foot washing of Jesus’ time and the hand washing that is so important now. Before you begin your meal, please take the time to perform a ritual washing of each other’s hands. The father or head of the family washes the hands of the person next to him/her, and then that person washes the hands of the next and so on… the last person washes the hands of the first. The easiest way to do this is to pour a little water from the jug on the person’s hands (over the basin), they use the soap to lather and rub, then pour more water to rinse their hands and give them the towel. When they are finished, they will take the jug and do the same for the next person…

As you wash each other’s hands, sing the first 2 verses of VU595 “We Are Pilgrims”:

We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow travellers on the road
We are here to help each other walk the mile and share the load.

Sister (Brother), let me be your servant, let me be a Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

After people’s hands are washed, invite them to the table.

Grace: VU552

For food in a world where many walk in hunger; For faith in a world where many walk in fear; For friends in a world where many walk alone; We give you thanks, O Lord.

Amen

Enjoy the meal together!

Take time to discuss the struggles and fears of this time of social isolation.

Take time to name the blessings that have come from this unexpected pause in our usual busy lives.

At a time that seems appropriate in the meal (at the end or perhaps before serving dessert…), share the following reading:

Luke 22:7-20 The Last Supper

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Share the bread and the wine. This is not Communion, but an Agape Meal or “Love Feast”. We share the bread and wine as a remembrance of the last meal that Jesus and his closest friends shared together and of all the meals that Jesus shared with others. It is a symbol of the bond that we share as a family, and with our fellow Christians – a bond of love, and of caring for one another. Pass the plate or basket of bread around the table – take a big piece! Pass a jug or bottle of the beverage around as well – no little sips, this is a feast!

Closing Prayer:

Holy One,

We have shared this meal, this Agape Feast, in celebration of Christ’s commandment to Love one another as he loves us.
Grant us the wisdom and the strength to fulfil this mission in our homes, our community, and the world.
In this strange time of pandemic,
We pray for those we know and love…
We pray for the members of our faith family at BCUC…
We pray for those who are alone, who are grieving…
For those who are ill and those who care for them…
We pray for all those who are working to keep us fed and safe…
We pray for this world as it struggles to heal…
Let the love we share at this table be part of that healing.
All these things we ask in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Closing Hymn: MV 214

May God’s Sheltering wings, her gathering wings protect you.
May God’s nurturing arms, her cradling arms sustain you,
And hold you in her love, and hold you in her love.

Palm Sunday Worship Service (text and audio) - April 5, 2020

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICE & REFLECTION

PALM SUNDAY
April 5, 2020

Verses to Ponder: “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:8-9)                                            

Words of Welcome & Announcements

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ to our worship service. It is so good to know that you are joining us wherever you are! Please know that I miss you all! Today is Palm Sunday and we are doing it in a different way. Instead of gathering in the familiar sanctuary of BCUC, we are gathering in the comforts of our own homes and spaces where we are. If you were able to pick up a palm frond from the church, please make sure you use it as part of your worship centre. If not, you may use a piece of scarf or a coloured cloth or a leafy branch from whatever tree or plant you may have at home. Use them as symbols of Palm Sunday commemorating Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. Join in the celebration!

Despite physical distancing and self-isolation, we are indeed the church! In this troubled time when we are asked to stay at home and to keep away physically from each other, know that we are all connected and are embraced in God’s love. Pray for each other and take comfort and inspiration from the words of Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.”

As we enter Holy Week, please note that reflections and music for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will be emailed to you as well as post them on our website at bcuc.org.

Next Sunday is Easter Sunday and it will be observed differently from those of previous years. We will celebrate the sacrament of communion from the comforts of our homes. As Abe mentioned at our meeting last Monday, this is the time when we can drink our favourite wine! I will add to that, and share your favourite bread or crackers. More information about Easter Sunday will be announced in the coming days.

For all other church news, please read the announcements that were emailed to you or check our website.

Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: 

(light a candle if you wish or turn on a battery-operated flashlight or a lamp)

We light this Christ candle to remind us of the light of truth. May this light enflame our hearts with God’s grace; keep us in the radiance of Christ’s presence; and fill our hearts with the Spirit of hope.

Call to Gather[1] & Prayer of Approach:

Gates open wide!
Greet the Anointed who comes in the name of our God.
Welcome the movement founder, Jesus of Nazareth.
Let voices be raised – hosannas of praise.
Gates open wide!

Homes, open wide!
Trust in the Spirit that dares to imagine God’s reign.
Welcome outsiders once banished, now cherished, set free.
Remove every fence. No need for defense.
Homes open wide!

Hearts, open wide!
Welcome the servant whose service is freedom and peace.
Join in his journey, through death’s shadow, to light.
Sing out in joy! No grief can destroy.
Hearts open wide!

Let us pray:
As the gates of the city swung open to welcome Jesus, so may our hearts be opened to God’s Spirit among us. As Jesus wept for the people, so may we weep for those who suffer at the hands of those who have forgotten how to love. Let our worship today express the joy and sorrow, the laughter and weeping of that first Palm Sunday. Amen. 

[1] Rod Sykes, Gathering, Lent-Easter 2016.     

Opening Hymn: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna VU 123

1 Hosanna, loud hosanna
the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the lovely anthem rang:
to Jesus, who had blessed them,
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.

2 From Olivet they followed
'mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm-branch waving,
and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
content that little children
should on his bidding wait.

3 "Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer;
earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence
eternally rejoice.

Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie:

Good morning everyone!

Today is Palm Sunday – and I hope you all were able to see the Sunday School and Youth resources that were sent out earlier in the week. Did you have fun creating your part in our virtual Palm Sunday parade? I can tell you that I really enjoyed hearing from you!

I was feeling a bit sad this week about not being able to be together for this event. It’s something I look forward to every year. It’s hard staying at home and not visiting with friends and family… but, then I remembered all of the posts I’ve been reading about how people around the world are still finding ways to celebrate…

There are communities near hospitals where everyone goes out to their balcony or front step to cheer and clap when the shift change happens and doctors and nurses are heading home or going in to work. This Saturday, people in Bells Corners gathered in their cars and made a big parade around the Queensway Carleton Hospital, honking their horns and waving signs of encouragement and thanks to all the people in the hospital – the workers and the patients. People are posting messages of thanks to grocery store workers and take-out folks and truck drivers on Facebook…

And that’s a lot like the parade that happened when Jesus entered Jerusalem on that day so long ago.

“Hosanna!” they cried, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

It was a shout of gratitude to God and Jesus, a show of encouragement to someone who was putting himself out there to make the world a better place.

“Hosanna!” sounds a bit like “Hallelujah!” but it’s more than that, really. It translates into English as “God saves!” or “God save us!”. To the people that day, Jesus was the answer to their prayers. For us, in this strange time of pandemic, our shouts of thanks and parades of honking horns are sending the same message. Those folks on the front lines are an answer to our prayers for healing, and safety, and connection.

Make sure you take a look on the church web page to see the pictures of people from our congregation having our own Virtual Palm Sunday Parade!

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna! Blessed are you – all of you – who are helping to be the answer to the prayers of this hurting world.

Let your light shine!

Children’s Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide   MV 145

Refrain

Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

1.       God the still-point of the circle,
          ‘round whom all creation turns;
          nothing lost, but held forever,
          in God’s gracious arms. (Refrain)

2.       Let our hearts touch far horizons,
          so encompass great and small;
          let our loving know no borders,
          faithful to God’s call. (Refrain)

3.       Let the dreams we dream be larger,
          than we’ve ever dreamed before;
          let the dream of Christ be in us,
          open every door. (Refrain)

Words and Music: Gordon Light
Arrangement: Michael Bloss
One License song# 117657

Prayer for Illumination:

God of the journey, whose Word silences the shouts of the mighty, quiet within us every voice but your own. Speak to us through your Word of hope and courage, that by the power of your Holy Spirit, we may welcome Jesus’ entrance into our hearts. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Mark 11: 1-11 (NRSV)

11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Cloaks, Branches, Hosannas” by Rev. Kim Vidal

          Last year, our Palm Sunday all-ages worship service began in the narthex where our children and youth, the members of our sanctuary choir and our ministers processed and paraded in the sanctuary waving palm branches and protest posters. This year, with the “new normal” brought about by COVID-19, in addition to the palm leaves – if you have picked one up from the church, we shall be waving colourful scarves or pieces of cloth or some branches and greens from our homes. Or you simply can wave your hands up in the air as if you are waving to an imaginary VIP passing by in a parade. An actual parade at this pandemic time is not possible due to government orders of physical distancing and limiting to five people in a gathering. Imagine the dismay and disappointment of people when St. Patrick’s Parade in Canada and many cities in the world was cancelled. Moving forward, cities like Toronto have cancelled all events and gatherings up to June 30th this year including the Pride Parade. Despite the fact that we are living in a time of needed isolation and physical distancing, some people have not given up showing their support creatively. Take for example Todd Hamstra, the owner of Freshco Food Chain at Bells Corners who, with MPP Lisa Macleod and other community volunteers organized a car parade yesterday to show support to our healthcare workers including security and maintenance staff at Queensway Carleton Hospital. About 100 participants honked their cars to show their support to these hardworking and dedicated hospital workers.

Parades in the first century world was a big thing. On Palm Sunday 2000 years ago, Jesus and his followers stepped out onto the stage, marched into the city of Jerusalem and paraded out as courageous protesters against the imperial power of Rome. It was the annual Passover festival. During this festival, Jerusalem is a lot like Downtown Ottawa on Canada Day. Jerusalem swells with residents, tourists and pilgrims from all over the country and other parts of the world. The city is alive, vibrant, multicultural, international, technicolour, exciting. Merchants and vendors sell their stuff - exotic foods and drinks, bling-blings and trinkets, brightly colored cloths, painted jars and kitchen wares. The atmosphere sizzles and abuzz with life. Then suddenly, out of the blue, a line of trumpeters blows their instruments, signaling the start of a grand procession. But wait. On that particular day, there is not only one procession but two. Two processions! This was the contention of two famous New Testament Scholars, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, co-authors of the book, The Last Week.

Crossan and Borg assert that there were two processions on that day in the year 30 in Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. It was the beginning of the Passover week, the holiest week of the Jewish year. The first procession, we know so well, which is also called the peasant procession – the one we commemorate today with the laying down of cloaks and waving of branches. Coming from the north into Jerusalem, the peasant procession was led by the movement founder Jesus, riding a colt, a young male horse, accompanied by his peasant followers and disciples shouting Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

Also entering Jerusalem at Passover, from the west, was an imperial procession led by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate riding on a white large stallion followed by his imperial military cavalry. With crowds of devout Jews flowing into Jerusalem to celebrate their liberation from Egypt, the Roman Governor and his cohorts would put on a display of force, of pomp and circumstance, to deter the Jews from getting too exuberant about the possibility of liberation from Rome.  Pilate’s procession was the visible manifestation of Imperial Roman power - a show of strength designed to prevent any outbreaks of insurgency or violent rebellion against Roman rule. In a show of military force, this second parade included, “the sound of marching soldiers on foot, cavalry on horses, leather armor, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles, sun glinting on metal and gold.” As the powerful Roman Governor Pontius Pilate rode astride his proud horse, one can smell fear from the onlookers. 

The gospel writer Mark who wrote some 50 years after the first Palm Sunday, tells us that Jesus’ parade into Jerusalem was not a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment event. Mark spends more time telling us about the preparations for Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem than about the event itself. It would seem that Jesus intentionally set himself in stark contrast with the other procession coming into town - to contrast the empire of Rome with that of God’s kin-dom.

The story of Palm Sunday was not uniquely Markan although it was Mark who wrote its first version. Gospel writers, Luke, Matthew and John have their own versions as well. Here are some historical notes that I think will be useful as we reflect and understand the meaning of  Palm Sunday.

By the time Luke gets around to telling the story, some 60 or 70 years after the event, the colt in Mark becomes a donkey. Matthew who wrote almost at the same time as Luke can’t seem to decide between a colt and a donkey so Matthew has the disciples bring both a donkey and a colt and Jesus sits on them and rides them into Jerusalem. I wonder how Jesus did that! The crowd spread their cloaks and some spread leafy branches on the road. 

In the Gospel of John written some 70 to 80 years after the event, the leafy branches are named as branches of palm trees. Waving palm branches in the ancient times was a tradition that conquering military leaders were welcomed home from battle. The Gospel of John hints that Jesus is a conquering hero and this particular parade is an ironic antithesis to a military parade. As the crowd waved these branches in that procession, the crowd chanted words from Psalm 118: “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord.”  “Save us” in Hebrew is hosanna. That phrasing was typically followed with the words: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Hosanna! Save us!

Save them from what? It was clear what they needed saving from. The first century people longed for freedom: freedom from the brutality of their Roman rulers, freedom from the ravages of poverty, perhaps freedom from the strict oppression of their religious authorities, or freedom from the fear of illness and death. These historical details are utterly significant in understanding the meaning of Palm Sunday. The gospel writers want to give their readers an impression of who Jesus was using words and images based on Jewish scriptures and traditions.

What are we, 21st century Christians to do with Palm Sunday?  Why do we wave our palm branches and shout our own hosannas? Why do we continue with this tradition that started 2000 years ago? Like the first century people who followed Jesus’ way of life, we too must have felt the urge to join the Jesus Movement, joining a march of protest or a statement of some sort – a march offering us freedom in many forms: freedom from the bigotry and hypocrisy of our culture; freedom from our obsession of material goods; freedom from greed we would harbour, freedom from hatred, freedom from the injustice we would perpetrate, freedom from violence we would inflict, perhaps freedom from the pangs of the COVID-19 pandemic that held us helpless and isolated in many ways.

In our lectionary group discussion last Tuesday, the Rev. Karen Boivin asked this important question: Where is God’s grace in this Palm Sunday story? I think grace is found in the sense of freedom that Jesus offered to his first century followers and continues to offer for us today. It is the freedom to embody the Spirit of God which is love. Jesus is pointing a way of being in the world that proclaims love in many forms. To answer Karen’s question about God’s grace, I like what Sue Morrison shared which I find meaningful. She said: “Perhaps it was the presence of Jesus – his calm, non-anxious presence that offered God’s grace to the people. His humility and his message of peace gave the people comfort and made them follow him.” I think so too that when we follow Jesus’ way of life, when we apply his teachings about peace and love and compassion in our daily living, that’s when God’s grace becomes present in us and in the world. God’s grace can also be found in this story by acknowledging that Jesus is offering us a choice between the power of Caesar, symbolic of imperial power and oppression and the power of God, symbolic of love and peace. Caesar’s power is displayed through the wonder and attraction of force and violence. God’s power, on the other hand, is displayed by the nonviolence, compassion and just dominion of God.  So which parade would you choose to join in?  Which procession are you in right now?

On this Palm Sunday, sadly, Jesus, the movement founder is on his way to his death. He will be crucified few days after entering Jerusalem; after he encounters the powers-that-be; after he and his followers have voiced their protests against oppression and their “NO” to the status quo. This is why the story of Jesus riding into the center of power of his time has such resonance in our own time. The first Palm Sunday offers us a way to shape our own stories that they may embody the same hope: hope of compassion, hope of healing, hope of genuine freedom and justice for all. In this one moment, we can make a way for Jesus, the movement founder. We can throw our cloaks on the ground with humility and sing our songs of hosanna and celebration, yes, even our songs of pain and longings. Palm Sunday allows us to entrust our uncertainties and our fears in God’s grace, in every circumstance and in every, holy week of our lives.  May this Palm Sunday be one more act of witness, one more step in our journey of following Jesus’ Way—one that leads to healing and life for all. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sources: For this sermon, I am most indebted and inspired by the writings of John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg (The Last Week); the sermons of Pastor Dawn and the Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor; the reflections of Nancy Rockwell, Janet Hunt, Alyce Mackenzie and the BCUC Lectionary Group.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer:

As we gather our thoughts and our hearts in prayer, we ask God to fill us with hope, challenge and love in this time of uncertainty and fear. Let us pray:
God of all times and places, our Lenten journey brought us today to enter the Holy Week. As in Jesus’ time, the people waved palms and branches in praise of the One who comes in the name of God. We see the crowds shouting hosanna! which will be replaced a few days after with Crucify him!
God of wisdom, what would it be like if we were among the crowd that day?  Will we offer our loud praises and recognize the passion of Jesus? Will we offer our solidarity with the crowd and not be intimidated by the presence of the political and religious powers? Or will we run away and hide in fear of being crucified with Jesus? May we remember that Jesus entered Jerusalem bearing his cross of non-violence, truth in service, and humility for justice. Forgive us when we are lost in confusion and doubt. With your grace, enfold our daily lives with insight and clarity that we may know your presence within each of us. In this Holy week, help us to fast from resentment, hostility, and apathy and instead feast on the love, peace and joy so freely offered for the journey.
Spirit of healing, gently touch the lives of those needing comfort and wholeness in distressed lives and souls. In this time of uncertainty and fear amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there is crying and mourning in all parts of the world. God’s children are wounded.
Seniors and young ones, royalty and common folks, health workers and travelers, political and religious leaders. God’s children are wounded.
Military people and civilians, physically abled and mentally challenged, healthy and weak, poor and rich. God’s children are wounded.
We earnestly pray:
For those who have died from the COVID-19 virus, may healing love be with their loved ones in this time of sorrow.
For those who are sick and those recovering from illness, may they find comfort from those who tend to them.
For the doctors, nurses, researchers, first-responders and all health workers who seek to heal the sick and who put themselves at risk, may they know that many are praying for them and rallying behind them.
For the leaders in all sectors of the society, may they lead with wisdom and foresight to act with love and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve.
For people in places they call home or those without homes or those stranded in other parts of the world and could not go home.
For those who work for peaceful and just solutions.
For those who stand on guard to protect the helpless.
For those who pray, and for those who do not remember how to pray.
For those whose names are in the headlines, and for those who are forgotten.
Compassionate Spirit, reach into our hearts and our minds and spark us into action. Move us to see the needs of your hurting world. We offer up to you all that is wrong within us and the world where we live, for we are the ones who must be enlightened, who must be led into the light. Prepare us now to enter into the Holy Week with hearts willing to change and lives ready to transform. And with grateful hearts, let us unite in this prayer that Jesus taught his followers:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom 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 kingdom, The power,
and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

The Offering:

Note: 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.

Invitation & Offertory Prayer:

In times of stress, in times of angst, we do not know what to do.
God, give us the courage to stay present with you and with our loved ones.
In times of need within this world and this community, we feel overwhelmed.
God, help us to focus on the little gifts we can give, on the little things we can do.
In times of abundance, in times of poverty,
Guide us God, in how we can give to this church, to the wider community, to our family and friends. Let us now offer our gifts of time, talents and treasures to God.

Let us pray. Like palms of rejoicing, like cloaks on the ground, we bring these gifts and offer them here. Let both gifts and the givers be lifted up, blessed, and sent forth to do your will. Amen.

Sending Forth:  

The God who rejoiced with Jesus as he was acclaimed by the Palm Sunday crowd, celebrates with us as we journey through the Holy Week.

The God who stayed with Jesus as he endured agony and death on that dark hill, will stand with us in the testing times of life.

Jesus, our Teacher, you are faithful. With open hands, we wait on you.
With open hearts, we receive your presence.
Go in peace this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Closing Hymn: We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection   VU 586 (Tune: Londonderry)

1 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 dream of hurts that can be healed; we'll weave a cloth of all the world united within the vision of new life who sets us free.

2 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, expressive love alive in every heart.

We'll share our joy with those who are still 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.

Words : June Boyce-Tillman
Arrangement: John Barnard

ONELICENSE SONG #01198

Time for Young at Heart podcast - March 29, 2020

Hi Everyone! I’ve missed you!

It seems so strange to come home after my trip to Zambia and not be able to call you all up to the chancel to tell you about it – and to see your smiling faces.

When I left, just a couple of weeks ago, people were getting ready to protect themselves from this new virus. We were all getting prepared. That’s the good thing about knowing that something is going to happen – you can get ready for it.

In today’s scripture reading, the disciples are talking about the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. It was a huge building made of enormous stones. Not only was it beautiful but it was strong and everyone was sure it would last forever. I think the disciples were excited to see it. They were oohing and aahing about it but Jesus told them a strange thing. He said, “See that great big building? One of these days it’s going to be destroyed completely.” 

Remember that this was before the time of bombs or even bulldozers. I bet those men could hardly imagine such a thing happening. It would have been a scary thing to think about. So, they wanted to know when it was going to happen. They wanted to be ready.

I think that’s a bit like what is happening in our world right now. We live in a time where we feel pretty safe. We were told that this new virus was coming and so we thought we could be ready for it. We know how to protect ourselves against getting sick, right? So, we are doing all the right things to protect ourselves. And that’s good! We knew it was coming and we were prepared.

When Neil and I left for Zambia, we took Lysol wipes to clean our seatbelts and tray tables and even the tv screen on each plane. We took hand sanitizer. We made sure we took our vitamins and had a good night sleep so we were strong and healthy. We were careful not to get too close to people. We did a good job of being prepared.

But there were some things we weren’t ready for – like worrying about getting back to Canada before the planes stopped flying, or not being able to see our family when we got home or not even go out of the house for groceries – or not even being able to go to church.

I know you have all had some changes to deal with too – no school, no play dates with friends, no visits to grandma and grandpa’s house, no sports practices. Some of you had to cancel March break vacations. At first, it’s kind of fun to think about being off school but I bet you are all starting to miss your friends and your teachers. I know they are missing you too.

No matter how well we thought we could be ready. There are some things we just didn’t imagine, right?

So, we have had to think of new ways to be together and new ways to carry on. I have loved reading about how families are going for walks and writing chalk messages for their neighbours on the sidewalks… how people are putting fun things in their windows for others to see… how people who can go out a little bit are helping those of us who have to stay home by picking up groceries and checking our mailboxes for us. I think we are making more phone calls to catch up with family and friends. Families are playing games and doing puzzles together. Things are different right now – but some of those differences are pretty nice, don’t you think?

I think the biggest message that has come out of this situation for me so far is that we are not alone. We have people who love us and who will find ways to show that love, even when they can’t be right beside us.

Someday, we will look back on this time and be amazed at how we all came together. This is a time that will be remembered in history – and you are part of it! So, keep on being the part that spreads light and love.

Are you ready?