CHURCH SERVICE, 4/7/08

>>EASTER SERVICE ‑‑ I THINK THIS MAY BE THE COOLEST EASTER MORNING I HAVE OVER SEEN.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS.

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN US AFTER THE SERVICE IN THE NARTHEX FOR REFRESHMENTS

YOU WILL FIND THE RED BOOK IN THE PEWS AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD SIGN IT.

LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ATTENDING THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE, AND PLEASE PASS THE RED BOOK TO THE OUTSIDE AISLE.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO DON'T ATTEND HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS, OUR EASTER MORNING SERVICE WILL BE DELIVERED BY OUR SENIOR MINISTER, PASTOR PAUL REBELO, OUR MUSIC IS DIRECTED BY GARY WILKES AND THE ORGAN PLAYER IS SHERI MELTON.

THERE WERE SOME KEYS LEFT AND YOU CAN PICK THEM UP AT THE REAR OF THE SANCTUARY.

LET US BE IN A WORSHIPFUL STATE OF MIND.

WILKES: I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON THIS BEAUTIFUL EASTER MORNING, ALSO AS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF DOGWOOD WINTER.

BE THANKFUL WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHITE EASTER THIS YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO SING HYMN NUMBER 216.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD TO WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE HAS WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE: MORNING.

HAPPY EASTER.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS?

EASTER.

SOMETHING HAPPENED TODAY THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING.

THE RESURRECTION.

WHAT A BIG WORD.

IT MEANS JESUS CAME BACK TO LIFE.

WELL ON THE COUNT OF 3 LET'S SAY, HE IS RISEN.

HE IS RISEN.

THAT WAS GOOD AND NOW YOU CAN TELL EVERYBODY YOU KNOW.

WELL THIS MORNING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EVIDENCE.

ANYBODY LIKE MYSTERIES?

I DO.

IT IS ALWAYS NEAT TO FIND OUT WHO DID IT.

THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE.

FIRST THERE IS PETER AND JOHN.

AND THERE IS A BIG ROCK, A BIG ROCK, AND THIS ROCK IS REALLY HUGE AND IT IS REALLY HEAVY.

IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 20 PEOPLE TO MOVE THAT ROCK BY THEMSELVES, AND THEY CAME TO THE TOMB AND GUESS WHAT?

THE ROCK HAD BEEN MOVED.

WELL, PETER AND JOHN THEY LOOKED INSIDE REAL CAREFULLY ‑‑ YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND.

AND WHEN THEY LOOK IN THEY SEE CRUMPLED CLOTH ‑‑ THEY HAD WRAPPED JESUS WITH SOME CLOTHS WHEN HE DIED BUT THE CLOTH WAS ALL CRUMPLED UP THERE.

SO IT WAS ALL FOLDED NICE AND NEATLY, BUT THERE WAS NO JESUS, AND THEY KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT JESUS HAD BEEN RESURRECTED.

THEY RAN TO TELL ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND THERE WAS A LADY NAMED MARY MAGDALENE.

SHE WAS CRYING.

SHE WAS SAD BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD STOLEN JESUS' BODY.

AND SHE WAS CRYING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE TWO ANGELS, AND SHE SAID, "TELL ME WHERE JESUS' BODY IS AND I WILL GO GET HIM."

THEN SHE HEARD ANOTHER VOICE, AND IT WAS JESUS AND HE SAYS, "WHY ARE YOU CRYING?"

AND SHE THOUGHT HE WAS THE GARDENER AND SHE SAID, "TELL ME WHERE YOU TOOK JESUS "

AND HE CALLED HER NAME VERY LOUDLY, "MARY."

AND SHE THEN KNEW IT WAS JESUS.

SHE WAS HAPPY BECAUSE SHE KNEW HE WAS ALIVE.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAPPY TODAY BECAUSE HE AROSE TODAY.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS THAT YOU ARE HAPPY.

DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MIRACLE OF EASTER AND THAT YOU WERE RESURRECTED.

HELP US TO TELL ALL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT YOU.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO READ ABOUT FOR EASTER AND SOME CANDY.

THIS MORNING OUR SCRIPTURE READING COMS FROM PSALM 118.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME IN YOUR PEW BIBLE, YOU CAN FIND IT ON PAGE 531.

(SCRIPTURE READ)

NOW TURN TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 20, VERSES 1 THROUGH 18, FOUND IN PAGE 944 IN YOUR BIBLE.

(SCRIPTURE READ)

PASTOR: GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING ‑‑ LET'S TRY IT AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ANYONE NEEDS TO MAKE?

MOGGIE HENRY: I AM GOING TO COME UP FRONT SO I CAN SEE MORE FACES.

STEP ASIDE PLEASE.

YOU REMEMBER THESE LITTLE PLEDGE CARDS?

WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO MAKE SOME PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW YOU CAN BUILD A NEW ENTRANCE.

IF YOU CANNOT DO IT TODAY, IF ANYONE NEEDS A CARD I HAVE A LITTLE PILE HERE.

PASTOR: ARE THERE ANY JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS MORNING?

WE HAVE OUR NEPHEW, ORIGINALLY FROM HERE, BUT HE LIVES IN GEORGIA, AND MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON IS HERE TODAY.

I HAVE JOY, I HAVE MY JOYS, BUT THIS WEEK ESPECIALLY I WANT TO THANK GARY AND THE CHOIR AND AND BOB WHO SANG SO WELL.

AS WELL AS THE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND OF COURSE SHAREE FOR THE THURSDAY EVENING SERVICE.

IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT ‑‑ IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT BROUGHT THE REALIZATION OF CHRIST' DEATH AND SUFFERING FOR US AND AS IT ENDED, THERE HAVE A LITTLE BITE OF DEATH THAT ENDED IN WHAT I THINK WAS ‑‑ AND THEN WE AWAKENED TO AND WE HAVE THIS GLORIOUS SUNLIGHT AND WE HAVE HEARD THE MUSIC AND PARTICIPATED IN THE SCRIPTURE READING AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT JOY.

BILL ‑‑ I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT SARA AND I ARE JOYFUL TO BE BACK WITH YOU AND THESE GREAT PEOPLE AND I AM GLAD WE CAME BACK TO THIS NICE WINTER WEATHER.

PASTOR: SORRY WE COULDN'T DO BETTER FOR YOU.

>>I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CARDS AND THINGS ‑‑ I WANT TO REPORT I HAVE A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM MY PROSTATE SURGERY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AND EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CARDS AND MY KNEE IS BETTER, I HAD A SECOND INJECTION AND I CAN WALK AGAIN SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OTHERS?

I HAVE ONE ‑‑ ALL THE WAY UP HERE ‑‑ DID YOU KNOW I AM PREGNANT AND I AM HAVING A DAUGHTER?

CHRISTINE: MARTHA, IN THE NURSERY HAS ASKED US TO PRAY FOR HER SON CLIFF HE IS FINALLY GOING HAVE A SHUNT PUT IN.

PASTOR: LET US GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY:

WE COME TO YOU O LORD ON THIS BRIGHT DAY, FILLED WITH SINGING, WITH JOY, GLAD HEARTS.

WE COME AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS.

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR FAMILIES, PRECIOUS GIFTS SHARED WITH EACH ONE OF US, OUR FRIENDS.

HELP US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THESE PEOPLE, TO SHARE OUR LIVES OPENLY WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH AS MUCH GRACE AS YOU CAN FILL US WITH.

REMIND ALL OF US THAT WE ARE EACH CHILDREN OF GOD.

AND ALL THOSE THAT WE SHARE LIFE WITH AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE CLOSE AND FAR OFF, THEY ARE ALL YOUR CHILDREN.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD NEWS OF EASTER THAT DEATH HAS BEEN OVERCOME.

AND THAT YOU ARE ALIVE AND WELL.

MAY YOU THIS DAY BE ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE TRANSFORMED MORE TO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON, WHOM YOU SHARED SO WILLINGLY WITH US.

BUT THERE IS ALSO SOME DARKNESS IN US, SOME DIFFICULTY, SOME THINGS THAT WE CANNOT JUST MANAGE ON OUR OWN, SO AT THIS TIME WE ARE REMINDED TO GIVE THOSE THINGS TO YOU.

CLEAR THOSE THINGS THAT CLUTTER OUR LIVES, THINGS THAT WEIGH US DOWN, THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE US THINK WE ARE LESS THAN YOUR CHILDREN.

CLEAR THOSE THINGS, SO THAT WE MIGHT BETTER FOCUS ON YOU AND YOUR KINGDOM HERE ON EARTH.

AS WE WORSHIP THIS DAY, OPEN OUR HEARTS SO WE MIGHT SEE THE BLESSING THAT YOU HAVE OFFERED ‑‑ KINGDOM LIVING, RICH KINGDOM LIVING.

WE ARE REMINDED OF OUR MISSION AND THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES SO WE SAY BOLDLY TOGETHER:

(LORD'S PRAYER PRAYED)

AS WE REFLECT ON THE GENEROSITY OF GOD IT IS NOW OUR TURN TO GIVE BACK..

LET US GIVE GENEROUSLY.

(OFFERING)

LET US PRAY:

FOR THE STORY THAT WE HEAR THIS MORNING, O GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS ‑‑ AN INCREDIBLE STORY BUT WE ARE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE GOD.

HELP THIS STORY HAVE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE TRULY YOUR DISCIPLES.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

GROWING UP EASTER WAS A BIG DEAL AT MY HOUSE.

WE GOT DRESSED UP AND WENT TO CHURCH AND COLORED EASTER EGGS AND WE HAD CHOCOLATE BUNNIES.

OUR FAMILY, A LARGE FAMILY, GOT TOGETHER AND HAD A WONDERFUL MEAL TOGETHER, MY AUNTS WOULD BAKE ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

MY FAVORITE THINGS WAS THIS BREAD AND IN THE BREAD WAS COLORED EGGS, AND WHOEVER GOT THE EGG IN THE BREAD GOT A PRIZE, SO WE TORE THAT BREAD UP.

EASTER EGGS, BUNNIES, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WHEN I GO SHOPPING WITH CHRISTINE IS LAG BEHIND AND CHECK OUT THE CARDS AND MAGAZINES AND THINGS, AND I AM ALWAYS AMAZED THAT DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THEY TALK ABOUT EGGS AND BUNNIAS AND SPRING AND WORDS LIKE RENEWAL AND REBIRTH.

AND I SAW ONE THAT ACTUALLY DID SAY "HAPPY SPRING, HAPPY SPRING."

WHEN I HEAR THAT I AM REMINDED THAT MOST OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS ABOUT TO START WINTER.

SO THE RIGHT WORD IS RESURRECTION.

THERE REALLY IS NO OTHER WORD THAT CAN DO THIS RADICAL EVENT JUSTICE.

SOMETHING BRAND NEW IS HAPPENING.

SOMETHING THAT NEVER WAS.

I MEAN, THE WOMEN WHO WENT TO HIS TOMB EARLY IN THE MORNING WERE DEVASTATED.

THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HIS BODY.

THEY WERE NOT THINKING ABOUT SPRING, OR REBIRTH OR RENEWAL, THIS EXPERIENCE WAS COMPLETELY NEW FOR THEM.

I MEAN JUST IMAGINE THE WHOLE TIME BETWEEN THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE TIME THEY WERE WALKING TO THE TOMB ‑‑ THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER.

THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS TERRIBLE EVENT, THE CRUCIFIXION WHERE THE PERSON THEY FOLLOWED FOR THREE YEARS OR SO WAS BEATEN OR TORTURED AND DIED ON THE CROSS.

ALL THE STORIES THAT HE SHARED WITH THEM, ALL THE STORIES ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN ‑‑ OVER.

THEY WERE NOT THINKING ABOUT SPRING TIME.

THEY WERE DEVASTATED, SADDENED, WONDERING WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT?

ARE WE GOING TO STAY TOGETHER?

THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE THINKING AS THEY WALKED TOWARD THAT TOMB.

LIKE I SAID, SOMETIMES THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A RENEWAL OR REBIRTH.

WE HEAR ABOUT A NEW SEASON, NEW GROWTH.

NEW GROWTH, SERIOUSLY, DOES THAT REALLY GRAB YOU?

NEW GROWTH ‑‑ WOULD THOSE WORDS INSPIRE THE TINY FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, WHO WERE SCARED ‑‑ WOULD IT CHANGE THE POWER STRUCTURE OF THE ENTIRE ROMAN EMPIRE?

SOME WRITERS EVEN CALLED EASTER A SPRING FESTIVAL.

DID THE DISCIPLES COME TO A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS OR DID SOMETHING RADICAL HAPPEN IN THAT DARK TOMB, I MEAN, SOMETHING BEYOND HUMAN EXISTENCE.

SOMETHING VERY STRANGE IS GOING ON IN OUR BIBLE STORY THIS MORNING.

FIRST PEOPLE IN THE GOSPEL DON'T RUN, LET ALONE RACE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

YET EVERYONE IS RUNNING.

THERE IS ONLY ONE OTHER INCIDENT OF RUNNING IN THE BIBLE AND THAT IS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

YET EVERYONE IS RUNNING.

PETER AND THE BELOVED DISCIPLE ARE RUNNING BACK. THE BELOVED DISCIPLE GETTING THERE FIRST AND THEN PETER COMING UP, OUT OF BREATH, THEY ARE BREATHLESS, THEY WERE SHOCKED, IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK ‑‑ THE DAY AFTER THE SABBATH, AND IT IS THE START OF GOD'S NEW WORLD.

IT IS EARLY MORNING, IT IS STILL DARK, BUT IT IS THE MOMENT OF SOMETHING NEW.

MARY MAGDALENE COMES TO THE TOMB WHILE IT IS STILL DARK.

ONLY TO BE CONFRONTED WITH THE EVIDENCE THAT THE SON OF GOD HAS RISEN.

IT IS A TRUTH SO BRIGHT THAT SHE CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT IT.

I MEAN THIS EVENT CHANGES EVERYTHING FOR THE DISCIPLES.

NOW FOR MANY THE RESURRECTION IS SEEN AS PROOF OF LIFE AFTER DEATH.

I BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH, BUT THAT IS NOT THE PRIMARY MESSAGE OF EASTER.

THIS JESUS, THIS JESUS OF NAZARETH HAS A NEW BODY.

JESUS IS ALIVE AND HIS LIFE CANNOT BE HARMED OR TOUCHED BY ANY CORRUPTION OR DEATH.

AND IF THIS IS TRUE, IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO RETHINK OUR WORLD VIEWS, WE HAVE TO REORDER OUR PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR OWN LIFE STORIES WITH THIS FACT, RESURRECTION, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

EASTER IS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED.

NOT ABOUT IDEAS IN PEOPLE'S HEADS OR EVEN FAITH IN THEIR HEARTS.

JESUS' RESURRECTION POINTS TO THE FACT THAT GOD'S NEW KINGDOM HAS BEGUN AND WE ARE INVITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

WE ARE INVITED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD.

EASTER ISN'T ABOUT JESUS BEING KING OF SOME REALM OUT THERE.

JESUS DIDN'T JUST DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, EASTER IS THE CELEBRATION THAT HE IS THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH.

EASTER IS NOT ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET TO HEAVEN, BUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS NEW CREATION HAPPEN HERE AND NOW IN OUR LIVES.

I THINK IT IS INTERESTING THAT RESURRECTION IS NOT JUST A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE.

THERE IS MORE THAN ONE PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS EVENT THAN MARY AND OTHER DISCIPLES AND OTHER WOMEN, AND IF YOU READ OTHER RESURRECTION STORIES, THERE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE NEW CHRIST.

THAT IS TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NO RESURRECTION EXPERTS.

JESUS' RESURRECTION IS AN OPEN DOOR.

EVERYONE HAS EASY AND READY ACCESS TO BELONG AND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THE WORLD, SO WHETHER WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, OR TO HAVE PEACE AND JUSTICE, OR TO EDUCATE CHILDREN, OR CARING FOR THE NEEDY, OR CREATING A NEW VISION FOR OUR SCHOOLS OR HOSPITALS, OR OUR NATION, WE ARE CALLED TO TAKE THE SCRIPTURE IN THE ONE HAND AND THE POWER OF GOD'S RESURRECTION IN THE OTHER HAND.

AND TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH THIS EASTER AND FIND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE NEW CREATION HAPPEN.

THERE IS NO DOUBT YOU WILL FACE BATTLES.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT THIS NEW CREATION.

BUT GO BACK AGAIN TO THE FACT OF EASTER THAT THE ENEMIES OF GOD HAVE BEEN DEFEATED AND THAT GOD'S CREATION WILL WIN THE DAY AND YOU WILL BE A PART OF IT.

THAT IS WHY EASTER IS A MESSAGE OF LOVE.

THE LOVE THAT REACHES UP TO GOD IN GRATITUDE AND OUT TO THE WORLD IN GENEROSITY.

THERE ARE GIFTS AT EASTER, OTHER THAN THE EGGS AND THE BUNNIES AND THE BREAD.

THERE IS THE GIFT OF THE RESURRECTION ITSELF, SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED.

THE GIFT OF GOD'S PRESENCE, HIS LEAVING HIS HOLY SPIRIT AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE GIFT THAT IS OUR MISSION, TO SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD, INVITING ALL PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THE KINGDOM THAT ALREADY IS.

ONE OF THE KEY PLACES TO BEGIN WITH IS OURSELVES.

SOMETIMES OUR LARGE VISION OR GOD'S NEW WORLD CAN SOMETIMES DRAW ATTENTION FROM OUR OWN PERSONAL BATTLES WITH EVIL AND OTHER DARKNESS, SO RESURRECTION DOES START WITH US.

SOMETIMES WE ARE TEMPTED TO THINK ‑‑ IF I WORK HARD FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD, I WON'T HAVE TO FOCUS ON HOW I BEHAVE.

WELL, YOU WILL IF YOU WANT TO BE AN EASTER PERSON IN GOD'S WORLD.

THE APOSTLE PAUL TALKS VERY STRAIGHT.

LISTEN.

SO IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING IN NEW RESURRECTION LIFE WITH CHRIST, ACT LIKE IT.

PURSUE THE THINGS OVER WHICH CHRIST RESIDES.

LOOK UP AND BE ALERT TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND CHRIST.

THAT IS WHERE THE ACTION IS.

SEEK THINGS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE.

YOUR OLD LIFE IS DEAD ‑‑ YOUR NEW LIFE WHICH IS YOUR REAL LIFE, EVEN INVISIBLE TO SPECTATORS IS IN CHRIST.

HE IS YOUR LIFE.

WHEN CHRIST SHOWS UP ON THIS EARTH, YOU WILL SHOW UP TOO, THE REAL YOU, THE GLORIOUS YOU.

IMPURITY, LUST, DOING WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE, AND GRABBING WHATEVER ATTRACTS YOUR FANCY, THAT IS A LIFE SHAPED BY THINGS AND FEELINGS INSTEAD OF BY GOD.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS KIND OF THING THAT GOD IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.

I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE IT IS ALL GONE FOR GOOD ‑‑ BAD TEMPERS AND IRRITABILITY, MEANNESS, PROFANITY ‑‑ YOU ARE DONE WITH THAT OLD LIFE.

IT IS LIKE AN OLD SET OF CLOTHES YOU HAVE STRIPPED OFF AND PUT IN THE FIRE.

EVERY ITEM OF YOUR NEW WAY OF LIFE IS CUSTOM MADE BY GOD.

ALL THE OLD FASHIONS ARE OBSOLETE.

UNCIVILIZED AND UNCOUTH, THEY MEAN NOTHING.

FROM NOW ON EVERYONE IS DEFINED BY CHRIST.

EVERYONE ‑‑ EVERYONE IS INCLUDED IN CHRIST.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES COMES FROM A MOVIE, MADE IN THE 70'S BY JOHNNY CASH.

HE MADE A MOVIE OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND ON THE DAY THEY WERE FILMING THE CRUCIFIXION A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS GOT WIND OF, IT AND THEY GOT IN A VAN AND TOOK OFF TO WHERE THEY WERE FILMING IT.

THAT DAY THEY WERE FILMING THE CRUCIFIXION AND THEY GOT TO WITNESS THE FILMING ‑‑ THE CRUCIFIXION.

THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE GOING TO FILM THE RESURRECTION SCENES.

AFTER THAT DAY OF WATCHING THE FILMS OF THE CRUCIFIXION, THEY WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE, AND THEY ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND YELLED OUT, "GOOD LUCK TOMORROW ON YOUR RESURRECTION."

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR RESURRECTION.

THAT IS MY MESSAGE FOR US TODAY.

THAT WE LIVE OUT THE RESURRECTION BECAUSE IT IS TO BE LIVED OUT DAILY.

THE MESSAGE IS GOOD LUCK ON YOUR RESURRECTION TODAY.

GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK ON MAKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD A REALITY IN YOUR LIFE AND IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU AT HOME AND WORK AND AT PLAY.

GOOD LUCK TODAY.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR RESURRECTION.

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID AMEN.

OUR HYMN IS HYMN 222 AND THEN I INVITE YOU TO CLAIM THAT RESURRECTION LIFE, WHETHER YOU COME FORWARD AND DO IT, OR IN YOUR HEARTS, OR IN YOUR PEWS, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO GOD.

IF YOU COME FORWARD MAKING THAT CLAIM, I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD

NOW WE COME TO OUR TIME OF COMMUNION.

THIS IS THE TABLE OF THE LORD, COME NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK, COME NOT BECAUSE OF ANY GOODNESS OF YOUR OWN ‑‑ BUT BECAUSE YOU NEED MERCY AND HELP.

COME BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD A LITTLE AND WOULD LIKE TO LOVE HIM MORE.

COME BECAUSE THE LORD LOVES YOU AND GIVES HIMSELF TO YOU.

LET THIS BREAD AND WINE BE FOR YOU, THE TONE AND PLEDGE OF THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ALL MEANT FOR YOU THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THEM IN HUMBLE FAITH.

TASTE AND SEE THAT GOD IS GOOD.

LET US OFFER OUR SINS.

LET US PRAY:

WE OFFER OUR BROKENNESS UNTO YOU, O GOD.

FOR YOU HEAL ALL WOUNDS.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST WE ARE ALL FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN.

JESUS TOOK THE BREAD AND BROKE IT SAYING, "IT IS MY BODY I BROKE IT FOR YOU."

YOU SHALL EAT BREAD AND YOU SHALL PRAISE THE LORD GOD.

HE TOOK THE CUP SAYING THIS MEANS THE NEW RELATIONSHIP, ACCOMPLISHED BY THE SHEDDING OF MY BLOOD.

GO ON DOING THIS WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT TO RECALL MY PRESENCE WITH YOU SO HE LET'S HIS GLORY BE SEEN AMONG US AND WE BELIEVE AND SHARE HIS UNDYING LIGHT.

CREATOR GOD HOW GREAT YOU ARE.

AT THIS TABLE LORD WE CELEBRATE YOUR POWER AND MAJESTY.

YOU ROLL THE STONES AWAY AND WE ARE FILLED WITH AWE.

ARISEN LORD, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH.

AS WE TAKE THIS BREAD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GIVE US THE DESIRE AND THE STRENGTH TO ROLL OUR OWN PERSONAL STONES AWAY AS THERE ARE MANY.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, LORD, SELFISHNESS, ANGER, JEALOUSY, GRIEF, DEPRESSION, BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS.

ROLL THEM AWAY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE A RESURRECTED LIFE.

MOVE US AWAY FROM THAT DARK SIDE, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN JOY AND LOVE AND IN RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH, FOR IT IS IN YOUR SON'S NAME WE PRAY.

OUR FATHER, AS WE ARE GATHERED HERE TOGETHER ON THIS GLORIOUS EASTER MORNING AS WE PARTAKE OF THE CUP, PLEASE NOT ONLY FILL US WITH THE JOY OF THE EASTER EXPERIENCE AND YOUR RESURRECTION, BUT REMIND US ALWAYS THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE JOY OF EASTER WITHOUT THE PAIN OF THE CROSS.

AND IN OUR LIVES WE EXPERIENCE BOTH JOY AND PAIN BUT WE KNOW [INAUDIBLE] BE WITH US NOW AS WE TAKE THE CUP AND HELP US FILL WITH THE JOY AND HELP US TO GO FORTH AND LIVE OUT THE RESURRECTION EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES.

AMEN.