WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.104 --> 00:00:03.771
(organ playing)
2
00:00:17.990 --> 00:00:20.657
(organ playing)
3
00:00:33.216 --> 00:00:35.883
(organ playing)
4
00:00:47.540 --> 00:00:50.207
(organ playing)
5
00:01:13.531 --> 00:01:16.198
(organ playing)
6
00:01:39.639 --> 00:01:42.139
(organ stops)
7
00:01:59.790 --> 00:02:01.940
Good morning and welcome to this service of worship
8
00:02:01.940 --> 00:02:05.353
on this second Sunday of Easter.
9
00:02:05.353 --> 00:02:07.960
Today is our annual Crop Walk,
10
00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:11.037
which leads from the steps of the chapel at 1:00 pm.
11
00:02:11.037 --> 00:02:15.845
Crop walk for world hunger and overseas relief.
12
00:02:15.845 --> 00:02:18.489
In recognition of the Crop Walk,
13
00:02:18.489 --> 00:02:21.740
all of today's offering has been designated
14
00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:26.496
for the Blanket Fund of the Crop program.
15
00:02:26.496 --> 00:02:29.125 line:15%
Last year when we received an offering
16
00:02:29.125 --> 00:02:33.141 line:15%
for the purposes of purchasing blankets for refugees,
17
00:02:33.141 --> 00:02:36.750 line:15%
we were able to purchase over 700 blankets,
18
00:02:36.750 --> 00:02:39.280 line:15%
which were sent to places of need around the world,
19
00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.497 line:15%
and we invite you to give generously.
20
00:02:41.497 --> 00:02:45.380
Call your attention to the pronouncements and activities
21
00:02:45.380 --> 00:02:47.891
in the bulletin, particularly the visit
22
00:02:47.891 --> 00:02:51.941
of Madeleine L'Engle, the distinguished writer,
23
00:02:51.941 --> 00:02:56.801
poet, will be visiting our campus this coming week.
24
00:02:56.801 --> 00:03:00.025
Also next Sunday evening, our choir
25
00:03:00.025 --> 00:03:04.743
will be performing Mozart's Requiem here in the chapel.
26
00:03:06.153 --> 00:03:10.569
The second hymn is sung in honor of Thomas,
27
00:03:10.569 --> 00:03:15.500
who is often designated this Sunday in the scripture
28
00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:20.500
and the sermon, and we will sing verses 1 and 6
29
00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:22.703
through 9 of the second hymn.
30
00:03:23.752 --> 00:03:25.823
Now let us stand for the greeting.
31
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:31.449
Christ is risen.
32
00:03:31.449 --> 00:03:34.110
Christ is risen.
33
00:03:34.110 --> 00:03:36.801
Glory and honor, dominion and power be to God
34
00:03:36.801 --> 00:03:38.721
forever and ever.
35
00:03:38.721 --> 00:03:41.049
Christ is risen.
36
00:03:41.049 --> 00:03:42.517
Hallelujah.
37
00:03:42.517 --> 00:03:45.184
(organ playing)
38
00:04:06.083 --> 00:04:10.298
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
39
00:04:10.298 --> 00:04:15.298
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
40
00:04:15.873 --> 00:04:20.123
♪ Day when our Lord was raised ♪
41
00:04:20.123 --> 00:04:24.123
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
42
00:04:25.014 --> 00:04:28.764
(choir drowned out by organ)
43
00:04:45.758 --> 00:04:49.760
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
44
00:04:49.760 --> 00:04:54.760
♪ Blest day that to be hallowed forever ♪
45
00:04:54.886 --> 00:04:58.666
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
46
00:04:58.666 --> 00:05:02.666
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
47
00:05:03.532 --> 00:05:07.449
(singing drowned out by organ)
48
00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:29.366
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
49
00:05:29.366 --> 00:05:34.366
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
50
00:05:35.334 --> 00:05:39.442
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
51
00:05:39.442 --> 00:05:43.442
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
52
00:05:45.696 --> 00:05:49.613
(singing drowned out by organ)
53
00:06:05.182 --> 00:06:09.278
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
54
00:06:09.278 --> 00:06:14.278
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
55
00:06:15.082 --> 00:06:18.948
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
56
00:06:18.948 --> 00:06:22.948
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
57
00:06:25.254 --> 00:06:29.171
(singing drowned out by organ)
58
00:06:44.990 --> 00:06:49.143
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
59
00:06:49.143 --> 00:06:54.143
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
60
00:06:54.755 --> 00:06:58.384
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
61
00:06:58.384 --> 00:07:02.384
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
62
00:07:05.104 --> 00:07:09.021
(singing drowned out by organ)
63
00:07:24.261 --> 00:07:28.279
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
64
00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:33.279
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
65
00:07:33.637 --> 00:07:37.314
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
66
00:07:37.314 --> 00:07:41.314
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
67
00:07:43.986 --> 00:07:47.903
(singing drowned out by organ)
68
00:08:03.158 --> 00:08:07.239
♪ Hail thee festival day ♪
69
00:08:07.239 --> 00:08:12.239
♪ Blest day to be hallowed forever ♪
70
00:08:12.758 --> 00:08:16.266
♪ Day wherein Christ arose ♪
71
00:08:16.266 --> 00:08:20.266
♪ Breaking the kingdom of death ♪
72
00:08:32.874 --> 00:08:36.124
(organ playing softly)
73
00:08:54.071 --> 00:08:55.733
Let us pray.
74
00:08:59.010 --> 00:09:00.775
Gracious God, we gather,
75
00:09:00.775 --> 00:09:03.863
because you have acted in human history,
76
00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.013
breaking the bonds of death,
77
00:09:07.013 --> 00:09:10.793
setting the oppressed free from sin
78
00:09:10.793 --> 00:09:12.890
and death.
79
00:09:12.890 --> 00:09:16.645
You have brought new life where before there was none.
80
00:09:16.645 --> 00:09:19.045
You have acted in our lives
81
00:09:19.045 --> 00:09:23.665
and brought us forth from death to life.
82
00:09:23.665 --> 00:09:26.005
Therefore we gather,
83
00:09:26.005 --> 00:09:28.507
confident that we gather in the name
84
00:09:28.507 --> 00:09:32.780
of the risen and reigning Lord.
85
00:09:32.780 --> 00:09:34.130
Amen.
86
00:09:34.130 --> 00:09:34.963
Be seated.
87
00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:46.713
Let us pray together the prayer for illumination.
88
00:09:47.561 --> 00:09:52.225
O living God, bring us forth from death to life.
89
00:09:52.225 --> 00:09:54.353
So that as the scriptures are read
90
00:09:54.353 --> 00:09:56.965
and your word is proclaimed,
91
00:09:56.965 --> 00:10:00.620
we might be brought to a sure and living faith
92
00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:02.490
in your lordship.
93
00:10:02.490 --> 00:10:03.323
Amen.
94
00:10:06.067 --> 00:10:09.763
Our first lesson is from The Book of Acts.
95
00:10:11.197 --> 00:10:14.180
"Now the whole group of those who believed
96
00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:16.940
were of one heart and one soul.
97
00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:20.065
And no one claimed private ownership of any possessions.
98
00:10:20.065 --> 00:10:23.586 line:15%
But everything they owned was held in common.
99
00:10:23.586 --> 00:10:26.845 line:15%
With great power the apostles gave their testimony
100
00:10:26.845 --> 00:10:29.980 line:15%
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
101
00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:33.590 line:15%
and great grace was upon them all.
102
00:10:33.590 --> 00:10:36.170 line:15%
There was not a needy person among them
103
00:10:36.170 --> 00:10:39.620
for, as many as owned land or houses, sold them,
104
00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:42.321
and brought the proceeds of what was sold
105
00:10:42.321 --> 00:10:45.005
and laid it at the apostles' feet.
106
00:10:45.005 --> 00:10:50.005
And it was distributed to each as any had need.
107
00:10:50.077 --> 00:10:53.779
This is the word of the Lord.
108
00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:56.279
Thanks be to God.
109
00:11:01.850 --> 00:11:05.050
Our psalm is Psalm 133,
110
00:11:05.050 --> 00:11:07.490
found on page 850 in the hymnal.
111
00:11:07.490 --> 00:11:09.343
Please stand as we sing responsively.
112
00:11:10.999 --> 00:11:13.666
(organ playing)
113
00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:21.740
♪ Behold how good and pleasant it is ♪
114
00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:25.823
♪ When we live together in unity ♪
115
00:11:26.796 --> 00:11:31.463
(audience singing drowned out by organ)
116
00:11:43.450 --> 00:11:46.121
♪ It is like to dew of Hermon ♪
117
00:11:46.121 --> 00:11:50.191
♪ Which falls on the mountains of Zion ♪
118
00:11:50.191 --> 00:11:54.858
(audience singing drowned out by organ)
119
00:11:59.111 --> 00:12:02.563
♪ All glory be to you, O God ♪
120
00:12:02.563 --> 00:12:06.463
♪ And to Jesus Christ, our savior ♪
121
00:12:06.463 --> 00:12:11.130
(audience singing drowned out by organ)
122
00:12:12.583 --> 00:12:16.531
♪ As it was since time began ♪
123
00:12:16.531 --> 00:12:21.198
(audience singing drowned out by organ)
124
00:12:30.260 --> 00:12:34.103
Our second lesson is from the First Letter of John.
125
00:12:36.943 --> 00:12:40.076
"We declare to you which was from the beginning
126
00:12:40.076 --> 00:12:44.260
what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes,
127
00:12:44.260 --> 00:12:47.280 line:15%
what we have looked at and touched with our hands
128
00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:50.024 line:15%
concerning the word of life.
129
00:12:50.024 --> 00:12:53.290 line:15%
This life was revealed.
130
00:12:53.290 --> 00:12:55.500 line:15%
And we have seen it and testified to it,
131
00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:58.490 line:15%
and declare to you the eternal life
132
00:12:58.490 --> 00:13:00.224 line:15%
that was with the father,
133
00:13:00.224 --> 00:13:05.090 line:15%
and which was revealed to us.
134
00:13:05.090 --> 00:13:07.660
We declare to you what we have seen and heard
135
00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:10.586
so that you also may have fellowship with us.
136
00:13:10.586 --> 00:13:13.440
And truly our fellowship is with the father.
137
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.676
And with his son, Jesus Christ.
138
00:13:16.676 --> 00:13:20.260
We are writing these things so that our joy
139
00:13:20.260 --> 00:13:21.836
may be complete.
140
00:13:21.836 --> 00:13:26.540
This is the message that we have heard from Him
141
00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:28.948
and we proclaim to you,
142
00:13:28.948 --> 00:13:31.410
that God is light,
143
00:13:31.410 --> 00:13:34.484
and in him is no darkness at all.
144
00:13:34.484 --> 00:13:37.210
If we say that we have fellowship with him
145
00:13:37.210 --> 00:13:41.190
while we are walking in darkness, we lie.
146
00:13:41.190 --> 00:13:43.164
We do not do what is true.
147
00:13:43.164 --> 00:13:45.404
But if we walk in the light,
148
00:13:45.404 --> 00:13:47.844
as He Himself is in the light,
149
00:13:47.844 --> 00:13:51.580
we have fellowship with one another.
150
00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:55.150
And the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin.
151
00:13:55.150 --> 00:14:00.150
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
152
00:14:00.824 --> 00:14:03.448
and the truth is not in us.
153
00:14:03.448 --> 00:14:06.148
But if we confess our sins,
154
00:14:06.148 --> 00:14:08.650
He is faithful and just,
155
00:14:08.650 --> 00:14:11.950
and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us
156
00:14:11.950 --> 00:14:15.060
from all unrighteousness.
157
00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:17.900
If we say that we've not sinned we make him a liar
158
00:14:17.900 --> 00:14:20.639
and his word is not in us.
159
00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:24.448
My little children, I am writing you these things
160
00:14:24.448 --> 00:14:27.128
that you may not sin.
161
00:14:27.128 --> 00:14:29.574
But if anyone does sin,
162
00:14:29.574 --> 00:14:32.814
we have an advocate with the Father,
163
00:14:32.814 --> 00:14:36.160
Jesus Christ the righteous,
164
00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:39.580
and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
165
00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:41.769
and not for ours only,
166
00:14:41.769 --> 00:14:46.157
but also for the sins of the whole world."
167
00:14:48.634 --> 00:14:50.750
This is the word of the Lord.
168
00:14:50.750 --> 00:14:52.250
Thanks be to God.
169
00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:57.490
And our gospel lesson for this second Sunday of Easter
170
00:14:57.490 --> 00:15:00.183
is from the Gospel of John.
171
00:15:04.657 --> 00:15:07.280
"When it was evening on that day,
172
00:15:07.280 --> 00:15:10.590
the first day of the week, the doors of the house
173
00:15:10.590 --> 00:15:12.875
being shut for fear of the Jews,
174
00:15:12.875 --> 00:15:16.610 line:15%
Jesus came and stood among them and said,
175
00:15:16.610 --> 00:15:19.120 line:15%
'Peace be with you.'
176
00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.210 line:15%
After he said this he showed them his hands
177
00:15:21.210 --> 00:15:22.626 line:15%
and his side.
178
00:15:22.626 --> 00:15:27.294 line:15%
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
179
00:15:27.294 --> 00:15:32.226
Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you.
180
00:15:32.226 --> 00:15:35.320
As the Father has sent me,
181
00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:37.538
so I send you.'
182
00:15:37.538 --> 00:15:41.330
And when he said this, he breathed on them and said,
183
00:15:41.330 --> 00:15:43.838
'Receive the Holy Spirit.
184
00:15:43.838 --> 00:15:47.450
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.
185
00:15:47.450 --> 00:15:50.347
If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'
186
00:15:52.170 --> 00:15:56.090
But Thomas, who was also called the Twin,
187
00:15:56.090 --> 00:15:59.554
one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came.
188
00:15:59.554 --> 00:16:03.852
So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.'
189
00:16:03.852 --> 00:16:07.880
But Thomas said, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails
190
00:16:07.880 --> 00:16:11.400
in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails,
191
00:16:11.400 --> 00:16:14.095
and my hand in his side,
192
00:16:14.095 --> 00:16:15.957
I will not believe.'
193
00:16:16.818 --> 00:16:19.816
A week later the disciples were again at the house,
194
00:16:19.816 --> 00:16:21.570
and Thomas was with them.
195
00:16:21.570 --> 00:16:24.520
Although the doors were shut, Jesus came
196
00:16:24.520 --> 00:16:28.709
and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'
197
00:16:28.709 --> 00:16:31.152
Then he said to Thomas,
198
00:16:31.152 --> 00:16:33.890
'Put your finger here and see my hands.
199
00:16:33.890 --> 00:16:36.490
Reach out your hand and put it in my side.
200
00:16:36.490 --> 00:16:38.667
Do not doubt, but believe.'
201
00:16:39.610 --> 00:16:44.407
Thomas answered, 'My Lord, my God.'
202
00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.620
Jesus said to him,
203
00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:51.686
'Have you believed because you have seen me?
204
00:16:51.686 --> 00:16:55.747
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
205
00:16:55.747 --> 00:16:58.463
have come to believe.'
206
00:16:58.463 --> 00:17:01.640
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence
207
00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:04.509
of his disciples which are not written in this book.
208
00:17:04.509 --> 00:17:09.200
But these are written so that you may come to believe.
209
00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.440
For Jesus is the messiah, the son of God,
210
00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:16.782
and that through believing you might have life
211
00:17:16.782 --> 00:17:19.628
in His name."
212
00:17:19.628 --> 00:17:23.648
This is the word of the Lord.
213
00:17:23.648 --> 00:17:25.898
Praise to God.
214
00:17:41.060 --> 00:17:44.143
(organ plays softly)
215
00:17:55.589 --> 00:17:59.006
(choir singing in Latin)
216
00:18:10.712 --> 00:18:14.129
(choir singing in Latin)
217
00:18:23.909 --> 00:18:27.326
(choir singing in Latin)
218
00:18:38.745 --> 00:18:42.162
(choir singing in Latin)
219
00:18:54.253 --> 00:18:57.670
(choir singing in Latin)
220
00:19:09.932 --> 00:19:13.349
(choir singing in Latin)
221
00:19:19.511 --> 00:19:21.196
♪ Hallelujah ♪
222
00:19:21.196 --> 00:19:22.908
♪ Hallelujah ♪
223
00:19:22.908 --> 00:19:24.755
♪ Hallelujah ♪
224
00:19:24.755 --> 00:19:26.513
♪ Hallelujah ♪
225
00:19:26.513 --> 00:19:28.897
♪ Hallelujah ♪
226
00:19:28.897 --> 00:19:30.677
♪ Hallelujah ♪
227
00:19:30.677 --> 00:19:32.776
♪ Hallelujah ♪
228
00:19:32.776 --> 00:19:34.726
♪ Hallelujah ♪
229
00:19:34.726 --> 00:19:36.883
♪ Hallelujah ♪
230
00:19:36.883 --> 00:19:41.015
♪ Hallelujah ♪
231
00:19:41.015 --> 00:19:43.432
♪ Hallelujah ♪
232
00:20:01.616 --> 00:20:03.870
Do I detect this morning the look of relief
233
00:20:03.870 --> 00:20:07.166
on a few of your faces?
234
00:20:07.166 --> 00:20:08.947
Now that we've made it through Easter Sunday,
235
00:20:08.947 --> 00:20:12.581
thank goodness things can settle back down to normal.
236
00:20:12.581 --> 00:20:14.500
I've been around this place long enough
237
00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:17.600
to know how a few of you at least feel
238
00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:20.560
about all those enthusiastic hallelujahs
239
00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:22.690
and those festive peels on the Caroline
240
00:20:22.690 --> 00:20:24.729
at 6:00 in the morning.
241
00:20:24.729 --> 00:20:27.389
Not to mention all the related Easter paraphernalia
242
00:20:27.389 --> 00:20:31.529
like dyed eggs and marshmallow baby chicks.
243
00:20:31.529 --> 00:20:34.214
And to be quite honest, I would have to agree
244
00:20:34.214 --> 00:20:38.985
there is certainly more than one approach to Easter.
245
00:20:38.985 --> 00:20:42.408
After all, we're talking about one of the great
246
00:20:42.408 --> 00:20:44.810 line:15%
unsolved mysteries of all time,
247
00:20:44.810 --> 00:20:47.170 line:15%
an empty tomb.
248
00:20:47.170 --> 00:20:49.530 line:15%
How did we ever come to expect people
249
00:20:49.530 --> 00:20:54.026 line:15%
to be so comfortable, so confident,
250
00:20:54.026 --> 00:20:56.664 line:15%
when they talk about it anyway?
251
00:20:56.664 --> 00:20:58.956 line:15%
Emptiness, as you know,
252
00:20:58.956 --> 00:21:01.861 line:15%
if you've had much experience dealing with it,
253
00:21:01.861 --> 00:21:05.716
isn't all that easy to get a handle on.
254
00:21:05.716 --> 00:21:09.991
Unlike Christmas with all its familiarity,
255
00:21:09.991 --> 00:21:13.118
you cannot turn emptiness into a pageant,
256
00:21:13.118 --> 00:21:15.436
or string it with lights.
257
00:21:15.436 --> 00:21:18.137
It doesn't usually move people to give presents
258
00:21:18.137 --> 00:21:20.495
and go caroling through the neighborhood.
259
00:21:20.495 --> 00:21:25.495
In fact, emptiness is almost impossible to depict.
260
00:21:25.762 --> 00:21:28.972
Think for a minute of the thousands of paintings
261
00:21:28.972 --> 00:21:32.340
of the Nativity, not to mention the crucifixion,
262
00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:36.882
which we as church hold dear to our collective memory.
263
00:21:36.882 --> 00:21:39.730
But can you name for me three well known paintings
264
00:21:39.730 --> 00:21:42.252
of the empty tomb?
265
00:21:42.252 --> 00:21:46.348
Unlike the Easter Bunny, emptiness is not warm and fuzzy
266
00:21:46.348 --> 00:21:48.340
by a long stretch of the imagination.
267
00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:51.560
It isn't even friendly and uplifting,
268
00:21:51.560 --> 00:21:55.186
as we in the church like to think of ourselves.
269
00:21:55.186 --> 00:21:58.047
It is disconcerting, at the very least,
270
00:21:58.047 --> 00:22:00.150
and as we heard in last Sunday's sermon
271
00:22:00.150 --> 00:22:04.280
from Mark's gospel, it is even frightening.
272
00:22:04.280 --> 00:22:07.415
And so today's gospel as a continuation of John's
273
00:22:07.415 --> 00:22:11.091
account of the Easter story depicts
274
00:22:11.091 --> 00:22:14.467
what is for many of us a more familiar response
275
00:22:14.467 --> 00:22:18.669
to the empty tomb, skepticism.
276
00:22:18.669 --> 00:22:22.280
Thomas the Twin wasn't around for Jesus'
277
00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:23.970
first appearance to the disciples,
278
00:22:23.970 --> 00:22:27.672
and so he says he won't believe,
279
00:22:27.672 --> 00:22:31.057
until he touches Jesus' wounds.
280
00:22:31.057 --> 00:22:34.002
In so doing he becomes Doubting Thomas
281
00:22:34.002 --> 00:22:36.707
for the rest of time.
282
00:22:36.707 --> 00:22:38.880
Have you ever thought about how it is that history
283
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.657
chooses to label a person?
284
00:22:41.657 --> 00:22:44.235
Take Thomas as an example.
285
00:22:44.235 --> 00:22:47.290
We know from earlier references in John's gospel
286
00:22:47.290 --> 00:22:51.190
that Thomas is courageously devoted to Jesus.
287
00:22:51.190 --> 00:22:54.485
Willing to confront death in order to be with him,
288
00:22:54.485 --> 00:22:56.660
and willing to ask the tough questions
289
00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:59.001
when no one else will.
290
00:22:59.001 --> 00:23:01.593
We also know that a non-canonical gospel bears
291
00:23:01.593 --> 00:23:05.569
his name and that tradition associates him
292
00:23:05.569 --> 00:23:07.930
with a mission to India.
293
00:23:07.930 --> 00:23:12.930
Still what we remember him for is this text
294
00:23:12.930 --> 00:23:14.920
and his doubt.
295
00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:17.803
Perhaps because in the midst of so many towering
296
00:23:17.803 --> 00:23:20.582
examples of faith in the New Testament
297
00:23:20.582 --> 00:23:24.062
we are encouraged by knowing at least one disciple
298
00:23:24.062 --> 00:23:27.534
who shares our moments of doubt.
299
00:23:27.534 --> 00:23:29.550
If you were too much of a skeptic
300
00:23:29.550 --> 00:23:32.410
to enjoy church last Sunday, welcome back.
301
00:23:32.410 --> 00:23:34.980
This is your Sunday.
302
00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.970
Especially for those of you who have been told
303
00:23:36.970 --> 00:23:39.748
by someone in the church that a faithful disciple
304
00:23:39.748 --> 00:23:43.110
never expresses doubt, let this text provide
305
00:23:43.110 --> 00:23:45.459
a bit of reassurance.
306
00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:47.900
According to John's depiction of the resurrection
307
00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.939
and the events that surrounded it,
308
00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:54.466
there is more than one way to become a believer.
309
00:23:54.466 --> 00:23:57.480
If we take his entire 20th chapter into account
310
00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:00.660
we find several responses to Jesus resurrection
311
00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:02.370
appearances.
312
00:24:02.370 --> 00:24:05.460
The beloved disciple believed with no evidence
313
00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:07.875
whatsoever beyond the empty tomb,
314
00:24:07.875 --> 00:24:10.710
while Peter, having witnessed the same thing,
315
00:24:10.710 --> 00:24:14.743
returned home at that point, unbelieving.
316
00:24:14.743 --> 00:24:17.300
Mary Magdalene believed because of a word,
317
00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:20.430
her name, which when spoken by Jesus,
318
00:24:20.430 --> 00:24:24.010
evoked recognition of an enduring and life-giving
319
00:24:24.010 --> 00:24:25.958
relationship.
320
00:24:25.958 --> 00:24:28.760
The ten disciples believed because they saw the Lord
321
00:24:28.760 --> 00:24:30.800
with their very eyes.
322
00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:35.070
But for Thomas, faith could come only with difficulty.
323
00:24:35.070 --> 00:24:37.110
There was too much at stake.
324
00:24:37.110 --> 00:24:40.790
He said he could be sure only after physical contact.
325
00:24:40.790 --> 00:24:44.110
But whether he actually touched Jesus is not clear
326
00:24:44.110 --> 00:24:46.234
from the text.
327
00:24:46.234 --> 00:24:50.034
Rather, Jesus told him to put his hand in his side
328
00:24:50.034 --> 00:24:52.777
and not to be faithless, but believing.
329
00:24:52.777 --> 00:24:56.137
To which he simply responded in exuberant affirmation,
330
00:24:56.137 --> 00:25:00.477
"My Lord, my God!"
331
00:25:00.477 --> 00:25:03.020
Whatever happened in Thomas' heart and mind
332
00:25:03.020 --> 00:25:06.277
in that instant we will never know.
333
00:25:06.277 --> 00:25:10.050
But what that moment does give us is hope
334
00:25:10.050 --> 00:25:15.042
that we too may transcend our self-imposed spiritual,
335
00:25:15.042 --> 00:25:17.767
emotional and intellectual limitations
336
00:25:17.767 --> 00:25:20.315
to make the leap of faith.
337
00:25:20.315 --> 00:25:22.347
Not just to the point where we can say,
338
00:25:22.347 --> 00:25:25.970
"Well, yes, there is a sense in which one can speak
339
00:25:25.970 --> 00:25:29.280
of resurrection, but to proclaim the risen Christ,
340
00:25:29.280 --> 00:25:32.922
my Lord and my God."
341
00:25:32.922 --> 00:25:36.160
Thomas' example is compelling not only for his doubt
342
00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.760
but for his willingness to be convinced.
343
00:25:38.760 --> 00:25:41.615
His openness to mystery.
344
00:25:41.615 --> 00:25:45.048
To proclaim Jesus as Lord meant for Thomas,
345
00:25:45.048 --> 00:25:47.723
and later for the whole church,
346
00:25:47.723 --> 00:25:50.000
not only a personal relationship with Christ
347
00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:53.309
but complete abandonment unto God.
348
00:25:53.309 --> 00:25:55.556
Something he certainly could not expect
349
00:25:55.556 --> 00:25:57.368
to always understand.
350
00:25:57.368 --> 00:26:00.340
In doing so he acknowledged Jesus as Lord
351
00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:04.936
over every power in this world, including death.
352
00:26:04.936 --> 00:26:08.810
To identify Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter rabbi
353
00:26:08.810 --> 00:26:12.824
who died on a cross as Christ the Lord meant
354
00:26:12.824 --> 00:26:16.405
that he truly believed.
355
00:26:16.405 --> 00:26:19.665
How shallow our own convictions seem in comparison
356
00:26:19.665 --> 00:26:22.000
when we feel the need to water down the mystery
357
00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:25.270
of the resurrection to make it somehow more believable,
358
00:26:25.270 --> 00:26:29.073
turning it into a problem to be solved.
359
00:26:29.073 --> 00:26:32.664
For instance, it's easy for us to say that resurrection
360
00:26:32.664 --> 00:26:35.492
is really Christ living on in our memory,
361
00:26:35.492 --> 00:26:37.235
that his words are still among us
362
00:26:37.235 --> 00:26:42.173
and that his name will never pass out of this world.
363
00:26:42.173 --> 00:26:45.410
But can't this be said about a lot of people?
364
00:26:45.410 --> 00:26:48.150
Plato, Shakespeare,
365
00:26:48.150 --> 00:26:50.770
Thomas Jefferson, to name a few.
366
00:26:50.770 --> 00:26:53.441
Such an understanding of resurrection is so general
367
00:26:53.441 --> 00:26:55.753
it no longer has real power.
368
00:26:55.753 --> 00:26:59.267
It also is self centered to the extent that it suggests
369
00:26:59.267 --> 00:27:02.550
that Christ lives among us because we're still
370
00:27:02.550 --> 00:27:04.290
talking about him.
371
00:27:04.290 --> 00:27:07.149
He owes his resurrection to us, more or less,
372
00:27:07.149 --> 00:27:12.149
which is precisely a reversal of God's true intentions.
373
00:27:12.549 --> 00:27:14.692
St. Paul dealt with similar sentiments
374
00:27:14.692 --> 00:27:16.480
when he had to deal with questions
375
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:18.500
regarding the resurrection.
376
00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.340
How are dead people raised,
377
00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:23.858
and what sort of body do they have when they come back,
378
00:27:23.858 --> 00:27:26.322
they asked him in Corinthians I.
379
00:27:26.322 --> 00:27:27.877
To which he replied,
380
00:27:27.877 --> 00:27:30.966
"We teach what Scripture calls
381
00:27:30.966 --> 00:27:35.634
the thing that no eye has seen and no ear has heard.
382
00:27:35.634 --> 00:27:38.273
Things beyond the mind of men and women,
383
00:27:38.273 --> 00:27:42.828
all that God has prepared for those who love him."
384
00:27:42.828 --> 00:27:45.090
The power of the resurrection is not a problem
385
00:27:45.090 --> 00:27:49.796
to be solved, but a gift to be received.
386
00:27:49.796 --> 00:27:52.624
Christ has revealed to us a life
387
00:27:52.624 --> 00:27:55.513
over which death has no power.
388
00:27:55.513 --> 00:27:59.242
The promise of eternal life is ours to keep.
389
00:27:59.242 --> 00:28:02.283
Why then do we persist in our hesitance
390
00:28:02.283 --> 00:28:05.104
by thinking, even if we don't say it,
391
00:28:05.104 --> 00:28:08.651
it's simply too good ti be true?
392
00:28:08.651 --> 00:28:11.410
To suggest that something is too good to be true
393
00:28:11.410 --> 00:28:15.390
is to reveal an attitude toward truth, of course.
394
00:28:15.390 --> 00:28:18.170
And it is exactly that attitude which the resurrection
395
00:28:18.170 --> 00:28:19.890
calls into question,
396
00:28:19.890 --> 00:28:22.810
and which I would like to address for a moment.
397
00:28:22.810 --> 00:28:26.067
Truth from this narrow perspective
398
00:28:26.067 --> 00:28:28.810
means what you see is what you get.
399
00:28:28.810 --> 00:28:31.090
The world is a tormented, rotten place
400
00:28:31.090 --> 00:28:33.855
full of people looking out only for themselves
401
00:28:33.855 --> 00:28:37.260
with no hope for things getting better.
402
00:28:37.260 --> 00:28:39.370
And based on what we witness around us
403
00:28:39.370 --> 00:28:43.376
day in and day out, that is to a great extent true.
404
00:28:43.376 --> 00:28:46.129
How can we live in our current state of affairs
405
00:28:46.129 --> 00:28:49.166
and not be acutely aware of the brokenness,
406
00:28:49.166 --> 00:28:52.393
the limitations of our world?
407
00:28:52.393 --> 00:28:54.750
But there are those times when,
408
00:28:54.750 --> 00:28:57.850
usually rather unexpectedly,
409
00:28:57.850 --> 00:29:00.060
we experience something right in the midst
410
00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:02.250
of our very ordinary circumstances
411
00:29:02.250 --> 00:29:06.320
which reveal another truth, a deeper truth,
412
00:29:06.320 --> 00:29:09.790
which transforms the ordinary into something
413
00:29:09.790 --> 00:29:12.833
quite extraordinary.
414
00:29:12.833 --> 00:29:15.711
Have you ever happened upon a spring rain,
415
00:29:15.711 --> 00:29:19.104
grumbling perhaps, that you forgot your umbrella,
416
00:29:19.104 --> 00:29:21.750
only to catch the smell of a world drenched
417
00:29:21.750 --> 00:29:23.500
in such freshness and beauty
418
00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:25.560
you didn't even mind the muddy ground
419
00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:27.657
beneath your feet?
420
00:29:27.657 --> 00:29:30.411
Have you ever watched the biggest Scrooge
421
00:29:30.411 --> 00:29:33.103
in the choir, that is if we have any,
422
00:29:33.103 --> 00:29:35.706
singing Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
423
00:29:35.706 --> 00:29:37.443
and witnessed his transformation
424
00:29:37.443 --> 00:29:39.664
into a member of a heavenly chorus
425
00:29:39.664 --> 00:29:41.910
before your very eyes?
426
00:29:41.910 --> 00:29:45.077
Have you ever read a fairy tale
427
00:29:45.077 --> 00:29:47.850
so compelling that you were suddenly transported
428
00:29:47.850 --> 00:29:50.507
beyond the boundaries of your everyday world
429
00:29:50.507 --> 00:29:53.542
and were convinced that the characters
430
00:29:53.542 --> 00:29:57.576
just might live happily ever after?
431
00:29:57.576 --> 00:30:00.260
Have you ever experienced a lump in your throat,
432
00:30:00.260 --> 00:30:04.416
a tear in the corner of your eye, even once,
433
00:30:04.416 --> 00:30:07.870
that told you you had glimpsed something truly eternal?
434
00:30:07.870 --> 00:30:10.236
Something too good to be true,
435
00:30:10.236 --> 00:30:14.751
yet mysteriously more convincing in its truthfulness
436
00:30:14.751 --> 00:30:17.745
than anything else you ever knew?
437
00:30:17.745 --> 00:30:20.860
If so, then saying, "It's too good to be true"
438
00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:23.621
isn't good enough as a way of writing off
439
00:30:23.621 --> 00:30:28.249
the reality of the mystery of the resurrection.
440
00:30:28.249 --> 00:30:30.237
After living through a period of history
441
00:30:30.237 --> 00:30:32.540
where we have sought to discount mystery
442
00:30:32.540 --> 00:30:35.161
and its relevance to the modern world,
443
00:30:35.161 --> 00:30:37.680
we are learning that mystery often embodies
444
00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:40.490
a deeper truth than our surface-level reading
445
00:30:40.490 --> 00:30:42.270
of the facts.
446
00:30:42.270 --> 00:30:46.250
Scientists speak of intelligent life among the stars.
447
00:30:46.250 --> 00:30:50.836
Physicists say, at the speed of light, there is no time.
448
00:30:50.836 --> 00:30:54.592
Doctors talk seriously about life after death.
449
00:30:54.592 --> 00:30:57.564
At last it seems we're willing to face the reality
450
00:30:57.564 --> 00:31:00.529
that we must live with, and even respect
451
00:31:00.529 --> 00:31:04.007
the mysteries of life which we are a part of.
452
00:31:04.007 --> 00:31:07.830
Whatever we do matters, say the astrophysicists,
453
00:31:07.830 --> 00:31:12.026
so tightly interrelated is the universe.
454
00:31:12.026 --> 00:31:14.310
They speak of the butterfly effect, which says,
455
00:31:14.310 --> 00:31:17.718
as I understand it, as an example that the effects
456
00:31:17.718 --> 00:31:20.579
of a butterfly being injured anywhere on Earth
457
00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:25.153
are felt in galaxies thousands of light-years away.
458
00:31:25.153 --> 00:31:29.148
Perhaps, just maybe it does make a difference
459
00:31:29.148 --> 00:31:32.529
to tell a story, to sing a song,
460
00:31:32.529 --> 00:31:37.400
to offer a prayer, all very mysterious things
461
00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:41.131
in and of themselves, when you think about it.
462
00:31:41.131 --> 00:31:42.950
While delivering the Buechner lectures
463
00:31:42.950 --> 00:31:46.585
on preaching at Yale Divinity School a few years back,
464
00:31:46.585 --> 00:31:48.986
Frederick Buechner spoke of the popularity
465
00:31:48.986 --> 00:31:52.114
and the power of fairy tales in particular
466
00:31:52.114 --> 00:31:54.074
to evoke this world of mystery
467
00:31:54.074 --> 00:31:57.773
that moves us and transforms us.
468
00:31:57.773 --> 00:32:01.174
In his lectures he suggested that somehow
469
00:32:01.174 --> 00:32:03.500
in listening to a fairy tale,
470
00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:05.480
we sense that in that world,
471
00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:07.509
as distinct from our own,
472
00:32:07.509 --> 00:32:11.227
marvelous and impossible things truly happen.
473
00:32:11.227 --> 00:32:13.870
Though it is a world where goodness is pitted
474
00:32:13.870 --> 00:32:17.050
against evil, and love against hate,
475
00:32:17.050 --> 00:32:19.460
and where it may be difficult to be sure
476
00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:21.590
who belongs to which side,
477
00:32:21.590 --> 00:32:24.200
it still is a world where the battle
478
00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:26.710
goes ultimately to the good,
479
00:32:26.710 --> 00:32:28.320
and where in the long run,
480
00:32:28.320 --> 00:32:31.599
all creatures good and evil alike,
481
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:34.472
are revealed as what they truly are.
482
00:32:34.472 --> 00:32:38.202
The ugly duckling becomes a great swan.
483
00:32:38.202 --> 00:32:40.852
The frog is revealed to be a prince.
484
00:32:40.852 --> 00:32:42.580
And the beautiful but wicked queen
485
00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:47.002
is unmasked at last in all her ugliness.
486
00:32:47.002 --> 00:32:49.358
In these tales of transformation,
487
00:32:49.358 --> 00:32:53.288
Buechner writes, the ones who live happily ever after,
488
00:32:53.288 --> 00:32:56.658
as by no means everybody does in fairy tales,
489
00:32:56.658 --> 00:32:59.290
are transformed into what they have it in them
490
00:32:59.290 --> 00:33:02.717
at their best to be.
491
00:33:02.717 --> 00:33:05.298
The beast falls sick for love of beauty
492
00:33:05.298 --> 00:33:07.396
and lies dying in his garden
493
00:33:07.396 --> 00:33:10.309
when she abandons him until she runs out of,
494
00:33:10.309 --> 00:33:13.244
returns out of compassion and says,
495
00:33:13.244 --> 00:33:15.623
that for all of his ugliness she loves him
496
00:33:15.623 --> 00:33:17.200
and will marry him.
497
00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:20.030
No sooner has she kissed him on his snout
498
00:33:20.030 --> 00:33:22.604
than he himself becomes beautiful
499
00:33:22.604 --> 00:33:25.649
with royal blood in his veins.
500
00:33:25.649 --> 00:33:28.316
In a story known as The Happy Hypocrite,
501
00:33:28.316 --> 00:33:32.547
Buechner tells of a rake named Lord George Hell,
502
00:33:32.547 --> 00:33:35.240
who falls in love with a saintly girl.
503
00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:37.626
And in order to win her love,
504
00:33:37.626 --> 00:33:41.551
covers his bloated features with the mask of a saint.
505
00:33:41.551 --> 00:33:44.000
The girl is deceived and becomes his bride,
506
00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.890
and they live together happily
507
00:33:45.890 --> 00:33:47.850
until a woman from his wicked past
508
00:33:47.850 --> 00:33:50.885
turns up to expose him for the scoundrel
509
00:33:50.885 --> 00:33:52.500
she knows him to be,
510
00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:56.888
and challenges him to take off his mask.
511
00:33:56.888 --> 00:34:00.815
Having no choice, sadly he takes it off.
512
00:34:00.815 --> 00:34:03.948
And lo, the saint's mask is the face
513
00:34:03.948 --> 00:34:08.945
of the saint he has become by wearing it in love.
514
00:34:09.945 --> 00:34:12.549
One of the great masters of the modern fairy tale,
515
00:34:12.549 --> 00:34:15.804
J.R.R. Tolkien, writes of this quality,
516
00:34:15.804 --> 00:34:18.094
when he says, "The fairy tale does not
517
00:34:18.094 --> 00:34:20.948
deny the existence of sorrow and failure.
518
00:34:20.948 --> 00:34:23.570
The possibility of these is necessary
519
00:34:23.570 --> 00:34:25.998
to the joy of the deliverance.
520
00:34:25.998 --> 00:34:29.430
Rather it desires universal final defeat.
521
00:34:29.430 --> 00:34:31.939
Giving a fleeting glimpse of joy,
522
00:34:31.939 --> 00:34:34.401
joy beyond the walls of the world,
523
00:34:34.401 --> 00:34:37.138
poignant as grief."
524
00:34:37.138 --> 00:34:39.540
As Buechner interprets it, fairy tales
525
00:34:39.540 --> 00:34:43.314
offer us an acceptable way to believe in happiness
526
00:34:43.314 --> 00:34:47.483
which is both inevitable and endless.
527
00:34:47.483 --> 00:34:50.300
Let there be doubt that the world where this happiness
528
00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:54.309
happens is as full of darkness as our own world,
529
00:34:54.309 --> 00:34:57.640
which is why these stories are as poignant as grief
530
00:34:57.640 --> 00:35:00.560
and bring tears to our eyes.
531
00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:03.140
Tears to our eyes because it might so easily
532
00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:04.812
not have happened
533
00:35:04.812 --> 00:35:07.170
because there are the wicked ones to whom
534
00:35:07.170 --> 00:35:08.888
it does not happen,
535
00:35:08.888 --> 00:35:13.700
because darkness persists right alongside happiness.
536
00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:17.119
Still the tears that come at the climax
537
00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:20.129
of a fairy tale are essentially joyous ones
538
00:35:20.129 --> 00:35:22.220
because we have caught a glimpse of,
539
00:35:22.220 --> 00:35:25.150
however fleeting, triumph,
540
00:35:25.150 --> 00:35:28.254
if not of goodness, at least of hope,
541
00:35:28.254 --> 00:35:32.543
our hearts, if not our heads, are converted
542
00:35:32.543 --> 00:35:35.424
to a better way.
543
00:35:35.424 --> 00:35:37.760
Why do we let ourselves believe when we hear
544
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:40.883
a fairy tale and hold ourselves back
545
00:35:40.883 --> 00:35:43.753
when we hear the gospel?
546
00:35:43.753 --> 00:35:46.431
How tragic when we in the church,
547
00:35:46.431 --> 00:35:49.298
stewards of the greatest mystery of all,
548
00:35:49.298 --> 00:35:51.910
are tempted to reduce the deep mystery of our faith
549
00:35:51.910 --> 00:35:54.297
to a manageable size.
550
00:35:54.297 --> 00:35:56.370
When the message of the gospel calls us to do
551
00:35:56.370 --> 00:35:58.010
just the opposite.
552
00:35:58.010 --> 00:36:00.864
Ask and it will be given to you.
553
00:36:00.864 --> 00:36:03.503
Seek and you will find.
554
00:36:03.503 --> 00:36:04.820
"Truly I say to you,
555
00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:08.261
if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
556
00:36:08.261 --> 00:36:09.610
you will say to this mountain,
557
00:36:09.610 --> 00:36:11.730
'Remove hence to yonder place,'
558
00:36:11.730 --> 00:36:13.432
and it will be moved,
559
00:36:13.432 --> 00:36:16.682
and nothing will be impossible to you.'
560
00:36:16.682 --> 00:36:19.144
They who believe in me, though they die,
561
00:36:19.144 --> 00:36:22.034
yet shall they love."
562
00:36:22.034 --> 00:36:24.680
The wild and joyful promise of the gospel
563
00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:29.656
is too easily reduced to promises more easily kept.
564
00:36:29.656 --> 00:36:32.858
The faith that can raise the dead becomes faith
565
00:36:32.858 --> 00:36:37.858
that can only make life more bearable until death.
566
00:36:38.009 --> 00:36:40.160
The promise of Easter challenges us
567
00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:42.770
to move beyond our "I wasn't born yesterday,
568
00:36:42.770 --> 00:36:45.816
I'm from Missouri" attitude.
569
00:36:45.816 --> 00:36:50.022
In our heart of hearts we are also from somewhere else.
570
00:36:50.022 --> 00:36:52.879
We're from the Land of Oz,
571
00:36:52.879 --> 00:36:54.502
from Narnia,
572
00:36:54.502 --> 00:36:55.750
from Middle Earth,
573
00:36:55.750 --> 00:36:57.980
where we're free to believe more than we ever
574
00:36:57.980 --> 00:37:00.881
were allowed to dream before.
575
00:37:00.881 --> 00:37:03.773
If with part of ourselves we are men and women
576
00:37:03.773 --> 00:37:08.590
of the world who share the unbelief of the world.
577
00:37:08.590 --> 00:37:10.644
With a deeper part still,
578
00:37:10.644 --> 00:37:13.210
the part where our best dreams come from,
579
00:37:13.210 --> 00:37:16.493
it as if we were indeed born yesterday,
580
00:37:16.493 --> 00:37:18.898
or almost yesterday,
581
00:37:18.898 --> 00:37:23.881
because we are also all of us children still.
582
00:37:23.881 --> 00:37:26.000
No matter how forgotten and neglected,
583
00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.736
there is a child in each one of us
584
00:37:28.736 --> 00:37:31.494
who lives in a world where nothing is too familiar
585
00:37:31.494 --> 00:37:33.020
or unpromising
586
00:37:33.020 --> 00:37:37.726
to open up into a deep and transforming mystery,
587
00:37:37.726 --> 00:37:39.820
and once we've stepped into it,
588
00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:42.700
the world in which we always thought we lived
589
00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:45.932
can never entirely be home again.
590
00:37:45.932 --> 00:37:48.703
Remember Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?
591
00:37:48.703 --> 00:37:51.235
Even after she returned to Kansas,
592
00:37:51.235 --> 00:37:54.810
she keeps coming back again and again to Oz
593
00:37:54.810 --> 00:37:56.500
in the books that follow,
594
00:37:56.500 --> 00:38:01.490
because Oz not Kansas is where he heart is after all.
595
00:38:03.502 --> 00:38:08.060
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe,
596
00:38:08.060 --> 00:38:10.895
Jesus said to Thomas.
597
00:38:10.895 --> 00:38:13.900
It isn't necessary or even possible to prove
598
00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:17.911
or explain the truth, for the depth of its mystery
599
00:38:17.911 --> 00:38:21.368
lies beyond our capacity to comprehend.
600
00:38:21.368 --> 00:38:24.624
Christ calls us simply to become his little children,
601
00:38:24.624 --> 00:38:28.838
hungry to hear and ready to receive the deep mystery
602
00:38:28.838 --> 00:38:30.460
at the heart of the Christian faith
603
00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:34.071
as a rare and precious gift.
604
00:38:34.071 --> 00:38:37.210
Darkness and light have met,
605
00:38:37.210 --> 00:38:41.232
and the light is the glorious victor.
606
00:38:41.232 --> 00:38:44.036
If it's a story too good to believe,
607
00:38:44.036 --> 00:38:48.123
it's certainly too good not to believe.
608
00:38:48.123 --> 00:38:50.450
Christ is risen indeed.
609
00:38:50.450 --> 00:38:55.238
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
610
00:38:56.938 --> 00:38:59.605
(organ playing)
611
00:39:15.505 --> 00:39:18.172
(organ playing)
612
00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:30.900
♪ O sons and daughters, let us sing! ♪
613
00:39:32.604 --> 00:39:37.604
♪ The King of heaven, the glorious King ♪
614
00:39:39.488 --> 00:39:44.488
♪ Over death today rose triumphing ♪
615
00:39:46.556 --> 00:39:49.688
♪ Hallelujah ♪
616
00:39:49.688 --> 00:39:54.688
♪ Hallelujah ♪
617
00:39:55.474 --> 00:40:00.474
♪ When Thomas first the tidings heard ♪
618
00:40:02.991 --> 00:40:07.991
♪ How they had seen the risen Lord ♪
619
00:40:08.945 --> 00:40:13.945
♪ He doubted the disciples' word ♪
620
00:40:15.981 --> 00:40:18.946
♪ Hallelujah ♪
621
00:40:18.946 --> 00:40:23.946
♪ Hallelujah ♪
622
00:40:24.141 --> 00:40:29.141
♪ My pierced side, O Thomas, see ♪
623
00:40:31.685 --> 00:40:36.685
♪ My hands, My feet, I show to thee ♪
624
00:40:38.345 --> 00:40:43.345
♪ Not faithless but believing be ♪
625
00:40:45.046 --> 00:40:48.227
♪ Hallelujah ♪
626
00:40:48.227 --> 00:40:53.227
♪ Hallelujah ♪
627
00:40:53.975 --> 00:40:58.975
♪ No longer Thomas then denied ♪
628
00:41:00.755 --> 00:41:05.755
♪ He saw the feet, the hands, the side ♪
629
00:41:07.461 --> 00:41:12.461
♪ "Thou art my Lord and God," he cried ♪
630
00:41:14.601 --> 00:41:17.645
♪ Hallelujah ♪
631
00:41:17.645 --> 00:41:22.645
♪ Hallelujah ♪
632
00:41:23.121 --> 00:41:28.121
♪ How blessed are they who have not seen ♪
633
00:41:29.765 --> 00:41:34.765
♪ And yet whose faith has constant been ♪
634
00:41:36.185 --> 00:41:41.185
♪ For they eternal life shall win ♪
635
00:41:43.262 --> 00:41:46.581
♪ Hallelujah ♪
636
00:41:46.581 --> 00:41:48.998
♪ Hallelujah ♪
637
00:41:56.514 --> 00:41:58.025
The Lord be with you.
638
00:41:58.025 --> 00:41:58.858
And also with you.
639
00:42:00.230 --> 00:42:01.063
Let us pray.
640
00:42:01.063 --> 00:42:01.896
Be seated.
641
00:42:11.137 --> 00:42:13.003
God who speaks,
642
00:42:14.830 --> 00:42:16.310
God who listens...
643
00:42:19.310 --> 00:42:23.563
Having listened to you in word read and word preached,
644
00:42:25.510 --> 00:42:28.453
we are bold to ask that you listen to us.
645
00:42:29.541 --> 00:42:32.890
Hear us, O God, as we pray for our needs
646
00:42:32.890 --> 00:42:34.633
and those of the world.
647
00:42:36.844 --> 00:42:39.713
We're only one Sunday away from Easter.
648
00:42:41.040 --> 00:42:45.023
And yet it does not take long for Easter power,
649
00:42:46.350 --> 00:42:47.543
Easter glory,
650
00:42:48.561 --> 00:42:50.783
Easter joy to fade.
651
00:42:53.430 --> 00:42:55.403
Therefore we pray, give us that
652
00:42:55.403 --> 00:42:57.823
which we cannot have on our own.
653
00:43:00.650 --> 00:43:02.983
A sure and living faith in you
654
00:43:02.983 --> 00:43:06.253
and your love and righteousness.
655
00:43:08.180 --> 00:43:10.130
Our Lord is risen.
656
00:43:10.130 --> 00:43:12.380
He has returned to his frightened disciples
657
00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:13.783
to encourage them.
658
00:43:16.110 --> 00:43:17.520
And yet our church
659
00:43:18.870 --> 00:43:20.510
locks its doors...
660
00:43:21.444 --> 00:43:24.163
Trembles in uncertainty,
661
00:43:25.181 --> 00:43:27.283
mutes its voice.
662
00:43:28.849 --> 00:43:30.413
Therefore we pray,
663
00:43:31.810 --> 00:43:33.130
give us a church
664
00:43:34.301 --> 00:43:37.440
which is bold,
665
00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:39.410
outspoken,
666
00:43:39.410 --> 00:43:43.423
courageous, to speak and to embody your truth.
667
00:43:45.099 --> 00:43:47.080
Give us a church
668
00:43:48.341 --> 00:43:52.283
which dares to be as disruptive as you were on Easter.
669
00:43:54.750 --> 00:43:58.970
We pray for those who, despite Easter,
670
00:43:58.970 --> 00:44:01.793
continue to suffer, and who suffer this day.
671
00:44:04.100 --> 00:44:08.473
We pray for the suffering refugees in Iraq.
672
00:44:10.351 --> 00:44:13.390
We pray for the sick in body or mind,
673
00:44:13.390 --> 00:44:16.040
particularly those who are ill or under treatment
674
00:44:16.040 --> 00:44:19.543
in the Duke hospitals, who worship with us.
675
00:44:22.140 --> 00:44:25.249
We pray for victims of violence.
676
00:44:25.249 --> 00:44:28.960
Whether it be violence sanctioned and justified
677
00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:30.520
by governments...
678
00:44:31.489 --> 00:44:35.310
Or violence at the hands of spouses,
679
00:44:35.310 --> 00:44:37.790
parents or children in the home...
680
00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:43.549
Especially in this place
681
00:44:43.549 --> 00:44:46.982
do we pray this day for all students.
682
00:44:46.982 --> 00:44:51.982
Living at a confusing and exciting time in life.
683
00:44:53.041 --> 00:44:56.675
Students exposed to so much.
684
00:44:56.675 --> 00:44:59.610
Uncertain of their future,
685
00:44:59.610 --> 00:45:01.493
daily put to the test.
686
00:45:02.513 --> 00:45:06.400
Be with all those who study at this
687
00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:08.243
and other places of learning.
688
00:45:10.433 --> 00:45:15.433
One week away from Easter, O God, it amazes us
689
00:45:15.689 --> 00:45:18.583
how quickly faith begins to fade.
690
00:45:19.475 --> 00:45:22.410
We hear the Easter message of life
691
00:45:22.410 --> 00:45:25.763
and wonder if it is too good to be true.
692
00:45:28.290 --> 00:45:29.950
And so our prayer to you, O God,
693
00:45:29.950 --> 00:45:32.632
lifting up to you some of the pain still present
694
00:45:32.632 --> 00:45:35.169
in a post-Easter world,
695
00:45:35.169 --> 00:45:38.270
our prayer is prayed in the conviction
696
00:45:39.135 --> 00:45:42.533
that you are Lord of life.
697
00:45:43.525 --> 00:45:47.743
That you are God over death and sin.
698
00:45:49.295 --> 00:45:53.320
That the facts of death and sin to which the world
699
00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:55.089
would have us adjust,
700
00:45:55.089 --> 00:45:59.173
these facts do not have the last word.
701
00:46:00.375 --> 00:46:05.375
And that Easter is both good and true.
702
00:46:08.036 --> 00:46:11.593
And as witness to the reality of Easter,
703
00:46:12.890 --> 00:46:15.605
we have prayed that your Easter power
704
00:46:15.605 --> 00:46:19.493
might be released in all places of life.
705
00:46:21.596 --> 00:46:22.623
Amen.
706
00:46:25.729 --> 00:46:29.717
As a forgiven, reconciled, resurrected people,
707
00:46:29.717 --> 00:46:34.490
I remind you that all of today's offerings
708
00:46:34.490 --> 00:46:37.517
will go for the Crop Blanket appeal
709
00:46:37.517 --> 00:46:40.243
to alleviate suffering around the world.
710
00:46:54.973 --> 00:46:57.640
(organ playing)
711
00:47:05.988 --> 00:47:09.405
(choir singing in Latin)
712
00:47:20.949 --> 00:47:24.366
(choir singing in Latin)
713
00:47:31.504 --> 00:47:34.921
(choir singing in Latin)
714
00:47:43.591 --> 00:47:47.008
(choir singing in Latin)
715
00:47:57.717 --> 00:48:01.134
(choir singing in Latin)
716
00:48:03.970 --> 00:48:07.232
♪ Hallelujah ♪
717
00:48:07.232 --> 00:48:10.437
♪ Hallelujah ♪
718
00:48:10.437 --> 00:48:15.224
♪ Hallelujah ♪
719
00:48:15.224 --> 00:48:20.224
♪ Hallelujah ♪
720
00:48:20.938 --> 00:48:25.938
♪ Hallelujah ♪
721
00:48:26.742 --> 00:48:31.742
♪ Hallelujah ♪
722
00:48:32.434 --> 00:48:35.616
♪ Hallelujah ♪
723
00:48:35.616 --> 00:48:40.079
♪ Hallelujah ♪
724
00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:42.496
♪ Hallelujah ♪
725
00:48:46.111 --> 00:48:49.528
(choir singing in Latin)
726
00:48:59.863 --> 00:49:03.280
(choir singing in Latin)
727
00:49:12.746 --> 00:49:15.913
(choir singing Latin)
728
00:49:34.695 --> 00:49:37.337
♪ Hallelujah ♪
729
00:49:37.337 --> 00:49:40.766
♪ Hallelujah ♪
730
00:49:40.766 --> 00:49:42.856
♪ Hallelujah ♪
731
00:49:42.856 --> 00:49:45.421
♪ Hallelujah ♪
732
00:49:45.421 --> 00:49:48.569
♪ Hallelujah ♪
733
00:49:48.569 --> 00:49:53.569
♪ Hallelujah ♪
734
00:49:54.560 --> 00:49:57.105
♪ Hallelujah ♪
735
00:49:57.105 --> 00:50:00.181
♪ Hallelujah ♪
736
00:50:00.181 --> 00:50:02.341
♪ Hallelujah ♪
737
00:50:02.341 --> 00:50:03.825
♪ Hallelujah ♪
738
00:50:03.825 --> 00:50:05.537
♪ Hallelujah ♪
739
00:50:05.537 --> 00:50:07.817
♪ Hallelujah ♪
740
00:50:07.817 --> 00:50:12.764
♪ Hallelujah ♪
741
00:50:12.764 --> 00:50:15.181
♪ Hallelujah ♪
742
00:50:19.110 --> 00:50:21.777
(organ playing)
743
00:50:32.377 --> 00:50:35.044
(organ playing)
744
00:50:53.496 --> 00:50:57.079
(organ drowning out choir)
745
00:51:03.967 --> 00:51:07.044
♪ Hallelujah ♪
746
00:51:07.044 --> 00:51:09.461
♪ Hallelujah ♪
747
00:51:10.972 --> 00:51:14.555
(organ drowning out choir)
748
00:51:22.342 --> 00:51:25.164
♪ Hallelujah ♪
749
00:51:25.164 --> 00:51:28.101
♪ Hallelujah ♪
750
00:51:28.101 --> 00:51:31.087
♪ Hallelujah ♪
751
00:51:31.087 --> 00:51:34.282
♪ Hallelujah ♪
752
00:51:34.282 --> 00:51:36.699
♪ Hallelujah ♪
753
00:51:48.152 --> 00:51:50.513
Please join in the litany of thanksgiving.
754
00:51:51.810 --> 00:51:53.380
Haga wandered in the desert
755
00:51:53.380 --> 00:51:55.132
with nothing to shield her child
756
00:51:55.132 --> 00:51:57.516
from the broiling sun.
757
00:51:57.516 --> 00:52:01.183
(muffled audience response)
758
00:52:03.389 --> 00:52:06.330
After the flood, God sent a rainbow of hope
759
00:52:06.330 --> 00:52:07.862
and promise.
760
00:52:07.862 --> 00:52:11.529
(muffled audience response)
761
00:52:19.020 --> 00:52:23.236
Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, a refugee with nothing.
762
00:52:23.236 --> 00:52:26.903
(muffled audience response)
763
00:52:30.660 --> 00:52:34.062
The Good Samaritan covered the wounds of a beaten man
764
00:52:34.062 --> 00:52:37.045
and took him to be cared for.
765
00:52:37.045 --> 00:52:40.712
(muffled audience response)
766
00:52:46.660 --> 00:52:48.042
After He had risen,
767
00:52:48.042 --> 00:52:50.350
Jesus returned to his followers,
768
00:52:50.350 --> 00:52:52.719
charging them to care for his sheep.
769
00:52:52.719 --> 00:52:56.386
(muffled audience response)
770
00:53:03.630 --> 00:53:05.650
Jesus' name we offer these gifts
771
00:53:05.650 --> 00:53:08.350
of healing and patience.
772
00:53:08.350 --> 00:53:09.183
Amen.
773
00:53:10.300 --> 00:53:13.370
Our father who art in Heaven,
774
00:53:13.370 --> 00:53:15.146
hallowed be thy name,
775
00:53:15.146 --> 00:53:17.210
thy kingdom come,
776
00:53:17.210 --> 00:53:18.590
thy will be done,
777
00:53:18.590 --> 00:53:20.163
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
778
00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:23.245
Give us this day our daily bread
779
00:53:23.245 --> 00:53:25.644
and forgive us our trespasses,
780
00:53:25.644 --> 00:53:28.465
as we forgive those who trespass against us
781
00:53:28.465 --> 00:53:31.500
and lead us not into temptation,
782
00:53:31.500 --> 00:53:33.420
but deliver us from evil.
783
00:53:34.456 --> 00:53:38.083
Thine is infinite power and glory forever.
784
00:53:39.016 --> 00:53:39.849
Amen.
785
00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:45.750
Now may be the grace of our risen Lord and savior,
786
00:53:45.750 --> 00:53:48.860
Jesus Christ, go with you and be with you
787
00:53:48.860 --> 00:53:51.253
now and always.
788
00:53:52.554 --> 00:53:55.221
(organ playing)
789
00:53:56.398 --> 00:53:59.315
(choir vocalizing)
790
00:54:15.162 --> 00:54:17.829
(organ playing)
791
00:54:32.878 --> 00:54:35.545
(organ playing)
792
00:54:47.200 --> 00:54:51.538
♪ Hallelujah ♪
793
00:54:51.538 --> 00:54:55.618
♪ Hallelujah ♪
794
00:54:55.618 --> 00:55:00.618
♪ Hallelujah ♪
795
00:55:02.622 --> 00:55:06.445
♪ The strife is over ♪
796
00:55:06.445 --> 00:55:10.318
♪ The battle done ♪
797
00:55:10.318 --> 00:55:15.318
♪ The victory of life is won ♪
798
00:55:17.666 --> 00:55:22.666
♪ The song of triumph has begun ♪
799
00:55:25.737 --> 00:55:30.737
♪ Hallelujah ♪
800
00:55:33.358 --> 00:55:38.358
♪ The powers of death have done their worst ♪
801
00:55:40.774 --> 00:55:45.774
♪ But Christ their legions has dispersed ♪
802
00:55:48.324 --> 00:55:53.324
♪ Let shouts of holy joy outburst ♪
803
00:55:56.322 --> 00:56:01.322
♪ Hallelujah ♪
804
00:56:03.639 --> 00:56:08.639
♪ The three sad days are quickly sped ♪
805
00:56:11.724 --> 00:56:16.724
♪ He rises glorious from the dead ♪
806
00:56:20.338 --> 00:56:25.338
♪ All glory to our risen head ♪
807
00:56:28.422 --> 00:56:33.422
♪ Hallelujah ♪
808
00:56:36.218 --> 00:56:41.218
♪ Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee ♪
809
00:56:43.764 --> 00:56:48.764
♪ From death's dread sting thy servants free ♪
810
00:56:51.298 --> 00:56:56.298
♪ That we may live and sing to thee ♪
811
00:56:59.844 --> 00:57:04.844
♪ Hallelujah ♪
812
00:57:07.946 --> 00:57:11.834
♪ Hallelujah ♪
813
00:57:11.834 --> 00:57:15.898
♪ Hallelujah ♪
814
00:57:15.898 --> 00:57:18.315
♪ Hallelujah ♪
815
00:57:33.563 --> 00:57:36.230
(organ playing)
816
00:57:50.816 --> 00:57:53.483
(organ playing)
817
00:58:07.655 --> 00:58:10.322
(organ playing)
818
00:58:24.021 --> 00:58:26.688
(organ playing)
819
00:58:46.415 --> 00:58:49.082
(organ playing)
820
00:59:01.789 --> 00:59:04.539
(organ playing)