Third Sunday of Easter

The gospel for the third Sunday of Easter is always one in which the risen Christ shares food with the disciples, meals that are the Easter template for the meal we share each Lord’s day. In today’s gospel, Jesus both shares the disciples’ food and shows them the meaning of his suffering, death, and resurrection through the scriptures: the two main elements of our Sunday worship.

First Reading: Acts 3:12-19
Health and forgiveness through the risen Jesus
Psalm: Psalm 4
The LORD does wonders for the faithful. (Ps. 4:3)
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-7
The revealing of the children of God
Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48
Eating with the risen Christ
Liturgical Color: White

Second Sunday of Easter 

The Easter season is a week of weeks, seven Sundays when we play in the mystery of Christ’s presence, mostly through the glorious Gospel of John. Today we gather with the disciples on the first Easter, and Jesus breathes the Spirit on us. With Thomas we ask for a sign, and Jesus offers us his wounded self in the broken bread. From frightened individuals we are transformed into a community of open doors, peace, forgiveness, and material sharing such that no one among us is in need.

First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
The believers’ common life
Psalm: Psalm 133
How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity. (Ps. 133:1)
Second Reading: 1 John 1:1–2:2
Walking in the light
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ
Liturgical Color: White

Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day 

This year may be the one in which John’s resurrection account is likely to be chosen over Mark’s, perhaps because Mark’s gospel ends so abruptly, with astonishment and fear rather than joyful proclamation. Yet Mark may speak to our experience more directly than the other gospels. Corinthians and Acts fill out the story by telling of appearances of the risen Christ. Peter says we “ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” And so do we, in a foretaste of the mountaintop feast where death will be no more.  

First Reading: Acts 10:34-43
God raised Jesus on the third day
Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
On this day the LORD has acted, we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Witnesses to the risen Christ
Gospel: John 20:1-18
Seeing the risen Christ
Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Resurrection of Our Lord, Vigil of Easter

This is the night! This is our Passover with Christ from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, from death to life. Tonight is the heart of our celebration of the Three Days and the pinnacle of the church’s year. The resurrection of Christ is proclaimed in word and sign, and we gather around a pillar of fire, hear ancient stories of our faith, welcome new sisters and brothers at the font, and share the food and drink of the promised land. Raised with Christ, we go forth into the world, aflame with the good news of the resurrection.

Second Reading: Romans 6:3-11
Gospel: John 20:1-18
Seeing the risen Christ
Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Good Friday

Tenebrae (Latin for “darkness”) was the name given to the medieval predawn morning prayer celebrated by monks during the last three days in Holy Week. In recent centuries, this monastic liturgy—despite its early morning light imagery—was transferred to Wednesday evening in Holy Week.   In the service presented here, the extinguishing of candles has been placed within the reading of the Passion according to John, the ancient gospel narrative for the day.

John’s passion account sees Jesus’ death as his glorification. Rather than “mourning” the dying or dead Jesus on Good Friday, the cross is acclaimed as the sign of the world’s redemption. The procession of the cross and adoration of the crucified Christ become the primary symbolic action of this day. We offer honor and reverence to the one who, lifted up from the earth, draws all people to himself. This service does not end in darkness and sadness, as if the assembly were reenacting the death of Christ. Rather, the liturgy ends with Christ exalted on the cross, an image from John’s gospel.

The procession of the cross has an important connection to the procession of the paschal candle in the Easter Vigil. More importantly, all three days celebrate the mystery of Jesus’ dying and rising. We do not wait until Easter Sunday to see what will happen. Already on Good Friday, the church celebrates the Lord’s death and resurrection as the central event of our salvation.

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
The suffering servant
Psalm: Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:16-25
The way to God is opened by Jesus’ death
Gospel: John 18:1–19:42
The passion and death of Christ

Maundy Thursday 

With nightfall our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate the Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. At the heart of the Maundy Thursday liturgy is Jesus’ commandment to love one another. As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, we are called to follow his example as we humbly care for one another, especially the poor and the unloved. At the Lord’s table we remember Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, even as we are called to offer ourselves in love for the life of the world. 

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14
The passover of the LORD
Psalm: Psalm 116:1, 10-17 (Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 NRSV)
I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. (Ps. 116:11)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes
Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35
The service of Christ: footwashing and meal
Liturgical Color: Scarlet or White

Sunday of the Passion
Palm Sunday

The first and second readings and psalm are the same this Sunday every year: Christ emptying himself of divine power and protection, willingly becoming vulnerable to those who struck him and put him to death. With Christ we lament his suffering and all human suffering, but expect God’s final vindication. Mark’s passion story begins with an unnamed woman anointing his head, perhaps to proclaim him Messiah, and Jesus saying she has anointed him beforehand for burial. Mark’s Easter story will begin with women going to anoint Jesus for burial, only to find that he has been raised, God’s living Anointed One.

Reading: Mark 11:1-11 – Procession with Palms
Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm: Psalm 31:9-16 (5)
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1 – 15:47

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sermon by Pastor Jeffrey Ingold
Gospel: John 12:20-33

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