“Jesus rises from the dead and RETURNED to empower his disciples with a
NEW energy and a NEW direction”
Twentieth century theologian Paul Tillich wrote, Christianity is the message of the new creation, the new being, a new reality which appeared with Jesus of Nazareth … more than a religion; it is the message of a new creation.To live in the Risen Christ is not to be dogmatic, entrenched in static beliefs or focused on sin.It is simply to express by one’s life that you have seen something new, and you want to tell others what you have heard, that in the midst of the old creation there is a new creation.
My work is loving the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird - equal seekers of sweetness. Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums. Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn? Am I no longer young and still not half-perfect?
Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished. The phoebe, the delphinium, the hyacinth, The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture. Which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here,
Which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart and these body-clothes, a mouth with which to give shouts of joy to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam, telling them all, over and over,
how it is … that we live forever.
Inspired by Mary Oliver
A Reading from 2 Corinthians 4: 15-17
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow.Therefore, we do not lose heart.Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Intentions
In the Jesus way, we offer our humble service to re-energize the Good News for a NEW direction of justice and freedom.
In the name of love, may our empowered legacy of work create a renewed reality built on acts of compassion.
In the name of our Creator God, we bow in gratitude for the gifts bestowed upon us all as spring reveals the eternal mystery of life.
Please share your personal intentions either in thought or word so that we may pray with you.
Lynn: Welcome everyone to our celebration of Easter Vigil Mass. Tonight, our Easter candle representing the light of the Divine, will be illumined and the flame will be shared by all of us. Our sharing of the light via technology and across the miles displaces darkness and sends it packing. We replace the yearning of Lent and the grief of Good Friday and Holy Saturday with joyous Easter blessings of unity and love.
Opening Prayer
Mary Theresa: By our gathering we insist that Death does not have the last word. The divine light of the Christ shines eternal; the light of love overwhelms oppression. We discover once more who we truly are in this Divine light — vigilant followers like ever-faithful Mary of Magdala and all the early disciples who overcame being terrified to go and spread the good news of the risen Christ in word and action.We celebrate this sacred evening with hope and gratitude. May our Easter season usher us to take heart and to have the faith that all shall be well. AMEN
Dennis: Holy Source of Light and Love, we bless this fire and, in its glow, and warmth, we recognize your love of all creation. We affirm the eternal covenant with you and rejoice in being your people. May the Christ Light inspire each of us to carry light to dark corners and broken hearts.
We invite those on zoom to light your own Easter candle and dim your room lights if you wish as our light-bearers bring the fire to those here present. As the Easter candle is lit, we sing:
Dennis: Christ, is our light (3x)
All: Thanks be to God (3x)
Let us hear the glorious proclamation of Easter and Spring, in the Exsultet
(revised by Denise Hackett-Stoner and sung on recording by Ellen Garcia)
Arrayed with the lightning of their creator’s glory,
Let this holy universe shake with joy,
Filled with the mighty voices of whales and birds, people and crickets.
It is with ardent love in mind and heart
And with joyful shouts and songs
That we proclaim the rebirth of earth,
This re-creation of life rising from the darkness of winter.
Holy One, as we move and live in your Divine Love
We remember our brother Jesus,
Who likewise fell into the darkness of death
Only to have his Christ spirit rise like the spring grass.
This is the night
When the yoke of slavery was broken
And our forebears who had suffered so long
Sang with joy new songs of freedom.
This is the night
When a thousand small flames were
Raised in the hands of children
Hoping to end gun violence.
This is the night
When four women working for justice
Lost their lives to injustice
Only to have their Christ Spirits rise to inspire the work of others.
This is the night
When the Christ within all gathered here
Rises to fill this room, this earth,
This universe with new life.
This is the night of which it is written: “The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness”
Therefore, O Holy One, we pray that this candle, representing your light that shines in all creation, may persevere undimmed, to overcome all darkness.
May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, The Christ within us and around us, who has shed peaceful light on humanity, and whose love shines forth forever. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reading 1: Reading from John (1: 1, 4-5, 14, 16-17))
In the beginning
there was the Word;
and the Word was in God’s presence,
and the Word was God.
Through the Word all things came into being.
In the Word was life,
and that life was humanity’s light—
a Light that shines in the darkness,
a Light that the darkness has never overtaken.
And the Word became flesh
and stayed for a little while among us;
We saw the Word’s glory—
filled with grace, filled with truth.
Of this One’s fullness
We’ve all had a share—
Gift on top of gift.
the gift and the truth came through Jesus Christ.
These are the words of the anonymous Gospel writer known as John
and we acknowledge them with AMEN.
Reading 2: A Reading from Second Isaiah (55:1-3, 6-8, 11-13)
The response to each verse is “We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.”
Suzanne: 1. “All you who are thirsty,
Come to the water! You, who have no money,
Come, buy food and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk, without money, without price!
Heed me and you will eat well,
You will delight in rich fare;
Bend your ear and come to me,
Listen, that you may have life;
Response by All: We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.
Kathie: 2. I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
In fulfillment of the blessings promised to David.
Seek me, my people, while I may still be found,
Call upon me while I am near.
Response by All: We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.
Suzanne: 3. Let all return to Yahweh,
and I will have tender mercy on them.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways, my ways,” says Yahweh.
Response by All: We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.
Kathie: 4. My word goes forth and will not return to me empty.
And you will go out joyfully,
The mountains and hills before you
will break into cries of joy.
And all the trees in the countryside
Will clap their hands.
Response by All: We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.
Suzanne:5. The cypress will grow in place of the thorn bush,
The myrtle will replace the briers;
And they will stand as a memorial to Yahweh,
An everlasting sign never to perish.
Response by All: We will come to the water.We will listen, that we may have life.
On the first day of the week at dawn, Mary, the mother of James, Joanna and Mary of Magdala took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus.
While they were at a loss over what to think, two figures in dazzling bright garments stood beside them. Terrified, the women bowed to the ground. The two said, “Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? Jesus is not here; Christ has risen. Remember what Jesus said, that the Chosen One must be delivered into the hands of sinners and be crucified, and on the third day would rise again.”
Remembering these words, the women returned to the Eleven and others to tell what they had seen. The story seemed like nonsense and they were not believed.
These sacred words are from the anonymous gospel writer known as Luke. We affirm them by saying AMEN.
Lynn: Reading 3: A reading entitled “Turning Fear into Peace”
Running from bulked-out centurions and hired enforcers, they arrived in twos and threes. Some thought to bring candles or food hidden in their robes. Most shoved through the grudgingly opened door out of breath and smelling of fear.
Each time, the heavy oak door closed, it was locked and bolted.
There was shame in their downcast eyes even as they half smiled to see the others who had not yet been taken. Peter, who might have been acting as chief in the absence of the best man they’d ever known, had retreated to the corner with James and two of the wealthy women who had funded their errant travels across Galilee and Samaria. Peter’s red, blotchy eyes told the story of his weeping for the three times he denied belonging with Jesus.
A raised voice could be heard at the end of the center table: “We told him to be more careful, didn’t we?” That brought a backlash of angry shouting in defense of Jesus. Most hadn’t the heart to argue. Fear and grief will do that.
Each small group across the room seemed to share similar refrains:
“Three years. For three years we managed the crowds and mobs.”
“We all heard the Rabbi say how the Kindom is here and now. That no sword or saber would be needed.What now?”
“He kept us together. He kept us safe.”
“Ah, the love in his eyes. He always had time to listen.”
“What would he want of us now—was he really serious about our doing as he did and going out by twos— without coin or dagger?”
“Jesus dead. Gone, as if he were mortal after all. Crucified between two common thieves on a lousy little hill.”
“How long before our boats and nets get sold by the local Roman Prefect to pay for a round or two of ale?”
“How has it all come to this?”
And then, with all the mystery and miracle of which Jesus had always been known, he appeared to them with outstretched arms saying, “Peace be with You.”
These are the words of an Upper Room member and we acknowledge them with AMEN.
Lynn:Homily Starter
“Peace be with You.” This singular act, these four sacred words from Jesus offer us most of what we need to know about resurrection. By the way, a lesser mortal might have been tempted to use these four words: “I told you so.”
What did Jesus mean with his four words? The Easter candle is described in the Exsultet song as persevering “undimmed”; maybe Jesus is reassuring his band of sisters and brothers are that they will continue ministry undimmed and undaunted. The graciousness and kindness of the moment affirms his faith in them. The light of faith, the Indwelling spark of the Divine, the depth living in each of us leaves no room for shame.
Perhaps Jesus meant that we are parties to God’s everlasting covenant—no matter what—we are eternally bonded in “tender mercy” to come to the water. The love Jesus brings to that upper room is as vital as the water we need for our lives.And yes, even the trees will clap their hands says Isaiah.
And what of the awe, and forgiveness in that room when they hear and see Jesus? The women telling of the empty tomb were telling the truth! And the truth is clothed resplendently in courage like that of Jesus. Truth is ablaze with generosity. Truth swims against the tide with determination. This group will travel the world with the good news of the Jesus greeting.
Death does not have the last word. Love conquers all. Together, we can each of us rise to the occasion, be of courage and dispel darkness. The Holy Spirit is joyous tonight with Easter fires ablaze all over the Kindom. Feel the warmth, the heat, the comfort in Jesus saying, “Peace be with you” on this night and every night.
Baptismal Renewal
Deb: We reenact our welcome into Community with the promises that were made for us in baptism. The promises in total are those which allow us to live and work and rejoice as faithful beacons of the Christ. Let us renew our commitment in full trust that the Holy One beckons us to covenant with grace and joy.
Donna: Do you promise to see what is good for your sisters and brothers everywhere, rejecting injustice and living with the freedom and responsibility of children of God?
All: We promise.
Deb: Do you promise to work for the realization of God’s vision of harmony and right relations among people and peoples, rejecting the idols of money and property and color, gender and position?
All: We promise.
Donna: Do you promise to seek peace and live in peace in one human family, rejecting prejudice and half-heartedness in every form, and barriers to unity?
All: We promise.
Deb: Do you promise to cherish the universe, and this precious planet, working creatively to renew and safeguard the plants, animal species and our shared air, earth, and water?
All: We promise.
Donna: Do you believe in the Holy One, in Jesus, the simple servant of justice and love who lived among us so that all might live with abundant fullness; in the breath of God, the Spirit who continues the work of forgiveness and reconciliation, birthing and blessing, challenge and hope, so that together we can continue the glory of creation?
All: We promise.
Blessing with Water
Suzanne: The water which cleanses and renews our promises is a refreshment for our souls. Water is a blessing of God’s creation and a beauty to behold. With gratitude we return to water the blessing she gives us. AMEN
We use water at baptism to show that we are immersed in the love of God and raised to new living.Our water bearer will now bless and sprinkle water on those present here as affirmation of faith. We invite those on zoom to bless themselves with water in Easter unity.
Background Song for the Blessing of Water:Water is Life by Sara Thomsen
Kathie: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we bring our blessings, cares and concerns to the table beginning with the words I bring to the table.
We pray for these blessings, cares, and concerns, and all the unspoken intentions of our hearts…Amen.
LITURGY OF EUCHARIST
Kim: Friends, our Christ is risen and present with us along with the Indwelling Divine
is present; let us pray together with open hands in joy!
O Holy One, you are always with us. We celebrate your gift of life! In wonder, we stand in the beauty, abundance and variety of creation.
We remember Jesus, the Galilean teacher: who took children in his arms and blessed them, who cared for those who were poor, who cured sick people and wept with those who were sad. He taught us how to forgive and live as one with you and all creation.
On this special night, we remember Jesus, the Christ, who rose from the tomb of
darkness and death. We remember those first witnesses to this event: the women who went to bless and anoint his body, and then courageously told the others what they had experienced.
You invite us to be “resurrected people” who participate and co-create in making all things new in our world. Guide us to see what is new and what needs renewal in ourselves and in our world.
We stand in the presence of joyous troubadours and ancestors in faith. Together with all of creation, we sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
Dennis: We are ever aware of your Spirit with us. The bread and wine we share tonight is a blessing of Spirit and hard work from seed to farm laborers, from vintners to bakers. We are honored by their gifts. May this bread and wine nudge us forward to use our God-given gifts to be the Christ presence rising in our world.
On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with the people closest to him. Jesus did more than ask us to remember him. He shared his gracious love and showed us how to live when he washed the feet of his companions.
When he returned to his place at the table, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and offered it to everyone present saying:
Take and eat, go and love one another.
Lynn: At the end of the meal, Jesus took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you and offered for all in need of our care and kindness.
Please share the Bread with the words, You are a Beacon of Christ Light
Communion Song: Where the Light Comes Down by Carrie Newcomer
