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Welcome to worship with Peace Mennonite Church. We are glad you are with us in worship and invite you to also join us for our Peace Pursuits Bible study and topic discussions on Wednesday nights. This week (June 17) we will discuss the film Just Mercy.

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. The structured discussion and prayer time will last 30-40 minutes and you are welcome to stay on Zoom after that for informal conversation.

There are some exciting things going on at Peace Mennonite! Check out our current church announcements here.

Prelude:

Welcome from Pastor Joanna

Thanks so much for joining with Peace Mennonite in worship today. Whether you are a regular Peace attender or a friend from far away or new to our community, we are happy for you to be part of this virtual worship experience.

Over the summer we are journeying through the book of Acts and thinking about what it means to be church. I know this web page doesn’t look much like the form of church worship we are used to, but I am convinced that we can be present with God and present with each other in many different ways–including through a web page. So let us worship together in spirit and truth.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 133, read by Piet Knetsch

Call to Worship: What is Anabaptist Worship?

Gathering Hymn: The Church’s One Foundation (#311 in Hymnal, A Worship Book)

Congregational Prayer:
You are invited to offer your prayers to God. For what are you thankful this morning? What would you ask of God for yourself? Who do you know who needs God’s loving presence right now? What are your prayers for our community, our country, and our world?

Feel free to share your prayers with people around you, in the comments below, or on our Zoom call at 11 Sunday morning.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Children’s Time
Here’s a sweet video I found. I imagine many of you adults will want to sing along as well.

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:31-5:11, read by Piet Knetsch

Sermon

Offertory Music: Hine Ma Tov

Offering our Money

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

If anyone needs to adjust their pledge due to COVID-19, please contact Roberta Renz.

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Offering our Efforts

The Justice Matters team leaders wanted to share this exciting news from last Monday’s celebration: Peace Mennonite won the award for the highest percentage participation in the petition signature pledge drive. A number of Peace people equal to 98% of our average worship attendance texted “democracy” to 33777 and pledged to sign a petition–when it becomes available–to put the bond to finance the proposed jail expansion on the ballot. Good work, everyone! (For more information about the petition, see this video.)

Closing Hymn: Now go in peace (#74 in Sing the Journey)
–Sung by Philip Kendall

Benediction:

Welcome to worship with Peace Mennonite Church. This morning we begin our “Being Church” series as we journey through the book of Acts.

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. The structured discussion and prayer time will last 30-40 minutes and you are welcome to stay on Zoom after that for informal conversation.

There are some exciting things going on at Peace Mennonite! Check out our current church announcements here. And join us for our Peace Pursuits Bible studies and topic discussions each Wednesday night at 7:30.

Prelude: “Glory” sung by John Legend (with footage from the movie Selma.)

Welcome from Pastor Joanna

Hello, everyone! It’s been a blessed and busy week back “in the office.” I’m so glad to hear that you had a good month of May with Pastor Melissa. I love her dearly and knew that you would, too. Active Peace Mennonite folks should have received an email Tuesday night with my Zoom sabbatical report. I’m especially excited about the Peace Pursuits series that I planned during May and I look forward to meeting with you all each Wednesday night for Bible study and topic discussions.

It has been a heavy news week as we continue to wrestle with systemic racism, mourn the murder of George Floyd, and lament police violence against peaceful protesters. I invite you to bring all of your grief, confusion, and anger into this time of worship and let God be with you in the midst of it all.

Let us breathe together and pray together: Kyrie Eleison, God have mercy.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 143:7-10 (Read by Katie and Grace)

Call to Worship:

God, we have questions.
Answer us quickly.
God, we are overwhelmed.
Our spirits fail.
Do not hide your face from us.
But let us hear.
Let us hear.
Let us hear of your steadfast love.
Let us trust.
Let us trust in you.
Let us learn.
Teach us the way we should go.
For to you we lift up our souls.
Save us.
Lead us.
Shelter us, O God.

Gathering Hymn: “I owe the Lord a morning song” (#112 in Sing the Journey)
–all four parts sung by Philip Kendall (a friend from Pink Menno/Chicago Community Mennonite Church)

Congregational Prayer:
You are invited to offer your prayers to God. For what are you thankful this morning? What would you ask of God for yourself? Who do you know who needs God’s loving presence right now? What are your prayers for our community, our country, and our world?

Feel free to share your prayers with people around you, in the comments below, or on our Zoom call at 11 Sunday morning.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Children’s Time with Pastor Joanna

Hymn: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (#579 in Hymnal a Worship Book)

Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-12a; 4:1-4 (Read by Katie and Grace)

Sermon

*Content Warning: This sermon contains brief footage from Jay Yoder of violent police actions during protests in Pittsburgh, PA. There is nothing graphic–no blood and nobody is killed. But the images are disturbing. If you prefer to skip this footage, you may begin at the 4:03 mark.

Lament By Kayla Berkey

“They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14)

Oh Holy One, how long will we grieve death,
how many more breaths will these cycles of violence steal from sacred black lives?
Hear our cries.
We grieve for George Floyd.
We grieve for Breonna Taylor.
We grieve for Tony McDade.
We grieve for Ahmaud Arbery.
We grieve for Dion Johnson.
We grieve for Nina Pop.
We grieve for Sean Reed.
We grieve for each sacred person whose name we have come to know
through the unspeakable grief and injustice of their death.
We shudder at the inhumanity, at how many precious lives have been taken.
We grieve the ache of every person who bears this pain
and holds fear for their lives deeply in their bodies.

We lament the loss of these holy lives.
We lament officers and politicians encouraging, “peace, peace,” when there is no peace.
We lament the absence of justice.

Awaken us to any false declarations of “peace, peace,” that cover over violence.
Awaken us to the violence of this country’s status quo.
Awaken us to the urgency of overturning the tables of injustice.

Awaken us who are white women to the reality of our ongoing history
of complicity with anti-black racism done in our name.
Expose us where we are most deeply shaped by a racist system
so that we can name it in ourselves and never stop working to dismantle it.

Holy Spirit, come with fire that burns away silence and complacency.
Move us beyond saying ‘peace, peace.’
Help us shape our words into stones with weight that we use, in community,
to build the long path to justice, to peace.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

This week we especially lift up Family Promise for your prayers and contributions. This is currently the only organization in Lawrence serving families in need of shelter. (The Willow and the Lawrence Community Shelter are not taking families at this time.)

Benediction:

May the wind of the Spirit startle your senses and blow through your life.
May the fire of the Spirit scorch your complacency and light your way.
And may the blessing of the Holy One—Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer—rest with you now and forever more. Amen.

Sending Hymn: “Praise God from Whom” (#118 in Hymnal, A Worship Book)

Welcome to Pentecost Sunday with Peace Mennonite Church!

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty or forty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

Prelude: Sara and Perry

Welcome from Pastor Melissa

I have been exceedingly blessed by this month at Peace as Sabbatical Coverage Pastor. Thank you all very much for sharing yourselves and your gifts that keep enhancing our worship and fellowship times! As we celebrate Pentecost today, I pray that the Holy Spirit will surprise you in whatever way you need surprising.

Scripture Reading: Rosie Claassen, Joel 2:23-32

Call to Worship: written by Christina Rossetti

As the Wind is your symbol, so forward our goings.

As the dove, so launch us heavenward.

As water, so purify our spirits.

As a cloud, so abate our temptations.

As dew, so revive our languor.

As fire, so purge out our dross. Amen.

Hymn and Congregational Prayer: Holy Spirit, Come with Power (Blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #26)

Our Lord’s Prayer: in Swahili, to remind us of all the languages in which followers of Jesus sing and pray around the world!

Children’s Time: Jenny

Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God (Blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #356)

Scripture Reading: Rosie Claassen, Acts 2:1-21

Sermon

Hymn: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit). A version can be found in the Blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #298.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

This is a photo of Roger Gibson’s lettuce bed taken a little over a month ago. He has written the reflection here in response to the Peace and Justice Committee’s request for personal testimonies of how you are participating in God’s mission in these troubled times. (Go here for that invitation; you too could submit!)

“I’m just not that crazy about salad, but I grow lettuce anyway, and sometimes I eat it, and sometimes I sell it at the Farmers Market. That’s what I was going to do this spring—the selling part, I mean. And then Covid-19 presented itself just after I planted my seeds.
My growing of lettuce has become somewhat of a ritual, an annual exercise in humility and awe. I am somehow proud of it, even though the burying of a seed, the transplanting of a seedling, the harvesting of a whole, beautiful head has very little to do with me. I’m really just an interested front-row bystander who has an appetite for being amazed over and over again.
That a tiny sliver of seed can grow into a big, beautiful salad, night after night, just astonishes me and makes my thoughts turn to things holy and sacred and beyond my understanding.

I have raised two teenage boys by myself. At their ugliest, both boys have been hard to like, at times, and routinely turned up questions in my mind about love, too. Attempts to express my love for them were mostly irrelevant. But in both cases, along about their fifteenth or sixteenth year, the daily regimen of cooking a good evening meal stopped being the production and serving of nutrition and became, instead, the only remaining way I could think of to let them know that they were loved. And so I served them, mindful of Jesus who lovingly served the throng, and said a silent prayer that someday they could recognize my meal as symbolic of my desire to be in loving communion with them.

So, Covid-19, miracles in a seed, and the giving of food as an expression of love. All have been relevant as I have sought and found a place for my lettuce this year, given the late start of the Farmers Market. The Ladybird Diner, which happens to be owned and operated by a former fifth grade student of mine, serves 200 sack lunches everyday, and is handing out 10 Pantry Boxes every week to people who have lost their jobs or are otherwise in crisis because of the virus. And I am thrilled that the lettuce I have given is being distributed to those who are hungry this year. It’s a very small thing in the overall picture, like a lost seed in the dirt, but I’m
glad to have found a way, however small, to help.”
—Roger Gibson

Benediction

Sending Song: Like the Murmur of a Dove’s Song, Twila Schmidt

Welcome to Worship with Peace Mennonite!

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty or forty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

Prelude – “Bird Song” sung by the Bonners

Welcome from Pastor Melissa:

Dear Lovers of God… that is what the name “Theophilus” means, the intended reader of the Acts of the Apostles. Today we enter into that book about the birth of the church. As Lovers of God, we have held on to Jesus in his resurrection appearances this month. Now we let go.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your cloud photos with us! God led the Israelites in a cloud. God met Moses on the mountain in a cloud. Jesus’ transfiguration was overshadowed by a cloud. Today we remember the ascension: Jesus leaves in a cloud!

Scripture Reading: Jill Allen

Call to Worship

We gather as pilgrims on a journey of faith.

We come seeking the cloud of your presence as we travel The Way.

We come seeking your pillar of fire to light our darkness.

Shine in our hearts, O God, with the light of your love.

Make your presence known through Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Hymnal: A Worship Book #661

Come for a bike ride and cloud tour with Thomas and Tara!

Congregational Prayer

You are invited to pray in song, as you listen or sing along. This performance of Healer of Our Every Ill by Marty Haugen, writer and composer, begins with a segment in which our response is: God of mercy, hear our prayer. Lyrics for the more familiar part are found in the Blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #377.

Our Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Time: Jenny

Hymn: Nothing is Lost on the Breath of God (Sing the Story #121)

Scripture Reading: Jill Allen

Sermon

Hymn: You’re Not Alone, from the Voices Together collection

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Offertory: The Camel played by Elinor, who received a top rating at the virtual middle school band solo festival with this piece!

Benediction

Welcome to Worship with Peace Mennonite!

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

Prelude

Opening Worship Image: Kitchen Maid with Supper at Emmaus, or the Mulata, Diego Velàzquez

Poem: Kitchen Maid with Supper at Emmaus, or the Mulata—after the painting by Diego Velàzquez, ca. 1619, by Natasha Thethewey

She is the vessels on the table before her:
the copper pot tipped toward us, the white pitcher
clutched in her hand, the black one edged in red
and upside down. Bent over, she is the mortar
and the pestle at rest in the mortar—still angled
in its posture of use. She is the stack of bowls
and the bulb of garlic beside it, the basket hung
by a nail on the wall and the white cloth bundled
in it, the rag in the foreground recalling her hand.
She's the stain on the wall the size of her shadow—
the color of blood, the shape of a thumb. She is echo
of Jesus at table, framed in the scene behind her:
his white corona, her white cap. Listening, she leans
into what she knows. Light falls on half her face.

Welcome from Pastor Melissa

Happy Mother’s Day! As you are remembering your mother, I pray that the beauty of these flowers blooming in the church garden will comfort those who mourn, encourage those who struggle, and express joy for those who can rejoice. Thanks to Roger Gibson for the photos!

I’m blessed to get to preach on my favorite Bible story this week. It’s a vivid encounter with the risen Christ while on a journey. I took the opportunity to film the sermon while hiking the Konza Prairie Nature Trail, a Kansas version of the Road to Emmaus. I hope its not too windy for you!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 16 (read by Joe Casad)

Call to Worship

Opening Hymn: I Will Come to You in the Silence (Sing the Story #49) sung by the Douglas Mennonite Male Choir in Winnepeg

Congregational Prayer

How can we hold you in prayer  this week? Please consider sharing with the community by joining our 11:00 Zoom call, commenting below, or emailing Pastor Melissa.

You are invited to pray these words, silently or aloud, written by Joanna Harader:

God of the cross, you are with us
in our struggles for justice,
in our feelings of isolation,
in our physical suffering.

God of the Resurrection, you are with us
in our deepest healing,
in our claiming of your abundant life,
in our embrace of a new reality.

God of the Emmaus road, you are with us
in our overwhelming grief,
in our struggles to understand,
in our persistence on the journey.

You are with us God,
even when we want to look away,
even when we live with doubt,
even when we don’t know why our hearts are burning.

Thank you for walking with us on this road.
Teach us.
Feed us.
Open our eyes. Amen.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Time: Jenny

Hymn: On the Journey to Emmaus (Sing the Story #98)

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 (Please note: There are brief and very realistic images of the crucifixion at 1:02-1:17)

Sermon

Music for Prayer and Reflection: Abide With Me (Blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #653)

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day.
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless.
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold then thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life and death, O Lord, abide with me.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Special Opportunity: PMC received a request from Woodlawn Elementary School to help local families in need. The Peace and Justice committee invites you to help cover the cost of four fifty-dollar grocery gift cards for families who have recently lost jobs. You can help by making a donation to the Benevolence Fund, designating Woodlawn Families. This is a wonderful example of how the Benevolence Fund gets used in times of need! 

Sending Hymn: In Christ Alone performed by Lauren Daigle

Benediction: from Melissa

Enjoy this slideshow of places we enjoy walking!

The Teacher was walking with them along the way,

and he himself was The Way.

Augustine, Sermon 235.1-2

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

You are encouraged to enter into worship in an intentional way this morning. That might mean creating a special worship space in your home, lighting a candle, or simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

Welcome from Pastor Melissa

Greetings to you all! Like Paul writing to the churches far away, I long for a day when we can be together. We are blessed to be able to share in worship in this way for now.

My spiritual director likes to remind me to hold onto Jesus, especially in challenging times. I invite you to hold onto Jesus with me as we explore a month of Easter stories. What I notice about the end of all four gospels is that Jesus showed up unexpectedly but in ways that were powerfully reminiscent of the last three years. It was an in-between time, a liminal space between the resurrection and the ascension. In-between times are ripe for God to show up! In this in-between time, this month of Joanna’s sabbatical, let’s watch for God to show up in surprising ways.

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11 (Read by Katie Hobson)

Hymn of Praise: The Strife is O’er the Battle Won
The Episcopal Virtual Choir and Orchestra with Andrea Zuercher participating! You can see her (in a blue shawl) at 1:05 and 2:20 (and maybe other times as well). You’re invited to sing along from the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #263; note that there is a different fourth verse from the one in the hymnal.)

https://episcopalchurch.org/virtual-choir

verse 4: 
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
The bars from heaven's high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell! Alleluia!

Call to Worship

Congregational Prayer

How can we hold you in prayer  this week? Please consider sharing with the community by joining our 11:00 Zoom call, commenting below, or emailing Pastor Melissa.

As you pray, silently or aloud:

• Give God thanks for what is good and beautiful in your life and in the world right now.
• Pray for those who are struggling and suffering–include any prayer requests you know of from others in our church community and prayers for those impacted by COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in your life.
• Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer, led here in American Sign Language

Hymn: Lift Your Glad Voices

You are invited to sing along with these Mennonites from Hatfield, PA. (#275 in the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book)

(text by Henry Ware, 1817)

Lift you glad voices in triumph on high,
for Jesus hath risen, and we shall not die.
Vain were the terrors that gathered around him,
and short the dominion of death and the grave.

He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound him,
resplendent in glory, to live and to save.
Loud was the chorus of angels on high,
the Savior hath risen, and we shall not die.

Glory to God, in full anthems of joy;
the being he gave us, death cannot destroy.
Sad were the life we may part with tomorrow,
if tears were our birthright, and death were our end.

But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
and bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend.
Lift then your voices in triumph on high,
for Jesus hath risen, and we shall not die.

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14 (Read by Katie Hobson)

Children’s Time: Anne Bailey

Sermon

Music for Prayer and Reflection: Lord, you have come to the Lakeshore

You’re invited to sing along from the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #229, in English or Spanish. Note that this performance reverses the order of verses 2 and 3.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Another way to contribute is by taking a photo of a place you enjoy walking (or finding one of somewhere you wish you could go walking) and email it to the church office or Pastor Melissa. We can enjoy a slideshow in next week’s worship!

Sending Hymn: You Shall Go Out With Joy (#427 in Hymnal: A Worship Book)

Benediction

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

Opening Worship Image:

You are encouraged to enter into worship in an intentional way this morning. That might mean creating a special worship space in your home, lighting a candle, or simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

Welcome from Pastor Joanna

Blessings to each of you on this holy day. We are once again “gathering” for worship on line, and it looks like we’ll be worshiping together in this manner for another month or so. While I miss the in-person connections, I am also grateful for the ways we are able to include such a diversity of voices and gifts in our home-based worship services.

Many of you know that the church is granting me a sabbatical for the month of May. Peace Mennonite participants will receive an email with more information this coming week. It was a joy for me to work with Melissa Atchison, who will serve as our sabbatical coverage pastor, on the sermon for this service. I know you will have a good month with her pastoral leadership and I look forward to joining you again in June.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 8 (read by Jenny)

Hymn of Praise: How Majestic is Your Name

Call to Worship

God’s name is majestic.
God’s earth is a wonder.
Every star in the sky,
every fish in the sea,
every beast of the field,
is created and cared for by the Holy One;
each person on this planet
is held in God’s loving embrace.
Let us worship God with joy and praise!

Congregational Prayer

You are invited to spend some time in prayer, giving thanks for the joys in your life and asking God’s presence, peace, and guidance for yourself and others.

Consider lighting a virtual prayer candle on the Gratefullness web site. Simply click “begin” and follow the instructions. When you enter the information for your candle, type “PMC” in the “name or initials” box. Then, if you would like to see candles that other people from Peace have lit, go to the “view candles” page and type “PMC” into the “search candles” box at the top.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: Great is thy Faithfulness (from Plains Mennonite Church)
(#327 in Hymnal a Worship Book, verses 1 and 3)

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Scripture: Matthew 28:11-20 (read by Jenny)

Sermon: Peace Mennonite pastor, Joanna Harader, and Peace’s sabbatical coverage pastor, Melissa Atchison, recorded a dialog sermon over zoom last week. We hope you enjoy their conversation about the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel.

Music for Prayer and Reflection:
Mariah Kaufman sent this piece to us and shares: “This is a piece that the Goshen College Chamber Choir took on tour last spring. I wasn’t part of the choir, but I went along as orchestral accompaniment and this is a piece that has stuck with me. “

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Sending Hymn: The Love of God
Sung by acapella group Sons of the Day, which was started by two Eastern Mennonite College alumni several years ago. (The arranger and lead singer is Matthew Hunsberger.)

Benediction: from Joanna

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here,

You are invited to join us for sharing prayer concerns and conversation on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link.

You are encouraged to enter into worship in an intentional way this morning. That might mean creating a special worship space in your home, lighting a candle, or simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Some of you might also appreciate having a knitting, coloring, or other project available as you listen to the audio parts of this service.

Prelude from Joni Fornelli: Anna Visa

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Welcome from Pastor Joanna

Welcome! And thank you for joining us for worship. You probably know that last Sunday was Easter. I hope you were able to find new and meaningful ways to celebrate the resurrection.

The good news is that this Sunday is also Easter! On the liturgical calendar it’s called the Second Sunday of Easter. The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is a season for the church–not just one day. And maybe this year, more than others, we need to celebrate all seven Sundays of the Easter season. One of my friends commented recently that Easter this year feels like “a slow burn.” However Easter is feeling for you, I pray you experience the warmth and light of the resurrection as you join in worship.

Call to Worship (from 1 Peter 1)

We rejoice because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
We rejoice because God has given us a birth into a living hope.
We rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy
as we praise and worship God today.

Hymn: Come ye joyful raise the strain

Come, ye faithful, aise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God has brought his Israel into joy from sadness.
Loosed from Pharoah’s bitter yoke Jacob’s son’s and daughters;
led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters

‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has bust his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death as a sun has risen;
all the winter of our sins, long and dark is flying
From his light, to whom we give Laud and praise undying

Now the queen of seasons bright with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts comes its joy to render;
Comes to gladen faithful hearts who with true affection
welcom in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection

Music: GAUDEAMUS PARITER; Johann Horn, ca. 1495-1547; guitar acc. copyright 1990 OCP

Congregational Prayer:

Feel free to share your prayer joys and concerns in the comments below, on our Zoom call at 11, or with Pastor Joanna by phone or email.

Holy God, Resurrected and Resurrecting One,
Hear our prayers today as we are separated in body but united in spirit and united by your Spirit.

We give you thanks for the joy of music, the beauty of spring, the kindness of friends. We give you thanks for these things in our lives . . .

We pray your healing presence be with those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit: for those infected with Covid-19; for those with other physical ailments; for those struggling with depression, anxiety, and other troubles of the spirit right now. We offer these names to you in prayer . . .

We pray your strength, protection, and encouragement be with those working with the public during this time: medical workers; food service workers; those serving at food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters; postal and delivery people. We pray for these people helping our community through their work . . .

We pray your comfort for those who are grieving: for those who are mourning the death of a loved one; for those who have lost jobs; for those who have had to cancel anticipated plans; for students who have lost their concerts, plays, sports seasons, graduation ceremonies; for grandparents who have temporarily lost the ability to be physically present with their grandchildren. We offer these names to you in prayer . . .

Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers. We offer now the prayer that Jesus taught his followers to pray:

Prayer Hymn: Jesus Help us Live in Peace (sung by Joni Fornelli)

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31

Message from Joanna Harader

Music from Joe Casad and Susan Rieger: “By the Mark” by Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings

Thoughts from our Justice Matters Team: Dave Mathis, Roger Gibson, and Susan Rieger

–Update on efforts to end homelessness from Anna Long (Justice Matters staff)

–Update on efforts to promote alternatives to incarceration from Dave Mathis: Click here— and text “democracy” to 33777

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

The Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale in Newton was scheduled for this weekend. Even though we were not able to gather, we can still support the important work of MCC. You can donate through the church or directly on the MCC website.

Offertory Prayer:

God of Resurrection, may the gifts we give–our work for justice, our contributions to worship, the money we share– be used to bring renewed life in our world: hope to the despairing; joy to the depressed; peace to the dismayed; love to all of your children, everywhere.
We give these offerings to you in the name of your Son, the Resurrected One, Jesus. Amen.

Benediction from Twila Schmidt: The Lord bless you and keep you

Friends, it is Easter Sunday. Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here,

We will gather on Zoom for a special Easter communion service at 9:30 a.m. (Please have bread and beverage ready.) And you are invited to join us for sharing prayer concerns and conversation on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11. For both gatherings,  Simply click this link.

Remember this banner that Anne helped us create together for Ash Wednesday?

It has been transformed into a beautiful Easter celebration!

You are encouraged to enter into worship in an intentional way this morning. That might mean creating a special worship space in your home, lighting a candle, or simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Some of you might also appreciate having a knitting, coloring, or other project available as you listen to the audio parts of this service.

Prelude: “Hallelujah, The Great Storm is Over” from Melissa and Bob Atchison

Scripture Reading from Jill Allen: Jeremiah 31:1-6

Welcome from Pastor Joanna

Good morning. What a joy it is to worship together this Easter Sunday–even if we are physically separate as we worship. I’m excited for all of the music in this service and look forward to singing Easter hymns with Mennonites from across the US and Canada. (The fact that they won’t be able to hear me singing is just an added bonus!)

I know that many things in our lives and our world are difficult right now. I pray this time of worship grounds you in the hope and joy that we know as followers of Jesus Christ, the Resurrected One.

Call to Worship

The earth is shaking. Are angels descending?
The tomb is before us. Is the stone rolling back?
It’s bright as lightening, blinding as the sun reflecting off of snow.
Of course we are afraid. But we need not tremble.
We need not become like the dead.
Because the tomb is empty and we are called
first to worship, then to go with joy and tell the good news!

Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
You are invited to sing along with these Mennonites from Vancouver, B.C. (#280 in the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book)

1.  Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
   All creation join to say, Alleluia!
   Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
   Sing, O heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
   Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
   Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
   Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
   Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
   Dying once, he all doth save, Alleluia!
   Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
   Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
   Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
   ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
5. King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
   everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
   Thee to know, thy pow’r to prove, Alleluia!
   thus to sing and thus to love:Alleluia!

Congregational Prayer:

How can we hold you in prayer  this week? Please consider sharing with the community by joining our 11:00 Zoom call, commenting below, or emailing Pastor Joanna.

As you pray, silently or aloud:

• Give God thanks for what is good and beautiful in your life and in the world right now.
• Pray for those who are struggling and suffering–include any prayer requests you know of from others in our church community and prayers for those impacted by COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in your life.
• Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer. (New Zealand version is below.)

Hymn: Thine is the glory
You are invited to sing along with these Mennonites from across the United States and Canada. (#269 in Hymnal: A Worship Book; note that the words being sung are somewhat different from those in the hymnal.)

Children’s Time: Instead of doing something for children this week, we get to hear one of our beloved children, Norah, sing “Jesus Loves Me”!

As an added bonus, watch Norah blow bubbles!

Scripture Reading from Jill Allen: Matthew 28:1-10

Hymn: Low in the grave he lay
You are invited to sing along with these Mennonites from across the United States and Canada. (#273 in Hymnal: A Worship Book)

(Text by Robert Lowry, 1874)

1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus, my Savior!
   Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord!
2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus, my Savior!
   Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus, my Lord!
3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus, my Savior!
   He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Chorus: Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes!
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever with his saints to reign!
He arose! He arose! Alleluia! Christ arose!

Message from Joanna Harader

Time of Reflection: You are invited to spend a few moments considering today’s scriptures, music, and message as you view the slide show below of flowers that people have shared.

Music: The Lord is Risen Indeed!

Offering:

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

Also note that Western District Conference has established a “Hope Fund” to provide financial assistance to WDC congregations and their people. You can donate through Peace Mennonite by writing “Hope Fund” in the memo line of your check or give directly to Western District:  Make contributions to Western District Conference designated “Hope Fund” online (Click on “Donate to WDC”) or by sending a check to PO Box 306, North Newton, KS 67117.  

Prayer:

God of this Easter morning,
In our grief, grant us comfort;
In our confusion, grant us clarity;
In our fear, grant us peace;
In our silence, grant us voices to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection:
Death has been swallowed up in the life of Christ.
Let us live into Christ’s abundant life–
wholly forgiven; wholly free. Amen

Benediction: “Praise God from Whom” sung by the Peace Mennonite congregation on Easter Sunday (April 20) 2014; with benediction from Joe Casad.