CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church Service, April 11, 2021
The Second Sunday of Easter
Questions for Reflection: What is the outward and visible sign of your commitment to Jesus? What is it that makes the church the church?
Easter Praise “In the Bulb There is A Flower” Natalie Sleeth, 1986
In the bulb there is a flower,
in the seed, an apple tree,
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
There's a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning,
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing,
in our life, eternity,
in our death, a resurrection,
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
Opening Words
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
The peace of our risen Lord be with you,
and also with you.
How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard of Aaron.
Let us worship God in holiness and in unity.
Amen.
Opening Prayer
Breathe in this place, O Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to open our minds, unlock our hearts and enliven our faith so that we may welcome the risen one among us. Amen.
Hymn “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”
Prayer for Illumination
God of all who doubt and all who believe, by the gift of your Spirit enable us to hear with our ears, to see with our eyes, and to touch with our hands your Word of life—Jesus the Christ—our Lord and our God. Amen.
Introduction to the first reading
A Reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 4: 31—35
When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
A Reading from the Gospels: John 20: 19—31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin1 ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Sermon “Can You Imagine?” The Rev. Russell Lehman
Hymn “We Are One In the Spirit”
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Pour out your blessing, O Lord; send us your Spirit of peace.
Let your church be a living sign of the healing power of Christ, sharing the gift of forgiveness and the gospel of reconciliation.
Help us to see the scars of death that mark your good creation, and to seek the blessing of life that restores and bring forth new life.
Show us how good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity, and anoint us with your wisdom so that we may seek the ways of life.
Give us a vision of the common good: not clinging to our own possessions but seeking the fullness of life for all as a testimony to Christ’s resurrection.
Be near to those who walk in the darkness
of grief and loss . . .
guilt and anger
injustice and oppression . . .
despair and haplessness . . .
the pain of illness or injury.
Heal our brokenness and restore our unity so that the world may come to know the fullness of life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Statement about Offering our Gifts
Remembering the generosity of spirit that once brought the church unity of heart and mind, let us offer our gifts and open our hearts. Remember, it is not too late to donate to One Great Hour of Sharing.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22 nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music: sung by Keisha Prime
Prayer of Dedication
By your Spirit who breathes within us, strengthen our faith, use our gifts and the work of our hands to bear witness to the new life in the resurrection of Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Charge and Blessing
Let your life be a sign of Christ so that others may come to believe that the Lord is alive indeed.
This is the blessing of the Lord.
Alleluia!
Postlude: “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks” Donald Fishel, 1973