One: Peace be with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, who has conquered death and shown us how to live.                                     

All: We need the gift of peace for our harried days and we need it for our troubled world.                                         

One: In hope and confidence we come to praise God for the heritage and opportunity given to us.                               

All: We are full of gladness in the presence of Christ, whose ways we seek to follow.           

Prayer of Approach

 Almighty God, in overcoming death and rising from the dead, your only Son overcame death and opened to us the gates of life everlasting. Moreover, in returning to his disheartened disciples, he blessed us and empowered us to be his people in the world. Grant us again a fresh sense of the risen Christ among us, a new wonder that he has so generously given us such grace, a new dedication to be about his work in the world in his name.

We are never going to reclaim the holiness of Easter. It will truly never be a pure Christian festival again. What we can reclaim is our own sense of the mystery of the resurrection.   We claim that mystery, Christ has died Christ has Risen Christ will come again. Today the mystery when you think on it deepens. 

Thomas.  poor Thomas is he mournfully meandering around the city. Is he by nature a sceptic.  We know the story really well.   Yet the mystery is in the background.   

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”   After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, 

Wait  one moment there.   They were gathered together with the door Locked.   And then again when Thomas is there and the doors where locked.  And yet Mary had already seen jesus and touched him, and at the end of the story Jesus says to Thomas  put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. From this we can conclude that Jesus is of a bodily form and falls in line with our theology that it was a bodily resurrection.   But how is it that he appears even though the doors are locked.  How can this be? 

Throughout church history, the resurrection has been a point of contention and debate. In the early church   the Christian Gnostics   denied the physical resurrection of Jesus, proposing instead a spiritual resurrection. The early Church Fathers, like Irenaeus  vigorously defended the bodily resurrection, emphasizing its importance for orthodox Christian belief.  We hold to the theology of a bodily resurrection 

    Oh Thomas poor Thomas, sitting by himself behind those tomb like doors. The small group of followers those women and men who had gathered. The  others chatting like birds in the bazar, foolish talk.  Recalling that moment when they saw Jesus .  foolish stupid talk,  for the dead are dead and the pain is real. 

A quiet sorrowful sob cut short with Jesus standing there. Standing there in that moment He stands there.

Touch the wounds in my hands Thomas, in this moment touch the wound in my side Thomas.  In this moment. 

A gasp,  tears, disbelief belief awe, fear   “My Lord my God.”       

In that moment Thomas was blessed,  we do not know if he touched the wounds or not, but we to will become the blessed.

  Then there is the  moment   when beyond words Thomas sees Jesus. 

    Jesus comes to Thomas and he wakes from the sleep of his grief, he rises from the deadness of his soul he takes in the first breath of coming up from the waters of sorrow. 

 Is this a Scharodinger cat paradox.   A cat is placed in a sealed box along with a vial of a poison a radioactive atom and Geiger counter. If the atom decays, and triggers the Gieger counter releases the poison killing the cat,  but if the atom does not decay the poison is not released the cat remains alive .  The paradox is that at any time the cat is both alive and death. The reality of this is not known until you open the box. The opening of the box creates the reality.   

Are we reading this right that Jesus is both body and Spirit and moves between the two states of being freely.  I remember reading one of the gnostic gospels and Jesus is portrayed at both bodily and spiritually. I searched for the reference but could not find it.  Does Jesus exist as both body and spirit until someone encounters him. 

How can this be? 

For the Biblical Scholars this story is a creation of John.  This is not to say that the story is not important. 

The Story illustrates that very private and personal relationship with Jesus.  Jesus comes to those who knew him best.  Not to crowds but to those who needed to see him most.   The locked doors become very symbolic.   

As we move into the Great Fifty Days of Easter may we take time to like the Disciples encounter the risen Christ.   

We are called to hold onto those words of Jesus Blessed is the one who believes who has not seen” spoken to Thomas.  We are those blessed. 

We come to know that we are living in the morning light. We are the blessed because we believe without seeing. Like Thomas we are saved by the risen Christ. Saved in everyway that we can be saved. 

Prayers of the people 

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God. 

God of the empty tomb we come to you in the morning light knowing that you are our God that walks with us in all that life holds. We know that we are blessed for we believe without seeing, however, we see you surround us in all aspects of our lives.  Help us to still our souls each day to see how you are with us.   We are living in the morning light. 

We know that not all of your creation is able to live in the light.  Many live in the twilight between this world and next. There are many who live in the shadow of war, hunger and abuse.  Send your light O God to break into the darkness of those who are in need that they may know your strength and courage. 

We pray for those who we are called to walk with. Send your courage and strength not only on them but upon us so that we may be that true presence in their lives.  We name them before you.

As we move beyond Easter send your Spirit upon our community of faith and inspire us to continue to be your church and proclaim the good news of Christ risen. We deep gratitude we thank you for all that you have done for us. We come to you with our own prayers of petition and thanks giving knowing that in your way and time they shall be answered.  We offer you the great prayer which binds us as one. Saying Our Father….

Offering

 In gratitude and humble trust

We bring our best today

To serve your cause and share your love

With all along life’s way

O God, who gave yourself to us

In Jesus Christ, your Son,

Teach us to give ourselves each day

Until life’s work is done.

This offering is our most significant statement of faith, O God. We hive because we believe this congregation is important, our ministry changes lives for the better, and we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Ultimately, we believe the church is our firmest link to your reality. Use our time, talent and treasure in ways that exceed our grandest design. Amen

After some prayerful thought we have decided to combine Art for the Soul and Tech Tuesday for seniors on the same day.   Starting at 1pm on April 18th



Prepare ye the way to Sing

We are planning a Spring Concert for Sunday, April 30, at 7 PM.

There will be a variety of musical spots including the choir presenting selections from Godspell.

Anyone interested can join us for practices at Freelton Strabane Wednesday afternoons, starting at 1:30 PM.

Studies and Studies is pleased to present on May 7 2023 at 2pm at Freelton Strabane United Church 1565 Brock Road Strabane.   (how to register at bottom)

SoulCollage®    Rise Up!

with

The Rev.Allison Playfair

Spring is here – finally! All around us there is new birth and rebirth in creation. If you are like me, you may be rediscovering where those bulbs were planted (or moved by squirrels) in your garden. After sleeping underground over winter, our friends, the perennials emerge. Birds return and begin building nests. Everywhere are signs of new life rising up. So too, in our lives, there may be parts of our inner life ready to rise up.

In our time together, we will open ourselves to the spirit within. Using meditative reflection, poetry and creation of a SoulCollage® card, we will explore and give expression to an aspect of ourselves that may be ready to Rise Up in our lives. 

What is SoulCollage®?

SoulCollage® is an expressive arts practice done individually or in community. Founded by Seena B. Frost, the method develops creativity and intuition, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance.
SoulCollage® meets you wherever you are on this journey called life. You don’t have to be an artist to make SoulCollage® cards. Anyone can create and enjoy this powerful practice. In this practice, we cut out images that speak to us and create a collage that will give expression to an aspect of your inner life and bring inner wisdom and discovery to the surface.

Cost: $10. To cover the cost of materials. Allison is donating her time and expertise 

What we will provide

We will provide a blank card, a frame, glue stick and many illustrations and images to choose the pieces to create your own card as well as light refreshments. 

What you need to bring

A pair of sharp scissors and/or a fine point exacto knife, a journal (any kind will do) and a pen/pencil for writing.

Who is the facilitator?

Allison Playfair is a United Church Minister who is a certified SoulCollage®   facilitator, Labyrinth facilitator and experienced workshop leader who is open to the Spirit. She worked as a server and bartender in the first half of her working life and brings all her life experience, compassion and sense of humour to her leadership. Allison is on a journey of reclamation and creative restoration of her body, mind and Spirit. In her workshops, she holds inclusive and affirming space for safe and creative exploration. 

To Register please call the Manse at 905 659 3380 Payment can be made through E Transfer, or cash the day of.