Worship
Service for April 12, 2026
Prelude
Announcements:
Call to Worship
L: Christ our Savior is risen from the
dead! Alleluia!
P: Break forth into joy! Sing together! God comforts those whose hearts are broken in
sorrow.
L: We who once suffered in death, we who once
cried in despair –
P: Now we know victory over death! Now we know joy over despair!
L: For God has raised Christ from the grave.
All: The tomb is empty and death has been defeated
for all the earth!
Opening
Hymn – Thine is the Glory #122
Blue Hymnal
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we confess before You our slowness to embrace
the new life You offer. You offer
springtime to our souls, but we prefer the winter of coldness and
indifference. We continue in despair and
self-doubt, rather than rejoicing in knowing You love us. We forget that we have been baptized into the
death and resurrection of Christ. Afraid
to die, we cannot receive new life. Rejoicing
that You forgive us, with our coldness, self-hate, forgetfulness, or fear, we
pray to You with the confidence of Your children. (Silent prayers are offered) AMEN.
Assurance of Pardon
L: For all who have come believing in Christ
as the Way, there is rest from your fruitless labors, forgiveness of your sins
and the guarantee of eternal life.
P: Let us then continue our journey of faith
and obedience, through the grace of Jesus Christ. AMEN!
Gloria Patri
Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’
Creed
I believe in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the
third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s
Prayer
Risen
Christ, who comes to us even when the doors are locked and our hearts are
uncertain, we gather in the quiet glow of Easter’s lingering light. Last week we shouted alleluia; today we come
again—some with bold faith, others with lingering doubt, all of us in need of
your presence.
Breathe
your peace upon us. As you stood among
the disciples and said, “Peace be with you,” speak that same word into our
lives—into our anxious thoughts, our weary bodies, our divided communities. Where fear has settled in, stir courage. Where grief still lingers, bring comfort. Where hope feels fragile, strengthen it with
resurrection power.
Patient
Savior, you did not turn away Thomas in his questioning, but met him in it with
grace. Meet us there too—in our
wondering, our skepticism, our desire to see and touch and know that new life
is real. Hold our doubts gently until
they become deeper faith, and help us to trust even when we cannot yet see.
Living
Lord, you send us as you were sent—into a world still marked by brokenness and
longing. Make us bearers of your peace: in
our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our work, in places of conflict and in
quiet moments of need. Let our lives
proclaim what our lips confess: that death does not have the final word, and
love is stronger than fear.
We
pray for your church, that we may be a community of the resurrection—welcoming,
forgiving, courageous, and alive. We
pray for those who suffer this day: the sick, the grieving, the lonely, the
oppressed. Stand among them as you stood
among your friends, and let your peace take root where pain has been. We especially pray today for…
And
now, in this time of quiet rest, hear our innermost prayers that we cannot say
aloud…
And
as we continue this Easter journey, keep shaping us into people who recognize
you in our midst—in the sharing of stories and the quiet assurance that you are
still alive and at work. We offer all of
this in the name of the Risen One, who still comes, still speaks, and still
sends us forth, praying together… Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread. Forgive us
our debts as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, forever. AMEN.
Hymn –
Jesus Shall Reign Hymn #423/375 485/56 4 vs.
Scripture
Reading(s):
First Scripture Reading – Psalm
16
Second Scripture Reading – John
20:19-31
Sermon – The
Transformative Encounter with the Risen Christ
(based
on John 20:19-31)
Today’s New Testament passage from
John 20 begins on that first Easter evening when the disciples were huddled in
a locked room, gripped by fear. They had
just witnessed the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, and now they were unsure of
what the future held. Rumors are
swirling. Mary has just told them that
she has seen the Lord. The atmosphere
was thick with anxiety and uncertainty—an experience many of us can resonate
with today. The disciples are not out
proclaiming the good news. They are not
out singing alleluias, like we did last week.
Instead, they are huddled together, hiding, trying to make sense of it
all.
I think we often find ourselves like
the disciples behind closed doors, figuratively speaking. Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown, that
things are changing around us too fast, the stress of financial instability, or
even the emotional turmoil from broken relationships. When we shut ourselves in, we isolate our
fears and doubts, thinking that we are alone in our struggles. Yet, in that locked room, something
miraculous occurred.
Without knowing, without warning,
Jesus comes and stands among them. The
doors are still locked. The fear is
still real. But Jesus is there. Just as Jesus appeared to His fearful
disciples, He desires to meet us in our places of vulnerability and
uncertainty. Are we open to recognizing
His presence in our lives? Are we
willing to let Him into our fears?
The first words out of his mouth
aren’t correction, not disappointment, not, “Where were you?” “Why are you hiding here?” But rather he says, “Peace be with you.” In the midst of their chaos, He brings peace,
a profound sense of calm in the storm.
They know this calm. He’s
provided it before. In the midst of a
real storm, He calmed the wind, and settled the turbulent seas. This greeting is not merely a salutation but
an expression of His desire to settle and restore their shattered hearts.
Imagine the w eight that was lifted
from the disciples’ shoulders as they see their Lord standing before them. They went from despair to joy in an
instant. Jesus understood their doubts
and fears, and instead of rebuking them, He comforts them from the very outset.
This is the essence of our faith,
isn’t it? Believing that in the middle
of all the fear and chaos and turmoil, Christ extends His peace. Calming the storm that rages around us and
bringing joy to our hearts. How often do
we forget to seek out that peace? In
times of anxiety or decision-making, let us remember to turn first to the Lord,
inviting His presence into our lives.
And yet, at the same time, Jesus
doesn’t wait for the disciples to unlock the door. He doesn’t wait for them to get their courage
together. He doesn’t say, ‘When you’re
ready, come find me.” He comes to
them. So many of us believe that we have
to get ourselves together before God shows up.
We think we need to get rid of our doubts, clean up our lives, fix our
own brokenness, unlock our fears. We
just need to be open to the possibility of God showing up and He is there.
He meets us in those locked
rooms. In the room of grief you have
processed yet. In the room of anxiety
you can’t explain. In the room of doubt
that you’re afraid to name out loud. It
is into those rooms that Christ shows up and says, “Peace be with you.”
After he speaks peace, Jesus shows
them his hands and his side. This is not
incidental, it’s essential. The risen
Christ still bears the wounds.
Resurrection does not erase the
story of suffering—it transforms it. The marks of violence, the evidence of
pain, the scars of betrayal—they don’t just go away. They are not hidden. Instead, they are revealed. They show where we’ve been, they tell our
story, they prove that we are unique and individual. In showing them, Jesus is saying: “This is still
me.” The one who was crucified is the
one who is risen. I still bear the
wounds, the scars, the story of suffering.
The one who suffered is the one who stands before you in peace.
We live in a world that wants to
hide wounds. To move on quickly. To pretend everything is fine. But the gospel tells a different story: healing
does not mean pretending we were never hurt.
It means that our wounds no longer have the final word. That what we’ve been through is real, but it
will not be the last of us.
Jesus’ scars become signs of life,
not defeat. And in the same way, the
places in our lives where we have been broken—those places can become the very
places where grace is most visible.
Following His greeting of peace,
Jesus commissions His disciples, saying, “As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you.” This is the pivotal moment
in the gospel record. For the disciples
move from being fearful followers to empowered witnesses. Jesus is not only restoring their faith but
he is giving it a direction for a greater purpose.
He breathes the Holy Spirit onto
them, granting them authority and responsibility. This moment shifts the narrative from passive
waiting and waiting in fear to active engagement in the world with joy and
wonder. He doesn’t give them a
test. They don’t have to prove that
they’ve gotten everything right. Christ
sends them as they are. “Receive the
Holy Spirit.” He says. This breath
echoes the very beginning of creation when God breathes life into the
world. This is new creation language and
action. Resurrection is not just about
Jesus, it’s about the renewal of the whole world, beginning with these fragile,
fearful disciples.
What does this commissioning look
like for us? It could be volunteering
for a variety of different ministries, speaking out against injustice, or
simply being the light in our workplaces and in our friends’ lives. Our faith should propel us into action.
Enter Thomas, one of the twelve
disciples, who wasn’t present when Jesus first appeared. When the others share their experience, his
skeptical response reflects a deeply human reaction: “Unless I see the nail
marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, I will not believe.”
Thomas often gets labeled “the
doubter,” but let’s be honest—he is also the truth-teller. He refuses secondhand faith. He refuses to pretend certainty that he does
not feel. And Jesus does not reject him
for that.
Thomas' doubt isn't an isolated
incident; it exemplifies the struggle many of us face in our faith
journeys. In a world filled with
uncertainty, doubt often creeps in, challenging our beliefs and trust in God.
Rather than condemning doubt, we
should acknowledge it as a natural part of our faith journey. God invites our questions, our struggles, and
our search for understanding. Like Thomas,
we are encouraged to seek whatever evidence we need.
A week later, Jesus appears again,
same greeting, “Peace be with you.” And
He turns directly to Thomas inviting him to touch the wounds in His hands and
side. “Put your finger here. See my hands.
Reach out your hand and put it in my side.” Jesus meets Thomas exactly where he is. In that moment of intimate connection, Thomas
declares, “My Lord and my God!” This
declaration exemplifies a profound acknowledgment of Jesus not just as a
teacher or healer but as Lord—the One deserving of our utmost devotion.
This story of Thomas and Jesus is
not about shaming doubt – it’s about honoring the journey of faith that we each
take. Doubt can be the place where faith
grows deeper, more honest, more real.
Jesus is not afraid of your questions.
He is not threatened by your uncertainty. He doesn’t withdraw when you struggle to
believe. Instead, Christ comes
closer. He invites you to see. To touch.
To wrestle. To know. And in that encounter, change begins and
Thomas sees, knows, and believes.
Jesus responds to Thomas, “Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed.” Here, across the eons of time, Christ speaks directly to
us, praising those who trust in Him without the need for tangible evidence.
It challenges us to embrace faith
beyond the visible. We may not always
see God’s hand at work in our circumstances, yet we are called to trust His
promises. How can we cultivate a faith
that sees beyond our immediate perceptions, especially in difficult times?
John concludes this passage by
stating that the miracles of Jesus were written so that we may believe that
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life
in His name. This is the core of our Christian experience—faith that brings
life, meaning, and purpose.
As we walk through our lives, let us
remember that we, too, are a part of this narrative. Our doubts, fears, and victories intertwine
with the ancient story of Christ’s resurrection.
Today, let’s commit to a faith that
isn’t flawless but is authentic and engaged.
Let us not be content with simply hearing about Jesus’ peace or power;
let us experience it in our lives. As we
journey forward, may we represent Christ’s love and hope, making Him known in
every corner of our lives.
Because we, too, are called to be
agents of change and ambassadors of Christ in our communities. We, too, are being sent out, not because we
are perfect, but because we are called.
We are being sent out, not because we have no doubts, but because we
have encountered grace. We are being
sent out to carry peace into a world that desperately needs it.
Thanks be to God.
AMEN.
Offertory –
Doxology –
Prayer of Dedication –
Generous and faithful God, every good gift
comes from you, and in gratitude we return a portion of what we have received. Bless these offerings—not only the gifts we
place before you, but the time, compassion, and courage we carry into the
world. Multiply them in ways we cannot
yet see, so that your love may be known, your justice made real, and your grace
extended to all. Use us and these gifts
for your purposes, that we may be living signs of your resurrection hope. In the name of Christ, we pray. AMEN.
Closing
Hymn – He Lives Hymn #368 Brown
Benediction –
May
the risen Lord meet you in your doubts, strengthen your faith, and send you out
with courage and hope. Go now into the
world as people of the resurrection—carrying the peace of Christ into every
place of fear and uncertainty. AMEN
Postlude
