SUNDAY SERVICES:

Scriptures for today.
Psalm 146, 147 · Exodus 13.3-10 ·1 Corinthians 15.41-50 ·Psalm 148, 149 · Matthew 28.16-20

Prayer for today.

Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity.

Question for today.

The song says “When at last it came to choices, I denied I knew His name. Even if He was alive, It wouldn't be the same” How does a resurrected Christ reframe our interactions with him? Name one place where you tend to treat him as just an honored person, and press on to worship him as the Risen Lord. How does the Lord’s embrace of his betraying and abandoning disciples reshape your own view of confession and restoration? For you and others?

Watch this video clip of Don Francisco as he sings his 1977 Easter anthem, He’s Alive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIndrry40Ks

The gates and doors were barred
All the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound

Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
Heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call

Hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldier's feet

There was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told us where she'd been

She said they've moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stones been rolled away
And now His body isn't there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and the empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said

But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Well, something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go

Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him
Then I saw Him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame

When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
Even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same

Suddenly the air was filled
With strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room

Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And just clung to Him and cried

He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies

Guilt in my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace

He's alive, He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive, He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive, He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive