Sunday, April 19, 2015

sermon, "The End Is Just The Beginning", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Easter, April 5, 2015

April 5, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Easter Sunday
Matthew 28:1-10 MSG
John 20:1, 11-16 AMP

The End Is Just The Beginning

          A reading from the Gospel of John. . . chapter 20 verses 1 and 11-16. Listen for he word of God for you and me the people of God
Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .

(Sponge Bob’s best day ever)

How many of you have ever had such good news that you just couldn’t contain it? I know I have. It seems as if I would explode if I didn’t share the news with someone. . . be it something about myself or someone else. . . I just can’t help but spread the news! How about if you had a great idea that would solve so many issues? It might be an easier way to do something or an idea that would help humanity. . . the possibilities are endless. There is no telling where we might have good news for some one. The only boundary that it may have is our own imagination. We might right now have some good news that needs to be shared. What’s stopping you?

          We have come to the end of our Lenten journey. We have heard the seven last words, or statements, of Christ. We also visited the Upper Room and shared a meal and were given a new command from Christ. . . the command to love others not as we love ourselves but as Jesus loved and still loves us. We even sat at the foot of the cross and stood with those who stood by when Christ was put to death for all of humanity’s sake. But here. . . today. . . we celebrate Christ’s victory over death and joyfully. . . with enthusiasm. . . with all of our heart. . .  can say “CHRIST IS RISEN”. . . YES HE IS RISEN INDEED!

          But is that the end of the story? Are we to just say our thank you’s and good bye’s to the Cross of Calvary? Or, is there something more? My answer is NO! This is not the end but only the beginning of the story, the beginning of the new life. . . the beginning of a new age. Christ went to the cross not just to save you and me but to save all of humanity and there is so many who need the hope and forgiveness of the cross I just can’t imagine Jesus wanting us to keep it for ourselves. God wants all of humanity to be saved and we are here to share the good news so that it is. That’s part of mine and your mission here. . . part of the purpose of why we were created. . . to love, to share, to be Christ for the world.

          There are so many in the world who feel that they have nothing but death ahead of them in life. . . they don’t know that there is victory over death in Christ and this victory is and will be ours through and by faith. We will all face death at some point in time. . . we will all experience the death of a loved one at some point on our journey of life and faith. . . we may even experience death to old things in our lives. . . death to things that just don’t “work for us anymore.” But, death is not the end. . . it is a beginning of another chapter in our lives that’s called eternity. . . death can make new things spring forth in our lives and the lives of others. . .

          We heard this morning from the Gospel of John about the women who went to the tomb and found it empty. They were shocked and amazed by the angels message to them. And then. . . and then. . . they saw Christ on their way to tell the disciples the Good News. Jesus had brought forth new life with His resurrection.  In order to spring forth with a new life that would make His people glad and rejoice in His salvation the old life of a shroud being cast over His people. . . the sheet spread over the nations. . . needed to be removed. Death needed to be swallowed up forever. . . now we are not talking about the physical death but the death to the spirit that was present because of sin. Death, O death, where is thy sting?

          This promise was accomplished through the death and RESURRECTION of Christ that we heard about in the Gospel of Mark I read this morning. Victory over sin and death. . . victory in Jesus! Even though Jesus had told the disciples He would be back. . . He would rise again after His death, they still didn’t understand until it was accomplished on the first Easter Sunday morn. Death, O death, where is thy sting?

          And the best news ever was when Jesus was actually seen. . . in public none the less. . . by others. These “sightings”; did nothing but only confirm Jesus’ victory over sin and death. They say that seeing is believing and did they ever see. Death, O death, where is thy sting?

          Today, Easter Sunday, is not the end of the story. We have the best news ever to share. There are those out there who haven’t heard the good news and it is our commission to share this news with all who will hear. Are there people in your lives or mine that need a little bit of good news? Are there those around us that are suffering with the penalty of sin that need to be freed from their oppressor? Are there people in our live that are frozen in fear because of their uncertainty of their future of the future of their loved ones? Share the good news. . . shout it from the roof tops. . . give others a hope for the future. CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Christ has conquered death for you and for me. . . for all of humanity! Alleluia He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

Amen!
Easter Sunday!
Surely the Presence
Greetings and Announcements / Opening Prayer
Let The Glory Come Down!
Matthew 28:1-10 (The Message)
John 20:1
John 20:11-16 (Amplified Bible)
Communion
and sermon “The End Is Just the Beginning…”
scan:
video:
text:

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
“I Believe in Jesus”
“Go To The Rock”
“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
Matthew 28:1-10 and
Offertory, “He’s Alive”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Children’s Message
Communion, “The Old Rugged Cross” and
Because He Lives
closing song, “This Is The Day”
Departing Blessing
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 5, 2015
&
Good Friday service
John 19:30
Luke 23:46
Good Friday Sermon
“Is This The Finale?”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Opening prayer, Prayer of confession and
Assurance of Forgiveness
Invitation to Prayer
and
Service of Tenebrae –
The Service of Shadows
(with 7 candles)
1. THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL
Matthew 26:20-25
2. THE SHADOW OF INNER AGONY
Luke 22:40-44
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS
 Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION
Matthew 26:47-50, 55, 56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION
Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY
Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Luke 23:33-46
Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal #288)
FINAL READING
John 1:1-4
led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 3, 2015
&
Good Friday prayer vigil
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 3, 2015
&
Maundy Thursday
Opening Prayer and 1st reading:
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19 (NRSV)
2nd reading - Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 (NRSV) and 3rd reading -
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)
4th reading - John 13:1-17, 31b-35
sermon, “Lenten Reflections” (as in the bulletin), “A Teachable Moment”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
prayer of confession
“As the Deer”
“More Love, More Power”
“How Beautiful”
foot washing
Communion – part 1
Communion - part 2
Prayer after communion
Benediction
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 2, 2015
&
Palm Sunday
John 19:28-29 (The Amplified Bible)
sermon, “What Do We Thirst For? . . .”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message – “That slipper snake”
-          Mystery box – rubber snake
video:
text:
Sacred Dance introit, distribution of the palms
to “Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin
praise hymn, “Hear Our Praises”
praise hymn, “How Majestic Is Your Name”
praise hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness
praise hymn, “Break Every Chain”
offertory hymn, “Light The Fire Again” 
Communion hymns, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”
closing song, “God You Reign”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
6th Sunday of Lent
Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015
&
Mark 15:21-36a (The Message)
Psalm 22:1
sermon, “You Are Never Alone”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “The Protection of the Trinity”
-          Mystery box – jackknife (from Ted)
video:
text:
praise hymn, “I Will Call Upon the Lord”
praise hymn, “Standing In The Need of Prayer”
praise hymn, “It’s Amazing”
praise hymn, “For Those Tears I Died”
offertory hymn, “ At The Cross”
Communion and Communion hymns, “Ain’t Jesus Good” and “I Will Bless The Lord”
closing hymn, “Let Everything That Has Breath”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
5th Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2015
&
John 19:25-27
Ephesians 1:3-14
Romans 8:15
sermon, “You Are Chosen”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “God's Love Letter; God is writing your story”
-          Mystery box – a pencil
video:
text:
praise hymn, “Step By Step”
praise hymn, “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
praise hymn, “Jesus, Messiah”
praise hymn, “I Stand Amazed”
offertory hymn, “May Jesus Christ Be Praised” (“When Morning Gilds the Skies”)
Communion and Communion hymn, “There Is A River”
closing hymn, “Shout To the Lord”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in Lent
March 8, 2015
&
Luke 23:32, 39-43
sermon, “So This Is Paradise”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “Thirsting for God”
-          Mystery box – bottle of grape juice
video:
text:

centering hymn, “Surely the Presence”, Greeting and Announcements, Opening Prayer
praise hymn, “Forever”
praise hymn, “Everlasting”
praise hymn, “To God Be the Glory”
praise hymn, “I Worship You Almighty God”
offertory hymn, “The Love Of God Goes On”
Communion hymn, “10,000 Reasons”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2015
&
Luke 23:23, 33-34
sermon, “You Are Forgiven”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “Jesus is our superhero”
-          Mystery box – Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Scooby Doo
-          and a candy cane
video:
image:
text:
centering, “Surely the Presence”
praise hymn, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
offertory hymn, “Make My Life A Prayer to You”
Communion hymn, “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him”
closing hymn, “Our God Reigns”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
1st Sunday in Lent
February 22, 2015

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,180+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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