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
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS
Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION
Matthew 26:47-50, 55, 56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION
Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY
Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Luke 23:33-46
Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal
#288)
FINAL READING
John 1:1-4
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”
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=662949973811361&set=vb.174161846023512
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXtjIFABQ6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXtjIFABQ6I
“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
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”
closing hymn,
“Better Is One Day”
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in
Lent
March 1, 2015
&
Luke 23:23, 33-34
sermon, “You
Are Forgiven”
video:
text:
http://pstruthsermons.blogspot.com/2015/02/you-are-forgiven.html
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
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
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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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