Post-Easter Expectations

One of our church staff's conversations in preparation for Easter is that Easter (for us) is another Sunday. We celebrate the same truths on Resurrection Sunday that we do every Sunday. We open God’s Word, sing God’s Word, pray God’s Word, read God’s Word, apply God’s Word, and live in light of God’s Word on Resurrection Sunday like we do - hopefully - every Sunday. But certainly, we can feel the pressure of trying to cultivate greater meaning or intentionality into this one day - for those who call our churches home, and for those who may walk through the doors for the first time.

Hear me, Easter is not unimportant. The whole purpose of the incarnation, the whole purpose of the season of Advent and Christmas is to lead us to this moment - celebrating the resurrection. The resurrection is of eternal importance.

But often as worship leaders, we can believe that it is our efforts - song choice, skill in leading, our team’s ability to execute with excellence, unique articulation of truth, and creative and artistic prowess - that makes the day special and set apart.

Here is the good news: you are not that powerful. We are not so powerful that our skill and ability - or lack thereof - can make or break the truths we celebrate on Easter or every week. That means whether you sit on this side of Resurrection Sunday feeling the swell of pride in a flawless set list, or the drop of disappointment that what you executed did not live up to the vision in your head and heart, neither reality is the truest thing about you, about the team, about the church, and the resurrection. We bless God for flawlessly executed set lists knowing that was his kindness. And we bless God for unrealized visions knowing that this too is his kindness.

And we lay down what we have been carrying, and serve faithfully into the next Sunday and beyond.

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Every Resurrection Sunday 2023

Easter Recovery 2022

Resurrection Sunday: Liturgy + Set List

• FOREVER NOW A CROWN

  Call to Worship: 10th Presbyterian Church Call to Worship

• CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

• LAMB OF GOD

  Let’s confess what we celebrate as followers of Jesus. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.


  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!


  LEADER: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  ALL: He has given us new life and hope.
 He has raised Jesus from the dead.


  LEADER: God has claimed us as his own.


  ALL: He has brought us out of darkness.
 He has made us light to the world.


  LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

  ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia! 


  —based on 1 Peter 1:3-5, the Worship Sourcebook

  Sermon: Hebrews 2:14-18

  If God in Christ had never stepped down from heaven, laying aside his glory, taken on his flesh and blood, lived the perfect life, died the death we deserve, become our sin, if none of those things had ever happened, God would still be worthy of our worship, adoration, and obedience. How much more, as followers of Jesus should we respond with worship, adoration, and obedience in light of the propitiation of Christ? We’re going to respond now as we sing about how Jesus is, what He has done, and who He has called us to be. Would you stand if you’re able…

• THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD

• NO BODY

  Benediction

Every Resurrection Sunday

The Sunday following Holy Week can feel… well… anticlimactic. Likely you have invested more time, energy, creativity, and intention during Holy Week than almost any other time of the year. Does the Sunday following Easter just mean ‘business as usual’? My personal conviction is that there is no such thing as just another Sunday. That every Sunday as we gather with the people of God matters to our formation as the people of God, and matters as we declare God’s worth and value corporately. But I get it, you’re still recovering, and the excitement can sometimes feel deadened by the normalcy of life.

But the truth is, every week is a mini-resurrection Sunday.

That is why Christians gather on Sunday rather than Saturday. We are reenacting this day, orienting our lives around the day that Jesus rose from the grave. Every Sunday should stand as a marker in the week and in our life that Jesus is still alive, still ruling and reigning, and that He is worthy of our worship.

Remind your team, remind your people, and remind yourself that this Sunday is a mini-resurrection Sunday.

Tuesday Refocus: April 11

“The resurrection of Jesus is the 'Amen!' of the Father placed upon the 'It is finished!’ of the Son.” - Herman Bavnick

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12-14

Finally, fully, completely forgiven. 

There is no work left to be done.

Rejoice!

Lord, we echo the amen! Amen and amen.

Rejoicing,

AB

9 April: Liturgy + Set List

REJOICE

Welcome + Call to Worship: Psalm 111:1-4, 9

• AND CAN IT BE

• ALL HAIL KING JESUS

  Let’s confess what we believe and what we celebrate this morning. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ and together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

Corporate Prayer:

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Leader: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

All: He has given us new life and hope.

He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Leader: God has claimed us as his own.

All: He has brought us out of darkness.

He has made us light to the world.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

—based on 1 Peter 1:3-5 [From the Worship Sourcebook]

Sermon: Ephesians 2:4-7

Scripture tells us that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Let’s sing this morning in light of that day - the further up, and further in revelation of God’s glory. Would you stand if you’re able:

• O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

• SON OF SUFFERING

  Benediction: 1 Peter 1:3-4

15 January: Liturgy + Set List

• THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

  Call to Worship: Psalm 40:5

• HOW GREAT THOU ART

• ABIDE

  That song is taken largely from John 15 - where Jesus says ‘I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me, and I in you, because apart from me you can do nothing…’ 

  You and I are incapable of saving ourselves, and even beyond that, you and I are incapable of living the life God has called us to live apart from the ongoing work of Christ in us and through us. You and I cannot love God and love our enemies apart from Christ working in us and through us.

  Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day set aside to remember and celebrate the life and ongoing work of Dr. King. And remembering is right and good. But I think as followers of Jesus it is also right to be challenged by Dr. King’s faith in action. And as we remember, and are challenged by the ongoing work or racial justice in our country and around the world, and as we remember and are challenged by the counter-cultural life that God calls us to live as His followers, and as we are increasingly aware of our need for Christ to work in us and through us, we are going to pray. I will read this corporate prayer first so you can see and hear the words, and then we will pray this together.

  Corporate Prayer:

Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations to the glory of your holy name; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

Sermon: Mark 1:14-28

Repent and believe the Gospel - that is the invitation of Christ in this passage, but it is also the invitation of Christ for every person here, whether you are a follower of Jesus or not. Let’s use these next songs as prayers of repentance and belief. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together…

• THERE IS A REDEEMER

• SON OF SUFFERING

  Benediction: Matthew 28:18-20

Easter Recovery

You made it.

Whether your Easter celebrations went exactly as planned, or you would prefer a redo - you made it. Although there can often be additional time, energy, and effort that is spent on Easter, the truth is that every Sunday is a mini Resurrection Sunday.

Every Sunday we remember and rehearse the truth that Jesus is alive, and that Satan, sin, and death have been defeated.

As you recover physically, mentally, and emotionally from your Easter celebrations, don’t let this coming week be just another Sunday - let your heart be steadfast as you view all things in light of the resurrection of Christ. Lead your team and congregation toward the Hope of the Gospel again this week, and the week after that, and the week after that, until we arrive at Resurrection Sunday once more.

April 17: Liturgy + Set List

• HOUSE OF THE LORD

Call to Worship: Luke 24:1-6

Corporate Reading:

LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen. ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

L: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. A: He has given us new life and hope,
He has raised Jesus from the dead.

L: God has claimed us as His own.
A: He has brought us out of darkness. He has made us light to the world,

L: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
A: He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

[From the Worship Sourcebook, based on 1 Peter 3:3-5]

• CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

• KING OF KINGS

Sermon: Acts 13:36-41

Whatever stage of life you may be in - committed follower of Jesus, or you don’t believe anything said or sung this morning, or anywhere in between - our only hope in life and death for everyone one of us, a risen Christ. Let’s respond to who God’s Word preached with our songs and lives, would you stand and sing:

• IN CHRIST ALONE

• LIVING HOPE

Benediction

June 8: Tuesday Refocus

“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” - George MacDonald

Humanity can feel heavy.  Even creation groans under the weight of sin (Rom 8:19-23).  Suffering is a part of life - but it was never supposed to be that way.  The sin of our first parents warped and bent everything good, beautiful, and perfect into something other than its original intention.  And on days when I feel especially heavy, especially weary, I find myself yelling out prayers like a storm-tossed disciple: ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ (Mark 4:38).

Is Christ’s presence with us in the boat, with us in flesh, with us by His Spirit not the answer for which I am groaning in those moments?  I ask questions, God answers with Himself.  ‘Put your fingers here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ (Jn 20:27)

My suffering only makes sense when I can see that my Savior has first suffered for me.  My suffering only makes sense when I see that it is accomplishing something larger, and longer-lasting than this moment - it is preparation for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor 4:17).  When we suffer with our Savior we will also be glorified with Him (Rom 8:17).

The suffering of Christ is the answer to my own suffering.  His suffering is complete, once for all (Heb 10:12-13), and has given access to a life where, ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’  Rev 21:4

Jesus, thank you for your withness in our suffering.  Thank you for your own suffering which is final and complete.  Thank you that we will one day stand face-to-face with the One who bears eternal scars.  Amen.

With,

AB

Holy Week

Do you ever have that sense, you blink and a month has gone by?

You blink and it’s the Summer.

You blink and it’s Christmas.

When our lives are filled with responsibilities, relationships, work, goals, dreams, and projects, we can turn around and realize how we have blown through six months of our year. Throw in something as unpredictable as a global pandemic, and our days can creep by as easily as the fly.

This is what I love about the Church calendar - it is a way of marking our time, not by our roles, responsibilities, national holidays, or a school calendar but by the life of Jesus. Easter is the pinnacle of our celebrations as followers of Christ. The resurrection split time in two. The resurrection changed the day that followers of Christ gathered to remember, respond, and worship Him. The resurrection meant that the perfect sacrifice of Christ was sufficient, and we can now be in right relationship with God. But we don’t get to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday without the betrayal of Maundy Thursday, the suffering of Good Friday, and the silence of Holy Saturday. When we lean into the bitterness of these days, Resurrection Sunday is that much sweeter as we celebrate the life of Christ.

If you are serving in a church that is not particularly liturgical or following the rhythms of the church calendar, how can you build in those moments of remembrance for you, your team, and those you serve?

Take your team through a devotional, or daily readings in line with the Holy Week story. Spending time in God’s Word, with God’s Spirit, and God’s people will never be wasted. Allow your heart’s affection, and your mind’s attention to be captivated as you meditate on the truth of the Gospel story, the height, depth, width, and length of the love of God. If you’re looking for a devotional that you could use with your team, you can download my 2021 Lent Devotional for free, here.

Make plans for next year. Spend some time with your pastors, elders, creative team, planning ways that you can help set apart Holy Week, or the Lenten season next year to prepare people’s hearts for the celebration of Easter Sunday. Plan a Maundy Thursday Service, or a Passover Seder Meal, a Good Friday service, a Stations of the Cross, or Guided Prayer Meditations, or even a church-wide devotional for families.

Read and learn about the Church Calendar. Okay, maybe you or your people are not ready to step into every rhythm of the Church calendar, but perhaps there are things that you can take from the Church calendar that will work in your context, and help amplify the celebration and remembrance of the life of Christ. Here are some of my favorite resources in learning about liturgical rhythms:

The Liturgical Year - Joan Chittister

The Worship Sourcebook - Emily Brink, John Witvliet

He/She Reads Truth

Sacred Ordinary Days - Planners, podcasts, and resources for liturgical rhythms

For this week. Easter is typically a time where the local church sees lots of visitors, and there can seem to be pressure to get it right - for every aspect of the gathering to be flawlessly executed and impressive. Do not let the pressure take precedence. The reality is that every Sunday is a mini-Resurrection Sunday - a reminder that Jesus is alive, ruling, and reigning, and seated at the right hand of God. Pray and plan your service well. Communicate the Gospel in the songs you sing, in the Scripture you read, in the prayers you utter. Do it all with excellence, but excellence that points people to the beauty and wonder of Jesus, not amazement at the dust holding His breath and bearing His image.

He is worthy, and He is risen! Let’s remember and respond with joyful hearts and excellent skill.

April 14: Tuesday Refocus

'Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me.

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for You.

Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.’

Psalm 25:19-22

Let there be no doubt we have an enemy, a schemer, a soul-accuser, who - as the hymn reminds us - takes pleasure in our harm (Eph 6:11, Rev 12:10). But for the follower of Christ, we ‘…do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matt 10:28).’ For we have already died ‘…with Christ, and we know that we will also live with Him (Rom 6:8).’

Two days ago we celebrated in the midst of confusion and chaos that ‘the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:26).’ We mocked our accuser, and his schemes by declaring that Christ is alive forevermore, and He holds the keys of Death and Hades (Rev 1:18).

Yes, even in the midst of sorrow, suffering, isolation, and death itself, we can find life. At the end of a cul-de-sac on Easter Sunday, I saw neighbors dressed for worship, standing at the edge of driveways singing together. At the edge of driveways and a global pandemic Christ is still building His Church - and the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matt 16:18). He has and will redeem us out of all our troubles.

Take heart,

AB