Video: Mother's Day Movement

As Mothers’ Day approaches, you might be interested in this Mother’s Day Movement video produced by The Work of the People.

Description:  With $14 billion spent on Mother's Day, have we've lost touch a bit with the Mother's Day story? Pastor Ron Lewis looks into the surprising beginnings of Mother's Day and invites us to reclaim it's original focus.


For more worship resources for Mothers’ Day, click on Mothers’ Day resources in the “Labels” list at the lower right side of the page. 

Christ Came Juggling


Image: Balls in the Air by Lorraine Ulen

Christ Came Juggling

Christ came juggling from the tomb,
flipping and bouncing death's stone pages,
tossing those narrow letters high
against the roots of dawn spread in cloud.
This Jesus, clown, came dancing
in the dust of Judea, each slapping step
a new blossom spiked with joy.

Hey! Listen - that chuckle in the dark,
that clean blast of laughter behind -
Christ comes juggling our tombs,
tossing them high and higher yet,
until they hit the sun and break open
and we fall out, dancing and juggling
our griefs like sizzling balls of light.

— "Christographia 31" by Eugene Warren in A Widening Light, Luci Shaw,editor,

For more resources for Holy Humor/Laughter Sunday,
click on Laughter/Holy Humour in the list of “Labels”
at the bottom right side of the page.

Image: Road to Emmaus


This intriguing image is Road to Emmaus, by American artist, Adam Howie.  Notice the different shadows created by each of the figures (a cross, question mark, exclamation mark).  This is just one of a series of pieces he has created on the Emmaus Road.  You can see more of his artwork at his website, Red Bubble

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

Call to Worship: To God be praise and glory!



We stand before the Lord this day;
the Lord of the burning bush
and the cloud upon the mountain.

To God be praise and glory!
This is the Lord of our lives.

We acknowledge the risen Christ—
our Savior and Redeemer—
the Master recognized in the break of bread
and amid the dust of the Emmaus road.

To Christ be praise and glory!
This is the Savior who makes all things new.

We acknowledge the holy Spirit who enables us…
seen in the descending dove,
heard in the rushing wind and tongues of fire.

To the Holy Spirit all praise and glory!
This is the one who empowers us.

Even now in this time ...in this place,

We have seen signs of God's greatness.

Come, let us sing our praise!

—from Clergy Resources website.

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter,
click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.


Images for the 3rd Sunday of Easter


If you’re looking for Emmaus Road images for May 8, 2011, check out the collection on the Hermano Leon Clipart site. There's a wide variety there, both traditional and contemporary.  

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

Video: Emmaus Road

If you’re looking for video resources on the Emmaus Road encounter (Luke 24), here are a few you might check out. 

Road to Emmaus, a 30-minute video that tells the story of Jesus' walk with two disciples on the road to Emmaus the afternoon of Easter Sunday. During the walk Jesus explained why it was necessary for him to suffer and rise from the dead. He also discusses main characters and events of the Bible and links them to Jesus as God's plan of salvation. The DVD is available from Northwestern Publishing House, nph.net.



Other video suggestions:

Description:  A narration of Luke 24 passage with contemporary stylized video

The Road to Emmausa two-minute reflection on the Scriptural text.

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.


Prayers on the Emmaus Road Encounter


Image: Roghman Roelant, Christ on the Road to Emmaus (1650-1660)

Here are four prayers based on Luke 24, the story of Jesus' encounter with the disciples on the Emmaus Road. All four come from The Open Sourcebook website, and were posted there by Nathan Bierma.

‘Our patient teacher, our ever-pursuing Lord’

Lord Jesus, this story tells us so much about you.
You are:
not passive ethereal being, but a pursuer.
not a benign, nice associate, but one who risks speaking the truth in love.
not a coercive overpowering presence, but a patient teacher.
not an isolated, individualistic prophet, but a guest, even a host,
whose true character is seen in table fellowship.
We praise you as our patient teacher, our ever-pursuing Lord.
Amen.

— written by Nathan Bierma, inspired by a sermon on Luke 24 by John Witvliet 


‘Our eyes are kept from recognizing you’  

Open our eyes, Lord.
Without the gift of your revelation,
our eyes are kept from recognizing you.
Appear before us, suddenly, unexpectedly, in all your glory.
So that we, too, may proclaim to a world in despair,
that we have seen the risen Lord.

— written by Nathan Bierma, inspired by a sermon on Luke 24 by John Witvliet. 



Lord Jesus Christ,
Stay with us, too, we pray,
in every part of our journey,
no matter how full of doubt or fear we may be today.

Through your Holy Spirit,
we pray that you will open our eyes, too
Help us see you as our risen Lord
in all your beauty,
and in all your loving power.
Amen.

—John Witvliet, from the close of a sermon on Luke 24


‘We had hoped’ 

We had hoped.
Lord, we voice our despair.
We had hoped you were our victory
We had hoped you were our earthly leader.
We had hoped you would remove the pain and the sorrow
once and for all.

But then we saw suffering.
Then we saw injustice.
We saw blood on the ground.
We saw death.

And doubt swelled in our throats
and choked off our praise.
We had hoped.
Risen Lord, revitalize our hope.
Open our eyes to see your victory.

—Nathan Bierma

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

Scripture Reading: the Road to Emmaus

Image: Pilgrims on the Road to Emmaus, James Tissot

If your worship this Sunday includes Luke 24:13-35 (one of the Revised Common Lectionary texts for the third Sunday of Easter), you might want to consider reading the passage from The Voice, a unique new translation of the New Testament published by Thomas Nelson. Here it is:

The Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35, from The Voice

That same day, two other disciples (not of the eleven) are traveling the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  As they walk along, they talk back and forth about all that has transpired during recent days. While they’re talking, discussing, and conversing, Jesus catches up to them and begins walking with them, but for some reason they don’t recognize Him.

JesusYou two seem deeply engrossed in conversation. What are you talking about as you walk along this road?

They stop walking and just stand there, looking sad. One of them—Cleopas is his name—speaks up.

Cleopas: You must be the only visitor in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about what’s been going on over these last few days.

Jesus: What are you talking about?

Two Disciples: It’s all about the man named Jesus of Nazareth.  He was a mighty prophet who did amazing miracles and preached powerful messages in the sight of God and everyone around. Our chief priests and authorities handed Him over to be executed—crucified, in fact.

We have been hoping that He was the One—you know, the One who would liberate all Israel and bring God’s promises. Anyway, on top of all this, just this morning—the third day after the execution—some women in our group really shocked us. They went to the tomb early this morning, but they didn’t see His body anywhere. Then they came back and told us they did see something—a vision of heavenly messengers—and these messengers said that Jesus was alive. Some people in our group went to the tomb to check it out, and just as the women had said, it was empty. But they didn’t see Jesus.

Jesus:  Come on, men! Why are you being so foolish? Why are your hearts so sluggish when it comes to believing what the prophets have been saying all along? Didn’t it have to be this way? Didn’t the Liberating King have to experience these sufferings in order to come into His glory?

Then He begins with Moses and continues, prophet by prophet, explaining the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures, showing how they were talking about the very things that had happened to Jesus.

About this time, they are nearing their destination. Jesus keeps walking ahead as if He has no plans to stop there, but they convince Him to join them.

Two Disciples: Please, be our guest. It’s getting late, and soon it will be too dark to walk.

So He accompanies them to their home. When they sit down at the table for dinner, He takes the bread in His hands, He gives thanks for it, and then He breaks it and hands it to them. At that instant, two things happen simultaneously: their eyes are suddenly opened so they recognize Him, and He instantly vanishes—just disappears before their eyes.

Two Disciples (to each other): Amazing! Weren’t our hearts on fire within us while He was talking to us on the road? Didn’t you feel it all coming clear as He explained the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures?

So they get up immediately and rush back to Jerusalem—all seven miles—where they find the eleven gathered together—the eleven plus a number of others.  Before Cleopas and his companion can tell their story, the others have their own story to tell.

Other Disciples: The Lord has risen indeed! It’s true! He appeared to Simon!

Then the two men report their own experience—their conversation along the road, their moment of realization and recognition as He broke the bread.

Scripture taken from The Voice™.
Copyright ©2006, 2007, 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society.
Used by permission. All rights reserved

For additional worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter on this blog, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.


Contemporary Hymn: Emmaus Road

Words: Brenton Prigge © 2005 New Hymn,
based on Luke 24:13-35
CCLI # 4494803

On that dry Emmaus road
heavy hearts still keening.
Once the answers seemed so close,
on the brink of meaning.
Meet us here, Jesus, Lord!
Walk with us, we urge you
Oh, how slow we are to see,
open up your Scriptures.

Jesus, speak to us your truth,
how our hearts are burning!
Keep us on Emmaus' road,
keep us ever learning.
Meet us here, Jesus, Lord!
Walk with us, we urge you.
Oh, how slow we are to see,
open up your Scriptures.

Feed us with your Word, O Lord,
our hearts need it daily.
Feed us with the Bread of Life,
feed us, precious Saviour.
Stay with us, Jesus, Lord!
stay with us, we urge you.
Oh, how slow we are to see,
open up your Scriptures

Now we go to tell the world,
we must share the good news:
It is true! The Saviour lives!
Have you heard the good news?
Go with us, Jesus, Lord!
Strengthen us, we pray you.
Oh, how slow we are to go,
send us with your Gospel.

—Brenton Prigge, posted on the New Hymn website. 

CCLI license holders may freely use and reproduce these lyrics, provided that CCLI copyright protocol is followed.

Tune suggestions:  NEAR THE CROSS (“Jesus, keep me near the cross”)  

For additional worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter on this blog, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

Prayer & Benediction: Hope-Carriers



We thank You, Lord, for re-igniting the flame of hope within us,
for filling our hearts with light and evicting the darkness,
and for giving a new vision of Your glory. Amen.

Go now, as light-bearers to a world in darkness,
Go now, as hope-carriers to a world in despair;

We go in the name of Christ,
in the love of God
and in the power of the Spirit.
Amen.

© 2005 John van de Laar,
from Food For The Road: Life Lessons From The Lord’s Table,
posted on his Sacredise.com website.

For additional worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter on this blog, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.


Prayer of Thanksgiving: Emmaus Road



Loving God, our elusive yet all-sustaining Friend,
            in spite of the negative doubters around us,
            we dare to celebrate your glorious Presence!

In this post-modern world
            where the illusion of your absence
            is felt keenly by numerous souls,
            we thank you for your gifts
            that break through to nurture us.

We give thanks
            for the accumulated sanity
            of the Holy Scriptures
            through which you speak to us
            even when our hearts feel cold.

We give thanks
            for the caring communities
            of your holy church
            where you are present
            with encouragement
            and profound healing.

We give thanks
            for those special, holy times
            when for a few seconds or hours
            this world’s shrouds split open
            and we glimpse your glory.

Most of all we give thanks
            for the gift of Christ Jesus
            who makes himself known
            in the breaking of bread
            to all who keep the tryst.

Loving Lord, elusive but faithful Friend,
            in spite of our scrappy faith and love,
            we dare to celebrate your glorious Presence!
            Hallelujah!
                                   

— Bruce Prewer, from Jesus our Future: Prayers for the 21st Century, page 50,
Ó B D Prewer and Ó Open Book Publishers,
and reprinted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. Used by permission.

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter,
click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

For other prayers and prayer resources on this blog, see this Scriptural Prayer Index or this Topical Prayer Index.

Sending Litany: The Presence of Christ



There is no evening tiredness that Christ will not share;
no anxious day that can dawn, without Christ being first there.
Amen!

There is no road to travel, no Christ-empty space,
no enemy to face, without Christ’s grace.
Amen!

There is no joy to celebrate without Christ’s grin,
no sorrow to bear without Christ’s spirit within.
Amen!

The awesome blessing of God Most Holy,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now and evermore
Amen!

—Bruce Prewer, at Bruce Prewer’s Home page 

See also his Prayer of Thanksgiving.

For more worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter,
click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.


Benediction: Emmaus Road


for the third Sunday of Easter

Go now as witnesses of God’s eternal presence.
The risen Christ has made himself known to you
in the breaking of bread,
so set your faith and hope on God,
fulfilling your vows and living in genuine mutual love.

And may God hear and respond whenever you call;
may Christ Jesus make himself known to you in all things;
and may the Holy Spirit open your eyes and set your hearts on fire with love.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
...In the name of Christ. Amen.

© 2002 Nathan Nettleton,

You’ll find many other resources for worship on Easter 3 available on his site, including his own paraphrases of the scripture readings for the day.

For additional worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter on this blog, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.

Confession: Recognizing Jesus



One:     Risen Lord Jesus, what is it that keeps us from recognizing you?  

Two:     When we are so full of ourselves,
            it is all too easy to block you right out of our lives.  

One:     Maybe it’s the way we interpret Scripture
            that obscures the signs pointing to you.

Two:     Perhaps we are guilty of being slow of heart
            when we don’t recognise you in our neighbour,
            or in the guise of the poor or the dispossessed.

One:     Our eyes and ears have become so crammed
            with the sights and sounds of  living
            that we simply fail to see you or to recognize your voice.

            Risen Lord Jesus,
            help us to empty ourselves of all that hinders
            our awareness of your presence with us. 
            Fill us with the joy of knowing your continuing presence,
            so that, like those travellers on the road to Emmaus,
            we too, hasten to share this great good news with others.
            Amen.  



Assurance of Pardon
(based on I Peter 1:18, 23; John 3:17-18)

We know that we were ransomed from futile ways
....with the precious blood of Christ...
and have been born anew
through the living and enduring word of God.
In this we recognize God’s great love for the world
revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus...
who came into the world not to condemn it
but to save it.
Those who believe in him are not condemned.

Thanks be to God!

— written by Moira Laidlaw, at Liturgies Online
There are more resources for Easter 3 at the site above,
including a Prayer of Thanksgiving at the Table.

For additional worship resources for the third Sunday of Easter on this blog, click on Easter 3 in the list of “Labels” to the lower right.