While it is hard not to be together on this festive day, we know that we are together in spirit. Blessings to you, and rejoice!

Scripture, Hymn, and Reflection

Opening Scripture – John 20:1-18 and The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

From the Gospel of Mary Magdalene – But the disciples were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, “How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of the kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?” Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, “Do not weep and do not grieve or be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with us and will protect you. But rather let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared us and made us into human beings.” When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Saviour.

Opening Song – “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” offered by Mark Burlingame and Tim Martin, trumpets; Tane DeKrey, piano.

Christ the Lord is risen today,                           Al-le-lu-ia!
Mortal tongues and angels say,                        Al-le-lu-ia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high.                   Al-le-lu-ia!
Sing, glad heavens, and earth reply:                 Al-le-lu-ia!

Love’s redeeming work is done,                        Al-le-lu-ia!
Fought the fight, the battle won,                      Al-le-lu-ia!
Death in vain forbids Christ rise,                       Al-le-lu-ia!
God has opened paradise,                               Al-le-lu-ia!

Soar we now where Christ has led,                   Al-le-lu-ia!
Follo-wing our exalted Head,                            Al-le-lu-ia!
Made like Christ, like Christ we rise!                  Al-le-lu-ia!
Ours the Cross, the grace, the skies,                 Al-le-lu-ia!

Prayer                                                                               

i thank You God for this most amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
wich is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
                                                      – e.e. cummings

“The Return Home from the Hero’s Journey” – a reflection by Andy Bachmann

Poem and Reflection

“Mary Oliver for Corona Times (after Wild Geese)” by Adrie Kusserow. Read by Lisa Goldstein, Catherine Cake, and Dar Mikula

You do not have to become totally zen, You do not have to use this isolation to make your marriage better, your body slimmer, your children more creative. You do not have to “maximize its benefits” By using this time to work even more, write the bestselling Corona Diaries, Or preach the gospel of ZOOM. You only have to let the soft animal of your body unlearn everything capitalism has taught you, (That you are nothing if not productive, That consumption equals happiness, That the most important unit is the single self. That you are at your best when you resemble an efficient machine).

Tell me about your fictions, the ones you’ve been sold, the ones you sheepishly sell others, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile, the world as we know it is crumbling. Meanwhile the virus is moving over the hills, suburbs, cities, farms and trailer parks. Meanwhile The News barks at you, harsh and addicting, Until the push of the remote leaves a dead quiet behind, a loneliness that hums as the heart anchors. Meanwhile a new paradigm is composing itself in our minds, Could birth at any moment if we clear some space from the same tired hegemonies. Remember, you are allowed to be still as the white birch, Stunned by what you see, Uselessly shedding your coils of paper skins Because it gives you something to do.

Meanwhile, on top of everything else you are facing, Do not let capitalism co-opt this moment, laying its whistles and train tracks across your weary heart. Even if your life looks nothing like the Sabbath, Your stress boa-constricting your chest. Know that your antsy kids, your terror, your shifting moods, are no less sacred than a yoga class. Whoever you are, no matter how broken, the world still has a place for you, calls to you over and over announcing your place as legit, as forgiven, even if you fail and fail and fail again. remind yourself over and over, all the swells and storms that run through your long tired body all have their place here, now in this world. It is your birthright you be held deeply, warmly, in the family of things, not one cell left in the cold.

“Easter Egg Blessings” – a reflection by Talia Raymond

Singing in Easter – “Hallelujah Chorus” from “Messiah”  by G.F. Handel – Tanè DeKrey, director. (All who wish to participate are invited to join in singing “Hallelujah Chorus” as we welcome in Easter Day.)

This Hallelujah Chorus comes from our 2017 Easter service, with photos from 2016-2019, courtesy of John Bollinger.

Final Blessing

In the empty tomb, you have given us to know
That death and darkness have not the last word:
the seed becomes fruit; the caterpillar spreads its wings;
and from the stillness of the earth, rises the glory of new life, Easter!

A beautiful message of joy and hope from the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ. You will see some familiar faces!

United Tribes Easter Worship!