Easter Sunday - April 12, 2020 - German Church Atlanta

Worship on the Day of Resurrection of The Lord -- Easter Sunday -12. April 2020 German Church Atlanta Pre-recorded 21.April 2019 Christ speaks: I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.

Revelation 1:18

Greeting and Announcements

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (Text: Bernard Kyamanywa, b. 1938; tr. Howard S. Olson, b. 1922 Swahili text Š 1968 Lutheran Theological College, Makumira, Tanzania, admin.

Augsburg Fortress. English text Š 1977 Howard S. Olson, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.)

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Christ has arisen, alleluia.

Rejoice and praise him, alleluia.

For our redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death, dispelling its gloom.

Refrain Let us sing praise to him with endless joy.

Death's fearful sting he has come to destroy.

Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

Jesus is living, alleluia!

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For three long days the grave did its worst until its strength by God was dispersed.

He who gives life did death undergo, and in its conquest his might did show. Refrain

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The angel said to them, "Do not fear.

You look for Jesus who is not here.

See for yourselves the tomb is all bare.

Only the graveclothes are lying there." Refrain

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"Go spread the news: he's not in the grave.

He has arisen this world to save.

Jesus' redeeming labors are done.

Even the battle with sin is won." Refrain

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Christ has arisen to set us free.

Alleluia, to him praises be.

Jesus is living! Let us all sing; he reigns triumphant, heavenly king. Refrain

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 2:1-2, 6-8a

Then Hannah prayed: “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is increased by the Lord. I will open my mouth to speak against my enemies,because I rejoice in your deliverance. Indeed, there is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides you, there is no rock like our God. The Lord kills and gives life, he brings people down to where the dead are and he raises them up. The Lord makes people poor and he makes people rich, he brings them low, and he also exalts them. He raises the poor up from the dust, he lifts up the needy from the trash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.

Words of our living God | To God be praise and thanks

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Psalm 118 The Lord is my strength and protector, for he has become my deliverer.

There’s exultation for deliverance in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord is victorious!

The right hand of the Lord is exalted! The right hand of the Lord is victorious!”

I will not die, but I will live to recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord will discipline me severely, but he won’t hand me over to die.

Open for me the righteous gates so I may enter through them to give thanks to the Lord.

This is the Lord’s gate—The righteous will enter through it.

I will praise you because you have answered me and have become my deliverer.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

This is from the Lord—it is awesome in our sight.

This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe

Prayer of the Day Crucified God... God of New Life...

We are finding ourselves “in between”…

We are grieving.

We are separated from people we love.

We feel confused and overwhelmed In the midst of everything that has happened these past weeks.

Just as the disciples who ran away with panic, who fled in their fear, who were hiding while deeply grieving, we too feel anxious, vulnerable and exposed to a virus against which we haven’t found an immunization.

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And then this message reaches us That the grave was empty.

That Jesus is risen And that death does not have the last word.

We find ourselves „in between“ Between grieving and doubting.

In between fear and sprouting hope, In between confusion and moments of light.

Come into our darkness.

Let it become Easter in us and around us.

Send forth your light and your truth so they may guide me.

Let them bring me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling places.

Amen Epistle

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Now I’m making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you accepted, on which you have taken your stand, and by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you—unless, of course, your faith was worthless.For I passed on to you the most important points that I received: The Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures—and is still alive!— and he was seen by Cephas, and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Next he was seen by James, then by all the apostles, and finally he was seen by me, as though I were born abnormally late. For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church. But by God’s grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others—not I, of course, but God’s grace that was with me. So, whether it was I or the others, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

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Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron, eg 103, 1-5 (Text: M. Weiße, 1531; Melodie: M. Vulpius, 1609)

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Des Morgens früh am dritten Tag, da noch der Stein am Grabe lag, erstand er frei ohn alle Klag.

Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja.

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Der Engel sprach: »Nun fürcht' euch nicht; denn ich weiß wohl, was euch gebricht.

Ihr sucht Jesus, den find't ihr nicht.« Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja.

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»Er ist erstanden von dem Tod, hat überwunden alle Not; kommt, seht, wo er gelegen hat.« Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja.

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Nun bitten wir dich, Jesu Christ, weil du vom Tod erstanden bist, verleihe, was uns selig ist.

Halleluja, Halleluja, Halleluja.

Gospel

John 20:1-18

Glory to you, O Lord Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her Praise to you, O Christ.

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Apostles‘ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Erschienen ist der herrlich‘ Tag, eg 106, 1+3-5 (Text und Melodie: N. Herman, 1560)

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Sein' Raub der Tod mußt geben her, das Leben siegt und ward ihm Herr, zerstöret ist nun all sein Macht.

Christ hat das Leben wiederbracht.

Halleluja.

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Die Sonn, die Erd, all Kreatur, alls, was betrübet war zuvor, das freut sich heut an diesem Tag, da der Welt Fürst darniederlag.

Halleluja.

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Drum wollen wir auch fröhlich sein, das Halleluja singen fein und loben dich, Herr Jesu Christ; zu Trost du uns erstanden bist.

Halleluja.

Children’s Time with a Children’s Song

O du fröhliche, (Text: J. Falk, (1816) 1819; Melodie: Sizilien vor 1788, bei J. Herder 1807)

Sermon The full text is at the end of this program

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Christ ist erstanden, eg 99, 1-3 (Text:Bayern/Ă–sterreich 12. bis-15. Jhd. Melodie: Salzburg 1160/1433, Tegernsee 15.

Jhd., Wittenberg 1529)

Music for the Collection Intercessory Prayer Wir beten gemeinsam (We are praying together) Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!

It is still dark.

We are still separated from each other.

Death is still showing its dark powers, And yet, you are making this night bright.

Christ, you are risen.

You are the lightUnimaginable for us, Comfort for an infected world, Hope in our fear.

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(We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

Bring your light to all Who struggle with death, The sick, the infected, For all who work in the hospitals and senior citizen homes.

(We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

Take into your light All who are dying alone, All who are grieving and All those who have died.

(In silence we are bringing their names to you) (We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

With your light surround all Who we are separated from: Our family members, Our friends, Our sisters and brothers.

(In silence we are bringing their names to you) (We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

You have risen.

Christ- you are the light.

You are granting us life.

Share your life with those Who are consumed by fear.

Share your life with the lonely, With the desperate, With those inflicted.

You are risen and You are sharing your life with us.

(We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

Come with your life into this suffering world.

Share your life with those Who commit themselves to the care of others.

Share your life 11

With those who are standing up for life.

Share your life With those who we love and with whom we long to be with.

(In silence we are bringing their names to you) (We are praying together:) “Christ, our light. Have mercy on us!”

Christ, you are risen, you have overcome death, so that we will live.

Share your life with us And let us live once again Today and during these Easter days.

Still death is all around us, But we pray to you, For you are the life. Hallelujah!

Amen The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Amen

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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Text: J. Neander, 1680; Melodie: 17. Jhd., geistlich Stralsund 1665, Halle 1741)

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Lobe den Herren, der alles so herrlich regieret, der dich auf Adelers Fittichen sicher geführet, der dich erhält, wie es dir selber gefällt; hast du nicht dieses verspüret?

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Lobe den Herren, der künstlich und fein dich bereitet, der dir Gesundheit verliehen, dich freundlich geleitet.

In wieviel Not hat nicht der gnädige Gott über dir Flügel gebreitet!

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Lobe den Herren, der deinen Stand sichtbar gesegnet, der aus dem Himmel mit Strömen der Liebe geregnet.

Denke daran, was der Allmächtige kann, der dir mit Liebe begegnet.

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Lobe den Herren, was in mir ist, lobe den Namen.

Alles, was Odem hat, lobe mit Abrahams Samen.

Er ist dein Licht, Seele, vergiß es ja nicht.

Lobende, schließe mit Amen!

Blessing

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Sermon about John 20, 11- 18 What is resurrection? In any case it begins at the grave. It begins with death, with grief and with the loss of a beloved person.

Only a few days earlier Mary had anointed Jesus with expensive oil. She had touched him lovingly. She had been close to him, and he had allowed her expression of love.

She had blessed him, and he had blessed her with his words as well.

And then, the darkest of all days. The Friday when everything changed. Nothing was as it had been. The crucifixion had been a terrible event. Completely helpless Mary had stood below the cross. All hope had vanished. She could no longer touch him.

Closeness had given way to distance. Nothing was how it had been before.

Very quietly resurrection happens. A woman, a garden in the early morning, maybe a few birds chirping. There isn’t yet the hassle in the small streets of the old city, the people selling their goods have not arrived yet. Nobody saw her when she entered the garden, as Mary had left even before the sunrise.

She had to see him. He had been dead for two days now, her Jesus. For two days he was in the grave, alone in the cold and in the darkness. And when she finally arrived at the garden, deeply sad and her eyes filled with tears, she felt like the ground had been pulled under her. The grave was empty. Now they at last had even stolen his body. Not even in death was he safe from the evil doers in politics and the temple, those on whose consciousness his death was engraved. They considered him dangerous, this Jesus, in his way of loving, his radical love of God and of humanity.

They had to get rid of him. And now they had even stolen his dead body.

Now Mary had nothing. No Jesus, no grave that she could visit and care for, where she could sit and cry. No place anymore for her love, no space where she could feel his presence somehow.

We all need such places. Places where we can sit down. Places where we can express our love at least through some flowers, an angel, a visit.

Gravesides are places in search for love. They are resting places and at the same time places of longing. Spaces of love. And now Mary does not even have that anymore.

Everything they have taken aware from her. And so, she just stands and cries.

She cries just as many of us have cried at gravesides, cries how many have cried who did not even have a grave, but only a solemn message: „Fallen for the nation“. She cries as so many are crying today when they can’t be with their loved ones who die alone in isolation wards. There is so much crying in this world. Will it never end?

This killing, the dying and the crying?

A lonely and deeply sad woman in a garden.

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What is resurrection? In any case it begins at the graveside. Mary sees and at the same time does not see. As she is crying wildly, she sees two angels sitting in the open grave. She sees and yet does not see. Not even the messengers from God’s realm. Not even they can help her see. Yes, not even their compassionate words are reaching her through the darkness of her grief. “Woman, why are you crying?” the angels ask her. Even though Mary is answering, but even while she is talking, she is turning around, turning away. And so, the angels disappear without a trace in our Easter story. Apparently even they cannot change anything in the midst of the experience of overpowering death and grief.

And suddenly there is someone else. Nobody knows where he came from. And Mary sees him and yet does not see him. Mary sees but does not recognize. And once again the same question: “Woman why are you crying?” And then “Who are you looking for?” Yes, who are you looking for? Isn’t it interesting that Jesus has two questions?

Not only one, as the angels, that asks about her crying, but also the much deeper question about her longing. “Who are you looking for?”

Maybe God is asking us this very morning for our longing. “Who are you looking for?“ “What is it that you are really longing for?” “What is deeply important to you?”

“What are you missing?” Which holes are you plugging with working so much? With more and more? What is it that you really need to live a fulfilled life? What are you missing?”

Mary thinks the stranger was the gardener. In her panic, she believes that this gardener has taken Jesus away.

Resurrection begins at the graveside. And it begins with is hearing our name. “Mary”!

Very quietly – more whispered than spoken. “Mary”, only that, only her name. „I have called you by your name“ God says „you are mine”. Since birth, since your baptism I have put my name upon your name, and I have never left you – even when you cried at the graveside, even when you were in deep pain. Even when you felt deeply alone and when this great injustice was done to you. I have never left your side, even when you committed a great injustice, and yes, not even during your last breaths here on earth will I abandon you – you are mine. „Mary.“ And now, finally, she recognizes and she has to turn around one more time – apparently her heart has to make several turns and shifts until it can come out of the shadows of death. Now she recognizes.

When God calls us by our name, then resurrection has begun. Then we are able to recognize. That can happen in a dream or in the middle of the day, it can be frightening or a deep sense of joy. We are being called by name; we have been found.

We don‘t have to look for God, but we are already found. We do not have to search for God or try to find him.

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„Rabun.“ My Master! Mary wants to embrace him, caress him and touch him so that she can believe it for sure. Believe that now everything will be Ok again, that the nightmare will be over, and that everything will be like it was before.

But just like all of us at this time cannot touch and embrace, how we cannot even shake hands anymore, nor was Mary aloud to. „Do not touch me“ Jesus said. You cannot hold me; you cannot have me how you had me before. You can experience me; you can hear me and feel my presence. But what was is no longer. Nothing is as it was before. Something completely new has begun.

As quietly as the resurrection begins, in truth it is a huge shift, an immense movement of change. No stone is left on top of the other. The grave cannot hold the dead.

And yet, resurrection does not mean that Jesus has returned, just as he was present before. A dead does not come back, but instead a living appears. One who has seen death and has overcome it. Jesus is not the same. He is transformed. And his message to Mary is the following: „In me God is beginning with transforming this world. No dead person ever comes back, however, I am coming as the one who has overcome death. I have overcome. And this victory is not just for me, it is for everybody, and therefore go back.” Jesus is sending Mary back to her regular life.

Very quietly Easter has begun. A woman, a garden, an empty grave and suddenly everything is becoming loud and bells ring loudly and they ring in Easter and people all around the world are shouting one to the other (with at least six feet distance these days, and yet nevertheless) in all kinds of languages and throughout all times: “Jesus, the Lord, he is risen. He is risen indeed!!

And this proclamation is at the same time a protest call!

And so the people who follow this Jesus become also protesters against death. They are protesting all the little deaths that have so many names, names like poverty, violence and destruction. And they become protesters also against death itself, the enemy of life.

And thus, we protest today against all people who get others in deadly danger only because they do not believe in the COVID-19 virus.

We protest against the injustice that not enough test kits nor protection gear has been provided for our hospital workers.

We protest where the safety and lives of people and of small businesses are being sacrificed in order to save the large players in our economy.

We protest where partisan calculations endanger the provision of care for acutely sick people.

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The reality of innocent deaths is more real and more painful in many countries around the world, and in these days, is more felt and suffered than before.

Jesus sends us back into the world, just like Mary by saying: „In this world you are afraid, but I have overcome the world�. As the resurrection of Jesus has become a reality, as death as ultimate threat has been overcome, then we won’t be afraid anymore or at least not as often. We will care for life and preserve it wherever we can. We will continue to protest wherever innocent life is being endangered, and we will not stop telling the Easter story.

Death does not have the last word! We have been called by our names. Jesus, our brother, is risen. He is risen indeed! Amen

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