Easter Sunday

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

You suffered and died so we might be free from sin,

May this Easter season teach us to listen more attentively

to your Spirit so we might walk in your light

and be an example for others.

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 10:34, 37-43

• How are you a witness to Christ?
• What can you learn from Peter’s example in this scripture?

 

Colossians 3:1-4

• Where do you see compassion? Is it alive in the world today?
• When one seeks what “is above” what do they seek? Can you see it?

 

Mark 16:1-7

• Define, “see and believe”.
• What words do you use to define love? How is it measured in your life?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What draws you to act out of compassion? What moves your heart into the action of service to and for others?
• Reflect on the past 24 hours, the past week, the past month…How would you say your time was divided? What does this say you are a witness to?  Yourself?  Others?  God?  Your Job?  A hobby?  Media?
• How does the love of Christ consume you?
• What emotion does the Easter season fill you with? How can this emotion work for the good of others?
• How does the spring weather fall in line with the spirit of Easter for you?
• Identify the last time you felt at peace. Where were you?  Who were you with?
• How often do you feel at peace?
• Where can you find consolation when you are feeling confused or depressed? Where have you been able to find consolation?
• Where can you “hear the cry of the poor” in your community? In your family?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  You heal the sick and lame;

You take time for the lost and the forsaken.

ALL:  Help us to be more compassionate like you!

Leader:  You treat us with love and respect,

even when we ignore or hurt you.

ALL:  Help us to be more gentle and generous like you!

Leader:  You take time,

even in your own suffering to care for others.

ALL:  Help us to be more kind and giving like you!

Leader:  You held nothing back from us,

you gave everything…you put us first!

ALL:  Help us to be more humble like you!

Leader:  You never tire of giving us another chance

when we make a mistake or do the wrong thing.

ALL:  Help us to be more patient like you!

Challenge for the Week:   For years I have overlooked the sacrifice and courage it took for the women who anointed Jesus’ body to actually do so.  It has been one of those small details which I’ve really not paid any attention to and have taken for granted.  Perhaps you are like me in coming to this understanding for the first time.  The challenge this week is to dive into what it meant for these women to prepare Jesus for burial.  This tradition was sacred and required much time and attention to detail out of respect.  Did they simply act out of obligation to the law?  Where they showing compassion for Jesus?  How come the authorities allowed the women to do this?  What if the women would have been too afraid to ask?  When have you ever acted out of compassion or fought to do the right thing despite the cost or potential punishment?  During this HOLY WEEK, spend some time reflecting on what the action of these women means to you, means to the church and what can we learn from their actions.