Friends,
Christ is Risen! This is the good news of Easter that we joyfully proclaim together, the foundation on which we ground our faith. Christ’s victory over death has done something so dramatic in our lives, it’s as if we have been raised from the dead and given a new life. Yet, how does the reality of the resurrection lead to changes in our everyday lives, changes that are akin to being given a brand-new life? How do we access all that is available to us through Christ’s resurrected life? Each week during the season of Easter, we will look at “The Easter Way,” the new way opened to us by Christ’s resurrection, and its implications for our lives today. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to empower us, give us peace, transform us, renew our hope, and make all things new. Today, we turn our attention to the gift of “Resurrection Peace,” the blessing of peace that the resurrected Christ offers to all his disciples.
– Miriam
Opening Quote
“God’s answer for troubled times has always been the same: heaven has an occupied throne.” – Max Lucado, Anxious for Nothing
Full Worship Service – Click here for Full Worship Service
Opening Prayer
Lord, today we remember your faithfulness.
You walk with us every day, and you are with us in each moment. Your promises are true, and your goodness never fails us.
In this moment we come to you and we lay our lives before you.
May we worship and adore you with every fiber of our being.
Today we join with all those who worship and confess you as Lord, from generations past and present, we exclaim:
Lord we adore you.
Lord we love you.
Lord you are precious to us. Amen.
Call to Worship
Lord, we find ourselves in the locked doors of ourselves
just as the disciples were behind closed doors.
We too are afraid, perhaps for a different reason than theirs.
But we too need the breath of the Holy Spirit to take away our fears
so that we can come out from behind these locked doors.
Lord, we are like Thomas with our questions and our doubts.
We sometimes need to see in order to believe,
we need you in order to have faith.
Lord, we too need the peace you bring
because our world is fraught with uncertainty, and unrest.
Lord, just as Thomas confessed you are his Lord and his God,
we boldly claim this for our lives.
Lord, we thank you for the blessing you have given us,
the ones who believe without seeing.
Lord, may we worship you with open hearts,
ready to receive your blessing of peace.
Adapted from a prayer inspired by John 20 by Rev Abi.
Worship Song – O Praise the Name
Tithes & Offerings
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Text “Kairos Gift” and the amount of gift to 73256
(i.e., “Kairos Gift $100”)
Offering Prayer
Lord,
You are the giver of all good things, and your Word makes clear that every good and perfect gift comes from you. We ask that you accept these gifts and use them to your glory. May these gifts bring shelter to the homeless, comfort to the sick, rest to the weary, and hope to the hopeless. Just as you multiplied the offering of fish and the loaves that were freely given for others, we pray that you would multiply our offerings, and accomplish with them more than we could ask or imagine.
We give freely and not from compulsion, for there is nothing we could give that matches your glory and majesty, and the great gift of your son Jesus and of the Holy Spirit which guides us daily. All we have is yours, Father, and we ask that you use us and all we have as you will. Amen.
Scripture – John 20:19-29
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Link to Sermon– Resurrection Peace
Parents, click link to download a coloring page for preschool or a puzzle activity page for elementary. The sheets correspond to the Kairos Kids stories for this week. Encourage your child to color the picture or do the puzzle while watching the sermon.
Worship Song – Way Maker
Communion
Worship Song – Old Rugged Cross
Virtual Community Prayer
A hallmark of our Kairos worship services has been Community Prayer, a time to share prayer requests with one another and hear how we can be lifting up the needs of people in our church. We want to keep this special part of the service going during the pandemic! Join us for a time of Virtual Community Prayer over Zoom, this Sunday, April 19, at 1:30pm, led by Katie Gohde, a member of Kairos’ leadership team. Please free to join in to share a prayer request or to listen to how you can be praying for others during this time. Click here to participate.
Prayer Requests
Prayer remains a tangible way we can engage the needs of our community and the world. If you have a prayer request or praise that you would like our Kairos prayer leaders to lift up on your behalf in prayer, please email your prayer requests to Miriam at miriam@kairosatlanta.org.
Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.