McPhail Weblog April 4th, 2021

McPhail Baptist Church

Easter Sunday

Prelude: “The Strife Is O’er”

Hymn: “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”

Prayer

Help us, O God, to live as Easter people. Help us to believe in our hearts that beyond every dark valley there is a sunny meadow; that beyond the shrouds of death there are robes of life.

Ignite a sparkle in our eyes and place a smile upon our faces. Through our tears may we catch a glimpse of your promise, and even in the darkest night may we have confidence in the dawn.

Help us to experience here and now the presence and power of the risen Christ. Give us the confidence that comes in knowing that our future is tied in with the future of Jesus Christ.

Help us to believe that the whole human story has a bright promise ahead, that our deeds of love and courage have a point, that Christ is even now walking the streets of our own city, and is alive in our hearts and lives.

O God, burst the limits of our understanding even as He burst the limits of the tomb. In the name of the risen Lord, we pray. Amen.

Special Music:"Because He Lives"

Owen and Logan Bueckert

We welcome Owen and Logan Bueckert back to our weblog for today’s Easter service. Owen is playing different sax parts for this video, and he and Logan had a great time putting the production together. This piece “Because He Lives” is sent out in dedication to Bob Eady.

Because He Lives - McPhail Memorial Baptist Church - Easter 2021 from Safiya Dancer on Vimeo.

Scripture Reading

Luke 24:1-12 (NRSV)

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Hymn: “Christ Arose!”