We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Sana and Tonkawa peoples. It is also important to acknowledge that we are here today due to the exclusion and erasure of many indigenous people from their native land, including the land on which we stand today. We honor with gratitude the land itself and its original people.
Living Room Worship
Welcome to worship. God welcomes you here, as does this community. In tonight’s worship, you will be invited to offer a song, poem, essay, reflection, photograph, story, or letter around the theme of “What do you doubt about Faith?” Be brave! We are all enriched by your sharing.
GATHERING SONG
Prayer
We gather as people on a journey.
We believe & we have doubts,
we do good & we sin.
We are imperfect humans,
and still beloved by God.
Love and grace. Hope and faith.
These are the essence of the one we call God.
We seek forgiveness & grace from
the One and from those we’ve harmed.
Assured of that grace,
we are ready to grow again.
We yearn for a new way,
a new perspective,
and a clear path.
Though we are full of trust
and full of doubt, we are here.
Speak to us, God!
Continue creating us!
Inspire our hearts.
Enlighten our minds.
Guide our actions. Amen.
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Time of Sharing
What do you doubt about faith?
Prayers
Communion
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
Communion Hymn – Let Us Break Bread Together ELW 471
Announcements
Sending Song
We Turn Our Eyes
Chorus
We turn our eyes
We turn our eyes
See the darkness bow to light
And we will rise
And we will rise
Love has overcome the night
Verse 1
You speak to my fear
You say peace be still in me
When chaos surrounds me
Your love is abounding
My heart is undone
To You I will run
Verse 2
You bury my doubt
You shelter me from the storm
You’re faithful to free me
Restore me completely
My heart is undone
To You I will run
Chorus
We turn our eyes
We turn our eyes
See the darkness bow to light
And we will rise
And we will rise
Love has overcome the night
We turn our eyes
We turn our eyes
See the darkness bow to light
And we will rise
And we will rise
Love has overcome the night
Bridge
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace (3X)
Chorus
We turn our eyes
We turn our eyes
See the darkness bow to light
And we will rise
And we will rise
Love has overcome the night
We turn our eyes
We turn our eyes
See the darkness bow to light
And we will rise
And we will rise
Love has overcome the night
Blessing
have you ever noticed
that it is the space that holds everything we believe
it is the gap
the lacuna
the void
in which we place everything we fundamentally believe
in that space
the emptiness
of tombs
lies the fullness of our faith
and in such spaces
we believe
when the void is found
the emptiness of the tomb is met
it is then we trust resurrection
and that what Jesus said
is true
we remember what he told us
and believe
it’s kind of obvious that you need
an empty tomb for resurrection
but you need that emptiness
to have a full faith
filled with hope
and possibility
and what might be
so may we step into this emptiness
and believe
the life Jesus spoke of might be true
the love he held to might be true
the words he spoke might be true
because there is only space
where death ought to be
this possibility of life
this resurrection of spirit
in every empty space
is our new hope
go and believe into the void