The Narrative Lectionary on April 12, 2015 is Matthew 28:16-20. It feels so odd not to share in the story of Thomas. I want to stick my fingers in that story. I want to wonder about my doubt. But, that’s not what happens in this cycle of readings. Instead, we are pushed to wonder how we might “go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
This week, as bulletins may well already be printed, I don’t have a full liturgy to offer. Instead, I offer an affirmation of faith. I come from a tradition that has testimonies, not tests of faith. Ours is a statement of faith. Not a creed. Not a catechism. We have testimonies that come from every time and every place. It can make faith confusing and overwhelming. It can seem totally chaotic so that people might say we are Unitarians Considering Christ. (Don’t say that. I hate that.)
But, especially after Easter, I love the experience of standing together as the gathered body of Christ (that’s right, Christ) and trying to put some words to what we believe. Sometimes I use the more traditional versions in my own liturgies. Sometimes I use some that are not so well known. There is something amazing about standing together and saying these words as part of our experience of the resurrection. This particular affirmation has stolen a few lines from one of my favorite Easter hymns, Christ the Lord is Risen Today.
Here is an affirmation of faith for this day — and maybe the 50 days of Easter:
Affirmation of Faith
Now we gather together
in fear and great joy
to raise our triumphs high
because everything has changed.
Christ has died and Christ has risen.
Now we rise early on the first day of the week
because we have heard what the angels told us.
We have been changed by this news
and we believe in the power of resurrection.
We believe that this message will change our world.
Made like him, like him we rise.
We rise to be made into better disciples.
We rise to allow ourselves to soar where Christ has led.
Because love’s redeeming work is not yet done.
There are still children of God crucified
for their passionate love of the world.
Now we wait for Christ to come again.
We rise to be students of this message.
We rise to be taught by this way.
We rise in the certain faith
that Christ will come again.
If you use the prayers I’ve written in your worship, and I hope you will, please do offer me credit with as follows:
The prayers in our worship this morning were written by/adapted from Liturgical Lights for Sunday April 12, 2015 by the Rev. Elsa Anders Peters. Elsa is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ who blogs at revelsaanderspeters.com.
Cooking with Elsa 