From the Pastor: Doubt and Faith

Dear Peace family,

On the second Sunday of Easter, we heard once again the story of Thomas—“Doubting Thomas,” as we call him. That’s always been a favorite of mine, because I think Thomas exemplifies most of us disciples much of the time. Christ is risen, but he goes off by himself and sulks, and as a result he doesn’t see the risen Lord. He insists he will not believe Christ is risen unless he can see it with his own eyes, touch the wounds with his own hands. It is only when he is in the room with the other disciples that he sees Christ—and then all the doubts dissolve, and he is able to see with eyes of faith.

On that Sunday, we sang a hymn written by J. R. Peacey. I think it is a wonderful commentary on this story, and for those of you who didn’t make it to church on Easter 2, I’d like to share it with you.

Dear Lord, we long to see your face,

To know you risen from the grave,

But we have missed the joy and grace

Of seeing you, as others have;

Yet in your company we’ll wait

And we shall see you, soon or late.

Dear Friend, we do not know the way,

Nor clearly see the path ahead;

So often, therefore, we delay

And doubt your power to raise the dead;

Yet we with you will firmly stay—

You are the truth, the life, the way.

We find it hard, Lord, to believe.

Long habit makes us want to prove:

To see, to touch, and thus perceive

The truth and person whom we love;

Yet when in fellowship we meet,

You come yourself, each one to greet.

You come to us, our God, our Lord,

You do not show your hands and side,

But give, instead, your best reward

As in your promise we abide.

By faith we know and grow and wait

To see and praise you, soon or late.

I think Mr. Peacey has it just right! We so often hesitate when Christ calls us to step out in faith. But as we seek to abide in Christ’s promise, he gives us the grace to trust—and in that trust, we grow ever closer to our risen Lord.

May he draw us closer to him in this season, and always.

Peace to you,

Pastor Richard O. Johnson

Classic Prayers

Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

--Book of Common Worship (Presbyterian)

Liturgy Notes: The Easter Season

Since the very beginning of Christianity, the festival of Easter has been the greatest day of the year for Christians. Ancient writers called it the “queen of feasts,” and today, two millennia later, it still holds that place in Christian hearts.

There are a number of ways in which the church’s worship reflects joy in the resurrection of Christ. At no other time is there such a contrast in the appearance of the worship space between one day and the next. On Maundy Thursday, the church has been stripped of all its decorations. Banners, paraments, even the altar linens have been removed. Good Friday services take place in the starkness of this very plain building, a reminder of the cold bareness of the grave.

But on Easter morn, the church is flooded with light and the joyful celebration has begun! We see the white paraments and banners, symbols of the joy of the resurrection. We see the chancel bedecked with flowers. Perhaps there are butterflies, a wonderful ancient symbol of resurrection. By the altar we see a new Paschal Candle, standing tall with its flame flickering, suggesting the close presence of the risen Lord with us in our worship.

The big word of the Easter season is “Alleluia” — “praise the Lord!” Many of our hymns and songs include choruses of alleluia. At the primary service on Easter Day, we hear the dramatic gospel account of the resurrection. Each year we hear a different version, each with its own emphasis. This year it is Mark’s telling, with its note of mystery and awesome fear; or another year it is Luke’s, with his three women, perplexed and confused, hearing the angel’s admonition, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”; or again, it may be John’s lovely story of Mary Magdalene, meeting the Lord in the garden.

Of course Easter is more than a day, it is a season — a “week of weeks,” the ancients said, for there are seven weeks in this holy time. During those weeks, our focus is on our new life in Christ. Each Sunday has its own character. The Sunday after Easter, we hear the story of “Doubting Thomas.” The third Sunday, it is the appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus; or his appearance to the disciples that evening; or his appearance to the disciples later, as they were fishing. The fourth Sunday, we focus on the image of the Risen Lord as the Good Shepherd. The fifth and sixth Sundays consider some of the teachings of Jesus, while the seventh Sunday of Easter focuses on Jesus’ prayer for his disciples. Then the season comes to its climax on the Day of Pentecost, as we remember the story of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples.

It has been said that “every Sunday is Easter Sunday,” and it is true. In our Eucharistic Prayer, we hear the phrase, “who on this day overcame death and the grave” — a strong Easter echo, reminding us that every Sunday is a day to remember Christ’s victory. But on Easter day, that joyful celebration is at its most intense. One of the best summaries of the meaning of Easter comes from the appointed Prayer of the Day for Easter Sunday (an ancient prayer, written in the 6th century). May it be our prayer throughout this season:

“O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, so that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”