April Worship and Preaching

        We begin the month of April in the valley of dry bones, which is both a familiar and favorite Old Testament passage.  Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy to dry bones.  Only God can give life to what we have given up on.  The people were ready to give up until they heard this fresh, new word from God. 

          The following Sunday is Palm Sunday and we turn to the gospel of Matthew, who views Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as fulfillment of scripture.  We join the crowd in shouting and singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

          Our lesson for Maundy Thursday comes from John’s gospel which tells the account of the Last Supper with Jesus and the disciples.  Jesus must have surprised the disciples when he rose from the table to wash their feet. 

          On Easter Sunday we examine John’s account of Mary Magdalene’s trek to the tomb where she encounters the risen Lord Jesus.  Mary gave the very first Easter sermon, “I have seen the Lord.”

          During the fifty great days of Easter the Old Testament lesson is substituted by a reading from the Acts of the Apostles.  Easter changed everything and Pentecost energized the apostles, including Peter.  Our lesson is part of Peter’s Pentecost sermon, where he passionately tells that God raised up Jesus and “all of us are witnesses.”

          Each month I list the scripture and themes as a way of encouraging further reading and reflection.

April 6         Ezekiel 37:1-14

April 13       Matthew 21:1-11

April 17       John 13:1-17, 31-35

April 20       John 20:1-18

April 27       Acts 2:14a, 22-32