Doubting Thomas Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Doubting Thomas Introduction:
Jesus Christ Is Risen! Jesus lives as man taking our sins, all of our most grievous thoughts and deeds, to the cross and dies so we may be gifted salvation through our belief in Him. Praise the Lord!
So why do we have a pool of sinfulness to bathe in today? Let’s work through it. Salvation is Ours!
Many of us may have knowledge of the “Doubting Thomas” narrative and its conventional interpretation; that is Thomas wants proof that he is witnessing a resurrected Jesus.
Consider this … We are reading John 20 today. Translated from its original Greek, John does not use the word for “doubt.” Matt. 28 does raise the doubt issue in his gospel. Consider the interpretation that John’s gospel text recounts and blends events of many people of the day reacting to the Resurrection of Jesus. All too often we protect ourselves from the obvious truth with speculation. We are among many caught off guard by the obvious and seek a best guess logical explanation of what we should otherwise be believing.
John 20 translated from Greek is a logical If … Then rather than doubt. If the conditions are not met, Then Thomas will not believe. In John’s text, Thomas did not inspect to see if his conditions were met, rather Thomas was awestruck by the sight and presence of Jesus, believed, and remains a believer. Thomas performed many good works for the Lord in his lifetime that simply do not merit remembering him for a transient moment of assertion.

Doubting Thomas Scripture:
We must obey God rather than any human authority. Acts 5:29.
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:24.
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. Rev. 1:4.
These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31.

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Lyra Davidici
Charles Wesley

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Prayer:
Mighty Lord God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people. Amen.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
Yoachim Neander (1680).

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

Prayer:
O Lord God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbors with whom we share it.
Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen.

Will You Come and Follow Me? The Summons.
John Bell

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Prayer:
O Lord God,
you raised up Jesus Christ
as your faithful witness and the first-born of the dead.
By your Holy Spirit, help us to witness to him
so that those who have not yet seen
may come to believe in him
who is, and was, and is to come. Amen.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!