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Now What?
group magazine: March-April, 2003
An After-Easter Worship Service
After the hubbub and splendor of Easter, it’s time to remind your kids that Jesus lives in the everyday. Use this simple after-Easter worship service to invite them into quiet recognition of Jesus’ ongoing presence in their lives. by Steve Case A somber meal on Maundy Thursday, tears on Good Friday, triumphant majesty on Easter—now what do we do? That’s probably what the disciples were thinking after Jesus left them for heaven. Quiet, a little lonely, a little apprehensive, a little determined. This calm, meditative service is designed to fill that post-Easter void, when the decorations have been put away and the sanctuary no longer smells like lilies. The gospels do not end with the glory of the Resurrection. The story continues. Jesus appears again and again to his disciples after they’ve gone back to their old jobs. This is how we need to meet Jesus-in the midst of our everyday lives. This service is designed as a no-frills experience to contrast the pomp that accompanies Easter. The Idea Jesus is here. Now. Jesus says, “I am with you always.” The goal of this service is to help your teenagers understand that Christ’s story did not end on Easter morning. It’s still going on. Location Get out of the church building for this service. Pile your kids into the church van and hold the service at a rest stop along a highway (one of the Scriptures deals with Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus). Or hold the service in a fast-food parking lot or on a beach if you live near one. If you can’t get out of the building, hold the service in the church kitchen. What You’ll Need 1. One candle—Don’t use a new candle. Find one that’s leftover from an old Advent wreath. The more beat up it looks, the better. Bring a dishtowel and matches or a lighter. 2. Flannel squares—(This is optional, but a nice addition.) To give the service a tactile edge, buy some baby blankets or flannel jammies at your local thrift store. Wash them in a “baby detergent,” then cut them into small squares. Pass out the squares at the beginning of the service—the goal is to emphasize the feeling of security we get when we know Jesus remains with us no matter what. 3. Opening and closing music—You’ll need two songs to bookend the service. Bring a battery-powered boombox. For the opening song, find a traditional hymn that’s performed by a contemporary artist as an acoustic piece (the goal is to provide a counterpoint to the Easter service’s pizzazz). Suggestions: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by The Worship Room (www.theworshiproom.com). There’s also an excellent version of this hymn on All I Can Say by the David Crowder Band (www.davidcrowderband.com). If you don’t have either of these, look through your collection—lots of Christian artists put acoustic hymns on their albums. Just make sure it’s low-key. For the closing song, try “Baby” by Lost and Found from This CD or “Fruit We Bear” from Something (www.speedwood.com). If you can’t find either of these, use a song (or sing one) that emphasizes the truth that Jesus lives and moves in our lives today. He’s alive because we’re alive, and vice versa. If you want to try something a little more out-of-the-norm for the closer, use Sting’s “Fields of Gold” from 10 Summoner’s Tales or his greatest-hits collection Fields of Gold (www.sting.com), or the Eva Cassidy version of the song on her album Songbird (www.blixstreet.com). If you’re feeling really experimental, try Johnny Cash’s version of Depeche Mode’s song “Personal Jesus” on the American IV album (www.amazon.com). 4. Supplies for an alternative communion. Prepare communion using items from your students’ everyday lives. Use a doughnut and a canned soft drink, or a bagel and orange juice. Pull through a drive-through and get coffee and a muffin, then use those. the service 1. Once you’ve arrived at your location, set up an informal worship area. Place your beat-up candle on a picnic table or on the hood of your car (put a dishtowel under it). Light the candle. 2. Say something like: The story of Jesus did not end at the Resurrection. Jesus continued to appear to his followers again and again. John, the beloved disciple, even writes in his gospel, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book” (John 20:30). (If you choose a roadside location, you can add: Jesus appeared to two of the disciples as they were walking along a road. That’s why we’re out here. We’re on the road, inviting Jesus to be among us.) Say: Jesus kept coming back over and over to let his disciples know that he was going to be with them forever. I’m going to hand you something now. (Pass out the squares of baby blanket.) I want you to simply hold this in your hand. Run it back and forth in your fingers as we worship. Let’s start with a prayer. Pray something like this: Creator God, the Easter eggs are mostly gone. We’re tired of plastic grass and pastel candy. The chocolate bunnies and Marshmallow Peeps have lost their appeal, and we sort of feel let down. The return of your Son is a celebration, but now, like the disciples, we wonder what’s next. Show us how you intend for this celebration to continue in our lives, God. Now, we ask that you make your presence known as we try to get closer to your Son. Amen. 3. Play your choice for an opening song. 4. Read aloud Luke 24:13-32. 5. Say something like: The Scripture we just read says the two men were kept from recognizing Jesus. The Bible doesn’t say if this was some supernatural thing or whether Jesus simply covered his head with his cloak. They certainly wouldn’t have been expecting him to show up and walk with them. The Gospel of Mark says he appeared to the two men in “another form.” Jesus was right there next to them and they didn’t see him. Sometimes we do the same thing. As I say the following phrases, I want you to respond to each one by saying, “Jesus was there.” When the blind were made to see... When the broken stood and walked... When the wandering found a path to follow... When Mary and the women went to the tomb... When the apostles gathered in the room... When the disciples walked along the road... 6. Read aloud John 21:1-14. 7. Say something like: This is a great passage—Peter was the one who’d walked on the water, and now he’s so excited to see Jesus he just jumps in and swims to shore. Think of how happy you’d be if you suddenly saw your long-lost best friend or someone you love dearly calling to you from a long way off. Would you believe or would you question your own eyes? As I say the following phrases, respond to each one by saying, “Jesus was there again.” When the disciples tried to return to their jobs... When Thomas doubted... When Paul was knocked off his horse... When John had his revelation... 8. Read aloud Luke 24:36-49. 9. Say something like: Jesus didn’t appear to the disciples while they were worshiping. He didn’t show up driving a flaming chariot or in a flash of light. He came to them where they were—as they walked along the road, did their jobs, and ate their meals. Jesus comes to us in the same way. Let’s remember that truth by taking communion now. 10. Say something like: Jesus took the bread that was lying on the table and broke it. He gave it to each of them and said, “This is my body—take some and eat.” (Break and pass your “bread” around the circle.) Then he took the cup and said to them, “This is my blood. It is a sign of the promise. Take it and drink some.” (Share your “cup.”) When Jesus finished the first communion service, he told his followers that he was now a part of them—he existed inside them. When we take communion, we’re reminded of the same thing. Jesus is a part of who we are. When Jesus prayed for his disciples, he asked for them to be one with God. The Apostle Mark said Jesus appeared in “another form” to the men headed for Emmaus, and it’s still true today. Jesus appears in another form...you and me. As I say the following phrases, respond to each one by saying, “Jesus is there.” When a child is born... When the hungry are fed... When we gather in his name... When we celebrate Easter... When we clean up the mess afterward... When we stand in the rest stop [kitchen, parking lot] and read the Scriptures... When we’re at school... When we talk with our friends... When we live our lives... 11. Play your closing song. 12. For a closing prayer, say something like: Creator God, you sent your Son into this world, and for some reason we think it’s a story with a happy ending. The truth is the story doesn’t end. It continued through the lives of the disciples, the early church, and right through this moment. Jesus is alive. He lives and breathes as we live and breathe. Thank you, God, for allowing us to be a part of you through the life and continued presence of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Steve Case is a veteran youth minister in Florida and a contributing editor for group. |
