But Mary Stood Weeping - John 20:1-18 - Easter - 4-12-20

Sermon podcast from our Easter Sunday livestream only worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 20:1-18

Video sermon preview

"But Mary Stood Weeping" podcast

The whole worship service livestream recording

But Mary Stood Weeping

Sermon podcast from Easter Morning 2017 at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  John 20:1-18. 
"But Mary Stood Weeping" podcast

But Mary Stood Weeping

Easter 'Sunrise' Service sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Overcome with Emotion.
"But Mary Stood Weeping" Podcast

Easter Sermons 2013

There are two services at St. Paul's United Church of Christ for Easter Sunday.  And there are two sermons, too.

"Perplexed" - Sunrise Service Sermon Text
"Perplexed" podcast

"Why are You Weeping?" Late Service Sermon Text
"Why are You Weeping?" podcast 

Tears

Sometimes I write poetry.  Here’s a poem I wrote about Mary weeping outside Jesus’ tomb.

Tears
Tears for death
Tears for death and fear
Tears death, fear, and confusion
Tears for death, fear, confusion, and anticipation
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, and surprise
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, and hope
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, and happiness
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, happiness, and resurrection.
Tears,

The Race

Here's the sunrise service sermon for Easter at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, Illinois. 
"The Race" text
"The Race" podcast

But Mary Stood Weeping

Two worship services at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk for Easter Sunday.  Here's the sermon for the "Sunrise" service.  It's at 7:00 am, much later than sunrise for this year's late Easter.
"But Mary Stood Weeping" text
"But Mary Stood Weeping" podcast 

Why are You Weeping?

This week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Tears) is woven all through the Easter Sunday sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Why are You Weeping?" text
"Why are You Weeping?" podcast

Tears

This week's Bible study reflection blog post for i.ucc:

Tears
Tears for death
Tears for death and fear
Tears death, fear, and confusion
Tears for death, fear, confusion, and anticipation
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, and surprise
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, and hope
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, and happiness
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, happiness, and resurrection
Tears,

Reflecting on John 20:1-18. What's going on in your mind this week?

I have seen the Lord

I started off the week looking back. This Easter Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk, incorporates the early-week Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org (In retrospect) as well as a few more observations along the way.
"I have seen the Lord" text
"I have seen the Lord" podcast

In retrospect. . .

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org-

It’s easier to comprehend things in our lives when we look back at them. All too often we miss what’s going on when it is going on.

This week we get to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as described in our Bible reading from John 20:1-18. We have the good fortune to be able to celebrate the event as we look at back. But looking forward, I wonder what we’re missing? We have a great history of missing the point when it comes to the mystery of God.

The tomb was empty and Jesus’ followers panicked. Mary stayed at the tomb – not knowing what to do and only having the energy to sit and weep. She was in the presence of Jesus and for at least a moment she missed it.

Over the next few weeks of Easter, we’ll have a chance to see people missing out on seeing Jesus until they were ready for it. This week I think that Mary didn’t realize that Jesus was standing there with her until she was ready for it.

Ready for it? Doesn’t God get to do what God does whether we ready or not?

Of course – I believe it. I also believe that we can miss what’s important for a long time until we’re ready to really grasp it.

The earliest followers of Jesus missed the point often – and then sometimes they got it. We miss the point often, and because we can look back at the experiences of Jesus’ earliest followers, we have a chance to ‘get it’ – if only a little bit.

I wonder what you’ve come to understand looking back. I wonder what we’re going to be ready to understand about the wonderful mystery of God going forward.

What are you thinking this week?