THE GOSPEL LESSON Luke 24:36-48
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Acts 3:12-19
SERMON "Church: The Resurrected Body of Christ and All that Jazz"
Worship Notes
On this the Third Sunday of Eastertide, we worship through the musical medium of Jazz. Jazz music encompasses a wide array of styles. However, the early roots of Jazz music can be traced back to houses of worship. Therefore, it is indeed appropriate that we offer praise to God through music that, like our reformed Presbyterian worship tradition, balances both form and freedom.
The scripture texts today continue to offer testimony to Jesus Christ as the risen Lord and Savior. In today's gospel passage, we read of Christ's appearance to the disciples in which he calls upon them to set aside their doubt and understand that through his death and resurrection, he has fulfilled the scriptures. The choir's anthem, "Soon and Very Soon," anticipates the appearance of Christ to us as we profess our faith in response to the gospel lesson. The theme of the presence of Christ among us is represented throughout the music in which we worship this morning. Our opening hymn, "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" is an African-American spiritual setting that expresses our individual wish that Christ may be with us throughout our journey. The hymn of response, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" is a prayer that we might be brought closer to Christ, which is the response of the true disciple. Just as the soloist may offer a unique twist or variation on a main theme in Jazz, we may each choose to walk a slightly different path in our Christian journey. However, we do so knowing that God is with us and that he connects us to the core beat of his love for us. That core beat is the movement of the Holy Spirit, sent from God to be with us always. As we depart the service, we sing of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which compels us to pray, sing, and shout God's praises.
