LITURGY OF THOMASReflection:We gather this weekend to seek wisdom, enlightenment and inspiration as our church moves into a new world. We recognize that our experiences and our lives mirror those of Christ’s disciples.After the death of Jesus, His disciples were filled with sorrow and surely asking “What do we do now, where do we go from here?” We are doing the same.Our renewal of baptismal vows mirrors the excitement and zeal surely felt by Christ’s friends when they found Him miraculously alive and still with them.

Christ spent time after His resurrection renewing His teachings with His disciples and opening their eyes to a new way of seeing their mission and ministry. It is our desire now to follow Christ through those days and reflect anew what His stories reveal. It is our prayer as we move through this day’s liturgies that our hearts and minds will be opened to what the Spirit is saying to the church and that new ways to be the church to the world will be revealed to God’s Glory.

Let’s begin with Thomas: Poor Thomas. Much maligned and suffering throughout the centuries with his insufferable nickname. Thomas the Doubter. Doubting Thomas. Surely Thomas should be a role model for us and not a laughing stock?

Can we accept that Christ knew Thomas would miss that first meeting? Jesus doesn’t just appear to Thomas for Thomas’ sake alone as if to offer him special treatment. The rest had unexpressed doubts and fears too, locked in that room together. Jesus appears to Thomas one week later in the midst of his assembled disciples. A community traumatized by His execution; a community confused and uncertain of what’s to come.

Sound familiar?

Can we accept that our Lord intended Thomas to be our role model - to ask the question we all ask – Are you real?

This is the honesty of Thomas. Show me. Let me touch You and know that You are real.

Thomas does not come to believe by himself. He comes to believe in communion with those who share his doubts and fears and struggles and weaknesses. Jesus said to them, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ (John 20:29)

Silence

Prayer

Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we who have not seen have faith and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessings who is alive and reigns with you and the holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

All: Amen.

Reading: John 14: 5Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

One: We are those disciples gathered together to figure out where we go from here. Where do we put our doubts and fears?

All: Show me Lord.

One: Peace be with you.

All: We’ve seen too much loss. Help us believe in life.

One: To hang on to your life is to lose it. To let go of your life is to save it. Giving your life to me to serve others is truly living.

All: We’ve seen too much hatred. Help us believe in love.One: Love, because I first loved you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Love the lost and celebrate with me- I have found my lost sheep. My Peace be with you.

All: How can we speak to peace when division and debate are so popular? How can we speak to grace in a world so full of unjust justice?

One: As My Father has sent me, now I send you. Love your enemies. And pray for those who persecute.

All: How can we speak to peace when Your creation is being treated so poorly?One: Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.

All: We gather as seekers and have found certainty no longer within our grasp.

One: Believe because you do not see.

All: If we believe, it is because we have touched the hands of fellowship and felt the wounds of love.

One: Believe because you see.

All: We acknowledge that our doubts have also opened our eyes to see our connectedness with one another. We are not alone.

One: I am with you always.

All: We remain hopeful, trusting your spirit to guide us in peace and truth, toward a more open heart,

One: My Spirit will guide you.

All: We remain hopeful, trusting your spirit to guide us toward a more loving community.

One: My spirit will guide you. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

All: We remain hopeful, trusting your spirit to guide us to a more thoughtful faith.

One: I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.

HymnMake Me A Channel of Your Peace

Make me a channel of your peace,Where there is hatred, let me bring Your

love,Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord,

And where there's doubt, true faith in You

Make me a channel of your peace,Where there's despair in life let me bring

hope,Where there is darkness - only light,And where there's sadness, ever joy

Oh Master, grant that I may never seek,So much to be consoled as to console,

To be understood, as to understand,To be loved, as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace,It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving to all men that we receive,And in dying that we're born to eternal life

Oh Master, grant that I may never seek,So much to be consoled as to console,

To be understood, as to understand,To be loved, as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace,Where there is hatred, let me bring Your

love,Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord,

And where there's doubt, true faith in You

•Read more: Sinead Oconnor - Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace Lyrics | MetroLyrics

•Adapted from:•http://datinggod.org/2014/05/04/time-hospitality-and-eucharist-the-road-to-emmaus/

•  •http://www.convergenceokc.org/we-need-to-make-space-for-our-doubts-liturgy/