Friday, April 13, 2012

The Resurrection Community Part 1

THE RESURRECTION COMMUNITY Part 1
EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 8, 2012


Many Christians are surprised to learn that Jesus did not invent the idea of the Resurrection.
-Resurrection is an ancient term, affirming that the dead will come back to life. Zoresthanism, an ancient Persian religion, affirmed that good would triumph over evil at some date in the future; and that the dead would be brought back new life.
-Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew faith speaks of a time when the dead will supernaturally come back to life.

No, Jesus did not invent the idea at the Resurrection.

Of course, the Wright Brothers, they did not invent the idea of a flying machine; they were just the first to do it. Likewise, Jesus was the first to Rise from the dead and to open the door to eternal life. This is wonderful for us, because a recent Gallup pole reports that 85% of all Americans believe in heaven.
Over the next 50 days of Easter, here at CCQF we will together explore the proofs of the Resurrection and the resulting reality of eternal life. But today, I would like to explore with you one proof at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is the Resurrection Community.
The first member of the Resurrection community was Mary Magdalene of whom we hear in today’s Gospel. She encounters the Risen Lord and calls him “rabboni” which means honored teacher. Contrary to the recent popular fantasy fiction, “The Da Vinci code, Mary Magdelene could not even touch Rabboni Jesus, much less sleep with Him. In today’s Gospel, she is so overcome with joy at seeing the Risen Lord that she reaches out to touch Him. Jesus replies, “No, Don’t do it.” Then Jesus spoke His word to her and taught her about the victory over death. He instructs Mary to go teach His disciples – that they might spiritually grow to understand the incredible significance of the Resurrection. Shortly after that, as we hear in today’s reading, Peter preaches God’s Word of New Life and that day the community of the resurrection grew by 5000 . It was quite a mixture of people – Jews, Greeks, Romans, the rich and poor, the young and the old, saints and sinners, skeptics and believers, longtime followers of Jesus and thousands of newcomers. This unusual diversity of people joining together is only possible, as Peter proclaims, because, quote, God shows no partiality. The community of the resurrection accepts all comers. Period. All people are important to God.
In our day and time, many people are surprised to learn that the earthly Resurrection Community is not the same thing as the institutionalized Christian church. Now some Christian churches are resurrection communities, but not all. Most frequently resurrection communities emerge from dead and dying churches. You see resurrection means coming back to life, after death. No cross and tomb, No East, No New Life.
Today, CCQF is celebrating our 200th Easter Sunday in this, our Bicentennial year. Since I arrived here in September, I have been learning the history at this church through studying and reading, and by listening to hundreds and hundreds of stories about the past life of this church. As some of you know much better than me, during the first 200 years this church has gone through cycles of life, death and resurrection; times of growth and times of decline; times of prosperity and times of scarcity; times when our church was as full as it is today and times when nobody came to church at all for long periods of time.
I believe that CCQF is now growing into a resurrection community. This becomes apparent by looking at the first resurrection community of the apostolic church after the first Easter Sunday, and comparing that with what God is doing among us now.
First, upon encountering the Risen Lord on the first Easter and during the following 50 days that ensues, the disciples and new believers were filled with joy. Mary and the other disciples were so overcome with joy at encountering the Risen Lord, and they fell down and worshipped him.
Likewise, this church is rediscovering that worship is not meant to be BORING, BULLYING OR BURDENSOME. No worship is meant to be joyful. You see, each Sunday is meant to be a mini Easter Sunday, where we encounter the Risen Lord, through hearing his encouraging word, by energetically and joyfully singing his praises, and happily receiving His real and living presence through Holy Communion. Jesus is alive!!!!!Is Jesus Alive? If you believe it say, “He’s Alive.” Okay, we can laugh, smile, sing off key, and enjoy sharing in His Resurrection presence. Joyful worship is becoming a core value of CCQF.
Secondly, another characteristic of a Resurrection community is the positive, encouraging and relevant teaching of God’s work, not as an academic study, but as a means of hearing God’s voice
Some of you may remember my first Sunday here, when during my sermon, I received a cell phone call from God. That occurs because the Risen Lord and I wanted you to know that we can grow to hear His voice, expressing His love for you. Christ Church is dedicated to nurturing everyone’s spiritual growth. For example, rarely have I ever seen a church with such a strong Sunday School as the one this church is blessed to have. I have been so looking forward to today because I have so wanted to worship with our dedicated and faithful Sunday School Teachers and Your Advisors. You see, most of the time we never see these folks during the first part of the service, because they are busy nurturing the spiritual growth of our kids so that they can grow into young women and men of character, faith and generosity. I would like all our Sunday School teachers, youth advisors, first communion teacher, acolyte director and your choir and band director to please stand up, because I have something to say to you.
We honor you. We are proud of your. We are grateful for you. You see, a church without children is a dying church. Because of your labors of love, we are alive in Christ. The Bible says that little children will lead us. Today, we comment you as Resurrection teachers, who serve the same teaching function to us as Mary Magdalene and Peter served on that first Easter. I love them, don’t you?
So, Resurrection communities are characterized by Joyful Worship, Spiritual Growth, and also, New Friendships
To paraphrase Peter in today’s reading, “All people are important to God, and therefore, all people are important to us.” CCQF is growing as a resurrection community as we welcome and make more and more new friendships. We at CCQF are so grateful for the friendships that we have, and we wish to share that with all who wish to come. If you want to come to church once or twice a year, we welcome you. But is you would like friendship, then you will find it here if you hang around for a while. Our children, especially, our new youth group, are showing us how to develop new friendships. You see members of our youth group have family and friends outside of church. But I have seen how they have developed new friendships with kids from different schools, different grades and different cliques. But the hardest barrier to overcome – they have become friends here with kids who even listen to different types of music.
I can testify that I am here today because of the friendship I received at church as a teenager.
-Family dysfunctional and emotionally abusive
-Friends all abused drugs and alcohol
Church became my real family during those troubled times and have ever since.
Now that I am all grown up. Also, church provides a place to celebrate happy times – happy times in daily life and spiritual happy times with our church friends.
God wants us to have friendships with children at the Resurrection.
So, Jesus rose from the dead bringing New Life, which we are now privileged to experience through joyful worship, spiritual growth, and new friendships. This is the Light of Christ shining through this resurrection community and into the Worlds. May all of us come to the light – where like Mary and the first disciples, we will be able to see, hear, be healed, and renewed through the Risen Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.


--The Rev. John Donnelly, Christ Church Quaker Farms