Consider this an open-source liturgy! Use as much or as little as you’d like based on your form of worship these days. Feel free to change it in any way that suits your context and practices. One important note, all the hymns are suggested here are ones from the New Century Hymnal. Your use of them will depend on your church’s copywrite privileges.

Call to Worship

One: Take a deep breath, then let it slowly. 

All: (Inhale, exhale)

One: Take another deep breath, then let that out slowly.

All: (Inhale, exhale)

One: The days after the death and resurrection were uncertain ones.

Many: (Said together while muted) The disciples were locked away in a room uncertain when it would be safe to leave.

One: As we gather together today, these are uncertain days, too.

Many: (Said together while muted) We are far from certain when it will be safe to leave our homes, again.

One: Take another deep breath, then let that out slowly.

All: (Inhale, exhale)

One: However, there is one thing we can be certain of.

Many: (Said together while muted) Christ is present with us.

One: Christ is present with us as we are both gathered and scattered.

Many: (Said together while muted) Christ is present with us in our homes.

One: Christ is present with us in our hearts, souls, and minds.

Many: (Said together while muted) Christ is present with us in hospital rooms and with those of us who feel alone.

One: Christ is present with us in the tent set up under the overpass and with those of us in the grocery store line.

Many: (Said together while muted) Christ is present with us in the prison cell and with whose of us who are children learning to play and learn at a distance.

One: Christ is present with those of us being profiled for our perceived ethnicity and those of us who have been laid off from work.

Many: (Said together while muted) In all the places people are gathered or separated, Christ is present with us.

One: As we join together for worship, may we remember all those ways Christ is present with us and with every other child of God.

Hymn: What a Covenant (#471 NCH)

Invocation

One: Christ is with us.

Many: (Said together while muted) Christ is among us.

One: If you are able or willing, I invite you to fold your hands together to pray. No amount of washing takes away the life, wisdom, and memories present through them. Let us pray.

Many: (Said together while muted)

Loving Creator,

You were present here before we even asked you to be; preparing this place as a place of worship and preparing the mystical sanctuary where we now gather.

One: Now, we open ourselves to the beauty of this middle, sacred space we share as we see and imagine the faces of all those who share in this prayer together.

Many: (Said together while muted) As love is present, you are present. Bless this space we share and all the spaces in between as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us saying:

The Lord’s Prayer

Psalm 16

​One: Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Many: (Said together while muted) I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”

One: As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,

in whom is all my delight.

Many: (Said together while muted) Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names upon my lips.

One: The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

Many: (Said together while muted) The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

I have a goodly heritage.

One: I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

Many: (Said together while muted) I keep the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also rests secure.

One: For you do not give me up to Sheol,

or let your faithful one see the Pit.

Many: (Said together while muted) You show me the path of life.

In your presence there is fullness of joy;

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Gloria

Prayer of Illumination

One: Let us pray.

Many: (Said together while muted) Open our hearts to the words written long ago so that we can hear what they say to us, today. Amen.

Scripture

(Consider inviting different members of the congregation to read different parts. It’s a good opportunity to have someone narrate and two people read Jesus’ words and Thomas’ words.)

John 20:19-31

Sermon

Hymn: These Things Did Thomas Count (#254 NCH)

Prayers of the People

After each prayer is lifted up, respond with:

One: Loving God,

Many: (Said together while muted) Hear our prayer.

Passing the Peace

(For those on the phone, unmute your selves and share words of peace. For those with video capacity, show your video and wave, give a peace sign, or some other sign of peace. The person(s) leading worship can describe some of what they see for those on the phone.)

Offertory

One: Whether gathered or scattered, we are Christ’s church called to serve God and God’s people. Please give with a generous heart.

Invite people to share using whatever means your church has arranged. Just as a reminder, members of Pacific Northwest Conference congregations can go to www.pncucc.org, click on the donate button and make a donation to their congregation that we will pass on to their congregation.

Doxology

#778 (NCH)

Benediction

One: As we turn off our computers and hang up our phones, one thing remains the same…

Many: (Said together while muted) The Spirit of Christ is present with us and among us.

One: May we go from this place and – through our words, actions, and expressions of care…

Many: (Said together while muted) Share the love of Christ with the world.