Doubt is a feeling or state of uncertainty. It is not unbelief. When you doubt you do not disbelieve; you question the truth or genuineness of something.

~ From the Adult Resource Sheet for April 15, 2012

Relationship is at the heart of reality. The energy of love joins mind, body, and spirit; God and humankind; humans and the non-human world; and humans with one another.

~ Bruce Epperly & Katherine Gould Epperly, Reiki Healing Touch

Faith in each of the readings for this week is always lived out in community. Our relationship with Christ cannot be separated from our relationship with each other. So as this week we explore what it means to experience the Resurrection as individuals we also explore what the Resurrection means for our lives together.

Most people are looking for a safe place for expressing questions, doubts, and uncertainties. Leaders can create such a space by encouraging the whole group to share a journey of discovery together, where the wisdom of each one contributes to the community.

• Access Spirit Sightings for connections between current events and the focus passage.
• Review information on Resources for the Easter Season at the back of your Lent, Easter material. Here you will find ideas for setting up your worship space and creating rituals for the season.
• Read about the poster Consuming Fire in “About the Art.” This poster can be like a mandala for meditation.

• Option: use the paraphrase “Thomas Asks Questions” (p. 102) based on John 14:1-7, 20:19-29 and/or “Sharing” (p. 104) based on Acts 4:32–5:2 from the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B; available as mp3 and projectable art downloads.

Some of the many options for learning about Jesus’ resurrection and exploring faith questions:

• Ages 3-5: making a Thomas puppet or peace message plate
• Ages 6-8: group mural, peace plate or hanging dove shapes
• Ages 9-11: Thomas question box, puzzle activity or peace postcards
• Multiage: Thomas question box, group mural, hanging dove shapes or peace cards
• Ages 12-14: Thomas question box, making an Easter candle or peace postcards
• Ages 15-18: learning about Thomas, discussion, contemporary poem and/or peace postcards
• Adult: learning about Thomas, discussion, and/or writing peace postcards

• Poster Old Woman in Prayer: Look at the poster and ask as many questions about the painting, individually or as a group, that you can think of by carefully looking at the details in the image (for example, “What is that cat doing?”)
• Poster Crucifix: (Adult) Look at the poster while reading aloud the reflection, “The Meaning of Easter” on the resource sheet “Belief and Doubt.”
  
  That every hill has a cross on it?
  That every garden a tomb?
  That every dawn is a rising?
  That no word spoken is ever truly lost?
  That every life ends and goes on?...
  
  Paul Turley, Adult Resource Sheet

• Listen to the songs “Alleluia, Praise to God/Aleluya Y’in Oluwa” (#20) and “Light of Christ” (#6) on the Seasons Music CD, Volume 7; also available as mp3 downloads

April 22: Christ with Us

Focus: Luke 24:36b-48

The texts this week invite us to explore what it actually means that Christ is present with us. We use language all the time in the life of the church but we don’t often talk about what that experience of presence actually is for each of us. Each of the texts offers a different aspect of that experience. Jesus remains present with his community. How do you experience Christ’s presence with you?

For SeasonsFUSION (which inspires worship in a setting for all ages) see the SeasonsFUSION blog and sign up to receive the SeasonsFUSION tip of the week.