CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much clearer and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for this coming weekend's worship.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Mark 16:1-8

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions (for the entire family):
  1. What is your favorite part of Easter? Are you able to experience it the same as before this Easter? Explain.
  2. Have you been to a funeral? What did you notice? What surprised you? What do you have questions about?
  3. After the women heard the news we are told they ran away because they were scared and afraid. Why do you think that was?
Advance Questions:
  1. In an era when women were not considered reliable sources or significant contributors to society, Mark tells us they are the first to hear the news of Jesus' resurrection? Why do you think that is?
  2. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, were astonished and confused, unsure of what to make of the empty tomb. Have you ever felt that way? Tell of a time.
  3. The story ends with the women running away, saying nothing to anyone. What do you make of that ending? How did the story get told if that was the case?
Click here to enjoy some beautiful Instrumental Hymns for Easter and Resurrection Sunday while you are working through the devotion.
Say a Prayer of your own or offer this one.

Christ is Risen:
The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen:
The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen:
The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen:
The tombs of the dead are empty

Christ is Risen
indeed from the dead,
the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever.
Amen
- St. Hippolytus of Rome
Pastor Lutz would love to hear your responses, questions, thoughts about your experience with CreatingCommunity. You can reach him at poppastorpaul@sbcglobal.net