Dare to Dance Again
Easter Season Series
“Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” — Psalm 30:5b
As Easter people, we are called to dance our dances of freedom for all the world to see–even and perhaps especially in times of great difficulty. Dances of hope. Dances of justice. Dances of love. During this season, post-resurrection stories point to the joy of living in the beloved community and extending that fellowship through our witness as we dare to dance again!
“For All Peoples a Feast: Dare to Dance Again”
Easter Sunday
On a morning when all seemed lost, a stone had rolled away to uncover the feast of all feasts, the joy of all joys. The shroud of death had become a veil for gladness, for celebration, for dancing. What if we stopped trying to outrun one another in a race for things that do not matter in the end, and instead ran toward life and hope and all the joy we can accomplish together, daring to dance again?
“With Great Power: Dancing Together”
Second Sunday of Easter
Dancing requires that we pay attention to our dance partners. It requires finding a rhythm together. The Sunday after Easter brings the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples and breathing the Holy Spirit on them. Other scriptures this week point to the power of being together, of finding fellowship in the presence of Jesus and the presence of the community. What does it take to dance together?
“While in Their Joy: Dancing Sure”
Third Sunday of Easter
Sometimes we are unsure about our steps in this world. For the disciples, even “while in their joy” at seeing Jesus post-resurrection, they were still “disbelieving and wondering.” But 1 John reminds us that even though we may not know our next steps, we can be sure in them because we are “beloved” children of God and we will be like the one in whose steps we can surely follow — the resurrected Jesus.
“By This We Will Know: The Dance of Love”
Fourth Sunday of Easter
How do we know the rhythm and dance of our lives is faithful? Drummer of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart, wrote: “To fall in love is to fall in rhythm.” It is love for each other by which we know we are followers of Jesus, the ever-attentive shepherd. In the face of societal rules and attitudes that strive to foster “everyone for themselves,” they will know we are Christians by our love. How can we listen to the music that draws us together, “falling in rhythm” with neighbor in order to build up the whole?
“From You Comes My Praise: Guide My Steps”
Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Ethiopian says, “How can I understand, unless someone guides me?” So Philip begins to proclaim the good news of Jesus and the eunuch commands his chariot to stop so that he can go down to the water and be baptized. How has the testimony of the people in our lives and through the generations guided our steps into dances of praise at the good news that we are loved and blessed? What transformation is possible as we abide with God, the vine from which we find our sustenance?
“Who Can Withhold? Break Forth!”
Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Psalm for this Sunday describes everything in creation offering joyful noises to God. Our joy is complete because the joy of Christ resides within us. We cannot help but break forth. This joy is available to all, realizes the community in the Acts scripture. The Holy Spirit finds its way even and especially in what feels like unlikely people and places. Where do we see the Spirit at work? And who can withhold the living water and our living praise? No one!
“Gone Up with a Shout: Clap Your Hands”
Ascension Sunday
As Jesus prepares to leave the disciples, he opens their minds and blesses them. The result after he ascends is their return to Jerusalem with great joy and a desire for “continually” worshiping and blessing God in the temple. What happens when the “eyes of our hearts are enlightened?” We know the hope to which we have been called. As we wait for the Spirit with hope, we celebrate with abandon because we have no other ruler than the One who reigns with love and justice.
“Spirit Poured Out: Dare to Dance Again”
Pentecost
Ezekiel has a vision of a valley full of bones receiving life, breath, sinew and flesh after encountering the word of God. When they arise, they receive Spirit and they dance! As Easter people, we celebrate the Spirit that continues to give life and breath to our dry bones. We dare to dance in the face of fear, in the face of cynicism, in the face of despair. We dare to dance “as long as we live” for we, like the early Christians, are the recipients of the Spirit of God which intercedes even when we think we can’t make it to the dance floor. In hope we are saved!
Easter Season Series
“Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” — Psalm 30:5b
As Easter people, we are called to dance our dances of freedom for all the world to see–even and perhaps especially in times of great difficulty. Dances of hope. Dances of justice. Dances of love. During this season, post-resurrection stories point to the joy of living in the beloved community and extending that fellowship through our witness as we dare to dance again!
“For All Peoples a Feast: Dare to Dance Again”
Easter Sunday
On a morning when all seemed lost, a stone had rolled away to uncover the feast of all feasts, the joy of all joys. The shroud of death had become a veil for gladness, for celebration, for dancing. What if we stopped trying to outrun one another in a race for things that do not matter in the end, and instead ran toward life and hope and all the joy we can accomplish together, daring to dance again?
“With Great Power: Dancing Together”
Second Sunday of Easter
Dancing requires that we pay attention to our dance partners. It requires finding a rhythm together. The Sunday after Easter brings the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples and breathing the Holy Spirit on them. Other scriptures this week point to the power of being together, of finding fellowship in the presence of Jesus and the presence of the community. What does it take to dance together?
“While in Their Joy: Dancing Sure”
Third Sunday of Easter
Sometimes we are unsure about our steps in this world. For the disciples, even “while in their joy” at seeing Jesus post-resurrection, they were still “disbelieving and wondering.” But 1 John reminds us that even though we may not know our next steps, we can be sure in them because we are “beloved” children of God and we will be like the one in whose steps we can surely follow — the resurrected Jesus.
“By This We Will Know: The Dance of Love”
Fourth Sunday of Easter
How do we know the rhythm and dance of our lives is faithful? Drummer of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart, wrote: “To fall in love is to fall in rhythm.” It is love for each other by which we know we are followers of Jesus, the ever-attentive shepherd. In the face of societal rules and attitudes that strive to foster “everyone for themselves,” they will know we are Christians by our love. How can we listen to the music that draws us together, “falling in rhythm” with neighbor in order to build up the whole?
“From You Comes My Praise: Guide My Steps”
Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Ethiopian says, “How can I understand, unless someone guides me?” So Philip begins to proclaim the good news of Jesus and the eunuch commands his chariot to stop so that he can go down to the water and be baptized. How has the testimony of the people in our lives and through the generations guided our steps into dances of praise at the good news that we are loved and blessed? What transformation is possible as we abide with God, the vine from which we find our sustenance?
“Who Can Withhold? Break Forth!”
Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Psalm for this Sunday describes everything in creation offering joyful noises to God. Our joy is complete because the joy of Christ resides within us. We cannot help but break forth. This joy is available to all, realizes the community in the Acts scripture. The Holy Spirit finds its way even and especially in what feels like unlikely people and places. Where do we see the Spirit at work? And who can withhold the living water and our living praise? No one!
“Gone Up with a Shout: Clap Your Hands”
Ascension Sunday
As Jesus prepares to leave the disciples, he opens their minds and blesses them. The result after he ascends is their return to Jerusalem with great joy and a desire for “continually” worshiping and blessing God in the temple. What happens when the “eyes of our hearts are enlightened?” We know the hope to which we have been called. As we wait for the Spirit with hope, we celebrate with abandon because we have no other ruler than the One who reigns with love and justice.
“Spirit Poured Out: Dare to Dance Again”
Pentecost
Ezekiel has a vision of a valley full of bones receiving life, breath, sinew and flesh after encountering the word of God. When they arise, they receive Spirit and they dance! As Easter people, we celebrate the Spirit that continues to give life and breath to our dry bones. We dare to dance in the face of fear, in the face of cynicism, in the face of despair. We dare to dance “as long as we live” for we, like the early Christians, are the recipients of the Spirit of God which intercedes even when we think we can’t make it to the dance floor. In hope we are saved!
