Motivation:

One week on from the crucifixion and resurrection, it’s reasonable to consider the disciples sitting down with Christ and ‘debriefing’ the whole event. Looking at what happened, what had changed, how things had turned out, and what the next steps were. Surprisingly, very little of that is found in Scripture, so with this service we played a little with the idea (using some rather cliched project management tools and concepts which I’ve recently been working with) to better understand with a new perspective how the Easter story has changed our lives forever.

Environment:

Since there was a fair bit of writing, and the service was not going to get too ‘moody’, the environment was kept fairly static. One candle, reasonable light, no background music.

Due to a convenient ‘clash’ with a gallery event however, we had the opportunity to give people coffee and something to eat on arrival. This turned out well, and is probably something that we will continue. It breaks up the anticipation, and makes it a much friendlier, more accepting environment, and puts people’s preconceptions or nerves to rest. We’ll probably continue this…

Service

Part 1 – Mission Objectives

  • We start with Jesus’ ‘business case’ in a way. Where he started from.
  • We’ll read some passages of scripture which talk about Jesus’ reason for coming to us. As we do so, you’re welcome to jot down words or phrases or thoughts which stand out to you as the reasons for Christ’s missions – his ‘objectives’ – on the big sheets of paper in front of us. Together that will create a collective understanding of Jesus’ objectives.
  • Readings: Matthew 1:21, Mark 10:45, 1 John 4:9-10, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 5:9-11, Luke 4:17-21, John 17:3-4, Galatians 4:4-7.
  • Following the readings (and writings!), people were invited to gather around, examine, and comment on what stood out to them.
  • Closed in prayer as we stood around the ‘objectives’

Part 2 – Outcomes

  • Turning our attention from objectives to outcomes.
  • Fortunately for us, Jesus gave us a good summary of how he saw the outcomes of his mission in John’s gospel. As I read this chapter (Chapter 17), people are encouraged to close their eyes and attempt to put themselves in a place where they can consider these outcomes afresh. Rather than taking them for granted as a given, putting ourselves in the position of Christ at that time.
  • After I finished reading, some quiet music was played for about 5 minutes whilst people wrote on post-it notes some thoughts on what the life and death of Christ has changed for them; what difference his mission makes to their life. How the Easter story changes how they see things after having experienced it.
  • People then put these post it notes on the altar, and we gathered around, read, and then prayed together (with people being encouraged to speak their own prayers too)

Part 3 – Follow up activities

  • Now to the ‘what next’, the ‘where to from here’… What does this mean for us and how are we called to respond to what we have experienced through Easter.
  • As I read a few passages of scriipture from that space in between Christ’s resurrection and pentecost, people were encouraged to reflect on what 3 things (a good management rule not to create more than 3 tasks at a time!) they could do or change or act upon to take Christ’s mission objectives beyond this story and into our own lives. A sheet of paper was provided if it would help people to write them down.
  • Readings: Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23, 21:15-19, Acts 1:7-8, Mark 16:15-20.
  • Closed in prayer.