Pilgrim Uniting Church, Adelaide SA SUN 04-APR-2021 - 11.00 AM Sermon Rev Sandy Boyce Easter Day – Mark's gospel ends abruptly with three terrified women fleeing from the tomb where Jesus had been laid, unable to tell anyone what had happened. They had undeniably encountered something, but whatever it was, they couldn't explain it and they couldn't have imagined it. That's the end of Mark's story; but over time, later writers added different endings to make the story more complete. What if Mark had deliberately left the story hanging there? Did he leave it incomplete because it's incomplete without our own stories to complete it? Does this story of risen life shape your life today, giving it meaning? Cultures continue telling stories of the past, telling and retelling them, and new chapters are written. What is it that's important to us, and how do we carry that forward? Jesus chose to act out his own authentic story, about self-giving love, compassion and justice, inclusive communities, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus' triumph over death and sin isn't actually what Mark's gospel is about. The story isn't over at the empty tomb; rather, that's where the story has just started. It's all about setting us up to live resurrection lives and continue the story of God's redemption of the world. Live your story of faith with integrity, and recognise how you are one part of the continual unfolding of God's story, God's dream of the world. Mark 16: 1-8 Playing Time   –   11:54