Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, & breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry & bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. (John Birch)
May these 40 days before Easter be a time of spiritual spring cleaning, of removing what hinders and renewing what facilitates our relationships with God, the world, and one another.
The Worship of God for the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” And reply, “And, also with you.”
Invitation to Worship
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”
Come let us worship the One who draws us together, who bears our burdens, and forgives our sins. Come let us worship!
Song of Praise We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Opening Prayer Let us pray:
Creator God, we thank you for the beauty of your springtime creation, awakening buds and blooms, lengthening blue skies and sunshine.
Awaken hope within us. Renew us. May we be refreshed with energy and enthusiasm to see you in the places where we live and in the people around us.
Redeemer God, we thank you for your son, Jesus, for his parables and teaching, healing and caring, for his life and death and resurrection.
Awaken love within us. Renew us. May we share your love and care with others. May we and they come close to you.
Companion God, we thank you for your Holy Spirit, for your comfort and guidance, presence and trust.
Awaken faith within us. Renew us. May we share your way and life with others. May we be a witness to your saving love.
Creator, Redeemer, Companion, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we bring our praise and thanks to you. Amen.
Song of Adoration O Day of Peace Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. Tune: JERUSALM LMD (Parry)
O day of peace that dimly shines through all our hopes and prayers and dreams, guide us to justice, truth, and love, delivered from our selfish schemes. May swords of hate fall from our hands, our hearts from envy find release, till by God’s grace our warring world shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.
Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, nor shall the fierce devour the small. As beasts and cattle calmly graze, a little child shall lead them all. Then enemies shall learn to love, all creatures find their true accord. The hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord.
Psalm 51:1-12 Common English Bible
Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love! Wipe away my wrongdoings according to your great compassion! 2 Wash me completely clean of my guilt; purify me from my sin! 3 Because I know my wrongdoings, my sin is always right in front of me. 4 I’ve sinned against you—you alone. I’ve committed evil in your sight. That’s why you are justified when you render your verdict, completely correct when you issue your judgment. 5 Yes, I was born in guilt, in sin, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 And yes, you want truth in the most hidden places; you teach me wisdom in the most secret space.
7 Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and celebration again; let the bones you crushed rejoice once more. 9 Hide your face from my sins; wipe away all my guilty deeds! 10 Create a clean heart for me, God; put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me! 11 Please don’t throw me out of your presence; please don’t take your holy spirit away from me. 12 Return the joy of your salvation to me and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Prayer for Forgiveness O God, You who are always doing a new thing, we confess that we sometimes close windows against the fresh air of new ideas, against the noise of other people’s worries, against the winds of change.
God of every place and time, we confess that we often draw the curtains against people who are different, against world news or community concerns.
Forgive us our insulation in our locked homes, our shuttered churches, the security systems on our hearts. Open up our lives, and let your Spirit blow through. Amen.
silent prayer and meditation
Assurance and Hope
Hear again the joy and gladness God provides and rejoice!
The Lord forgives. The Lord wipes away all our guilty deeds. The Lord cleans our hearts and puts new, faithful spirit deep within us.
Let the joy of the Lord’s salvation sustain you this day!
Anthem Create a Pure Heart in Me Composer: Susan Matsui
Create a pure heart in me, O Lord. Grant me a new and steadfast spirit. Do not drive me away from thy presence, or take thy Spirit from me.
Revive in me the joy of deliverance, Grant me a steady soul to uphold me. Open thou my lips, everlasting Lord, that my mouth may sing thy praises.
Thou takest no delight in sacrifice, nor hast thou any wish for whole offering. My sacrifice, Lord, is a broken soul, my offering, a contrite heart.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Common English Bible
The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 It won’t be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant with me even though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 No, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my Instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 They will no longer need to teach each other to say, “Know the Lord!” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord; for I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sins.
Reflection on Jeremiah Rev. Jeffrey Vickery
Listen to the sermon or watch below.
Audio
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith God of Jeremiah Words: Brian Wren Tune: KELVINGROVE
God of Jeremiah, grieving with an aching heart for an empire, unbelieving as it falls apart, when your thunder goes unheard, we will tend the prophet’s word, and in season out of season, we will sing your song.
When our wound is left to fester, though the pain goes deep, when we’ve sown a hundred whirlwinds, but have yet to reap, when the platitudes of peace only make our fears increase, with a poem and a story we will sing your song.
When the palace looks at poverty with scornful eyes, when the scroll of truth is shredded by a leader’s lies, when the glory of the cross is a propaganda gloss, in the square and in the senate we will sing your song.
We will break the jar of plenty by the gates of gold, we will buy a field of promise when the farm is sold, at the ending of the dream, in the death of self-esteem, at the bank and in the market we will sing your song.
We will praise the grainy granite of the Law’s demands, and the life creating, Lover God with wounded hands; we will spin your story line to an empire in decline, and in exile or in honor we will sing your song.
Sending Out
Go now, to serve Christ and follow him. Let your old life fall like a grain of wheat into the earth so that you may bear much fruit as you allow God to reshape your heart and live in obedience to the law written within you.
And may God centre you in truth and steady your spirit. May Christ renew your joy and strengthen your will. And may the Spirit teach you God’s hidden wisdom and fill you with songs of rejoicing.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Blest Be the Tie by John Fawcett
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, & breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry & bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. (John Birch)
May these 40 days before Easter be a time of spiritual spring cleaning, of removing what hinders and renewing what facilitates our relationships with God, the world, and one another.
The Worship of God for Fourth Sunday in Lent
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” And reply, “And, also with you.”
Invitation to Worship
Listen to the invitation and/or read below.
Friends of God, believe this – God loved the world, God loves the world, we are the beloved!
May the truth of this great love story, shine through our worship today, and renew our sense of calling.
So come, with your tiredness, your frustrations and your discouragements; come with your doubts, your fears, and your longings; come, to discover yet again how Jesus reveals God’s love and mercy.
Come, in friendship to God and to each other, and in friendship to the world, to listen for God’s Word to us, to offer our prayers, and to renew our calling.
Friends of God, let us worship!
Song of Praise We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Opening Prayer Let us pray:
Living God, as we continue our journey through this season of Lent we are reminded of the steadfast love that the psalmist wrote about. A love which would endure forever, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. A love given not to judge, but to save, causing human sinfulness to be encountered by divine compassion. No wonder we sometimes see the placard thrust in front of television cameras with the words written large – “John 3:16”. These words about the depth of your love for us are etched on our hearts and made visible through our lives. Accept our praise and thanksgiving, O God, for this priceless gift of lives lived eternally with you, a gift made possible through the sacrificial love of Jesus, your Son, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen
Psalm 19 Common English Bible
“Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever!” 2 That’s what those who are redeemed by the Lord say, the ones God redeemed from the power of their enemies, 3 the ones God gathered from various countries, from east and west, north and south.
17 Some of the redeemed were fools because of their sinful ways. They suffered because of their wickedness. 18 They had absolutely no appetite for food; they had arrived at death’s gates. 19 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress, and God saved them from their desperate circumstances. 20 God gave the order and healed them; he rescued them from their pit. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all people. 22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and declare what God has done in songs of joy!
Song of Adoration In Deep Distress My Soul Declares Composer: John Bell, based on Psalm 130 Tune: SHAPIRO
In deep distress my soul declares its song of lamentation: “Lord hear my voice. Your list’ning ear determines my salvation. If human guilt was your delight, and sin alone obsessed your sight, Lord who’d escape damnation?”
Though punishment should be our price, another gift is given; for pardon is your property, the greatest grace of heaven. We fear your love more than your might because you exercise the right to name our sins forgiven.
So now my soul in penitence affirms the hope I stand on. Like those who wait to see the dawn, I yearn to know your pardon. No pow’r can weaken or deform God’s will to challenge and transform abase but not abandon.
Lenten Prayer Let us pray,
Pray along with the recording above or with the words below.
You have to look your evil in the face to be healed. The snakes that plagued the Hebrews in the desert were their betrayal come back to bite them, their being Eden’s serpent. The cure was to gaze at their sin.
So we gaze upon the Crucified One, our victim, and look our awfulness in the eye and only there grasp forgiveness, and only then become truly alive.
On the cross is lifted up our racism, our violence, our materialism, our deep seated me-first-ism. Posted there is our last text to God, “I’ll let you know when I need you.” We look at it, look at it hard, to get free of the lie that we’re just fine, the lie that keeps us from knowing how deeply we are forgiven, how vastly we are blessed, how infinitely we are loved.
silent prayer and meditation
Assurance and Hope
Listen to and/or read the words below.
Even when we were dead, Paul writes. Even when we turned away from the One who had created us. Even when we lived in the grip of what drew our gaze from God. Even when we were oblivious. Even when we followed a path fashioned of nothing but our own desires. Even when we wandered far and willfully away. Even when we forgot to look past our own feet and to see the wonders not of our making. Even when we failed to stand in awe, to breathe thanks, to lean into the love that had waited long for us. Even when, Paul writes. Even when, even then: grace.
Anthem There is a Balm in Gilead African American Spiritual arr. Jacques Rizzo
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sinsick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
If you cannot sing like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, and say “He died for all.”
Numbers 21:4-9 Common English Bible
Listen to the scripture being read and/or read below.
They marched from Mount Hor on the Reed Sea road around the land of Edom. The people became impatient on the road. 5The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us in the desert, where there is no food or water. And we detest this miserable bread!” 6So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people and they bit the people. Many of the Israelites died.
7The people went to Moses and said, “We’ve sinned, for we spoke against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord so that he will send the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and place it on a pole. Whoever is bitten can look at it and live.” 9Moses made a bronze snake and placed it on a pole. If a snake bit someone, that person could look at the bronze snake and live.
Reflection on Numbers Rev. Tonya Vickery
Listen to Tonya’s sermon and/or read below.
As I flip through the pages of the book of Numbers in my Bible, I like to read the headings. There’s
Confession and restitution
Offerings, various offerings
Aaron and Miriam are jealous of Moses
Then there are things like
Keeping the passover
Departure from Sinai
And of course, complaining in the wilderness
One of my favorite headings is
Aaron’s rod bears almonds.
Numbers is a disjointed book to say the least. It reads like a story and then all of sudden you run into a bunch of legal matters—take this, put this on that, wash this this way, carry this quickly, build this this way, and so on. It is a story that begins at Mt. Sinai, wanders along a wilderness journey, and ends in the Plains of Moab. It begins with a generation of people who had been set free from Egyptian bondage by the wise and mighty hand of God. And it ends with a whole new generation, a generation of orphans actually, l for all their ancestors, save for one or two, have died somewhere along the journey.
The entire book is about what life is like when God, the Holy One is in your midst. When God lives among us, life is fraught with danger and possibilities. God’s presence makes a radical difference in how we live. Numbers teaches us that it is possible to push God too far. Sin is real and dangerous. We ignore our sins at our own peril. Numbers also teaches us that God is all about forgiveness. We read those words in Numbers 14:8,
“The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Yes, God justly punishes our sins, but God forgives us with abundant grace. God does not overlook our sins. At times we are severely punished for putting other things before God. But God’s judgment never, ever overshadows the fact that God forgives those who regret what they have done, and God offers salvation to all who will receive it.
One of my favorite stories from the book of Numbers is when the Lord tells all the people to add fringes to the corners of their clothes. Fringe reminds me of the 70’s—remember those bobble tassels on our curtains, on the corners of our pillows, and on our ponchos. However, in Numbers fringes are to remind the people about who they are and whose they are. When the people see the fringe on their clothes, and there is to be fringe added to the corners of every garments, they are to remember all the commandments of the Lord so they will do them. They are to remember not to follow the lust of their hearts nor desires of their eyes. When they see the fringe, they are to remember that they are to be a holy people unto their God. They are to remember that God brought them out of bondage, set them free, so the Lord might be their God.
I sure do like that story better than the snake on a stick story. But there is a reason the snake story is in the lectionary cycle. In fact, it is the only story from Numbers in all three years of the cycle.
The story of the attack by poisonous serpents comes at the end of a series of stories about the murmuring, complaining, and grumbling mood of the people. They have complained about the conditions of life in the desert. There’s no meat to eat. The food in Egypt was better–remember the cucumbers! Their patience runs thin and they can’t get along with one another. They resent Moses, the leader the Lord has provided them, for leading them out on this wild goose chase. They are thirsty. They are thirsty. Again, they are thirsty. All this grumbling and mumbling comes to a head in Numbers 21.
By Number 21, the people have continued to fail in trusting God and God is just tired of it. On their journey, they needed to pass through the land of Edom to make the route shorter. But the Edomites refused to let them pass through. So they had to go around Edom. They head south toward the Red Sea, but they are attacked by poisonous snakes. And of course, the people complain. Who wouldn’t. But you see, the snake attack comes after the people became impatient and spoke out against Moses, but also against God. Why did you bring us here? There is no food. There is no water. Well, the food we do have tastes horrible. Why did you bring us here?
All along this wilderness dessert journey, Moses has tried to move the people forward in trusting God. Trust that God will keep God’s word. Trust that God will keep that divine commitment to lead you to a new land. Trust that God will provide. But the people’s ability to trust in God ebbs and flows. At one moment, they sing the praises of the Lord their God and then they fall right back into that lame attitude of unfaithfulness and untrusting. They complain and speak against God.
Trusting in God is not the same as believing in God. Did they believe in God? Sure. But did they trust God? Not always. Trust is faith. The New Testament tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. Faith means that even though they are tired, even though they are weary, even though the food doesn’t taste the same or has no taste at all, even though the way is hard and laborious, their feet hurt and their legs ache, you trust that God will keep God’s word—the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen.
The promises of the Lord are everlasting. The grace of the Lord is forever. The love of God which is for the world, and that includes us, the love of God towards us abounds and remains steadfast and sure. Trust that God loves you. Trust that God will never abandon you. The suffering, the bad food, the darkness, the long nights, the pains, the lack of meat, those struggles of the day, those disappointments, they do not define God’s love for us. Can you imagine the relationship between a child and a parent if the child measured the love of the parent by how good or bad their day was? We shouldn’t treat God this way either. We can recognize the silliness of the complaining and murmuring in the story of these people on their journey. You are going throw out your faith in God because you don’t have any meat to eat? You are going to abandon your faith in God because you are tired of walking? Because your feet hurt? It is easy for us to see that the uncertainty of the future was brewing a fear within their hearts that became greater than their faith in God.
Eventually God has had enough of the whining, and sends a pack of poisonous snakes to grab their attention. The fringe didn’t do it. The blooming rod didn’t do it. The water from the rock didn’t do it. The pillar of fire by night and the cloud in the sky by day didn’t do, so let’s give them some snakes. And for some reason, this gets the people’s attention. They own their lack of trust in God. They admit they have done wrong. And yes, they regret it. They ask God to take the snakes away, but God doesn’t. Instead, God provides them another way to practice their trust in God. God has Moses make a snake out of bronze, and set it on a pole. And everyone who is bitten by the snakes can look at the pole and they will live. The snakes don’t stop biting. The snakes don’t go away. They are still there. But if you are bitten, look up at the bronze snake and the snake bit won’t kill you like it did others.
I don’t know about you, but I would rather look at the fringe on my clothes to remember that God loves me and expects me to behave like a child of God, than to have to be snake bitten and look up at a bronze snake on a pole to remember how to act like a child of God. But you know, God will do whatever it takes to make sure we know that God expects us to live like God’s people. And repentance and forgiveness are always options in our relationship with God. God will judge our sins, yes, for they make us less than what God created us to be, and they really do disappoint God. But from God’s view point, repentance is always a possibility and faithful repentance is always met with God grace.
When we recognize and own the wrongs we have done, when we come before God, when we admit our mistakes to our Creator, when we admit how they have harmed us and others and the world, then by the grace of God we start making things right again, for we have been forgiven. When we take responsibility for our wrong doings, our sins, God’s forgiveness and God’s healing are readily available. The Holy One has called us to be more than this and provides us a way.
In the writings between the two Testaments, Old and New, these words are written in a book called the Wisdom of Solomon:
For the one who turned towards the bronze serpent was saved, not by the thing that was beheld, but by you, the Savior of all. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith God’s People Were Impatient Author: Carolyn Winfred Gillette Tune: ANGEL’S STORY 7.6.7.6 D (“O Jesus, I Have Promised”)
1 God’s people were impatient and spoke against the Lord: “This wilderness is dried out and we detest the food! We can’t find any water and so we ask you why, O God — if you still love us — you’ve brought us here to die.”
2 As sinning leads to judgment, the people soon knew fear. For snakes were in the desert and danger lingered near. So Moses made a bronze snake and placed it on a pole; Whoever looked upon it was once again made whole.
3 O God, this Lenten season reminds us of our sin; We know our lack of trusting, the times our faith wears thin. We also know your promise to lead us on our way, To faithfully be near us, to guide us day by day.
4 Though sinning leads to judgment, repentance is God’s plan; So on the cross was lifted the suffering Son of Man. God, may we look upon him and in his suffering see The one who brings redemption for all humanity.
Sending Out
Let us rejoice: God so loves the world! May God your Maker send you out into the world with creative energies refreshed. May Christ the Light illuminate your darkest moments. And may the Holy Spirit of steadfast love guide you until we worship together again. This day and forevermore. Amen!
Blest Be the Tie by John Fawcett
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
The Invitation to Worship is offered by Emily and was written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre website. https://stillpointsa.org.au/
We Will Walk with God is sung by Mindy, accompanied by Kendall on the djembe.
The Opening Prayer is offered by Robin and was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is read by Kristin, Addie, Alyvia, and Alizabeth.
In Deep Distress My Soul Declares and God’s People Were Impatient are sung by Mindy, accompanied by Tonya on the piano.
The Lenten Prayer and Words of Assurance are offered by Jeffrey and were written by Jan L. Richardson as posted on The Painted Prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/.
There is a Balm in Gilead is sung by Ally, Elizabeth, Michelle, Tonya, and Mindy, accompanied by Tonya on the piano and Michelle on the guitar.
The Sending Out is offered by Jeffrey and was written by Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, in So Loved: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, & breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry & bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. (John Birch)
May these 40 days before Easter be a time of spiritual spring cleaning, of removing what hinders and renewing what facilitates our relationships with God, the world, and one another.
The Worship of God for Third Sunday in Lent
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” And reply, “And, also with you.”
Invitation to Worship based on Psalm 19
Listen to the Invitation to Worship and/or read below.
The heavens are telling the glory of God May our worship reflect God’s glory. The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. May we see each other as the handiwork of God. Let our prayer and praise, our singing and proclamation project the love of God. We commune with Christians around the world, with Christians throughout time. With Christians across geography and across time, Let us worship!
Song of Praise We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Opening Prayer Let us pray:
Listen to the prayer being offered and/or pray below.
We acknowledge you, O God, as creator and as liberator. You are the One who brought the captives out of Egypt and delivered them from the oppression of slavery. You gave laws which shaped how people were to relate to you, to each other and to the whole environment. You implored people to worship only you, knowing that whatever was put in your place would become the object of idolatry – would become the priority of people’s lives. In this time of worship, help us to focus on you, O God, as the priority of our lives. Remind us of your steadfast love revealed so clearly in the new commandment of love which Jesus disclosed with his life and, as we especially remember in this period of Lent, with his death. Speak to us anew as we offer this prayer and our worship in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen
Psalm 19 Common English Bible
Listen to the Psalm being read and/or read below.
Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork. 2One day gushes the news to the next, and one night informs another what needs to be known. 3Of course, there’s no speech, no words— their voices can’t be heard— 4but their sound extends throughout the world; their words reach the ends of the earth.
God has made a tent in heaven for the sun. 5The sun is like a groom coming out of his honeymoon suite; like a warrior, it thrills at running its course. 6It rises in one end of the sky; its circuit is complete at the other. Nothing escapes its heat.
7The Lord’s Instruction is perfect, reviving one’s very being. The Lord’s laws are faithful, making naïve people wise. 8The Lord’s regulations are right, gladdening the heart. The Lord’s commands are pure, giving light to the eyes. 9Honoring the Lord is correct, lasting forever. The Lord’s judgments are true. All of these are righteous! 10They are more desirable than gold— than tons of pure gold! They are sweeter than honey— even dripping off the honeycomb!
11No doubt about it: your servant is enlightened by them; there is great reward in keeping them. 12But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin 13and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me. Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Song of Praise Let All Creation Dance Words: Brian Wren Tune: DARWALL’S 148th
1 Let all creation dance in energies sublime, as order turns with chance, unfolding space and time for nature’s art in glory grows, and newly shows God’s mind and heart.
2 God’s breath each force unfurls, igniting from a spark expanding starry swirls, with whirlpools dense and dark. Though moon and sun seem mindless things, each orbit sings: “Your will be done.”
3 Our own amazing earth, with sunlight, cloud and storms and life’s abundant growth in lovely shapes and forms, is made for praise, a fragile whole, and from its soul heav’n’s music plays.
4 Lift heart and soul and voice: in Christ all praises meet and nature shall rejoice as all is made complete. In hope be strong. All life befriend and kindly tend creation’s song.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 New Revised Standard Version
Listen to 1 Corinthians and/or read below.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Lenten Prayer Let us pray,
Hear the Prayer and Words of Assurance and/or read along below.
Liberating God, in love You have set us free: free from slavery to sin and self, free to know and love You, free to follow and serve You.
We praise You for Your faithful love toward us, and for the many ways You have demonstrated that love to us. We see Your love in the natural world around us— in the sky and trees and rivers. We see Your love in the gift of Your commandments— the rules for living that guide us into right relationship with You, and with the people around us. And we see Your love in Jesus Christ, who lived and died to bring us life.
Because we have experienced Your love, we come before You with confidence, bringing our needs and the needs of the world. God, in your unfailing love, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who live surrounded by violence— whether from war or political unrest, crime or domestic violence. We pray for those who have been victims of violent crime, and for those whose loved ones have been injured or murdered. God, in your unfailing love, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who find themselves involved in crime, whether by choice or through coercion; those caught up into gangs or prostitution, those who have turned to crime to pay for their addictions, those who are imprisoned. God, in your unfailing love, hear our prayer.
We pray for our homes and families: for parents juggling the responsibilities of work and family, for children chafing under parental authority or expectations, for men and women caught up in adultery or adulterous thoughts, and for partners whose marriages are breaking down, God, in your unfailing love, hear our prayer.
We pray for the many people in our world who do not yet know You, who have not yet experienced the new life that comes from knowing You through Christ Jesus; who continue to search for purpose and meaning. God, in your unfailing love, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, give us strength and courage to keep Your commandments, to live in faithful obedience to Your will. Guard our lives and minds from all that might distract us from living out our commitment to You. Help us to find our true worth in knowing You more fully, and serving You more faithfully.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone. Amen.
Words of Assurance and Hope God loves us. (Romans 5:8) We do not need to be afraid. (Matthew 10:31) Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:21) Jesus says to us, “You are my friends.” (John 15:14) And Jesus promises, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)
Anthem O Thou, My Soul, Forget No More Text by Krishnu Pal (1764-1822), translated by J. Marshman (1801) Composed by Ronald Turner based on the tune DISTRESS
O thou, my soul, forget no more The friend who all thy sorrows bore; Let ev’ry idol be forgot, O thou, my soul, forget him not.
We taste thee, O thou living Bread, and long to feast upon Thee still; we drink of Thee, the fountainhead, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
O Jesus, joy of loving hearts, Thou fount of life, thou light of all, from the best thought that earth imparts we turn unfilled to heed thy call. Forget not us, we pray.
Reflection on Exodus 20:1-17 Rev. Jeffrey Vickery
Let me invite you to enter your imagination. Imagine that you are an Israelite born in Egypt during the time of the slavery described at the beginning of the book of Exodus. Years later, after nearly a lifetime of harsh treatment and hard work, you and your family along with thousands of your Israelite kin are freed from slavery by a surprising series of miracles. How is it that you pray for a miracle all these years without any clear sign from God? Then all at once miracles in the form of plagues seem to happen every day … for weeks? Before too long your greatest hope is realized! You are told to gather your family and some food and walk to freedom. On that day, you leave Egypt and your slavery behind. You marvel at the dry sea bed beneath your sandals. You gasp as the army pursuing you is defeated by yet another miracle. God is surely watching over all of you. But the weeks moving south through the desert are hard, nearly as harsh as slavery. You don’t even know what the destination is or when you will arrive. After exactly three months, you and the whole company are standing at the foot of Mount Sinai and word spreads that this is the place. You are given three days to prepare to hear from God. The rumor is that you will actually hear God speak. Wonder swirls – what will God say? During those three days, you are told to wash your clothes and remain holy. The leaders build a fence at the foot of the mountain which no one is to touch or go through on pain of death, except for Moses, and eventually Aaron. On the third day, as you and your family gather with the whole company of the Israelites, a rainless storm seems to be sitting on the mountain. Thunder and lightning are accompanied by the sounding of a ram’s horn that is blown like a pleading trumpet. Smoke envelopes the mountain as though from a hot furnace. The loud blast of the horn means Moses is speaking to God. God answers him in thunder as the mountain itself shakes. Honestly, it’s all a bit scary. Finally, the time has come. God addresses you and all the people directly.
[What follows next are the words recorded in Exodus 20:1-17]
20:1Then God spoke all these words: 2I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3you shall have no other gods before me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9For six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
12Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13You shall not murder.
14You shall not commit adultery.
15You shall not steal.
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Shew! That must have been a powerful moment in history! It remains the only time in the entire biblical story when God speaks out loud to all the people. No wonder that we remember this part of the Exodus story so often. No wonder that posting these words on a flimsy yard sign as an act of pride or protest seems an underwhelming gesture. Posting the ten commandments is not an act of faith. Living them is.
Despite the way we think of these as “commandments” for all of us, I want you today to take them personally. God said these words to you. You hear them from God. We have come to call them commandments, but I like to think of them as God’s first ten teachings. Hundreds more come after these ten although the rest are mediated by someone else who hears God that we trust to relay the message truthfully. Someone like Moses, or Elijah, or Deborah. Nothing is wrong with calling them “commandments.” I grew up with people who had adopted the description of Exodus 20 as God’s “commandments, not suggestions.” Even as a child, I knew that the people who said this intended to mean that they wanted other people to be commanded to follow them like laws. But the words of God, especially these ten, are always to be freely chosen and never imposed by force of law or threat of penalty. Without a doubt, we definitely need a secular legal law against murder and stealing and lying in court. The other seven, on the other hand, should never be legislated even if I think they should always be followed. Commandment #4 should never become “You must require other people to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” Instead, the “you” in each of God’s teachings is singular. “You, Jeffrey, shall not use God’s name for your own purposes.” “You, Jeffrey, shall honor your parents.” “You, Jeffrey, shall not want what other people have.” It does not say, “You shall not let other people make idols, or steal, or lie.” They are God’s words for me to follow, not for me to impose.
Anyone who claims to follow God as a Christian must take these words personally. They are for me to choose freely, to practice daily, to set as a standard for myself. None of us are holy by association. We are not part of God’s covenant because of our family. Another person cannot maintain my relationship with God. No one else can speak my prayer for me. Others can assist my spiritual journey and guide my understanding and teach me God’s Way, but I am the only one who can choose to live in God’s Way. Yes, we find a sustainable community of goodness and justice when all of us let these words orient our Way of living, but that equity is violated when they are forced on any one of us. Yes, our work for justice and fairness and the ending of oppression sometimes requires us to advocate for the forced change in law or behavior so that others can live free and healthy and whole. But the act of loving and following God is not determined by imposition of community or social requirements. The practice of faith in God is personal. One of the historic Baptist distinctions that I will hold the tightest and longest is religious liberty in its fullest sense. Not only am I able to freely choose to follow Jesus myself, I will advocate for others to have the freedom to choose the same, or another religious faith, or no faith at all with the same freedom and an equal amount of respect and kindness.
Since we are in the Christian season of Lent, these teachings of God take us back to the basics. Exodus 20 gives us God’s message as both an imperative and in the present. Do this. Don’t do that. On this day and with the opportunities before me and among the people with whom I live, do this, don’t do that. A simple and direct message from God such as Exodus 20 gives us a fertile field from which other seeds of faith grow. This kind of simplicity is part of our Lenten discipline. Just like a baseball team reporting to Spring Training starts with the basics of throwing and hitting, during Lent we are called back to the common and simple acts of faith. Put God first. Yes, we work, and we have children or grandchildren, and we volunteer to help, and we need to exercise and have a hobby that helps de-stress us, and there are books to read and television shows to binge, and viruses to avoid. Lent calls us back to the building blocks that started us on this faith journey – put God first. Before my schedule. Before my stress-relief. Before my political advocacy. Put God first. Many things in our world compete to take the place of God in our life. We think that we worship only one God, but are we more committed to something on our schedule than we are too God? Are we more passionate about our political insightfulness than our religious understanding? Are we more committed to grandchildren or children more than we are committed to God? Do we watch more football on television than time we spend in prayer, worship, and scripture? Do our choices in lifestyle, or how we spend our money, or what we want other people to think of us have more of an influence on our decisions than what is pleasing to God? The answer to these questions are personal. Only you know the truth. During these weeks of Lent, these questions stand before us and require an honest appraisal.
Barbara Brown Taylor notes that in the Book of Common Prayer, the ten commandments are used in public worship during Lent in a specific way. The people in the church kneel while these verses from Exodus 20 are read. After each commandment, the people respond by saying, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.” [from notes written by Barbara Brown Taylor in Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 2.] It presents worshippers with a tangible whole-body way to note that failure to follow these teachings is part of our reality, but it serves as a call to forgiveness and restoration rather than scorn and pity. “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Yet worshippers are also given the opportunity to voice a renewed call to obedience — “And incline our hearts to keep this law.” Our past may require mercy, but our present offers us opportunity to practice our faith anew. Lent will not let us forget our failures, but will equip us for obedience today.
While everyone seems to know the ten commandments, the question of whether I choose to follow them or not is not a given. With these teachings, God is saying “trust me and my commandments. There are other teachings you can follow, but they are not good for you, they don’t honor me, and they likely keep others from living justly in the human community. If you do trust me and my commandments, live them today.” It is that simple, and also that difficult, but it is worth the commitment.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith Gifts of Love Our Lord has Given Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette Tune: I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN
1 Gifts of love our Lord has given, Words of life: “I’m your God! I have brought you out of Egypt; now I call. Listen here, listen well: When you live in gratitude you’ll keep my law.”
2 “Have no other gods before me, says the Lord God Most High. Don’t choose idols that you worship in God’s place. Know God’s name, use it well. Keep the Sabbath for it is God’s gift of grace.”
3 “Honor father, honor mother, and rejoice! God will bless you. Take no life, for God loves every child on earth. Celebrate gifts of love; Take to heart what marriage promises are worth.”
4 “Do not steal from one another, nor speak lies, hurting others; Do not wish for what your neighbor has in greed.” Ten great Words, gifts from God, Help us live in thanks for all we have received.
Sending Out
Listen to the Sending Out and/or read below.
Know that the ever-present mystery we name God is in your past forgiving you, in your present loving you, and in your future meeting you.
And may the blessing of the Source of life, love and hope, the Word of life, compassion and wisdom and Breath of life, grace and truth surround, sustain and surprise you, this day and all your days. Amen
Blest Be the Tie by John Fawcett
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
The Invitation to Worship is offered by Michelle and comes from Jesus Sets the Table, resources by the United Church of Christ, posted on their Worship Ways website.
We Will Walk with God is sung by Mindy, accompanied by Kendall on the djembe.
The Opening Prayer is offered by Onifer and was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Psalm 19 is read by Kendall.
Let All Creation Dance and Gifts of Love Our Lord has Given are sung by Mindy, accompanied by Tonya on the piano.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 is read by Mike.
The Lenten prayer is offered by Tonya and was posted on the website re:Worship under Lent 3B.
The Words of Assurance are offered by Carmen.
Oh, Thou My Soul, Forget No More is sung by Ally, Elizabeth, Laura, Tonya, and Mindy, accompanied by Tonya on the piano.
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, & breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry & bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. (John Birch)
May these 40 days before Easter be a time of spiritual spring cleaning, of removing what hinders and renewing what facilitates our relationships with God, the world, and one another.
The Worship of God for Second Sunday in Lent
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” And reply, “And, also with you.”
Invitation to Worship based on Psalm 22
Listen to the invitation and/or read below.
Let us glorify God who created all things, yet who hears and responds to the cries of the weak and the needy.
We declare the glory of God – ruler over all nations, whose greatness is revealed in gracious and loving acts. Let us worship and witness so faithfully that future generations will believe and glorify God in their hearts and with their lives.
Let us worship and praise God with thanksgiving in our hearts.
Song of Praise We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Opening Prayer Let us pray:
Listen and/or read below and pray along.
We pray, O God, that today will be the time when we hear you and that our hearts will not be hard or cold. We pray rather, that our hearts will be warmed, and our lives energized by your Spirit so that we can worship you with our whole being. Amaze us anew with the faithfulness of Sarah and Abraham and their belief in your staggering promises of a fruitful future. Confront us afresh with wonder at your desire to relate to humanity through a covenant established by you. We worship you, O God, with awe, knowing that you care so much for us – knowledge deepened and confirmed through the bringing into being of a new covenant through the suffering and death of Jesus. Accept, we pray, this worship which comes from thankful hearts, for we offer it in Jesus’ name. Amen
Psalm 22:23-31 Common English Bible
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All of you who revere the Lord—praise him! All of you who are Jacob’s descendants—honor him! All of you who are all Israel’s offspring— stand in awe of him! 24 Because he didn’t despise or detest the suffering of the one who suffered— he didn’t hide his face from me. No, he listened when I cried out to him for help.
25 I offer praise in the great congregation because of you; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor God. 26 Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek the Lord praise him! I pray your hearts live forever! 27 Every part of the earth will remember and come back to the Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you. 28 Because the right to rule belongs to the Lord, he rules all nations. 29 Indeed, all the earth’s powerful will worship him; all who are descending to the dust will kneel before him; my being also lives for him. 30 Future descendants will serve him; generations to come will be told about my Lord. 31 They will proclaim God’s righteousness to those not yet born, telling them what God has done.
Song of Praise The Living God Be Praised! Author: Daniel ben Judah Tune: LEONI
The living God be praised! Give honor to God’s name, who was, and is, and is to be, for-e’re the same; the one eternal God before all now appears, the first, the last, beyond all thought God’s timeless years!
2 God’s Spirit still flows free, high surging where it will; in prophet’s word God spoke of old and God speaks still. Established is God’s law and changeless it shall stand, inscribed upon the human heart on sea and land.
3 Eternal life has God implanted in the soul; God’s love will be our strength and stay while ages roll. The living One be praised! Give honor to God’s name, who was, and is, and is to be, for’e’er the same.
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 New Revised Standard Version
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When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
Lenten Prayer Let us pray,
Listen and/or read the prayer as we pray.
Gracious God, you reached into Abraham and Sarah’s lives and asked them to dream the impossible dream – that you would transform what appears to have been a barren and lifeless situation into one overflowing with promise and hope – and, through faith in you, they believed your promises.
Forgive us, O God, if we never get beyond thinking of your call on our lives as an impossible dream or even as an unwelcome interruption.
Forgive us, O God, when we find it hard even to hear your promises above commercial assurances of transformation— tempting us to trust the newest and trendiest product to realize our dreams.
Forgive us, O God, when we allow the power of evil to flourish because we are afraid of what the cost might be to truly follow and walk with you.
Silent reflection on these words
Gracious and loving God, forgive our lack of trust in you; Have mercy on us and forgive us. Help us when we hesitate, and strengthen us when we are weak Breathe your Spirit afresh into our hearts and minds – our lives -so that we have the courage to follow Jesus wherever he takes us. Amen
Words of Assurance and Hope God loves us; we do not need to be afraid. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” “Stand up and do not be afraid.” “You are my friends. I am always with you.” Amen.
Anthem Be Still, and Know that I am God Composer: Carol McClure
Be still, and know that I am God; Be still, and know that I am God.
Long before you were formed, Long before you were born, I knew your face and called you by name; My love for you is always the same.
Be still, and know that I am God; Be still, and know that I am God.
You are made in the image of God; You are redeemed by my love. You are made in the image of God; You are redeemed by my love.
Be still, and know that I am God; Be still, and know that I am God.
Reflection on the Old Testament Rev. Tonya Vickery
Listen to the reflection and/or read below.
“Faith includes faithfulness, strength of waiting, the acceptance of [God’s] concealment, defiance of history.”
We all have felt the frustrating paradox of on the one hand knowing God’s constant presence and on the other hand, experiencing God’s silence, or rather our inability to hear, see, or feel God. Sometimes life feels like we are attending a celebration or victory dinner. Like the Israelites, we have been freed from our “Egyptians” and we join Moses in song. “The LORD is my strength and my might; the LORD has become my salvation. This is my God whom I will praise and exalt!” (Exodus 15:2). But then there are those days when heavy hearts, confused and lost, feeling defeated we sit down with Job and say, “Look, God passes right by me, but I do not see God; God moves on, but I do not perceive.” (Job 9:11)
God is not indifferent to our struggle of knowing God. As we look for God around us, as we hope to hear God’s voice, as we long to feel God’s holy presence, God is mindful of our quest to find God in our days and in our world. Without a doubt, we need God. But surprisingly God, the Almighty God, needs us too. The story of Abraham and Sarah following on the heels of the story of Noah highlights God’s need for us.
God created this amazing world and God is good. So therefore everything is good because God created it. But the world has fallen short of the glory of God out of which it was created. It’s like paths of darkness have made their way through the world and across our lives. Paths of misery, callousness, and defiance.
These pockets of shadows and darkness where the light of God does not shine, these are not places where God is at home. The Iranian regime made the news Friday. Our nation striking back at them for killing an American contractor who was working for the US government. But take a deeper look into what life is like for Iranians living under this dishonest, fear mongering leaders. It doesn’t take long to run across pictures or stories of Iranian children rummaging through the garbage. They sell the garbage for less than a dollar a day just so their family can buy a loaf of bread for the day. What a miserable life for a child. Misery is not the kind of home which God has created for us.
God isn’t at home with callous attitudes either. We have read about callousness in the hearts of Americans who before the Civil War forcefully separated children from their mothers to sell them as slaves. What a horrible scene, callous to the cries of the children and their mothers. Such brutal behavior is not the kind of life for which God created us. But unfortunately we Americans still commit such ironhearted acts. Callous hearts of Americans who forcefully separated children from mothers who were seeking asylum. Who could possibly do such a thing? and receive wages for such soulless actions? Callous, hard hearts towards others speaks nothing of the way of God. This is not the type of life for which God created us.
And then there’s defiance, defiance by 10% of the world’s population. Ten percent of us make over $38,000 a year and we are the ones heating up the planet. Our refusal or reluctance to make changes or adjustments to our daily living as to cool things down shows how stubborn and self-serving we truly are. Our current lifestyle is set to increase the temperature of the planet at least 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit). It doesn’t sound like a lot. You change the temperature in your house by 5 or 6 degrees, and it’s really no big deal. But when you change the temperature of the planet by 5 degrees Fahrenheit, we won’t be living like we did a couple of years ago. If you think a pandemic is an interruption to life, what do you think will happen when the earth heats up 5 degrees? Those before us were not aware of the impact of burning fossil fuels like coal and oil, but we are aware. Do you recall the first thing God told humanity to do? Take care of the earth. We have more understanding and knowledge of how to do that, and how we have harmed the earth. But we are still being pigheaded about making uncomfortable money costing changes. A defiant life is not the way of God.
Last week we read in Genesis that the earth had become a place God didn’t like. Corruption and violence filled the earth. It was not how God envisioned life to be, not for God, not for the earth, and not for people. However, God sees his friend Noah living honorably and righteously among this misery, callousness, and defiance. Genesis says Noah is blameless. So God says to Noah, “Come, walk with me.” And while they are walking together (actually riding safe inside a very large enclosed boat), God brings a flood that destroys everything but Noah and Noah’s family and those animals safe inside the boat. It was like a tactical rescue mission. Get the good people out and destroy the rest.
That’s how we want to see it done sometimes. God would you just wipe out all corrupt leaders from the world, especially in Iran where children are having to dig through the garbage? Where their lives are hopeless and robbed of the joys of being a child. And while you are at it, just take care of people with callous hearts and defiant self-serving minds however you see fit. Did you notice that we don’t tend to pray that God would wipe out those of us with callous hearts toward caring for others and defiant attitudes towards care for the earth? What do you think God would say to such prayers? Can’t do that Peach. I made a promise a long time ago to never do that again. And it is an everlasting covenant. We remember the promise of God by the bending of light–a rainbow.
But God, the earth, and humanity needed more than just a promise from God that erasure or destruction would not be used against the darkness. God offers more. God invites a family to go out from their country into a new land, to set up house there, and fully live the way of God. It sounds like an escape plan. You know those times when life gets rough and you are like, “I just need to get out of here and move to Norway.” But this new idea was definitely not an escape. Look at Genesis 17:1. God says to Abram, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.” Ah, we have already heard that word blameless. Noah was blameless. He lived an honorable and righteous life. We have also already heard that word walk. The change between the two invitations is in the word that come before walk – a preposition in the case of Noah becomes an adverb in the life of Abram. The invitation from God to Noah was “Walk with me.” The invitation from God to Abram is “Walk before me.” There is a shift here. There is a purpose to Abram’s walk that goes beyond himself and his family being rescued, saved from the darkness. At first it sounds like God is asking Abram to lead the way for God, as if God didn’t know which way to go. But that’s not what’s intended here. Remove the ideas of competition and ranking. This isn’t about pecking orders or the first one in the line is the best. Abram coming before God means Abram is to be like a shining light. Abram’s life is to illuminate the presence of God to the world, making more room for God and less room for those dark paths of misery, callousness, and defiance.
The dark paths running across the globe today are not much different from those in the days of Noah. And we know without a shadow of a doubt, that God does not like such things. Misery, callousness, and defiance are not the ways of God. However, God will not provide an escape route, nor will God wipe out everything that is wrong. Instead, God asks us to bring the presence of God into the world and into our lives and into the lives of others. The misery, the callousness, and the defiance fade away over time when God is brought into these places. Like Abraham, we are illuminate God’s presence along these paths so the world can know the goodness and love and grace of God.
But, here we are again. Sometimes we see God clearly and we sing at the top of our lungs with Moses. Yes, we can illuminate the presence of God in the world. But there are times when we cannot see God, and we sit alongside Job, wondering. How can we illuminate a presence which we cannot perceive. But even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God, we can still illuminate the presence of God to the world, but it will require us to be faithful to our faith in God. When God seems gone, we must remember that there is nothing closer to us than God. There is nothing closer to you than Almighty God. One bridge to get us over the emptiness is being in awe of God, living every day in awe of God.
We all adore something or someone. I have the pleasure of seeing Millie each Tuesday night on Zoom for Bible study with the young adults. I adore little Millie. We are all awe struck by something. We watched a documentary on the Grand Canyon Friday night. I can only imagine that if I stood in that deep canyon, I would be awe of such massive colorful walls of rock. So who or what in your life are you in awe of? But turn this question and refine it. What are you in awe of that is worthy of your supreme worship? Now, you can stand outside on a clear night and gaze at the stars above and stand in awe. Nature is full of awestriking things. But we don’t worship nature. We can see those chubby Millie cheeks and we star struck, but we don’t worship Millie. Instead infants, nature, and the vastness of the universe create an awe within us which illuminates for us the works of the Creator God and our hearts are pointed to God. These things nurture within us the awe of God Almighty!
If you want to increase your awe of God, start by asking yourself this question: what is God’s relationship with humanity? The biblical stories of Noah and Abraham and Sarah reveal this relationship more and more. What is God’s relationship with you? Your presence in this world is not a mistake or a chance happening. Always remember that God is unwilling to be alone, and God has chosen, not just Noah, not just Sarah and Abraham, but God has chosen to share life with us, with you. Faith in God is our response to God choosing us. Faith in God may begin with a decision or a desire. But when we nurture our faith in the living God with awe, that faith grows.
As we work to diminish and eradicate misery, callousness, and defiance in the world, deepen your sense of the mystery of God. Realize that faith is not just a belief, but faith is an act. Faith in the living God is the core of who you are, what you do, how you think about things, what you love. Faith is not an achievement, but it is a way of life. And it is something that has to be worked at, nurtured, tended to. Faith requires faithfulness, what Abraham Heschel called “strength of waiting.” Our active living faith in the living active God reveals God’s presence to the world. So like Abraham, walk before God don’t promise escape routes or destruction of evil or easy answers, but walk before God, illuminating God by your life to everyone that God is here with us always.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith Put All Your Trust in God Author: Paul Gerhardt; trans. John Wesley; ad. by Tonya Vickery Tune: ST THOMAS (Williams)
1 Put all your trust in God, in duty’s path go on; walk in God’s strength with faith and hope, so will your work be done.
2 Commit your ways to God, your works into God’s hands, and rest on God’s unchanging word, who heaven and earth commands.
3 Though years on years roll on, God’s covenant endures; though clouds and darkness hide God’s path, the promised grace is sure.
4 Give to the wind your fears; hope, and be undismayed: God sees your heart and feels your pain; and hears the words you’ve prayed.
5 Through waves and clouds and storms our God will clear the way: expect to see the darkest night become the brightest day.
Sending Out
Listen to and/or read the sending out.
Know that the ever-present mystery we name God is in your past forgiving you, in your present loving you, and in your future meeting you.
And may the blessing of the Source of life, love and hope, the Word of life, compassion and wisdom and Breath of life, grace and truth surround, sustain and surprise you, this day and all your days. Amen
Blest Be the Tie by John Fawcett
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, & breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry & bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him. (John Birch)
May these 40 days before Easter be a time of spiritual spring cleaning, of removing what hinders and renewing what facilitates our relationships with God, the world, and one another.
The Worship of God for First Sunday in Lent
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the peace of Christ be with you.” And reply, “And, also with you.”
Invitation to Worship Listen to the invitation and/or read below.
God does not remember us according to our sins and wrongdoing. God remembers us according to God’s own compassion and faithful love! God teaches us God’s paths and leads us in God’s truth. God saves us. We put our hope in God all day long!
Opening Prayer Listen to the prayer and pray along, or offer your own prayer to God.
Creator God the sun, moon, and stars shower us with light yet clouds form and vanish the earth turns and the light changes
Redeeming God, you are the true light constant, never dimming stable, never wavering anchored, never shifting eternal, never ceasing
Sustaining God shower us with your light shatter the darkness clear the clouds sharpen our vision so we might see and live so as to love you better and live for your glory. Amen.
Song of Praise We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Here are the lyrics in Swazi: Sizohamba naye wo wo wo, Sizohamba naye. (Repeat)
Ngomhla wenjabula sizohamba naye. (Repeat)
“Sizohamba naye” means “We will go with him.” and “Ngomhla wenjabula” means “On a happy day.”
Now, here is how to pronounce the Swazi words: See-zoh-hahm-bah nah-yay, woh woh woh, see-zoh-hahm-bah nah-yay, see-zoh-hahm-bah nah-yay.
We will walk with God, my brothers, we will walk with God. We will walk with God, my sisters, we will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, till the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Psalm 25:1-10 Common English Bible Listen to the Psalm and/or read below.
I offer my life to you, Lord. 2 My God, I trust you. Please don’t let me be put to shame! Don’t let my enemies rejoice over me! 3 For that matter, don’t let anyone who hopes in you be put to shame; instead, let those who are treacherous without excuse be put to shame.
4 Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth—teach it to me— because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long. 6 Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love— they are forever! 7 But don’t remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing. Remember me only according to your faithful love for the sake of your goodness, Lord.
8 The Lord is good and does the right thing; he teaches sinners which way they should go. 9 God guides the weak to justice, teaching them his way. 10 All the Lord’s paths are loving and faithful for those who keep his covenant and laws.
Song of Praise My Soul in Stillness Waits Author: Marty Haugen Tune: O LORD OF LIGHT, OUR ONLY HOPE OF GLORY
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits, Truly my hope is in you.
O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory, Your radiance shines in all who look to you, Come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow. (Refrain)
O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits, Our thirsty hearts are yearning for your Word, Come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts. (Refrain)
O Root of Life, implant your seed within us, And in your advent draw us all to you, Our hope reborn in dying and in rising. (Refrain)
O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage, We ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain, Open to us the pathway of your peace. (Refrain)
Come, let us bow before the God who made us, let every heart be opened to the Lord, for we are all the people of God’s hand. (Refrain)
Here we shall meet the maker of the heavens, Creator of the mountains and the seas, Lord of the stars, and present to us no. (Refrain)
Lenten Prayer Listen to the prayer and pray along, or offer your own prayer to God.
Let us pray,
God, we have fallen short of the life you created for us. We may confess to you what we have or have not done, but we don’t take responsibility. Instead we believe it isn’t our fault or we couldn’t have done anything different. On the other hand, sometime we only apologize when everyone else does the same.
But you are God. You know us better than we know ourselves. So instead of saying to you, “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” or “I regret.” we humble ourselves and ask,
Reveal to us, God the extent of what we have done.
Provoke us, God until we understand the hurt.
Inspire us, God to see how it’s possible to live by your principles.
Transform us, God holding us tight until we believe in fresh starts and the value of trying again.
silent prayer and meditation
Words of Assurance and Hope God loves us. We do not need to be afraid. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” “Stand up and do not be afraid.” “You are my friends. I am always with you.” Amen.
Anthem Steal Away Arranger: Malcolm Archer Tune: Traditional
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus. Steal away, steal away home, I ain’t got long to stay here.
My Lord, he calls me, he calls me by the thunder; The trumpet sounds within-a my soul; I ain’t got long to stay here.
Green trees a-bending, poor sinner stands a-trembling; The trumpet sounds within-a my soul; I ain’t got long to stay here.
Genesis 9:8-17 Common English Bible Listen to the scripture and/or read below.
God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “I am now setting up my covenant with you, with your descendants, 10 and with every living being with you—with the birds, with the large animals, and with all the animals of the earth, leaving the ark with you. 11 I will set up my covenant with you so that never again will all life be cut off by floodwaters. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 God said, “This is the symbol of the covenant that I am drawing up between me and you and every living thing with you, on behalf of every future generation. 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds; it will be the symbol of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember the covenant between me and you and every living being among all the creatures. Floodwaters will never again destroy all creatures. 16 The bow will be in the clouds, and upon seeing it I will remember the enduring covenant between God and every living being of all the earth’s creatures.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.”
Reflection Rev. Jeffrey Vickery Listen to the reflection and/or read below
The season of Lent began a few days ago on Ash Wednesday. I have come to think of these seven weeks leading up to Easter as unique. The Christian observance of Lent is unlike the hopeful anticipation and joy of Christmas, or the glory and praise of Easter. Lent asks us to focus on the limits of our humanity, but not in a way that is hurtful, shameful, or false. During this season, our faith draws us into a healthy and honest appraisal of ourselves, without tearing us down or beating us up. Every year as the winter landscape turns grey and brown and cold, Lent hands us a mirror into which we see ourselves honestly. Far too often someone else has told us what we see in that mirror, and they use their words that they have presumed are God’s words to describe what they see – harmful words that paint much too dire a picture of God’s children made in God’s image. Pastors and preachers and parents and partners have all pronounced us – totally depraved, sinful from birth, incapable of love, bound to original sin and thus incapable of goodness. In short, they have told us we are hell-bound and are deserving of its punishment. These are not the intentions of the season of Lent. Now is not the time to be scared into heaven, or reprimanded for our human limitations, or led to believe bad theology based upon old patriarchal idealism that demeans being human.
The season of Lent is, instead, a reminder that we are God’s children, created in God’s image, yet not God ourselves. We don’t live forever. We can’t do anything we want. We do have the ability to practice self-discipline, or seek to follow God in humility, or show the grace of gentleness, or celebrate the gift of knowing we are limited.
Lent calls us to a re-discovery of the basic truth of our humanity: we are not God, and we are not evil. As God’s good creation we hold a balance between these two poles. We are not God and we are not evil. And yet we often find ourselves pulled toward one or the other of these two extremes. When we manipulate and threaten and control others to our benefit we are presuming that we are the human extension of God’s authority and we have the right to command others. When we live as though we are the ultimate reality of life, as though all others revolve around us, as though we are deserving of all that is right and good beyond what others should have or receive, we are claiming ourselves nearly divine. Likewise, when we pity ourselves, underestimate our goodness, sweep aside the necessity of our life as part of God’s will in the world, we push away from the inspired goodness of the life God has given us. Lent is a season to bring our humanity into its center, balanced between the temptation to act as though we are God and the fall into a misappropriated view of human sin. We are not God and we should stop acting like it. We are not evil, and we should let our goodness lead us into a right relationship with God and others. For the next seven weeks, we are called to return to this human center.
Our story this morning comes from the end of the story of Noah. Although we sanitize this biblical masterpiece with cute pairs of our favorite animals and cheery rainbows that decorate our minds, in many ways the story of Noah is problematic. God looks at people and feels regret. That’s not the kind of assessment I want God to pronounce over me. Yet in Noah’s day the intent of people had turned to something other than goodness, or holiness, or righteousness. When the Noah story begins in Genesis 6, we are not given a description of what the people are doing wrong, only a clear declaration from God that their thoughts and intentions were only on sin. As Genesis 6:4 says, “… humanity had become thoroughly evil on the earth and … every idea their minds thought up was always completely evil.” And so one answer … destroy all creation. Maybe I should end that sentence with a question mark. Destroy all creation? I told you it was problematic. It’s also no surprise that some people read this story as an example of what God is secretly planning for us: create them, regret having created them, and then kill them all. But don’t be misled. That’s not the point of the Noah story.
Like other stories in Genesis, these stories are intended to communicate a certain meaning rather than facts. I’m certain that a major destructive flood did in fact effect a widespread area of the ancient Middle East. The Egyptians, Sumerians, and Akkadians (just to name a few) all had a story of an epic flood that involved their god. Some remarkable flood did in fact rain upon that part of the Earth at some point in history. At the same time, the parts of the story that are exaggerated are in fact used to make a point rather than to be taken literally. No, not “every kind of animal” was on the ark. No, the waters did not cover all the mountains on all the earth with 23 feet of water. No, not every single living creature on Earth was killed by this one flood. These exaggerations are used to highlight the meaning of the story, not the details. If we use this story as a prop for the kind of fundamentalism that must have a literal interpretation of every word of the Bible, then we will miss the meaning of it. More directly, when the Noah story becomes a bit player in the argument for creationism against evolution, it runs the risk of completely misunderstanding the biblical intent and ends up using it to argue for something that the Bible never intended. We must consider both what the story says and what it means, and do so in a way consistent with its original message and God’s divine nature.
I don’t claim to have all the insight into the Noah story, but on this Sunday in Lent, I find these three meanings in Genesis that I think are worth our prayerful consideration.
First, the most important meaning is found in the overall movement of the story. Through Noah, his family, the animals, and the flood, God un-creates Eden, preserves a faithful remnant of that original creation, and re-establishes the world with a new covenant. More succinctly, God’s purposes are always to create, re-create, and restore relationships with humanity. While the flood story follows this pattern, so does an individual human life. We are born, but not in Eden. We are pronounced as “very good” (see Genesis 1:31) when we are created by God and born. Yet we all lose our sinless created state. We all choose disobedience at some point. The end of the story could simply be destruction. God could become angry and just kill us when we sin. But the biblical story of God’s relationship with humanity is not “be perfect or be killed.” Story after story in the Bible shows that God’s intent is to create, forgive, and restore – to create, forgive, and restore – and then to do it again – create, forgive, and restore. Noah’s story uses water as a central character in the story to illustrate this idea. What begins as a means of destruction (the flood waters) becomes transformed from a vehicle for death into an image of birth (as in the issuing of water from a mother’s womb before a baby is born). We humans are re-born by God through the water. God gives birth to us again. This mothering of God that brings us into life and also re-creates our life is consistently present in the biblical stories. There’s no “three strikes and you’re out” with God. When Jesus said to “forgive seventy times seven” times, he was asking us to treat each other with the kind of patient forgiveness that God extends. The real surprise in the Noah story may not be enormity of the flood, but that God does not give up on us. In fact, when humans were at their worst in all of human history, God continues to give life.
Second, Another crucial meaning I find in the Noah story is that all creation is affected by human sin. Not just the people who were continually evil, but the animals and the Earth is affected by the flood in Genesis. In a more positive perspective, not just eight humans were saved on the ark, so was creation – bird and animal, domestic and wild. It is not difficult, then, to come to the conclusion that this story tells us that all creation is loved by God, and the consequences of human sin take a toll on the non-human created world as well. If human thoughts are always evil, then we will exercise that same evil in our relationships with the environment, with animals, with creation as a whole. It seems to me that when Christians take the Noah story seriously alongside our insistent confession that God is Creator of all, then Christianity will be at the forefront of helping the Earth heal from a century of human sinful action against it. It is without a doubt that we are at a tipping point in the human destruction of creation. By one estimate, we are down to nine years’ time in which we must re-program our human sin against of creation before its doom (our doom) is assured. It’s not a stretch, then, to say that our relationship with God’s creation has been sinful, and it must become a central understanding of our faith that the restoration of creation is a matter of faith in God and love for God’s gift of life. Honestly, I think we’re passed the time in which theological “problems” like original sin, or speaking in tongues, or biblical inerrancy take priority. If Christians ignore the detrimental effects we continue to have on God’s creation, then we risk violating God’s law in ways that we willfully ignore. If we don’t repent of our ravaging of the environment during Lent, in this year, on this day, then we risk continuing the evil that seeks to undo God’s goodness in creation.
Third, and finally, the Noah story reminds us that God is in power, but we are responsible. God determines life and death and life again, and those things are beyond us. Yet the Noah story insists that we are responsible for how we live our life, we are called to a goodness that is within our capacity to achieve, we are responsible for the welfare of both the human community and the created world around us. Upon leaving the ark, God makes a new covenant with Noah. God willingly doubles-down on the commitment to sustain human life. Never again will this kind of destruction and flood come our way. Again, like the other portions of the Noah story, it is rich with meaning even if not literal. It means that we can read this new covenant as God’s unwillingness to give up on human goodness despite any past human evil. In popular lingo, it’s time to pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and rise to the moment. God continues to have confidence in our ability to respond and re-enliven our world. God’s not going to magically heal creation for us. God’s not going to unilaterally bring about a healthy human community on our behalf. God’s not going to impose God’s will on our social or political or economic systems and resolve the injustices of our society. We must do these things, and we must do them as part of God’s calling to live in God’s Way. And, we can have the confidence that God thinks we are capable of peaceful, holy, righteous, equitable living. Go and populate the Earth, God says to Noah at the end of the flood. What does God say to us? The same thing. Go and populate the Earth, with justice and mercy.
Just maybe we come to the end of the Noah story, and we can still ooh and aah when we see a rainbow, but also begin to see the colors in the sky as a calling to take responsibility for a just and merciful Earth in a way that brings life to all. And we can do so, as God’s good creation who have been created, re-created, and restored to what God intends for us all.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith Shades of purple, shades of blue Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette Tune: DIX (Konker)
Shades of purple, shades of blue, green and yellow, orange, red — Noah and his family, too, saw the rainbow overhead. God, Creator, high above you displayed your sign of love.
Soon new life was springing forth, filling land and sea and air. God, you chose to bless the earth with the promise of your care — And your promised love extends far beyond our human friends.
In the rainbow, you were clear: every living thing has worth. You love every creature here on this planet we call Earth. God, forgive when we destroy gifts from you that bring you joy.
May your church begin to see in that rainbow high above: We are daily called to be stewards of this world you love. Since the earth is dear to you, may we treat it kindly, too.
Blessing Listen to the blessing and/or read below.
Know that the ever-present mystery we name God is in your past forgiving you, in your present loving you, and in your future meeting you.
And may the blessing of the Source of life, love and hope, the Word of life, compassion and wisdom and Breath of life, grace and truth surround, sustain and surprise you, this day and all your days. Amen
Blest Be the Tie by John Fawcett
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
The call to worship and opening prayer were written by Tonya based on Psalm 25 and James 1:17 respectively. The call to worship is read by Tyler and the opening prayer is offered by Kendall.
The first song of praise is sung by Mindy, accompanied by Kendall on the djembe.
Psalm 25 is read by Laura.
The second song of praise is sung by Mindy; accompanied by Tonya on the piano, Michelle on the guitar, and Emily on the oboe.
The Lenten prayer was written and is read by Tonya who adapted it from a prayer written by Katherine Fox, “It’s easy to say sorry,” Ruth Burgess, ed., Spring: Liturgical Resources for February, March, and April, Wild Goose Publications, a division of the Iona Community, copyright 2019.
Steal Away is sung by Ally, Elizabeth, Laura, Michelle, Mindy, and Tonya.
Shades of purple, shades of blue is played by Tracy on the organ and sung by Mindy.
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
The Season of Easter began last Sunday and will last until Sunday, May 31 which is Pentecost Sunday. Over the next six weeks, whether we are worshiping at home or back together in the sanctuary, below are the upcoming gospel readings & themes for worship.
We are putting the final touches on the home worship guide for tomorrow. The guide will be posted on the CBC website home page Saturday tonight. Know that we and your deacons are holding each of you in prayer.
Grace and peace, Tonya and Jeffrey
2nd Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2020)
John 20:19-21
“Ingredients Trust”
3rd Sunday of Easter (April 26, 2020)
Luke 24:13-35
“Meeting Jesus on the Road”
4th Sunday of Easter (May 3, 2020)
John 10:1-10
“The Entrance”
5th Sunday of Easter (May 10, 2020)
John 14:1-14
“The Way”
6th Sunday of Easter (May 17, 2020)
John 14:15-21
“What It Means to Love Jesus”
The Day of Ascension (Thursday, May 21, 2020)
Luke 24:44-53
“You are a Witness”
7th Sunday of Easter (May 24, 2020)
John 17:1-11
“When Jesus Prays”
The “Home Worship Guide” is intended to give your family, or you as an individual, an opportunity to worship God in a way that is interactive and reflective. Each service is centered around the biblical lectionary-based readings associated with the church year and are created specifically for Cullowhee Baptist Church, although we hope others will find them meaningful as well.
To prepare, have open a copy of the worship guide, and designate a space to gather. A table is a good place because it is safe for candles and limits distractions. Set out one or two candles to represent the presence of God. If you want to celebrate communion, pour a cup for each person and have something simple to eat.
The worship guide is based on our regular weekly worship. They are not obligations, but suggestions. Follow them or amend them as needed. Home worship will be more brief than corporate worship in the sanctuary. Involve all the people at your home in the worship time who are able.
Grace and peace, Tonya and Jeffrey
The Worship of God
Light two candles in recognition of Christ’s presence. In our practice, one candle represents Jesus’ divinity and the other Jesus’ humanity.
Gathering for Worship
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the Peace of Christ be with you.”
Respond by saying, “And also with you.”
Call to Worship. Psalm 95:6-7 O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Litany of Praise (You may want one to read the non-bold text and all to read the bold.)
Thanks and praise to you,
Jesus Christ, King and Lord of all,
given the name above every other name. Jesus, King and Lord of all, we worship and adore you. King of righteousness, King of peace,
enthroned at the right hand
of Majesty on high; Jesus, King and Lord of all, we worship and adore you. Great high priest,
living forever to intercede for us; Jesus, King and Lord of all, we worship and adore you. Pioneer of our salvation,
you bring us to glory
through your death and resurrection; Jesus, King and Lord of all, we worship and adore you. Every knee bows to you;
every tongue confesses,
you are King of kings
and Lord of Lords,
to the glory of God.
A Time of Prayer, Confession, and Assurance
A Reading from the Book of Psalms
Listen to a collection of our church members reading the Psalm.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Give thanks to the LORD
for the LORD is good.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Let the people say it.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Let the church say it.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Let everyone who honors the LORD say it.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Open the gates of righteousness to me
so I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the LORD’s gateway:
the righteous may enter through it.
I thank you because you answered me
and became my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the main cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O LORD!
O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you all from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God,
and he has given us light.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Prayer (The following prayer is based on the Lord’s prayer. We have been praying in unison this prayer each Sunday in Lent. Before you begin, if there is more than one of you, choose someone to close the “Silent Prayer and Meditation” by reading the “Words of Assurance.”)
Divine Source of love and life,
holy is your name.
May your Way of living resonate throughout the earth
just like it does in heaven.
With your great wisdom show us
that what we truly need
you freely give us to receive.
With your steadfast love
forgive us
when we fail to trek your Way of life.
With your grace and mercy
make us ready
to forgive one another.
Acknowledging your abiding presence
may we understand
how to surrender to you instead of temptation
for everything belongs to you.
Silent Prayer and Meditation
Words of Assurance. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all creation. May we bless God’s holy name forever and ever. Amen.
Celebrating Communion
Communion. (Bread and wine were common foods during Jesus’ day. As we celebrate communion at home, use common food and drinks you have. The type of food and drink is not what matters, but it matters that you remember Christ as you share, eat, and drink.)
A Reading from the Gospels. Mark 14:22-24.
While [the disciples and Jesus] were eating, [Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Before you eat, have someone say,
“This food represents the body of Christ. As we eat, we remember Jesus.”
Before you drink, have someone say,
“This drink represents the covenant Christ made with us that our sins will be forgiven. As we drink, we remember Jesus.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving. (Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for coming to live on this earth as Jesus and for the forgiveness promised to all of us.)
Song. Close communion by singing a hymn. You may want to sing Amazing Grace.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wrench like me. I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind but now I see.
The Gospel Lesson for Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11
Listen to a collection of our church members reading the gospel lesson.
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Reflection from Tonya. “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!“
You are welcome to listen to Tonya share her reflection or read it below.
Here we are at the beginning of the holiest of weeks. This year’s Holy Week is so different than all the years before. Everything has changed. But the disruption to our normal Palm Sunday worship does not mean that our worship of God this Holy Week will be of less importance to God or to us. There is a blessing to be found in these eight days and we invite you to receive them with us. So instead of remembering the last week of Jesus’ life in one worship service, daily readings and prayers will offered for your worship of God. May Holy Week 2020 comfort you and encourage the roots of your faith in Jesus to grow deeper.
There are two strong memories for the children of Cullowhee Baptist: bringing in the poinsettias during the Hanging of the Greens service and marching around the sanctuary with palm fronds waving in what we call the Palm Frond Parade. Today is Palm Frond Parade day. This year we are reading Matthew’s gospel account of Jesus coming to Jerusalem. There’s a donkey and a colt. The disciples put their cloaks on the donkey and Jesus rides into the city. Crowds gather spreading their own cloaks on the road. Others without cloaks cut down branches and spread them on the road. The crowd before and behind him shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The keep walking with Jesus shouting, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” As they enter Jerusalem, the city is great turmoil. But the crowd keeps on shouting “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” “Hosanna!”
First, why a donkey and a colt? Jesus and disciples are at the Mount of Olives when he sends two of his disciples down into the village to secure some transportation. He specifically wants them to bring him a donkey and her colt. The magic word to the owner or anyone who asks what they are doing is to say, “The Lord needs them.” And everything will be fine. And it is. Everything goes just like Jesus says.
It all goes back to the prophet Zechariah. In Zechariah 9:9-10 we read these words, “Rejoice greatly! Shout aloud! Your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah describes the animal twice. It is like an echo but with different words saying the same thing. Matthew quoting Zechariah is telling us that our king is coming–triumphant and victorious and humble.
So, we have to ask. Is this really a triumphant entry into Jerusalem? I mean, Jesus is riding a donkey. The people in front and behind him only have cloaks, some tree branches, and their voices to announce his arrival, the arrival of their king. And did you see what he was wearing, I mean see what he was riding? A donkey. Think back to the military parades you have seen. Soldiers dressed in uniform marching to the same beat in straight lines. There are horses and tanks. There are flags and rifles and sometimes missiles. The commander rides on a stately horse, or in a massive tank or now a days in a really snazzy car. Jesus choose none of these. Instead of a tank, Jesus rides into the city on a tractor. That comparison by Rev. Katie Hines-Shah highlights the huge discrepancy. It isn’t as grand as befits the King of Kings. And that’s how Jesus continues to keep things in check. He rides into Jerusalem humbly, poor and afflicted, coming as the Prince of Peace.
The crowd ushers him into Jerusalem with loud shouts and cries of “Hosanna!” I beg your pardon, but I have always thought that “Hosanna!” was like a cry of rejoicing! More like the word “Hallelujah!” To me it was a shout of adoration and acclamation. Merriam-Webster helped me to see that yes, now a days it does mean just that. Since the 12th century It has become a way of praising someone or something or some event. But follow the word trail: from Middle English, back to Old English, back to Latin, back to Greek, all the way back to the Hebrew. And the Hebrew word “Hosanna!” means “pray, save us!” As Jesus was riding the donkey with the colt in tow, the people are shouting, “Save us!”
We have been barred from all pomp and circumstance this Palm Sunday. We miss the beautiful sound of Tracy playing the organ and Barbara the piano. We cannot wave our palm fronds. We cannot hear the choir sing, nor the trumpet play. We sorely miss the eager smiling faces of our church children parading through the sanctuary. This year we are forced to see the reality of Jesus’ simple entry into the city. It was a rough and simple display of our Savior. We are invited to see what true triumphant really looks like and how Jesus defines victory. The week ahead will tell us even more.
May the Lord bless and keep us all. Save us, O Lord. Save us, we pray.
Questions for Reflection:
Describe the scene from Matthew’s story. How does Jesus look? How do the crowds look? What do you imagine them saying and doing?
What does a humble entry into the city communicate about one’s style of leadership? How can we be humble?
What salvation do you seek from God for yourself and others?
Prayer of Thanksgiving. (Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for helping us to see the world with different eyes, for changing our hearts, for helping us treat one another as friends, for opening our minds to be able to think differently about things.)
Sending Out from Worship
Benediction (If there are more than one of you, choose someone to read the following.)
And now we lay down the palm branches.
And with them we lay down our belief
that there is another way
for you to be God.
As the last echo of the final alleluia fades,
so does our hope that this journey can end
in any other way.
The week stretches ahead
glory-less
and pain-full
Whether we walk with all faith or none
we look towards the cross,
knowing it is both the most human
and most divine
of all journeys.
Travel the road into this holiest of weeks
with courage,
with love,
and with the uneasy peace that is the gift of faith.
Amen.
Closing Song. In our tradition, we close worship by singing the first verse of Blest Be the Tie. Here’s Mindy leading us in the first verse. It struck me this week that all the verses are fitting for such a time as this when we cannot gather together. Continue singing them if you like.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one—our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes; our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and oneness reign throughout eternity.
______________
Credits: The Call to Worship was written by John Leach. Psalm 130 was read by Connor, Kelly, Amanda, and Allison. The video was prepared by Elizabeth. The gospel was read by Wyatt, Annelise, and all the little children. The Benediction was written by Cheryl Lawrie. Blest be the Tie was sung by Mindy.
Cover art is an acrylic by John August Swanson entitled Entry into the City, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56544 [retrieved April 4, 2020]. Original source: http://www.JohnAugustSwanson.com – copyright 1990 by John August Swanson. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License. Read more about Swanson….
Since we are suspending our gathered worship in the sanctuary to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, you are invited to continue the worship of God in your home. For each Sunday we are not able to gather, a home worship guide will be posted.
Jewish households begin worship every Sabbath at home around the family’s table. Jesus being Jewish would have had a robust practice of worship at home. Our Baptist tradition believes in the “priesthood of believers” meaning every believer is able to lead worship.
Designate a space for worship. A table is a good place because it is a safe place for candles and limits distractions. Set out one or two candles to represent the presence of God. If you want to celebrate communion, pour a cup for each person and have something to eat for each.
The worship guide is based on our regular weekly worship. They are not obligations, but suggestions. Follow them or amend them as needed. Home worship will be more brief than corporate worship in the sanctuary. Involve all the people at your home in the worship time who are able.
Grace and peace, Tonya and Jeffrey
The Worship of God
Light two candles in recognition of Christ’s presence. In our practice, one candle represents Jesus’ divinity and the other Jesus’ humanity.
Gathering for Worship
Passing the Peace Say to one another, “May the Peace of Christ be with you.”
Respond by saying, “And also with you.”
Call to Worship (You may want one to read the non-bold text and all to read the bold.)
Healing God, we come together in our brokenness,
to call to you in your mercy,
to make us whole again. Wholeness–giving God,
listen to our prayers, we pray.
Restoring God, we gather to worship you,
even as we hopefully seek to be renewed and restored again. God, our Quiet-Center,
listen to our prayers this day.
Foundational God, we come to praise and thank you!
In the depths of your Holy Being
we find peace and rest. God – our Beginning and our End,
we hope always in you. Amen.
A Time of Prayer, Confession, and Assurance
A Reading from the Book of Psalms
Listen to a collection of our church members reading the psalm.
Psalm 130:1-6
I cry to you from the depths, LORD–my Lord, listen to my voice!
Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy!
If you kept track of sins, LORD–
my Lord, who would stand a chance?
But forgiveness is with you–
that’s why you are honored.
I hope, LORD. My who being hopes,
and I wait for God’s promise.
My whole being waits for my Lord–
more than the night watch waits for morning;
yes, more than the night watch waits for morning.
Prayer (The following prayer is based on the Lord’s prayer. We are praying in unison this prayer each Sunday in Lent. Before you begin, if there is more than one of you, choose someone to close the “Silent Prayer and Meditation” by reading the “Words of Assurance.”)
Divine Source of love and life,
holy is your name.
May your Way of living resonate throughout the earth
just like it does in heaven.
With your great wisdom show us
that what we truly need
you freely give us to receive.
With your steadfast love
forgive us
when we fail to trek your Way of life.
With your grace and mercy
make us ready
to forgive one another.
Acknowledging your abiding presence
may we understand
how to surrender to you instead of temptation
for everything belongs to you.
Silent Prayer and Meditation
Words of Assurance. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all creation. May we bless God’s holy name forever and ever. Amen.
Celebrating Communion
Communion. (Bread and wine were common foods during Jesus’ day. As we celebrate communion at home, use common food and drinks you have. The type of food and drink is not what matters, but it matters that you remember Christ as you share, eat, and drink.)
A Reading from the Gospels. Mark 14:22-24.
While [the disciples and Jesus] were eating, [Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Before you eat, have someone say,
“This food represents the body of Christ. As we eat, we remember Jesus.”
Before you drink, have someone say,
“This drink represents the covenant Christ made with us that our sins will be forgiven. As we drink, we remember Jesus.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving. (Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for coming to live on this earth as Jesus and for the forgiveness promised to all of us.)
Song. Close communion by singing a hymn. You may want to sing Amazing Grace.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wrench like me. I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind but now I see.
The Gospel Lesson for the 5th Sunday in Lent
John 11:1-45
Listen to a collection of our church members reading the gospel lesson.
A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(2 This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.)3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This illness isn’t fatal. It’s for the glory of God so that God’s Son can be glorified through it.”5 Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.6 When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was. After two days,7 he said to his disciples, “Let’s return to Judea again.”
8 The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish opposition wants to stone you, but you want to go back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? Whoever walks in the day doesn’t stumble because they see the light of the world.10 But whoever walks in the night does stumble because the light isn’t in them.”
11 He continued, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I am going in order to wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get well.”13 They thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was in a deep sleep, but Jesus had spoken about Lazarus’ death.
14 Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died.15 For your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there so that you can believe. Let’s go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other disciples, “Let us go too so that we may die with Jesus.”
Jesus with Martha and Mary
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Bethany was a little less than two miles from Jerusalem.19 Many Jews had come to comfort Martha and Mary after their brother’s death.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained in the house.21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.22 Even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, the one who is coming into the world.”
28 After she said this, she went and spoke privately to her sister Mary, “The teacher is here and he’s calling for you.”29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Jesus.30 He hadn’t entered the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him.31 When the Jews who were comforting Mary in the house saw her get up quickly and leave, they followed her. They assumed she was going to mourn at the tomb.
32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her crying and the Jews who had come with her crying also, he was deeply disturbed and troubled.34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?”
They replied, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus began to cry.36 The Jews said, “See how much he loved him!”37 But some of them said, “He healed the eyes of the man born blind. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb
38 Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance.39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.”
40 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”41 So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.42 I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.”43 Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”44 The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”
45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.
Reflection from Jeffrey. “The Raising of Lazarus“
The Raising of Lazarus is an iconic story. Like the Feeding of the 5000 or the Prodigal Son, just the mention of Lazarus’ name draws to mind a vague picture of Jesus standing commandingly before a tomb and shouting, “Lazarus, come out!” My older self cannot shake the image from my childhood imagination in which Lazarus comes tottering out of the tomb looking like an adolescent mummy in costume for Halloween with dirty white strips of cloth hanging over his face.
For all the drama in the story associated with Lazarus, the real star is Jesus. He’s the one summoned by Mary and Martha when their brother is sick. He‘s the one who decides to stay away too long so that Lazarus dies. Jesus is the one upbraided by both Martha and Mary who state emphatically the problem as they see it: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Jesus is also the one in whom Martha offers a word of faith that is profound in its ambition: “But even now I know God will give you whatever you ask.”
As I consider the first people who heard the story of Lazarus, I’m certain it was intended as be a witness to Jesus’ divine authority to grant life. After all, the only One who can bring things to life is God. And if God can bring life from nothing, then surely God can bring life from death. This faith in resurrection—life after this life—serves as the foundation of Christianity. Perhaps we have lost the “wow factor” since we read this story already believing in the resurrection of Jesus. Yet this is the first time we read the story of Lazarus during a global pandemic. For me our context highlights some different parts of this story.
Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha, and Mary (v. 5). We sing cute childhood hymns like Jesus loves the little children, and, Jesus loves me this I know. It would be hard to imagine Lazarus writing song lyrics that say Jesus loves me yet I died. *(Full lyrics found below.) Nevertheless, that is one point of this story: God’s love for us is absolute whether we live or die.
We want to live long. Our sisters want us to be restored to health before we die. Sometimes these things don’t happen, even when Jesus is our friend and “on call” when we need him. And still we know as a matter of faith that God loves us and death does not change that reality. When Jesus makes that confession “I am the resurrection and the life,” (v. 25) and then adds, “everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (v. 26), he does not mean that a virus cannot kill us. Nor cancer. Nor accidents. Nor old age. Nor young foolishness. What might he mean, then? If it is God’s love that gives us life, and if death cannot take away God’s love, then after we die God both still loves us and we still live in God. Resurrection is not just a promise of life but the realization of love for eternity.
Jesus wept (v. 35). Although this verse is forever known as the shortest verse in the entire Bible, it is not to be overlooked as small in significance. Jesus does not weep out of fear. Jesus does not cry because of death. Jesus is not moved to tears because he misjudged how sick his friend was. Jesus is not overwhelmed by his knowledge of the future and thus weeping anxiously over what is to come. These things cause us to shed tears, and rightly so.
In this case, however, Jesus weeps out of compassion for Mary and Martha. It remains, for me, one of the most meaningful changes in what I believe about God—God weeps with us in our grief and struggles and oppression and sorrow. The power of God is not in manipulating nature but in divine compassion. God’s grace is in knowing that God’s presence is healing for our spirit even when illness has taken its toll. Remember Jesus said, the last shall be first and the weak will be strong. Even for God, divine strength is shown in compassion.
Questions for Reflection:
God’s presence communicates comfort, not judgment. When have you found God’s presence comforting?
Jesus did many miracles that led people to believe in him. Raising Lazarus was one of them (see v. 45). Which stories of Jesus increase your faith?
Name three people you depend upon. Who are three people that depend on you? These people are the ones who provide meaningful relationships—they are a grace from God. What can you do to keep these relationships strong?
Prayer of Thanksgiving. (Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for helping us to see the world with different eyes, for changing our hearts, for helping us treat one another as friends, for opening our minds to be able to think differently about things.)
Sending Out from Worship
Benediction (If there are more than one of you, choose someone to read the following.)
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine upon your window pane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near to you and
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Closing Song. In our tradition, we close worship by singing the first verse of Blest Be the Tie. Mindy starts us each week, and so she does today as well.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.
______________
Credits: The Call to Worship was written by Joan Stott. Psalm 130 was read by Tessa and Pam. The video was prepared by Elizabeth. The gospel was read by Kendall, Calley and Galen. The Benediction is a traditional Celtic blessing. Blest be the Tie was sung by Mindy. ______________
*The Lost “Lazarus Verse” — To the Tune of “Jesus Loves Me”
Jesus loves me yet I died And my sisters sat and cried God had loved me every day Now with God I ever stay
We are putting the final touches on the worship guide for tomorrow, the 5th Sunday in Lent. The guide will be posted on the CBC website home page tonight or early tomorrow morning. Know that we and your deacons are holding each of you in prayer.
We are putting together the worship guide for tomorrow, the 4th Sunday in Lent. Crossing fingers, we will have some new features thanks to many church members.
The guide will be posted on the CBC website home page tonight, internet speed willing.
Cullowhee Baptist Church 
