Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lenten Reading John 3:1-8 John and Connie Morgan Reader 1: Friends, we ask you again to observe a holy Lent. With prayer, fasting, and demonstrating the love of Christ through benevolent acts, we prepare for Holy Week and the passion of our Lord and Savior. Reader 2: In John’s gospel we read: Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Prayer St. Columba, 521-597 Kindle in our hearts, dear God, the flame of love that never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in your temple, set on fire with your eternal light, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen. *Hymn 802 The King of Love My Shepherd Is, verses 1, 2, and 3. Prayer of Confession Holy One, you know our hearts. You have knitted our inmost being and you know our deepest desires, fears, and worries. Help us to journey during this Lenten season into a new awareness of your presence in our lives. Save us from our own temptations, so that we may more freely follow you. Amen. Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The Lord removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. In this is our great comfort in life. Friends, believe the good news. Our sins are forgiven. We may find rest in God’s peace. First Reading Psalm 23 Moments With Our Young Disciples The Gospel Reading John 3:9-17 The Morning Message This time last year Ed and I were on spring break with forty of our closest friends. We had just arrived in Dublin, Ireland. We were punchy with jet lag and very hungry. After we cleared the airport, our tour guide took us into the city and dropped us off where we could find something to eat. We recognized a familiar restaurant and headed that way. The building has shops on the ground floor and a large and lovely cafeteria style restaurant on the second floor. Right away we noticed arrangements of fresh flowers everywhere. Signs were posted on shops wishing the city’s women a “Happy Mother’s Day.” Upstairs in the café there were more flowers and a special menu on a sign board for Mother’s Day. I was really interested in the offer of a complimentary glass of rose with lunch for all mothers. My husband gave me one of those looks to remind me we were on a school trip. I ordered a pot of tea. We have taken several spring break trips to Ireland, but, apparently, we had missed the fourth Sunday in Lent, known in some cultures as Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for “rejoice.” It is a Sunday for the Church and her people to express joy in the midst of a solemn Lenten season. Vestments are pink on Laetare Sunday. By now you have figured out that it is quite similar to the third Sunday in Advent, “Gaudete Sunday,” or Sunday of joy when we light the pink candle in the Advent wreath. Laetare Sunday is also called “ Mothering Sunday” , a time in the church year for all the baptized to return to the church in which they were baptized, their “Mother Church.” The customs we in the U.S associate with Mother’s Day are also observed, thus the reason for the beautifully decorated entrances to all the shops and signs on storefronts beckoning the public inside for “Mother’s Day specials.” What I find really ironic is that today, Laetare Sunday, or Mothering Sunday, we have Nicodemus on a nighttime visit with Jesus that prompts a conversation about mothers, wombs, birthing…and re-birth. Nicodemus has become curious about this new rabbi, Jesus. He goes to see him and asks how he can inherit eternal life. That is a powerful, naked question. It strikes at the heart of the matter. Some would say Nicodemus has everything. He was a Pharisee, one of the most devout Jews of his day. He was one of the most highly-educated people in his community. He was important, respected. He may have been somewhat wealthy. Some have suggested that it is because of Nicodemus’s social position that he goes to Jesus at night…under cover of darkness so he wouldn’t be recognized. But, could it also be a sign of his sincerity? In that day, it was believed that the most serious, most intense study of a subject was undertaken at night. And so, here he was, a Jew, a scholar of the law, asking Jesus about life after death and how he can attain it. That’s pretty important. It is an important subject for us, too. What do we understand in our reformed tradition about eternal life? A good place to start is what we know of Jesus’ experience. The Jesus story is our story, too. That Jesus died, was raised, ascended into heaven, and sits at God’s right hand prefigures our own story. We will follow him. This means our confessions of faith describe the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in a way that we can learn and internalize so they become a part of us. From the earliest confessions, it is understood that we are destined, when we die, to follow Jesus into the very presence of God. The Scots Confession declares: “The chosen departed are at peace, and rest from their labors, not that they sleep and are lost in oblivion as some fanatics hold, for they are delivered from all fear and torment, and all the temptations to which we and all God’s chosen are subject in this life.” Westminster is even more precise, declaring that “the bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God.” In heaven, these souls “behold the face of God.” If there is a Presbyterian narrative about life after death, this is it: when you die, your soul goes to be with God, where you enjoy God’s glory and wait for the promised day of Christ’s return, when he will draw all things to himself in ultimate redemption. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is the gospel in a nutshell, isn’t it? It is the most-often quoted verse in the Bible. And this was the ultimate answer to the deep and probing question Nicodemus asked of Jesus. That verse says the origin of our salvation begins with God. God initiates a relationship with us. Why? Because God loves us and established a covenant with us way back in the day of Abraham and Sarah. We would be God’s people and God would be our God. Out of love, God sent his Son to live among us, to be one of us, to teach us lessons of love and grace, to save us from our sins. Behind everything is the love of God. I often quote a verse in First John at weddings: “God is love and those who abide in love, abide in God, and God abides in them.” This is not the image of God that some present, of God as an angry monarch whose subjects must follow strict orders to please God. The God Jesus speaks of in his conversation with Nicodemus is the Father who cannot be satisfied until all his wandering children find their way home. This answer tells of the width, the reach, the expanse of God’s love. It is the whole world God loves. It is not a nation. It is not a race. It is not only the good people, or only the people who already love God. No. God sent God’s Son into the world to save it. All of it. The unloved and the unlovely. The lonely who have no one else to love them. He came to save the immigrant and the aristocrat, the poor and the powerful, the scholar and the uneducated, the straight and the gay, the ones who love God and the one who spurns God’s love. We are all included in God’s wide embrace. Augustine of Hippo, St. Augustine, said, “God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love.” And you, child of the covenant, are one to love. You are the one Jesus came to save. So maybe this is the perfect day to re-visit your baptism. In baptism, we are grafted unto Christ; washed clean from sin; welcomed into the family of faith; and are marked as Christ’s own forever. We believe that eternal life begins with baptism, be it infant or believer’s baptism. We live now in God’s astonishing kingdom, experiencing it in part, but one day we will know it fully, even as we are fully known. *Hymn 802 The King of Love My Shepherd Is Verses 4,5, and 6 *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication All our resources are gifts from you, gracious Lord. In gratitude, help us to use them wisely, that we may serve the needs of your people and spread the good news of salvation near and far. Amen. *Hymn 166 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days *Blessing May the Three that are over you, the Three that are below you, the Three that are above you here, the Three Who are above you yonder, the Three Who are in the earth, the Three Who are in the air, the Three Who are in heaven, the Three Who are in the great, pouring sea- bless you. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in One and One in Three. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lenten Reading Bonnie Draper and Nancy McIntosh Reader 1: Friends, once again we invite you to observe a holy Lent-by prayer and fasting, reading and meditating on the Word of God, by acts of service done in Jesus’ name. On this third Sunday in Lent, we see Jesus in an unexpected way. We witness him overturning the tables of the money changers at the temple. His actions surprise us. Yet, in our lives and in our world, we find much that needs to be overturned and driven out that the kingdom of God may be more fully revealed. Reader 2: In John 2:13-22 we read this account. The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found people selling cattle, sheep, doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. Prayer Merciful God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Hymn 475 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Prayer of Confession Holy God, you have called us to love you with heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. But, if we are honest, we know that sometimes we hurt each other and fail to keep our promises to you. Forgive us, God of grace. Teach us, day by day, to turn away from what is wrong and to turn to you in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness Hear the good news: We are dead to sin and evil and alive to God in Jesus Christ. Friends, I urge you to walk in his light- forgiven, reconciled, and free! Old Testament Reading Exodus 20:1-20 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading John 2:13-25 Morning Message William Barclay interprets the words of this passage a little differently: “Come to me, all you who are exhausted and weighted down beneath your burdens, and I will give you rest.” In this text, Jesus is speaking to people who were desperately trying to find God, desperately trying to be good, and who were finding the tasks impossible. They were worn out and driven to fatigue and despair. So, when Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are exhausted, he is speaking to people trying to be faithful Jews in that day, keeping all the laws, rules, and obligations laid upon them. This practice was known as “the yoke of the Pharisees,” the burdensome yoke of self-righteousness and legalistic law-keeping. According to biblical scholarship, the Pharisees had added over 600 regulations to the proper observance of not working on the Sabbath. Working on the Sabbath is prohibited according to the Law, the Decalogue, what we call the Ten Commandments. So, we can easily see why a person would find their faith less joy and more burden under this system. It was impossible to adhere to such a complicated system. Jesus has come to change the system and he invites everyone to join him. In The Message, the Bible interpreted by Eugene Peterson, we hear it this way: “Are you tired? Are you worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me. And you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” I could respond to an invitation like that. It’s hopeful. It’s winsome. For the religious orthodox, being a faithful Jew was a real burden. It was oppressive. We can look back with the help of social science and see that the goal of a rigid rule system is to establish control over a group of people. The Pharisees maintained control and wielded power because they made the rules. Jesus said of them, “They bind heavy burdens, and grievous to the bone, and lay them on men’s shoulders.” For the Jews, religion was a life of rule-keeping that affected every aspect of their lives. Barclay says they had to listen for the voice that continually said, “Thou shalt not.” The rabbis were aware of this oppression. There is a poignant story that illustrates the tragedy of the system: ( Page 18, The Gospel of Matthew, William Barclay, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia.) The yoke of Jesus is different. It is his desire that we take his yoke upon ourselves. There is a legend that, as a carpenter, Jesus would make yokes for beasts of burden, ox yokes in particular. A yoke had to be custom-made for an animal. The animal was brought to the shop. Measurements were taken. The yoke was roughed out. Then there was a second fitting. Adjustments were made. It had to be smooth so as not to hurt the animal which would enable him to labor effectively. The legend goes that Jesus made the best ox-yokes around. In that day, as well as ours, a sign would hang over a shop, identifying the nature of the service or business. Over Jesus’ shop, a sign read, “My yokes fit well.” What does Jesus want for his followers, for those called by his name? let’s try this on for size: “My yoke fits well. The life I give you is not a burden to gall you. Your task, your life, is tailor-made for you. In this life, find joy. Find fulfillment. Find peace.” The rabbis used to say, “My burden has become my song.” We all have burdens. Work that is hard, but necessary. It’s not always physical labor. Sometimes the burden is a deeply emotional one. Anyone who has walked the long road of chronic illness with a loved one knows what it is to carry a burden. We lost a family member a few days ago. She was spiritually ready to die, but, she has grandchildren 2 and 6 years old. She would have loved more time to enjoy them and her other family members. In those final hours, her husband spoke of her goodness and how she relieved the burden he had carried all his life. He said she was a good woman and up until the day he met her, he hadn’t been around many good people. They were married 43 years. The Christian’s burden, or work, is simply to love God and love others. This is grace. It is then that our burden becomes a song. There is an old story in which a man comes upon two children. A little boy carrying an even smaller boy, who was lame, on his back. The man said to the child, “That’s a heavy burden for you to carry.” And the little boy responded, “That’s not a burden, sir, that’s my wee brother.” May all your burdens be given and borne in love, and may they all be carried like a wee brother. *Hymn 168 Within Your Shelter, Loving God *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Thank you, Lord, for your many gifts-for the world’s helpers, peace and security, recreation and rest, friends and family, life and health. We thank you for your Son, Jesus, who came to embody your love and compassion for the world, calling us into lives of joyful service. We offer these gifts in his name. Amen. *Hymn 443 There Is a Redeemer *Blessing May God bless you and keep you safe. May God smile on you with grace. May God watch over you always and give you peace. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lenten Reading Psalm 22: 23-31 Jon and Caroline True Reader 1: Friends, once again we invite you to observe a holy Lent, that by practicing the spiritual disciplines, you may draw closer to Christ the Savior and your life may more closely follow his. Reader 2: Hear these words from the psalmist: All you who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he did not despise or abhor the affliction or the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. Reader1: Please join me in prayer. Look with favor, Lord, upon your household. Grant that, though our flesh may be humbled by setting aside human comforts and appetites, our souls, hungering after you, may be resplendent in your sight. Amen. *Hymn 450 Be Thou My Vision Prayer of Confession Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. By your loving mercy, help us live in your light and abide in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen. Old Testament Reading Genesis 17: 1-7; 15-16 Moments With Our Young Disciples New Testament Reading Mark 9:2-10 Morning Message If you are a teacher of the fine arts, taking your students on a trip to New York City is probably at the top of your to-do list. Ed has taken his students about every three or four years and I have benefitted from those trips. Theatres, the Met, museums, and much more are like magnets, drawing young people, and those who accompany them, into the magnificent buildings and performance settings. Just don’t try to take a picture while you are inside those exquisite places. A security guard may just ask you to hand over your phone until you leave. My sister, who memorializes everything, was caught trying to snap a quick pic of her son during intermission at the Metropolitan Opera. It can be pretty intimidating. And, advised both the travel guide and the bus driver in the early years after the 9/11 disasters, when you go by the site of the Twin Towers, the bus will stop and you may take a photo, but, it is considered very bad manners to take a picture of yourself or anyone else standing by Ground Zero with a smile on the face. We can understand why. You can take pictures of a million other things, including the new One World Trade, which we visited the last time we were there with students. It was a miserable day. Rain was pouring buckets and the wind was whipping. We would pay our respects at the 9/11 Memorial Fountain before ascending the 102 stories to the Observation Tower, enjoying the Big Apple’s skyline from the tallest building in the western hemisphere. Truth be told, I would have preferred staying on the ground, at the 9/11 Memorial. There is something gravid and mysterious about that place where so many lost their lives that tragic September day. A few moments felt too short a time to acknowledge the depth of pain and suffering. Water runs over the surface of the granite walls bearing the names of the dead, like so many tears coursing down the cheeks. But, I joined the others and up we went, by elevator and stairs, finally reaching the first observation deck. The enthusiastic tour guides pumped us all up for the big reveal. You see, when you get to the observation deck, there are ceiling to floor windows, like Windows on the World, the famous restaurant that once topped the World Trade Center. Shades cover the windows to add to the suspense. At the moment of greatest suspense, the shades rose slowly to reveal… Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We were shrouded in fog so dense you could see nothing of the great throbbing city below. No Statue of Liberty beckoning to the tired and poor, no Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center or St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We knew they were there. We had seen some of them from the busy Manhattan streets. But, in that moment, all we could see was a solid white wall of fog. We were so high up, it was like being enveloped in a cloud. And being in a cloud is disorienting. The transfiguration of Jesus is a beautiful and mysterious story found in all three of the synoptic gospels. It is a theophany- an appearance of the holy. A visual manifestation of God. Jesus has taken his closest disciples-Peter, James, and John, the brother of Jesus, up Mt. Horeb for some time set apart, to pray, to think about this ministry God has called them to, to be strengthened for the days ahead. The transfiguration not only supports the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. But the statement, “Listen to him,” identifies Jesus as the messenger and voice of God. The significance of this identity is affirmed by the presence of Moses, the law-giver, and Elijah, the great prophet. What a moment for Peter, James, and John. Not just to see, but fully experience Jesus in all his glory. And yet, they were terrified. Scripture says so. So terrified that they could do nothing else but fall face down on the ground and worship God. The disciples didn’t anticipate this event. But, they were in the company of Jesus, and when they were with Jesus, all kinds of unusual things could happen. They had witnessed his compelling preaching and teaching. They had seen him perform miracles. They knew deep down in their hearts that Jesus was of God. And still…they were afraid. Is there any other way to respond? How do you explain what happened? Who would believe you anyway? That’s a good question for us. Has Jesus come to you in some transcendent way? Maybe he has spoken to you, or appeared in a dream, or comforted you in a time of trouble. How did it make you feel? Did you tell anyone? Why? Why not? Tova Sido, is a minister in the United Methodist Church. She shares this story: She says, “When I was a child the only thing I ever wanted to be was a mom. So, in the year 2000, when I became pregnant, I was ecstatic. This was the beginning of all my dreams coming true. Over the next five years, my husband and I experienced unspeakable tragedy. We lost our first pregnancy at nine months with the birth of our stillborn daughter. The next pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Our third pregnancy, I finally gave birth to the most beautiful boy the world has ever known, Charlie. However, I lost Charlie just eight short months later. I also lost his baby sister, Louisa, after eight months, in the summer of 2005. They were born with a rare metabolic disease- untreatable, incurable. The summer of 2005 proved to be the darkest of Tova’s life. She was suicidal. She felt like she had no purpose, no joy, and no hope for a future without children. Her dreams of becoming a mom had only ended in heartbreak. She was deeply depressed and very afraid. This season of tragedy made it very difficult to trust that life was worth living. I want to pause here a moment and acknowledge the reality of that pain. Most of us hope to be parents one day. To take our place in the eternal circle of life. But, when parenthood doesn’t come, or you have experienced reproductive trauma after trauma, it can become the thing that defines you. The loss is magnified until you can see or appreciate nothing else. Tova says was not a particularly spiritual or religious person at the time. But something within her told Tova that the only way out of this was something much bigger than she. She made an appointment with her pastor. On a hot summer day, Tova sat down with him, describing how sad, lonely, and depressed she was. She told of all the losses she and her husband had suffered. She cried what she called an ocean of tears. When she quieted down, her pastor looked at her, and after a long pause, gently asked, “Are you done?” Now, that would have made me cry even more. Didn’t he hear me? Could he not at least sympathize with my pain and grief? If I were Tova, I probably would have left never to return. But, that’s not what happened. Tova’s pastor asked her, “What are you going to do now?” She replied that she had no idea and that was why she was there. She needed help sorting that out. She had great fears. She didn’t know how to live or go on, her dreams now shattered. He looked at her and said what might seem like harsh words. “Tova, God did not put you on earth to sit around and cry about things you cannot change. The scriptures say, “ This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” The pastor then left the room and soon came back with the church’s human resources director. He said, “Tova, you need a job. You need to get out of your home, and we need help at the church.. I will see you at 9 am on Monday.” Then he promptly left the room and left Tova and the HR director to work out the details. Tova says she thought her pastor had lost his mind. Never in a million years did she expect this kind of response from him. Was this how God gave comfort? It sure didn’t feel like it. Walking into the church that day had taken monumental courage. Tova was so weak and broken and suffering. She was filled with feelings of worthlessness and failure. Heartache. Sometimes it was hard just to breathe. It was excruciatingly hard to hold a conversation. How in the world could she commit to a job? It all seemed impossible. But Tova was in for her own transformation story. The first six months were the roughest. Some days, just getting out of bed took all the energy she had. She still cried a lot, but soon the clouds began to lift. Sometimes she even caught herself smiling. In that church, God revealed himself to her in ways that she never imagined. She experienced God’s love, witnessed his miracles- healing power in her own life. Over the next few years, she moved from serving in adult ministry to youth ministry, to eventually becoming one of the church’s pastors. God’s healing power called her out of her grief and pain and showed her how to be Christ’s disciple. Even so, with all the reassurances of God’s presence and power and activity in her life, Tova sometimes becomes fearful. That’s natural. We are human. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t always easy. Jesus is not Santa Claus, appearing occasionally to lavish gifts on us. Sometimes being a disciple requires more of us than we think we can handle. And sometimes following Christ requires sacrifice. Jesus didn’t leave Peter, James, and John up on that mountain alone. In short order, Jesus would be put to the ultimate test. When he came down from that mountain, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem. He didn’t abandon his disciples even then, when his very life was threatened. No. Jesus was faithful to the end. And that’s good news for us. Jesus will never forsake us or leave us. He will be with us to the end. Tova says she wakes every morning and asks God to light her path and show her the way. Sometimes, it scares her that this is her prayer. What if God takes her someplace she doesn’t want to go? Or directs her to do something she doesn’t want to do? She knows the answer and so do we: if God calls us into a work, God will give us the skills and courage to accomplish it. What if we don’t feel equipped to handle this task? Then we can borrow from God. In God’s storehouse, we find a supply of strength and courage that never runs out or passes its expiration date. Our last stop that cold spring day in New York, was to visit the Statue of Liberty. Rain drizzled as we boarded the ferry that would take us across the harbor. Visibility was no better than it had been at One World Trade. And now we were on the water and there was a great big ocean out there. The majority of the kids went up on the top deck, where they would be assaulted by the wind and rain. They were so in hopes of seeing that iconic symbol of welcome. I found a seat and started counting life vests. And I started listening . To the sounds of the passengers, of course, but also to the sounds of the ferry’s motor. To the sounds of the choppy water slappimg its sides. To the sounds of the fog horn, its lone voice calling mournfully across the water, reminding us of the presence of one we could hear, but could not see. *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Intercessions for Lent Jesus, remember us when you come into your kingdom. As we journey with you toward Jerusalem, may we be aware of both crisis and opportunity in this life of discipleship. Increase in us our capacity to empathize, to work for peace, to forgive as you have forgiven us. Hear now our prayers for the world, our neighbors, and ourselves: For your church around the world, we ask for new life. For all who carry out ministries in your church, we ask grace and wisdom. For those who have accepted the spiritual disciplines of Lent, we ask inspired discipleship. For Christians of every land, we ask unity in your name. For Jews and Muslims and people of other faiths, we ask your divine blessing. For those who cannot believe, we ask your faithful love. For governors and rulers of every land, we ask your sober guidance. For people who suffer and sorrow, especially your sons and daughters in Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Israel, Gaza, and Palestine, we ask your healing peace. Holy God, Your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought humanity the gift of reconciliation, by the suffering he endured. Teach those who bear his name to follow the example he gave us. May our faith, hope, and charity turn hatred into love, conflict to peace, and death to eternal life. We lift our prayers to you now for the health and well-being of our church members, families, and friends in their particular circumstances. Silence. Save us from weariness, but, strengthen us to seek health and wholeness for all people, here and everywhere. We lift our prayers with the confidence of the children and God, saying, Our Father…Amen. Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, O God, giver of all things. Through your goodness, we have these gifts to share. Use us and what we have gathered, in serving the world with your love and compassion, through the one who gave himself for us, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 724 O, Jesus, I Have Promised *Blessing Go now, and live before God in openness and integrity. Set your minds on the ways of God, not clinging to your own life, but taking up your cross to follow Jesus. And may God give you a share in the eternal covenant; may you be found faithful when Christ comes again in glory; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen you in faith and courage, and lead you in the way of righteousness. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lenten Reading Nancy Jackson and Melvin Richardson Reader 1: Brothers and sisters in Christ, I invite you to observe a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance, by prayer and fasting, by self-denial, and by reading and meditating on God’s Word. Lent is a period of forty days- like Moses’ sojourn at Mt. Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mt. Horeb, Jonah’s call to Ninevah, and of Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness. Like the story of Noah and the flood. Reader 2: In Genesis 9:8-17 we read: Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “I now establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you- the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you- every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you, never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood, and never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and all the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures of all kinds. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” Prayer Merciful God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Hymn 12 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Prayer of Confession O God, our strength and fortress, forgive us when we fail to trust in you. We fall easily to temptation, swayed by false words, and false statements of our own making. We choose ease and comfort over the claims made upon us as Christians devoted in faith and service. In turning from you, we settle for less than the abundant life you intend. We keep the Good News to ourselves and neglect to demonstrate your generosity to those desperate to find relief. Forgive us, Lord, and do not put us to shame. Show us your salvation when we call upon you. In the name of Jesus Christ, who died that we might live. Amen. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The Lord is generous to all who call on him. God does not turn us away, but, desires to bring us into the glorious freedom offered in our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Friends, know you are forgiven and be at peace. Moments With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 1:9-15 Morning Message On Wednesday night, some of us gathered in the chapel to begin the Lenten season with the sign of ashes. The sign of the cross traced across our foreheads in dark, grimy ash. Two symbols in one: the dust of the earth, reminding us that from dust we came and to dust we will return. But, the second symbol-ashes formed into a cross, the symbol of resurrection, life after death. Death and rebirth contained in two swipes across our faces. I stopped off at a store briefly on Wednesday night and received a few looks like, “Should we tell her she has dirt on her face?” One of my dear, dear friends did that at the mall one Ash Wednesday. She was shopping and noticed another customer, well-dressed and accessorized, and thought she would want to know she had a little something on her face. My friend said she was mortified when the woman responded with, “I know. I’ve just come from church. You know-Ash Wednesday.” Presbyterians have not always observed Lent. Many of the Reformers who shaped our Protestant faith, set aside practices that they considered empty rituals or because they were just “too Catholic.” That’s unfortunate. Our rituals and symbols become meaningful as we regularly acknowledge and practice them and as we make our way through the many experiences of life. For example, when I look at my wedding ring, I don’t see how thin the band has become, or that it doesn’t sparkle like it did when Ed first placed it on my finger. What I see is forty plus years of living. And while I wouldn’t trade mine for anyone else’s life, it has not all been sweetness and light. And that is how it should be. My ring means more to me today than it did on that Thanksgiving day in 1979 when I first received it. It is an important symbol. When Jesus submitted to Baptism by John in the Jordan River, he did so in obedience to God his Father. It was the sign to the world that he was being called to a life set apart for a particular purpose. Something I had never noticed before in the many, many times I have read Mark’s account of this event, is that it was the Spirit, God’s Holy Spirit, who drove him out into the wilderness. I hope after three years of my work here among you, you know that I don’t believe God causes bad things to happen to us. God doesn’t make us fall victim to disaster or disease or any kind of malady. But, if we find ourselves in trouble or hardship or the worst kind of loss, God is there, too. God is there to bear witness to our grief and pain and strengthen us to live through it. God is there on the other side to help us sort out how to live once the crisis has passed. In a lot of ways, I have come to believe that’s what the fellowship of the church is all about- celebrating with one another and bearing witness to one another’s pain. Today it may be my turn to support you and some other day it will be your turn to support me. When the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, it was not to starve him or torment him with tests of faith. It wasn’t to teach him magic tricks. God-Father, Son, or Holy Spirit-doesn’t cause us harm. God doesn’t trifle with us. God teaches us-if we are teachable. Morgantown has been the setting for the state high school swimming finals this weekend. We followed it because Ed had students competing. The outcomes of the events were faithfully posted to Facebook. The accomplishments were impressive. But what almost always followed, were remarks about how far the team members had come since the beginning of the season, or freshman year or the neighborhood pool when they wouldn’t even get their faces wet. The skills involved in that sport, or any sport, didn’t come overnight. They were practiced and perfected. An effective faith is one in which a teachable human heart opens itself to the impulses of God. In order to become more like God created us to be. In scripture, we know something important, something transformational is happening when the text says this process took forty days or forty years. Something transformative was happening when Jesus was in the wilderness forty days and forty nights, hungry and thirsty, tried and tempted, taunted by Satan. This was not like an episode of Survivor. This is how Jesus was shaped and formed and strengthened to be the Savior of the world. A friend of mine was a family and marriage therapist. When talking about raising children, he used to say we want our children to experience occasional failure. Who wants their kids to fail? Not one of us. But, don’t we want our kids to be able to cope with adversity? Don’t we want them to be prepared to make their way in a world that is not all sweetness and light? Don’t we hope they will find a way to advance society? Don’t we pray that one of their objectives will be to bring peace to our troubled world? Of course we do. And it will take their own forty-day or forty-year missions to accomplish the work God calls them to. And, while we have our plans for them, we can’t possibly see or know what challenges and opportunities they will encounter. But, God knows and is preparing them, as God prepares us, to respond in ways that affirm life, that calls and encourages people to reach for what is good and kind and faithful in order that their corner of the world is a growing reflection of the kingdom of heaven? I have a dear cousin who lives in Oregon. One of his adult daughters lives in Kansas City. As it is with everyone, life is full, busy, complicated. It is often blessed. But one day last week, it was full of terror and grief. She wrote and posted to Facebook a message I would like to share with you : I still believe in Kansas City. I am angry and disappointed and sad that someone tarnished our name. That can never be erased and should never be forgotten. But, I still believe in Kansas City. We may not like your team, but we’ll make sure you have enough to eat. We’ll razz you and tease you and make sure you feel welcome. I still believe in Kansas City. Parade Day-Anytime I bumped into someone we both immediately said, “Oh, I’m sorry,” then helped the other pass thru. I still believe in Kansas City. Someone in front of me dropped a $20 bill, so I picked it up and ran to them to return it. Five minutes later someone ran up behind me to hand me my favorite Chiefs hat that I dropped. I still believe in Kansas City. In the crush of the crowd I was met with smiles and high fives and GO CHIEFS! bellowed in bass voices, from black and brown, white, and yellow, from young and old, men and women, unified by the most beautiful of colors, an absolute sea of reddest of reds. I still believe in Kansas City. We’re good people. Hardworking. We’ve known struggle and heartache. But we’ve also known love. We’re welcoming and kind. Giving and respectful. I’ve seen these things shining from the eyes of the hardest of faces. We’re good people. I hope we remember. The shared joy and pride and excitement to see the Chiefs parade down Grand. How our children’s faces lit up when they spotted their favorite players. Remember the grin on Mahomes’s face, so fun to see him being a silly kid. Andy Reid all dressed in black (what the heck), and Kelse just straining for that microphone. I hope we remember the beautiful weather and the sun on our faces, and how happy we were crushed together amongst community. Remember the high before the low. I hope our spirits aren’t sullied by this horrific event. Instead I pray we are lifted by reaching out to each other, helping each other, and healing together. Because I see you. I know you are good as I am good, and because of us, our city is beautiful. I still believe in Kansas City. I still believe in all of you. And I love you all. #kcstrong #ChiefsKingdom Forty days from last Wednesday, the stone will be rolled away. I still believe in Jesus. I still believe in the power of life after death. #jcstrong #God’sKingdom *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Prayers of the Faithful and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Gracious God, we give you thanks for all your gifts, including these forty days of Lent. May they be to us a time of deep searching, be it during walks in the wilderness or by making courageous choices. May we dedicate ourselves anew to discipleship, even as we dedicate our gifts to your kingdom. Amen. *Hymn 215 What Wondrous Love Is This? *Blessing These Lenten days will take us to the cross of Christ. Go forward, knowing that you do not walk this way alone. Do not fear, for the Word of God empowers us and the Holy Spirit sustains us. May the God of the exodus lead us into freedom. May the Holy Spirit bind us to God’s will and to fellowship with believers over time and space. May Christ Jesus, God’s own Son, show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Announcements Next Sunday is ECCHO and Cents-ability Sunday. Your contributions for those in need are appreciated. A Lenten study will begin March 3 at 10:00AM in the chapel. A congregational meeting will be held immediately following worship February 25. This is the Annual Meeting during which committee chairs present a review of mission and ministry. We will also elect one member of the congregation to serve on the Nominating Committee. The Presbytery of West Virginia met yesterday. Tim Moore served as our Elder Commissioner. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Psalm 100 Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come into God’s presence with singing! For the Lord is a gracious God, whose mercy is everlasting; and whose faithfulness endures to all generations. *Hymn 33 Praise the Lord! God’s Glories Show Prayer Almighty God, you have taught us that all our deeds without love are worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit to pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the very bond of peace and of all goodness; forgive us where we have failed to show your love and bear one another’s sorrow, and turn us to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. Old Testament Reading Moments With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Morning Message Pastor Debie Thomas says she remembers well the day when she was snooping in her father’s study. She was four years old and bored. She began rummaging thru his files and found a manila envelope. She looked inside to find a small bundle wrapped in tissue paper. It held four little blue books. Upon opening one of the books she was delighted to find a baby picture of herself. There were a lot of big words in the books which she couldn’t read. She took a pencil from her father’s desk and began doodling in the one that held her picture. Her father came into the study at some point and shouted at her, “What are you doing? “ And he grabbed the book out of her hands. She said he immediately set to work carefully erasing her drawings, his hands shaking. “What are they?” Debie asked. “Our passports, “ he said. These are our American passports. They prove we belong here. Without them…” he didn’t finish that sentence. Even now, years later, Debie says she remembers her father’s fear that day. It was the immigrant fear of not belonging, of being cast out. To this day, Debie treats her passport with great care, as though it might disintegrate in her hands. The memory of her father’s reaction to the defacing of her passport is a reminder of how seriously he took his citizenship and his role in keeping his family safe. he night we were to make the return trip to the US from Ireland with a school group, I couldn’t find my passport. I took everything out of my purse more than once, searched my luggage and carry-on and Ed had pulled out the copy he makes of everyone’s passport when we travel with a group. I finally found it- safely tucked away in a little hidden pocket of my purse. In fact, it was that episode that alerted me that I had growing cataracts. Passports are dark blue and I just couldn’t see it against the black leather. The scripture text points to at least three things for our attention. One is healing. Jesus healed ten very sick people. One is gratitude. One leper returned to Jesus to express his gratitude. And one is identity. Within this text we find questions of inclusion and exclusion, exile and return. Debie Thomas says, as the daughter of immigrants, she feels these questions deep in her bones. They aren’t intellectual or abstract. They are emotional and urgent. Where is home? What is my identity? Her security is bound up in these questions. A few years after that day in the study, Debie’s family travelled to India, her parents’ homeland. One day while waiting in line at a village train station, her little brother pointed to two people huddled in a corner. “What’s wrong with them?” he asked. They had been in India about two weeks by this time. They were getting used to seeing beggars, women with rail-thin babies on their hips, men who were blind or lame, at the mercy of passers-by for a few coins a day. Debie and her brother had never witnessed such devastating need and were moved to help with whatever change or small bills their parents could spare. But somehow these two at the train station seemed different. They were in need but their appearance scared Debie. She didn’t want to approach them. Didn’t want to drop a few coins in their hands. They were missing fingers, their feet were mere stumps. Their faces were misshapen. “They’re sick,” said their father. “They have leprosy.” And though the train station and the city streets were crowded that day, what struck Debie was how very alone those two seemed to be. She says it was like an invisible barrier, solid as granite, separated them from the rest of humanity, rendering them untouchable. The disease was frightening, but what frightened her more was their isolation, their not-belonging. The lepers in the text also lived in the shadows, in the region “in-between.” It was a no-man’s land. They were required to live in seclusion, to keep their distances from others. They had to warn the public by announcing, “Unclean! Unclean!” whenever they came close. When Jesus heals their disease, he also restores their identities. He enables them to return to their families and their communities. They could enjoy human interaction once again. They had a place to belong. They could go home. He healed ten, but only one returned to thank Jesus. I think we miss the point if we say the others weren’t grateful. We know they were. But this one man has the deck stacked against him. He was a Samaritan. He was a “double other.” He was marginalized by both illness and foreignness. Jews and Samaritans bore years of enmity. They disagreed about where to worship God and how to interpret the scriptures. They avaoided interaction with each other. This reminds me of the first time Ed and I were in Ireland. We were talking with the host at the bed and breakfast where we spent the night. Our plan was to take the train into Dublin. The host informed us that U2 was giving a concert that night in the city, so it would be crowded. And unsafe. “And mind your purse, dear,” the woman warned me, “The damn English will be there.” Debie Thomas suggests that this man in the text, by virtue of his disease and his foreignness, is enabled to see his truest place of belonging lies at the feet of Jesus. Jesus embraces all of him-leper, foreigner, exile. So, what are we to take from this story? In a much less dramatic way, we have probably all experienced the discomfort of being alone, or new, or unfamiliar. Discomfort is a far cry from rejection though. Immigrants are still held suspect, depending on their country of origin. The poor, those reiant on welfare. There’s a local political ad running about that right now. Makes me angry every time I see it. We don’t hear much about it now, but HIV/AIDS is devastating to those who suffer from the disease and those who suffer as family and loved ones. I’ll speak more on that some week. More than a year ago now, Ed and I are participated in our nephew’s wedding, doing things we do every week in worship with no nerves at all. But the size of the sanctuary, the power of the organ, the massive marble altar and beautiful shrines are enough to take your breath away. When we visited on a night before the wedding, I felt like I didn’t belong there. It’s a basilica, for heaven’s sake. But, the most lovely thing happened. The church music director was extremely hospitable, showing Ed around the organ and showing me all around the sanctuary, leading me up to the pulpit. He took me on a tour, describing the artwork, the beautifully carved statues, the fresh red roses that are replaced several times a week at the feet of the shrine of the infant king, the statue of the pregnant Mary, holding a Bible, bearing God’s Word, in word and in person, into the world. It was evident that here was a place where you could truly worship God with all the senses. It was very reassuring, comforting. I was realized that we fit just fine because our ultimate, eternal, most satisfying home is with Jesus. Jesus is home for the well and the sick, the immigrant and the native-born, Jesus is home for Catholics and Protestants. Jesus is home for the faithful in prayer and for babies in the cry room. Jesus is home for those who live in luxury and for those who have no place to lay their heads. Jesus is home for those who have left the children of earth behind them to enter the realm of heaven. That gives me great comfort today. And those who recognize home when they find it, can do none other than fall to their knees in gratitude. May it be so for all of us. Amen. *Hymn 692 Spirit, Open My Heart *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, O God of all creation, through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. Amen. *Hymn 693 Though I May Speak *Blessing Go now, and give your life to the Lord. Trust in God and do good. Love and bless everyone, even your enemies. Do not judge others, but be merciful and generous to all. Treat others as you would have them treat you. And may God be quick to act on your behalf, may Christ Jesus raise you to new and everlasting life; and may the Holy Spirit go before you to prepare a place for you. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Psalm 147 How good it is to sing praises to our God. For God is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. God is our Lord, and abundant in power. God’s understanding is beyond measure. *Hymn 335 Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Call to Confession Isaiah exclaims, “Have you not seen? Have you not heard? “The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. God does not faint or grow weary,” but comes to us to renew our strength and restore us to right relationship with God and others. Prayer O God, our creator, redeemer, and sustainer, we confess our feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, doubt and fear, brought on by winter illnesses, extreme weather events, acts of senseless violence, and other threats. We mourn our losses, thinking of what might have been. We look for help, but, sometimes it seems you are far away. Remind us that you are present to us, and to all your vulnerable children, to comfort and to bless in times of suffering and need. Renew our strength and restore our joy that we might mount up with wings like eagles to carry out each day’s purpose. Amen. *Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon The God who fashioned the stars and the moon has come close to each of us with mercy and love. Hear the good news of the gospel: We are forgiven and freed to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint. Know you are forgiven and be at peace. Old Testament Reading Isaiah 58:1-12 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Matthew 5:13-20 The Morning Message *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed *Hymn Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, O God. Through your goodness, we have been blessed with the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Use us, and what we have gathered, to strengthen your kingdom on earth and benefit those who have need in body, mind, or circumstance. We offer our gifts through Jesus Christ, who died that we might live. Amen. *Hymn 19 Praise Him! Praise Him! *Blessing Go now, and follow Christ wherever he leads you. By the grace of God, be all you have been called to be, and cast wide the net of God’s love. Remind one another of the good news, and hold fast to your saving faith. In peace, go out to love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
*Call to Worship Mark 1:15 The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the good news. *Hymn 611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Prayer of Confession Loving God, through your Son you have called us to repent of our sin, to believe the good news, and to celebrate the coming of your kingdom. Like Christ’s first apostles, may we hear his call to discipleship, and, forsaking old ways, proclaim the gospel of new life to a broken world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn 698 Take, O Take Me as I Am Assurance of Pardon Whenever a people humble themselves, turn from their evil ways, and put their hope and trust in divine mercy, God forgives their sin and enfolds them in the strength and love of Christ. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. Your sins are forgiven. Be at peace. Amen. First Reading Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Matthew 4:12-23 The Morning Message Immediately. When was the last time you were required to act immediately? This was a recent experience of mine: My mom had an unexpected dental problem. She called her dentist’s office for an appointment and was told it would probably be weeks before they could work her in. But then on Thursday morning, they called saying there was a cancellation and she could come that afternoon. “Great! I’ll take it.” Was her immediate response. Then she texted both my sister and me and immediately we both reacted. I texted a reply and my sister called her. “No way, Mom. The roads are in bad shape and there’s ice on the sidewalks and parking lots. Call them back and cancel.” You have probably noticed by now that I have some mobility issues these days. I had walked to the mailbox that morning on a sheet of ice. I wasn’t leaving the house again without help. And I hated having to tell her that. She cancelled the appointment-immediately- so someone else could benefit from it and they re-scheduled her for another day. Immediately. It implies a sense of urgency. Immediate action is required at times of distress and emergency. Sometimes we act immediately to some great opportunity, like when the teacher says the first person finished with this test gets a candy bar. Sometimes it’s a mixed bag like the time I went to see one of our homebound members at another church. I had made an appointment and arrived on time. I rang the bell and got no response. I knocked on the door and the same thing happened-nothing. Finally, the door flew open and I hear, “Cinda, come on in. I just caught the kitchen on fire and I’m naked. Mom’s in the living room.” I flew through that door and ran to the kitchen. I saw smoky streaks on the wall paper and could smell the fire though it had been extinguished. I ran back to where my elderly church lady was sitting in her recliner. She was ok, but was very concerned about all the activity. She said, “Girls, what is going on?” What had happened was that the daughter had mopped the kitchen floor with an ammonia-based product. In order to cover up the odor, she lit a decorative candle, the kind that had fruit imbedded in it. Well, the fruit caught on fire and sent up a tall flame which caught a grapevine wreath that was just above it on fire. And it spread some from there. I think the take away from that incident is that urgency can sometimes prompt an impulsive response and that can get us in trouble. And I think that’s what happened with Jonah. The back story is that God tells Jonah to go to preach in a very powerful, important city, Ninevah. It is the capital city of the Assyrian Empire. The people of Ninevah were in dire need of a change of heart, what we would call repentance. “Heck, no! I’m not going there, that wicked city. Those people are not my kind. Ninevites are of a different race and religion from Jonah. He had no business going there. So immediately Jonah takes off in the opposite direction, as if he could outrun God. He boards a ship to Tarshish. A storm blows up and threatens to swamp the ship. All the sailors pray to their own gods for help. Then, being a superstitious bunch, they cast lots to see who on board might be responsible for their situation by committing some terrible act. Jonah fesses up that he is running from his God, and that the storm is probably his fault. The only way to save the ship was for him to be thrown overboard. The other passengers were reluctant to do that. They kept trying to save the ship, but eventually agree to toss Jonah overboard. Immediately-the sea is still and the grateful sailors make a sacrifice to Jonah’s God. Now, according to the story, Jonah is swallowed by a huge fish, some versions call it a whale. Being in the belly of the fish for three days, Jonah has come around. He will go to Ninevah and preach to the rebellious people there about the God of Israel, the One, true, holy God. By this time, the fish is sick of Jonah and he spits him out on the beach. Jonah fulfills his promise to go to the people of Ninevah and preach about changing their hearts, turning from false gods and turning toward Yahweh, his God. And, low and behold, they respond by repenting of their foolish ways and God changes his mind about them and does not destroy the city. Mission accomplished. You would think Jonah would be elated by that, but, no. Jonah was angry. He hadn’t wanted to go there in the first place because they weren’t “his kind” and he didn’t want them to find favor with God. He didn’t want the people to have a change of heart and turn to God. He wanted God to destroy them. Jonah is so brazen that he complained to God, “I know you are merciful and you might really save them from destruction. I wanted no part of that.” No kidding. Jonah was a prophet, just not a very good one. The story ends with God’s rebuke of Jonah. When Jesus called the fishermen in the text we read this morning, they immediately followed him. Did they run by the bank, get their affairs in order, pack a bag and kiss their wives and kids first? No. Jesus called them and they left their work and followed him. I learned this week that in that day, people would often seek out particular rabbis to study with, to explore the faith. Maybe they had sat for some of Jesus’ teaching already. We don’t know, but, Jesus saw something in them and invited them to join him in his work. “I’ll show you how to fish for people.” That must have been a really compelling offer because they did go. Maybe they were enthused about the prospect of travel, or being part of a movement. Maybe this would be like a pilgrimage, a spiritual adventure. They experienced all these things while traveling with Jesus, but not in the ways they probably initially expected. Sometimes their food came from gleaning the fields or relying on strangers for meals and a place to sleep. Those deep theological discussions they longed for probably challenged the faith they were raised in. I can’t tell you how many times that happened in seminary. Some students became so uncomfortable in that setting that they dropped out. The first disciples met lots of new people, but not always the kind of people they would normally hang out with. Eventually they would learn that often the people we have trouble with are the very ones God seeks out. And, let’s try this idea on: maybe we are the ones who need to change and these newcomers are our teachers. Sounds a little like Jonah and the stiff-necked people of Ninevah, doesn’t it? As we make our way toward Lent, we will hear many stories of call. Some people are called for great works and we read about them in scripture or history books. But, what about the ones that aren’t called for some special work? What about the father of those fishermen? Does God like him less? Does he have a lesser place in the kingdom? Not at all. God calls all of us to respond with whatever gifts we have been given. If you can’t figure out what your gifts are, ask a friend, ask me. I see gifts in all of you. They differ from one person to the next and I love it. That’s what makes the church so strong and interesting. My husband and children all felt the call to participate in a medical mission work in Peru. Each of them describes it in their own way. It was life-changing. I am so thankful they had the opportunity. They will all tell you they went with the mindset to minister to those in need. But, what they discovered was that they were the ones in need. Each one of them, in their own ways, had a deep spiritual need of which they weren’t even aware. And I am the only one in our family who has not been on one of these trips. I was not called to the place or the work. My call has been to stay at home base, to pray without ceasing, to relay messages back and forth between people on the trip and family members state-side. And I was called to welcome them home, wash their clothes, and deal with their travel sickness. You may think the days for God to awaken you to some spiritual purpose are over. Not so. Inspiration comes from so many places, people and circumstances. You may be someone else’s inspiration or their hope or a source of courage. Maybe someone will be those things for you. *Hymn 175 Seek Ye First *Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn 744 Arise, Your Light Is Come! *Blessing Go now, follow where Christ calls you and proclaim the message God gives you. Wait in hope for God. Avoid becoming bound up in the business of the world, but live in readiness for the Kingdom. And may God be your haven and your glory; may Christ Jesus give you courage for his mission; and may the Spirit enfold you in love. Amen. *Postlude *Call to Worship Amos 5
We are called to seek good and not evil, that we may live; and so that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with us. We are called to hate evil and love good, and establish justice. Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. We seek to be a people that embodies God’s justice. By the power of God at work within us, may it be so. *Hymn 307 God of Grace and God of Glory Prayer of the Day Almighty God, You sent Jesus to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with your Spirit, that we too may bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; forgive us for neglecting the needs of our brothers and sisters and failing to testify to the good news of your love. Amen. *Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Old Testament Reading 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading John 1:43-51 The Morning Message 1968. It was both a good and bad year. My sister was born in 1968. We moved into a beautiful new home. The year saw violent demonstrations in many major cities in the US and across the globe. The focus of the US protests was the Vietnam War. It was also the year that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert Kennedy were both assassinated. That was also the year I started junior high school. I went to Lincoln. Walked to and from every day. It wasn’t a problem. It was exciting. For years, I had watched the pretty junior high girls in my neighborhood walk to school in their Bass Weejuns and hose. I had finally arrived, wearing penny loafers and hose. And when I walked those new shoes through the doors of that school, my worldview would change. I would be in a community that included African American students. I had a lot to learn. The first lesson was about fear. Words of truth and hope, learned in Sunday School, ran through my head and heart. “Perfect love casts out fear.” And this…we may not love perfectly, but Jesus does and I could follow his example. So, my experience included both failure and success, but I count it all helpful. A lot has changed since then, thank goodness, but we have not yet completely healed the divisions caused by racism, or really, any “otherness.” This week commemorates both the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King and Holocaust Remembrance. It lifts up the ministry of MLK and activism of the American Civil Rights Movement and recalls the heinous attempt to annihilate the Jewish citizens, men, women, and children, of Europe. Six million Jews died during this most cruel regime. And I know we don’t like to think or talk about these things, we certainly don’t want to identify with them, for to do that is to make ourselves vulnerable to pain. But, I believe what makes us human is our ability to do just that…to have empathy-to feel what others feel. The 2024 session of the West Virginia Legislature opened this past Wednesday. Like you, I am eager to see what issues they will address in the coming weeks. I hope both chambers will initiate efforts to bring more hope than harm to the people of this state. I hope the two main parties will work together for the public good, especially that portion of the public that lacks the security of healthcare and/or a safe place to lay their head at night. I hope they support the public school system so that all children and youth can succeed in life. I hope they demonstrate their support for all public servants, who work in all kinds of conditions, doing their best to meet people in their needs. I predict we will be left wanting at the end of the session, being reminded one again that there is virtue in waiting as the “arc of the moral universe is long and it bends toward justice.” When Martin Luther King Jr. preached at the Washington National Cathedral on March 31, 1968, nobody knew it would be the last Sunday sermon he would ever give. The topic was “ Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” The invitation was extended to him for the purpose of explaining to the “white clergy and the people of Greater Washington” that his planned Poor People’s Campaign was intended to be non-violent” and not disruptive of life in Washington. King, as the “apostle of non-violence,” was invited by the dean of the cathedral to deliver his message. But he knew his white colleagues were uneasy. In fact, one woman wrote to the cathedral warning that the King invitation would “stir up more racial tension and anxiety, which can only lead to disaster.” That Sunday, the cathedral attracted its largest-ever crowd, with thousands more spilling out the doors to listen on loudspeakers. King knew his audience and he was very direct: “Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God.” He urged the gathered flock that day to yield the temptation to wait on time, to wait for somebody else to do the work. He further challenged them with these words: “On some positions cowardice asks the question: Is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, Is it politic? Then conscience asks the question: Is it right? There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.” King’s challenge to the faithful gathered that day in 1968 feels intensely relevant today. You know the issues: poverty, violence, addiction and recovery, housing scarcity, food insecurity, inadequate education, racism, anti-semitism, human trafficking, despair. But how and when do we address these difficult issues? The human instinct is to not offend. Oh, my goodness. I’ve lived in this tension my whole professional life. It’s hard to ask people to notice the needs for social justice, to advocate for it even, and then to back down so that it doesn’t insult or offend. But, as Christians, we follow a man, Jesus, who never took the easy way out. Jesus did not censor himself for fear of retribution. He challenged the institutional oppression of his day, and calls us to confront the injustice of our time. Often, it is through the words and actions of our young people that we are inspired to change. I have shared this story every year on this day because I believe it is important and hopefully motivational for you. A few years ago, standing out in her yellow coat before thousands of people at the inauguration of President Biden, Amanda Gorman reminded me, and maybe some of you, that there is hope and there can be change for this country and maybe the world. Change had indeed already come to her. She was living, shining proof. Ms. Gorman is the first Youth Poet Laureate ever in the United States. She was born in Los Angeles and raised by a single mother, a sixth grade teacher. She was academically gifted and won a scholarship to Harvard University. She is both a poet and an activist, as is her twin sister, Gabrielle. But it wasn’t always an easy path for her. Amanda has an auditory processing disorder and is hyper-sensitive to sound. She spent years in speech therapy. She says her disability is also her gift, because being intensely focused on auditory and vocal processes made her really good at reading and writing. When she stood at the podium on Inauguration Day, we didn’t see all the struggles of her young life. But, we witnessed her poise, confidence, intelligence, skill, presence, artistry, and grace. We witnessed a young woman claiming her call. It’s a call that is still forming, but, we know she will be equipped to embrace it. When young Samuel was called by God, he didn’t even recognize God’s voice. Eli had to steer him in the right direction. We still read Samuel’s story and acknowledge the role he played in salvation history. When Jesus called the fishermen, he was calling them into a life of uncertainty and risk. But, they followed anyway, learning by Jesus’ side, and birthing the early church. Their lives still influence us today. Although Presbyterians don’t often do this, we see the names of our Christian forebears on churches, schools, and hospitals. Hear me clearly as I make the next statement. The citizens of our land have been blessed by good leaders and harmed by others. Many people affirm and appreciate the advocacy and spiritual work of Martin Luther King to bring about change for the vulnerable, the poor, the minority citizens of the US. Some saw this not as progress, but as unwelcome revolution. Reasonable minds can disagree. Some time ago, the Office of the General Assembly published a study guide for “Presbyterians in Times of Disagreement.” It recognizes that Presbyterians, and all Christians, are called upon to pay attention to changes in church and culture that tend to divide rather than unite reasonable people of faith. The document offers strategies for moving from impasse and hostility to a rational and mutually acceptable outcome even at times of strident debate and polarization. As it has been a guide to peace in our church, I have hope that one day, we will have peace in our land.. So, with a new year’s hope, from a fresh mind and in a positive spirit, I again offer you the words today of Amanda Gorman for the New Year: May this be the day We come together Mourning , we come to mend, Withered, we come to weather, Torn, we come to tend, Battered, we come to better, Tethered by this year of yearning, We are learning That though we aren’t ready for this, We have been readied by it. We steadily vow that no matter How we are weighed down, We must always pave a way forward. This hope is our door, our portal, Even if we never get back to normal. Some day we can venture beyond it, To leave the known and take first steps. So let us not return to normal, But reach toward what is next. What was cursed, we will cure, What was plagued, we will prove pure, Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree, Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we forsee. Where we weren’t aware, we’re now awke. Those moments we missed, Are now these moments we make, The moments we meet, And our hearts, all together beaten, Now altogether beat. Come look up with kindness yet. For even solace can be sourced from sorrow. We remember not just for the sake of yesterday, But to take on tomorrow. We heed this old spirit, In a new days’ lyric, In our hearts we hear it, For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. Be bold, sang Time this year, Be bold, sang time. For when you honor yesterday, Tomorrow ye will find. Know what we’ve fought, Need not be forgot for none. It defines us, binds us as one, Come over, join this day just begun,. For wherever we come together, We will forever overcome. May that be our hope and our intention in the year ahead. Amen. *We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom, Verses 1 and 2 *Affirmation of Faith (from A Brief Statement of Faith) We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Amen. *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Holy One, as we have called for your justice to roll down like waters, we are painfully aware that many in our nation and in the wider world have never or rarely known justice and righteousness. As we pause to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we admit that the issues of racism are far from resolved. Most of us will never know the hurts and offences and even violence our brothers and sisters have suffered their whole lives long. Our experiences have been very different. Save us from contributing to their pain and all the offenses born of discrimination and the de-valuing of others. Help us to walk some miles in their shoes that we might be your faithful children seeking understanding. We pray for that day when we are all truly at peace with the differences in color, race, culture, gender, orientation, and any human attribute that can be used as a weapon against another. Forgive us for our failures and fill us with strength and conviction to live after the manner of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve, We make our prayer and petitions in Jesus’ name, saying, Our Father…Amen. Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings Offertory *Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Gracious God, we are so aware of the abundance of gifts you have provided. We know, too, the great joy of sharing those gifts with others. As we offer our tithes and offerings this day, prompt us to commit more than dollars, but also those gifts you have written on our hearts- gifts meant to announce peace and understanding to the world. In the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus, Amen. *Hymn 377 We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom, Verses 3and 4 *Blessing Go now. Listen for the voice of the Lord and follow wherever it leads. Do not be dominated by anything. Allow no room within yourself for deceit, but offer yourself as a temple for the Holy Spirit. And may God be with you and speak through you; may Christ Jesus be one with you and raise you to new life; and may the Holy Spirit dwell in you richly. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Psalm 29:2-4 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name. Worship the Lord in holy splendor. The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. *Hymn 81 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, verses 1-3 Prayer of Confession Lord, have mercy on us. Remember the promises you made to us in our baptism, forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness. Set us free from all that enslaves, and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ, that we may be your faithful servants, showing forth healing love to the world, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Pardon Hear the good news! In baptism you were buried with Christ. In baptism you were also raised to new life with him, through faith in the power of God who raised Christ from the dead. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone and a new life has begun. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel: your sins are forgiven. Be at peace. Amen. First Reading Genesis 1:1-5 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Mark 1:4-11 The Morning Message Who had a summer job in high school or college? Like many of us, Sally Haynes had a part time summer job. She was part of an outreach ministry at North Carolina’s Outer Banks. That sounds pretty cushy until you learn her job was to clean bath-houses. On a slow summer afternoon, she walked over to the small sailboat franchise the ministry helped run. Since there were no customers, the manager thought it would be ok for Sally and two of the other boys to take one of the boats out for a brief sail. Sally says she lazily lounged while the guys steered the little boat. And everything was fine- blue sky, sparkling water, warm sun. And then, the wind took a mighty swing at their sail and the boat capsized, dumping the boys out. And so there they were. She says she heard the yelps of the boys as soon as they hit the water. They had landed in a school of jellyfish. But, luckily for her, she had landed on the sail. There she sat, on the water, but protected by the sail. No jellyfish around. The boys started shouting to her, “Sally, get off the sail so we can turn the boat rightside-up!” Sally says she would like to say that as soon as she heard the painful cries of her friends, she bravely leapt off the sail and into the threatening water, but that wasn’t her first instinct. Her first instinct was to stay put and be spared the stings that would surely come when she left her billowy nest. The boys’ cries grew louder. The menacing tentacles stung them repeatedly. But Sally knew the moment she crawled off the sail and into the water, she, too, would be stung. I’ve never been stung by a jellyfish, but I know that no one signs up for that. But if she didn’t move, they would never right the boat and it would be a long, painful, dangerous swim to the shore for all of them. So, resigned to her fate, she slipped into the water and was indeed immediately and repeatedly stung. They righted the boat and hurried back to shore to dress their wounds. How quickly things had gone wrong. While things had been fine, beautiful even, on the surface, the water itself held many dangers. Sally is now a United Methodist minister and has had a long time to reflect on this experience. Now she understands that what happened that summer day was absolutely consistent with Scripture. From the very beginning of salvation history, way back in Genesis, water is the fathomless deep which God created and must divide to make space for the sky to appear. Water must be pushed aside to allow for the emergence of dry land. The deeps are full of power and mystery. They are where Leviathon and other legends live. And when God brings his people out of slavery, it’s once again through the deep, chaotic sea, the hand of God reaching down to part the waters so his children may cross unharmed. The prophet Isaiah compares God’s love to water’s dangers: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.” We can’t help but think of those verses when trouble strikes, especially trouble involving water. Hurricanes, floods, tsunamis and other treacherous weather events have devastated everything from small villages to entire countries, killing generations of God’s people. My mother was a baby when the 1937 flood hit Huntington. Her father packed up her mother and her brother and sister, who were just one and two, and sent them on the train to Milton, where they would stay with grandparents until it was safe to come home. These events define communities for sure. Recovery may be slow and frustrating. The words of Scripture may or may not offer reassurance. But, we have learned that wherever there is suffering, God is there, and that’s when we, who are called by Christ’s name, jump into the schools of jellyfish with those dumped out of the boat. , Water is necessary to sustain life- for cleansing, for heating and cooling, for growing anything, for transport. And yet, as necessary as it is, water contains the potential of chaos and danger and lurking monsters. And that is exactly where God sends Jesus at his baptism. Up to this point in the gospel story, Jesus has led a mostly private life. But, his baptism stands as a symbol of transition to a very public ministry. One that will have him teaching, healing, and feeding, calling people to turn away from sin and toward God, to love their neighbors as themselves, to welcome the stranger, help the hurting, and support the weak. And how does God mark the occasion? God sends Jesus down into the water, where danger and jellyfish are primed to attack. The jellyfish that surround Jesus taunt, ridicule, hail him king in one breath and yell “crucify him!” the next. Stings come from the death of his dear friend, Lazarus, the betrayal of another. Jesus is plunged into the water to be assaulted time and again. The maternal instinct in me wonders why this was necessary. I was hyper-vigilant with our kids. Made them all neurotic, I was so worried about their safety. Thankfully, they have all overcome that history and have proven to be much braver than their mom. But, about Jesus, I often wondered how, why, God could send his only Son to earth if this was to be his life and fate. Maybe it’s because this is the very image of our life and fate, too. Sailing, on the surface, is lovely and peaceful. My parents had a boat out on Beech Fork Lake and it was a lot of fun. It’s pretty tame-a no wake zone. But, we aren’t always on the surface, are we? Life isn’t always lived in the smooth and lovely and safe places. Life often swamps our boat, and the sea is deep and dark. Life happens during sleepless nights and hectic days. Life happens in the family we love and the family who gets under our skin. Life happens when the mail brings bills we have to juggle, diagnoses we are never ready to hear, losses that cleave our hearts in two. But…here’s what gives me hope: When life throws us into water that’s over our heads, and it will, the baptism of Jesus reminds us of this important truth: we aren’t the first ones in. Jesus has already gone ahead of us. He has suffered, he has been hurt and rejected, he has been falsely accused, he has been tired and hungry and thirsty, he has been hauled into court, thrown in jail, separated from his mother, abused, and crucified. And then…God raised him from the dead, and in his resurrection is the promise of ours. We are plunged into the waters of baptism and raised to newness of life. At our funeral services, we are reminded that, in death, our baptism is complete. Scripture promises us that if we are baptized into a death like his, we will be raised in glory like Jesus before us. Let that be a comfort to you. Remind yourself that you are baptized. I thought of this recently when a concern was turning over and over in my mind. Martin Luther was said to have reassured himself in troubled moments by stating those three words: “I am baptized.” It worked. It was a comfort to remember that yes, indeed, I am baptized, grafted onto the body of Christ, welcomed into the family of faith, and marked as Christ’s own forever. Washed, cleansed, made new, set apart for a life of faith, hope, and love. When the dreaded call comes, or the relationship fractures, or the news out of Washington or Charleston or in our family strikes terror in us, remember that Jesus went down into the water before us and came out again, and so, indeed, shall we. So shall we. *Hymn Baptized In Water (insert) Renewal of Baptism Through baptism we enter the covenant God has established. In that covenant God gives us new life. We are guarded from evil and nurtured by the love of God and God’s people. In embracing that covenant, we choose whom we will serve, by turning from evil and turning to Jesus Christ. I ask you, therefore, to reject sin, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we baptize. *Renunciations Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world? I do. Do you turn to Jesus Christ, accept him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love? I do. Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his Word and showing his love? I will with God’s help. Remember your baptism and be thankful *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p.35 *Hymn Gloria Patri (inside front cover of hymnal) The Sacrament of Communion Invitation to the Table, Words of Institution, Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, Distribution of the Elements Prayer After Communion We thank you, O God, that through Word and Sacrament, you have given us your Son, who is the true bread of heaven and food of our eternal life. So strengthen us in your service that in our daily living we may show forth our thanks, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings *Hymn Doxology (inside front cover of hymnal) *Prayer of Dedication As your Son Jesus came to bring light to the world’s darkness, we bring our gifts to you this day. Transform them into light for the lost, bread for the hungry, relief for the hopeless, compassion and care for the forgotten and oppressed. In joyful service, let us bear Christ’s light into the world. Amen. *Hymn 289 Blessed Assurance *Charge and Blessing Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Go now in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen. *Postlude Prelude
*Call to Worship Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Nations shall come to your light and rulers to the brightness of your rising. *Hymn 143 Angels From the Realms of Glory Prayer Eternal God, A thousand years in your sight are like a watch in the night. as you have led us in days past, so guide us now and always, that our hearts may learn to choose your will, and new resolves be strengthened. Forgive what we have done that denies our devotion to you. and forgive us for failing to do kindness in your name. Set us free to love and serve you in this new year, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. *Hymn Take, O Take Me As I Am Assurance of Forgiveness Romans 8:34 Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. The old life is gone and a new life has begun. This is our peace. Amen. Old Testament Reading Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Time With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Matthew 2:13-23 The Morning Message Ring Out, Wild Bells *Hymn 147 The First Nowell, verses 1 and 2 *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 *Hymn 581 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings *Hymn 607 Doxology Offertory *Prayer of Dedication *Hymn The First Nowell, verses 5 and 6 *Blessing Go now, and bear witness to the light so others might believe. Since you are chosen in Christ, live before him in love, holy and blameless. Live with hope in Christ, for the praise of his glory. And may God fill the earth with peace; may Christ give you grace upon grace from his fullness; and may the Holy Spirit, the pledge of your inheritance, lead you on straight paths where you will not stumble. Amen. Laughingbird.net *Postlude |
PastorCinda Harkless Archives
March 2024
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