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Prelude
Welcome and Announcements Lenten Reading Robin McComas Mark 11:1-11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he set two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found the colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said to them, and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple, and when he had looked around, at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Litany of Response Humble and riding on a donkey, we greet you. Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children, we cheer you. Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power, we salute you, Christ, our Lord. You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity; You are giving majesty a new face; You are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing. With them, with heart and voice, we shout, “Hosanna! God save us!” *Hymn 197 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Prayer of the Day We praise you, O God, for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and King by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Let these branches be signs of victory, and grant that we, who carry them, may follow him in the way of the cross, that dying and rising with him, we may enter into your kingdom, through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. First Reading Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 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 mercy, help us to live in your light and walk 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, our sins are forgiven and we may dwell in peace. Amen. Moments With Our Young Disciples Gospel Reading Luke 19:28-40 Morning Message How did it get to be Palm Sunday? It seems like we just wrapped up Advent and Christmas. But the signs are all around us: trees have budded and bloomed, the daffodils planted by a former homeowner have popped up in our back yard, my dog is fascinated by bird song, we had to mow our grass this past week. And we started a list of the projects we wanted to tackle once the weather breaks for sure. It sounds like we are very organized, but, these are aspirational goals. We’ll see how many we can really accomplish. Others have aspirational goals in the spring. They knock on our door frequently, it seems, these days. Campaign workers, the Tru-green sales people, neighborhood kids passing out fliers advertising their yard work services for the summer. And occasionally, we will open the door to find well-groomed young men in their Sunday clothes wanting to speak with us about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Now, I know some people pretend not to be home when such people ring the doorbell, but, I can’t do that. I think about their young ages, being away from home, in sometimes inadequate living arrangements, trying to talk to strangers about Jesus. So, I listen and answer some questions. But, I confess, we don’t have an extended conversation, except for the time two missionaries came to our door in the pouring rain. They were soaked and cold. They didn’t want to come in. But, they did accept the umbrella we offered. And, to our surprise, a few days later, they returned with the umbrella and a thank you. Pastor Yvette Schock, of the Christian Century magazine, says something like this happened to her recently. She opened the door to three visitors –a husband, wife and their teenage daughter who looked like she wished she could be anywhere else-holding Bibles and eager to speak with Yvette about Jesus. “Do you know Jesus? Do you believe, if you die today, you would go to heaven? Do you believe there is anything you can do to lose God’s love?” And so on. Sensing that the direction of this question and answer exercise was going to eventually get into theological differences, Yvette thanked the people for stopping by, and offered her blessing on their church and their service to the Lord. Yvette says not much gives her hope these days that people can truly talk across religious or political differences. I relate. I can feel myself becoming uneasy and even angry at times as I see or hear political ads, and as I note the comments some are posting to social media. I think the time is quickly coming that I will have to set Facebook aside until after the election is over. But, even in the throes of angst and suspicion, of who’s in and who’s out- Yvette says this brief encounter with the visitors made her oddly hopeful. She says she felt a tenderness and respect for their commitment and their willingness to risk knocking on the doors of strangers to talk about Jesus. She wondered then if she had shut down their conversation too soon. That maybe they would have had a more satisfying conversation had she not wanted to get back to her work. Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem is full of confrontation. He enters the city in a conspicuous way. His homespun parade stands in stark contrast to Pilate’s show of force as he processed into the city. The next day, Jesus enters the Temple and turns the tables of the money changers over. Repeatedly, religious leaders confronted him, trying to discredit him to get him in trouble. But, Yvette says, the week began in an effort to show Jesus as an agent of peace. Jesus rides into town on a donkey, recalling Zachariah’s prophecy that a humble king would appear, riding not on a horse, the beast of war, but a donkey. And this king would “command peace to the nations.” Jesus confronts and disrupts the systems that harm, corrupt, and exploit God’s beloved children. He always pointed to God and the magnificent gifts of God’s creation, providence, grace, and love for all humankind. And he does it in peace and humility. Yvette says, like many churches around the world, hers will pass out palm branches today and parade around their block, singing their hosannas, “God save us.” But, as she does, she says she will be thinking of her Baptist visitors, and how she might have encouraged further conversation, genuinely confronting the reality of their differences in a spirit of peace seeking understanding. In this current climate of warring nations, government stalemate, political division, how do we want to live? Do we stay behind doors, cling to our brink, avoiding those we know will oppose most everything we affirm? If that keeps you out of trouble, keeps your blood pressure down, maybe that’s the way to go. But, maybe we could borrow some courage from the missionaries of any church who make cold calls on people they don’t know because they love Jesus and sharing that love is how they faithfully serve him. Live on the edge-dare to express an opinion or belief that your neighbor or your family member doesn’t share. I don’t know. My defenses always wane with illness. So, I’ll do what Christians do on Palm Sunday, here and around the world, clutch my palm branch and sing as well as I can, “Hosanna! God save us!” * Hymn *Affirmation of Faith The Nicene Creed p. 34 *Hymn 580 Gloria Patri Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings including our contributions for ECCHO and Centsability * Hymn 607 Doxology *Prayer of Dedication Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. Use us and what we have gathered, In feeding the world with your love, Through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. *Hymn 196 All Glory, Laud, and Honor *Blessing The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. *Postlude 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 |
PastorCinda Harkless Archives
July 2024
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