Bulletin – March 21, 2021

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Approach

Lenten Candle Liturgy

Jesus travelled the dusty roads of Israel and Judah. He knew the way, but I think that this time it is different. We too have been on this journey before, but again it is different this year. Jesus has invited us along for this journey, God has challenged us to follow on this path, but it is not the same path. Sure, the usual landmarks are there along the way. We follow along the same road, going up and down the same hills and valleys, but something is different. It is not as it used to be, something has shifted, maybe we have changed, maybe the journey itself has changed. We only know deep down inside that it is different. So, God has called on this new journey, God has called us on this new path.
Are we willing to go?
Are we willing to see this journey on this new path with new eyes?
Are we willing to follow Jesus on this new way, listening for God to call us to come and follow?
What lays down this new path?
Will we find the courage to follow?
As the days lengthen, the light lasts longer, we extinguish a candle knowing that on this new path there will be dark days ahead.

Sung Response:

You shall be the path that guides us,
You the light that in us burns;
Shining deep within all people,
Yours the love that we must learn,
For our hearts shall wander restless
‘Til they safe to you return;
Finding you in one another,
We shall all your face discern.

Call to Worship

One:   Jesus invites us to a way of celebration, meeting and feasting with the humble and poor.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

One:   Jesus beckons us to a way of risk, letting go of our security.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

One:   Jesus challenges us to listen to the voices of those who have nothing to lose.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

One:   Jesus points us to a way of self-giving, where power and status are overturned.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

One:   Jesus calls us to follow the way of the cross, where despair is transformed by the promise of new life.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

One:   Jesus brings us together in community, where love is shared and grace is offered.
All:     Let us walk his way with joy.

Hymn – “God of the Bible”

God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
Hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
You are our centre, daylight or darkness,
Freedom or prison, you are our home.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
Suffering with us, taking our part,
Still you empower us, mothering Spirit,
Feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

Not by your finger, not by your anger
Will our world order change in a day,
But by your people, fearless and faithful,
Small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

Hope we must carry, shining and certain
Through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
Bonding us gladly on to the other,
Till our world changes facing the Cross.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

Prayer of Approach

Covenant-making God, you use every possible means to reach us, breathing your Spirit in us, calling us by name, showing us symbols of your promise, offering us a new way of life. Your love and care for us takes our breath away. We come together today in awe of the mercy, love, and compassion that you offer us. We are blessed by your presence in our lives each and every day.

We confess that often our hearts are hardened. It seems easier sometimes to choose certainty over faith, anxiety over courage, independence over compassion. We turn our eyes from our neighbours in need, and from stories of despair, and from please for peace, and from anything that might bring tears to our eyes, for we prefer our own comfort. We get caught up in our own needs and desires, and forget you have made us to be your people, together.

Engrave your word on our hard hearts again, O God. Then break them open for what breaks yours, that your word might sink in and become part of us, so we might truly live as if you are our God and we are your people.

We pray in the name of the One whose love breaks all bounds, your son, Jesus. Amen.
(adapted from Joanna Harader)

Words of Assurance

Create clean, new, loving hearts in us. Renew a giving, loving spirit within us. Shelter us within your presence. Sustain us by your Holy Spirit. Restore to us the joy of our salvation.

Blazing, whirling, sacred God, inhabit and transform our stories. And as we are transformed by your loving, merciful, gracious presence in our lives, let us go out into the world to be agents of transformation bringing your gifts to the world, so that the world might be renewed in your love, mercy, graciousness, renewed in your presence. Amen.
(adapted from Joanna Harader)

Sung Response:

How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:          Jeremiah 31:31-34

³¹ The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³² It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Scripture Reading:          John 12:20-33

²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰ Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Come, Let Us to the God of Love”

Come, let us to the God of love with contrite hearts return:
Our God is gracious, nor will leave the desolate to mourn.

God’s voice commands the tempest forth, and stills the stormy wave;
And though God’s arm be strong to smite, ‘tis also strong to save.

Long has the night of sorrow reigned, the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise with gladness at that sight.

As dew upon the tender herb diffusing fragrance round,
As showers that usher in the spring and cheer the thirsty ground,

So shall God’s presence bless our souls and shed a joyful light,
That hallowed morn shall chase away the sorrows of the night.

Meditation – “To Walk the New Path”

Anthem – “Everlasting Love”

The Response

Time of Prayer

One:   Gracious God, we come to you broken—from that which confines us: the prejudice buried, weighted down with fear, distorted self-protection, breaking me, breaking you. And so, we come to you seeking to be made whole. For you, God, put your love within us; you wrote it on our hearts, that we may be your people. Enliven our hearts to live in your love.

All:     Hear our prayer, God of Love.

One:   On this day we pray for those who weep, who are struggling from lack of clean water, healthy food, quality, affordable health care. All those who struggle to want to make decisions about their families, their lives, their bodies, how and when, and with whom. And, so we come to you seeking to be made whole. For you, God, put your love within us; you wrote it on our hearts, that we may be your people. Enliven our hearts to live in your love.

All:     Hear our prayer, God of Love.

One:   Compassionate God, God of covenant, God of love, we come to you tired, yearning for peace and harmony. Loving God, we offer up our suffering and come to you seeking to be made whole. We offer up to you this day those in this community who are held in our hearts… For you, God, put your love within us; you wrote it on our hearts, that we may be your people. Enliven our hearts to live in your love.

All:     Hear our prayer, God of Love.

One:   Gentle God, God of covenant, God of Love, glorify us through Your love. Draw us to you, into you. Anoint us with your peace. Write your compassion in our hearts that we may love you as you love. Enliven our hearts to live in your love.

All:     Hear our prayer, God of Love.

One:   Hear us as we continue to pray in the words that Love Incarnate taught us:

All:     Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn – “As Comes the Breath of Spring”

As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song,
So does your Spirit bring new days brace, free, and strong.
You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter’s breath,
To hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.

You come like songs at morn that fill the earth with joy,
Till we, in Christ new-born, new strength in praise employ.
You come to rouse the heart from drifting to despair,
Through high hopes to impart life with an ampler air.

You breathe and there is health, you move and there is power,
You whisper, there is wealth of love, your richest dower.
Your presence is to us like summer in the soul,
Your joy shines forth and then life blossoms to its goal.

Benediction

Just as God’s Word, Love Incarnate, was sent into the world to heal and redeem, so God sends you into the world this day to be light and love, healing, and hope.

Go now to be light for the world!

And may the grace and peace of God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer come upon you this day and remain with you always. Amen.

(adapted from Rev. Kathryn Huey and Rev. Susan Blain)

Sung Response:

May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
Travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet
And may all you meet see Christ’s face in you