Bulletin – Sunday, March 19, 2023 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 19, 2023
Fourth Sunday in Lent

Approach

The Lenten Candles

It’s Sunday morning. Last week, with all its demands, is over. The coming week, with yet another round of challenges and demands, is not quite here. I invite you to close your eyes and be in the moment. No matter where you are in your thoughts and feelings—relived about what you have accomplished, anxious about what’s left undone, concerned about people or projects—no matter where you are in your journey this day—I encourage you to set all that aside and consider where you are right now. Whatever is true for you right now, in this moment, whether it be joy or sadness, gratitude or anxiety, let it come forward. When it is fully present, then listen…for God is present in these moments, too. God meets you where you are and calls you forward, moment by moment, guiding you slowly but surely toward transformation.

As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness, the burden, and pain caused by the lack of basic needs—lack of food, of shelter, of education, of healthcare, of love.

Loving God, we thank you that you are with us, and that we may call upon you no matter where we are, or what we are feeling. Keep us mindful of your presence and trusting in your promise—that you are working with us in the moment by moment unfolding of our lives. Amen.

Call to Worship

One:   We come to worship,
All:      lest we think the blessing is not in the dirt.

One:   We come to worship,
All:      lest we think the blessing is not in the earth beneath our feet.

One:   We come to worship,
All:      lest we think the blessing is not in the dust.

One:   We come to worship,
All:      lest we think the blessing is not in the mud.

One:   We come to worship,
All:      lest we think the blessing is not for us.

Hymn – “I Need Thee Every Hour”

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, oh I need Thee:
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, oh I need Thee:
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee, oh I need Thee:
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfil.
I need Thee, oh I need Thee:
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of grace and mercy, you have opened the eyes of the blind, you have breathed life into the dead. We come together today in this place longing for a glimpse of that grace and mercy in our own lives. Holy Jesus, we confess that we fail to question our own sightlessness. Being so sure that we “see,” we miss the truths you would teach us, With the poultice of your love, cure this blindness. Open our eyes to our own misunderstandings, our own failures and our own faults. Make our “shadow side” known to us and help us to diminish it with the light of your grace. For it is only when we see ourselves clearly that we can worship you truly. In the name of Jesus, we pray…

Response:

I cast all my cares upon You.
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.
And anytime that I don’t know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.

Words of Assurance

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:           1 Samuel 16:1-13

¹ The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” ² Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” ⁴ Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” ⁵ He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is now before the LORD.” ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” ⁹ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” ^{1 2}He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Scripture Reading:           John 9:1-41

¹ As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷ saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. ⁸ The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” ¹² They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴ Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. ¹⁷ So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

¹⁸ The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹ and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰ His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹ but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³ Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

²⁴ So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” ²⁵ He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” ²⁶ They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” ²⁷ He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” ²⁸ Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” ³⁰ The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. ³² Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” ³⁴ They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” ³⁸ He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. ³⁹ Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” ⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

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

Anthem – “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)”

Amazing grace! How Sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Now I see, now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear;
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.
My God, my Saviour has ransomed me,
And like a flood, his mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me;
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free,
My God, my Saviour has ransomed me;
And like a flood, his mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace.

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.
My God, my Saviour has ransomed me;
And life a flood, his mercy reigns;
Unending love, amazing grace,
Unending love, amazing grace.

Meditation – “Our Fourth Burden!”

Anthem – “Jesus, Take All of Me (Just as I Am)”

Just as I am without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Just as I am Thou will receive,
Will welcome pardon, cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Jesus, take all of me.
I come to You, I run to You.
There is nothing that You don’t see.
Your love me just as I am.

Just as I am broken in two.
Just as I am, I come to You.
Because I know Your Word is true,
O Lamb of God I come, I come, I come.

And Jesus, take all of me.
I come to You, I run to You.
There is nothing that You don’t see.
You love me just as I am.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken ev’ry barrier down.
Now to be Thine, yes, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.
I come, Jesus, I come.
O sweet Lamb of God, I come,
I come.

Offering / Response

Praise God throughout these forty days;
Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise;
And praise the Spirit who imparts
God’s love in Christ into our hearts. Amen.

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Holy and Loving God, we are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past. Many people in this world of ours feel their world is one of darkness and gloom. Pressures crowd in upon us and get us down.

One:   The causes are varied: bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble at work or not having work, drugs, drink, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.

One:   Then there are the world issues: war, poverty, climate change, disease, unfair trade and so on. It does not help when we feel that as Christians we should be doing so much better than we are. Gracious and loving God, we rejoice that you are with us in our troubles, you know us and you love us—always.

One:   Even though we have made a mess of things personally and collectively you remain faithful. We rejoice that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken world, our world. To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.

One:   We pray for our dark and dreary world, a world in need—in need not just of a technical fix, but in need of love and grace, forgiveness and new life, hope, peace, and fellowship, in need of renewal, in need of your.

One:   We pray that you would come alongside us and all those for whom we pray, that you would show us Jesus, the light of the world, the one who came (and who comes) to rid us of sin, to give us life and health and peace, peace that passes all understanding—not a temporary respite from trouble but the strength to overcome it and ultimately to receive life eternal.

One:   You don’t wave a magic wand for everything to sort instantly—you require us to exercise our faith and to respond to your call to preach the gospel and to seek to live it out, to look to you for the strength that we need to share your love and grace. Help us to share the good news in word and action—the same good news that the fishermen were called to proclaim that there is a Saviour, a merciful king who loves us and whom we can love and adore.

One:   We have been set free. Enable us to use our freedom to share in bringing in the kingdom. In the light of this we have something to celebrate, something to shout about—for even in our trouble and pain, even in our loss, we know that Jesus is with us.

One:   Hear us now as we lift up those whom are in our thoughts today…let us pray that they may see and know the light of Christ.

One:   God is our light and our salvation. Hear our prayers, Loving God, spoken and unspoken and answer them for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Hymn – “Open My Eyes, That I May See”

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hand the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for three, ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Benediction

Go in peace and love and care for another in the name of the Lord; and may God lead you to places of rest and renewal; may Christ Jesus give you live in abundance; and may the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with gladness and generosity, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Response – “Grace Alone”

Every promise we can make,
Every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
Every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
Every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
Every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.