Paths to Explore: March 2020

Tuesday 24 March 2020

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Prayers and Hymns found on line have been sourced to give appropriate credit

** this is for personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.

Sentence of the Day

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11.25, 26

Hymn Come O God of all the Earth

Come, O God of all the earth;

come to us, O Righteous One.
Come and bring our love to birth;
in the glory of your Son.

Chorus Sing out, earth and skies!
Sing of the God who loves you.
Raise your joyful cries,
Dance to the life around you.

Come, O God of wind and flame;
fill the earth with righteousness.
Teach us all to sing your name;
may our lives your love confess. (Chorus)

Come, O God of flashing light;
twinkling star and burning sun.
God of day and God of night;
in your light we all are one. (Chorus)

Come, O God of snow and rain;
shower down upon the earth.
Come, O God of joy and pain;
God of sorrow, God of mirth. (Chorus)

Come, O Justice, come, O Peace;
come and shape our hearts anew.
Come and make oppression cease;
bring us all to life in you. (Chorus)

Text: Marty Haugen (1985)

Gathering of the Community (based on Ezekiel 37) by K. Laldin

Dry bones, desert places, lost and longing for new life

God breathes new life in us

Four winds blow, new life over the land

God reminds us to be a hope filled people

The promises of God remain with us

God, open our minds and our hearts to your message

Breath of life, we think of all of your children who cry out to you. Help us all to be open and aware of your breath moving in and through us, bringing healing, offering mercy and giving love. Amen

The Invitatory (from the Book of Alternative Services, Anglican church of Canada)

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us worship

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; * serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.

Know this: The Lord himself is God; * he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; * give thanks to him and call upon his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; * and his faithfulness endures from age to age

(Psalm 100)

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us worship

PSALM 130
REFRAIN: The Lord shall redeem us from all our sins.

Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication. R

If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, O Lord, who could stand?

For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared.

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope. R

My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. R

O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy;

With him there is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins. R

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act," says the Lord.

A Song from Ezekiel (together) Ezekiel 36.24–28

I will take you from the nations, and gather you from every country, and bring you home to your own land. I will pour clean water upon you, purify you from all defilement, and cleanse you from all your idols.
A new heart I will give you, and put a new spirit within you; I will take from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put my spirit within you, make you walk in my ways and observe my decrees. You shall dwell in the land I gave to your forebears; you shall be my people and I will be your God.

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS 8:6-11
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Hymn Tree of Life
Tree of Life and awesome mystery,
In your death we are reborn,
Though you die in all of history,
Still you rise with every morn,
Still you rise with every morn.

Seed that dies to rise in glory,
May we see ourselves in you,
If we learn to live your story
We may die to rise anew,
We may die to rise anew.

We remember truth once spoken,
Love passed on through act and word,
Every person lost and broken
Wears the body of our Lord,
Wears the body of our Lord.

Gentle Jesus, mighty Spirit,
Come inflame our hearts anew,
We may all your joy inherit
If we bear the cross with you,
If we bear the cross with you.

Christ, you lead and we shall follow,
Stumbling though our steps may be,
One with you in joy and sorrow,
We the river, you the sea,

We the river, you the sea.

God of all our fear and sorrow,

God who lives beyond our death;
Hold us close through each tomorrow,
Love as near as every breath.
Love as near as every breath.

Words Marty Haugen
© 1984 G. I. A Publications, Inc.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO JOHN 11:1-45
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Questions to Ponder or Discuss
When faced with the question that Jesus put to Martha, how would you respond?
What might you need to unbind and let go?
When you re-read the prayer of Jesus before the tomb of Lazarus what does the prayer say to you? With the emphasis that Jesus places on hearing in the prayer, what do you hear when you listen?

Hymn When Human voices Can Not Sing
When human voices cannot sing
and human hearts are breaking,
we bring our grief to you, O God,
who knows our inner aching.

Set free our spirits from all fear --
the cloud of dark unknowing,
and let the light, the Christ-light show
the pathway of our going.

Make real for us your holding love,
the love which is your meaning,
the power to move the stone of death,
the hope of Easter morning.

And let the one we love now go
where we, in faith shall follow,
to travel in the Spirit's peace,
to make an end to sorrow.

Words © Shirley Erena Murray

1992 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188

Tune: St. Columba

Affirmation of faith

We believe that our lives are held within the encircling love of God, who knows our names and recognises our deepest needs.

We believe that Christ is the divine Child of the living God, and that his grace is like living waters that can never be exhausted.

We believe in the birthing, renewing, enabling Spirit of God who yearns over our welfare as a mother yearns for her child.

We believe that God is in the arid desert as well as in green pastures, and that hard times and disciplines are also loving gifts.

We believe that our journey has a purpose and a destination, and that our path leads to a human glory we cannot yet imagine.

We believe that in the church we are fellow pilgrims on the road, and that we are called to love one another as God loves us.

This is our faith and we are humbled to profess in Jesus the Christ. Amen

— from Traveling to Easter with Jesus as our Guide,

posted on the website of Patmos Abbey

—The Order of Saint Columba. http://www.patmosabbey.org/

Please take some time to remember and offer in prayer those that you need to pray for

We pray for those who find that their anxiety has greatly increased, we ask that God's breath move in and through each of us in these troubling times so that we may step back, feel some calm and just breathe.

Collect

Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us with the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ, and serve you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen

Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

When my way grows drear

Precious Lord, linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand, precious Lord
Lead me home

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand

Take my hand, precious Lord
Lead me home

Songwriters: Thomas A. Dorsey
© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Where were you?

Where were you? It is a question that we have all been asked at some point in our lives. Sometimes it is followed by more: where were you born?, where were you yesterday?, where were you when I needed you? It is safe to say that at sometime this question has been directed toward us. If the context happens to be joyful then the anticipation of sharing good news affords the feeling of elation, But what about when the context and tone tell us that what we are about to hear is going to be less than pleasant?

Where were you? Jesus is asked by Lazarus' sister, Martha. We can hear her tack on, Didn't you get the message? If you had come earlier, sooner, faster you could have changed the outcome. Where were you when we needed you the most?

Does that sound like a familiar question at all to you? Invariably at some point we have not merely been asked the question of where were you, but have asked the question. As faithful believers and practicing Christians we have shot the question off to God. Where are you? I need you -- why aren't you here? Then we feel guilty for questioning the presence of God with us. Martha has no such reservations and she says to Jesus in verse 21 "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died." Where were you, why didn't you come as soon as you got the news? Jesus responds with the beautiful line that we all know about him being the resurrection and the life. Then he in turn asks a question, "Do you believe this?' and we know the simple answer is "yes Lord, I believe."

In these days of fear and uncertainty perhaps this is just the passage we need to hear and conversation that needs to take place. It is perfectly alright for us to cry out; Where are you? It is perfectly acceptable for us to question and struggle with the present time, circumstances and fear that is Covid-19. But - there is always a but - we need to listen to the response of Jesus. Questions are fine but here is something for you to consider as well. Listen to what God speaks in our lives, listen to what is going on around us and see the presence of the holy in the simplest things in life. And once we see and acknowledge the holy in the little things it will become more evident all around us.

In the midst of the struggle it is hard to recognize that Jesus is here now. We want to cry out, "Lord, where are you?" God does not let us down but is ever present in our lives. He walks with us, weeps with us, carries us and finally receives us when our earthly journey is complete. But we are never, never abandoned. Martha felt abandoned and Jesus uses the opportunity to remind her and through her Jesus reminds all of us that God is a God of love not abandonment. Jesus' prayer at the grave of Lazarus becomes our prayer "Father, I thank you that you have heard me!"

Thursday 19 March 2020

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

**Please note this is in the format of the Anglican Church of Canada, the invitatory, canticle, collect, prayer over the gifts, Lord’s prayer and dismissal all come from the Book of Alternative Services

Prayers and Hymns found on line have been sourced to give appropriate credit

** this is for personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.

Sentence of the day:

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; those who follow me will have the light of life.
John 8.12

Come and find the quiet center

Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we're shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other's pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There's a place for deepest dreaming, there's a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit's lively scheming there is always room to spare.

Music: Beach Spring

Gathering together (Karen Laldin: based on psalm 23)

In times of darkness and loss Lord, we call upon your name

You remind us that we don’t walk alone

Through mountain tops and valleys, we feel the presence of God

God is gracious, merciful and a very present help in our troubled times

God our creator, you have taught us through psalms, prayers, prophets and Jesus that we never walk alone. As we live in uncertain times, separated from one another physically but not spiritually, help us to fully understand that Your presence is with us. Your world and Your people are called to sit quietly, breathe deeply and allow You to let the healing work the world needs to take place. Amen

The Invitatory                   (from the Book of Alternative Services, Anglican church of Canada)

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us worship

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; * serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.

Know this: The Lord himself is God; * he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; * give thanks to him and call upon his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; * and his faithfulness endures from age to age (Psalm 100)

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us worship

Biblical Readings were copied from the online Oremus Bible, NRSV

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
²   He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
³   he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

A Reading from the first book of Samuel (16:1-13)

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.’ 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.” 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.’ 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?’ 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. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.’ 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.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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.

The Word of the Lord                                     R: Thanks be to God

Canticle                Seek the Lord                    Isaiah 55.6–11

Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; * call upon him when he draws near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways * and the evil ones their thoughts;

And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, * and to our God, for he will richly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, * nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, * so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as rain and snow fall from the heavens * and return not again, but water the earth,

Bringing forth life and giving growth, * seed for sowing and bread for eating,

So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; * it will not return to me empty;

But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, * and prosper in that for which I sent it.

A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians (5:8-14)

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’

The Word of the Lord                     R: Thanks be to God

The Lord’s My Shepherd

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;
he makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
yet will I fear none ill,
for thou art with me; and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me;
and in God's house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (9:1-41)

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ 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, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ 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.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 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.’ 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. 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.’

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 and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 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.’ 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. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’

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.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ 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?’ Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.

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

The Gospel of Christ R: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Questions to ponder or discuss

How much evidence or testimony do you require to believe?

Blindness is more than physical in this story, how spiritually blind are we?

Eternal light, Shine in my heart

Eternal light, shine in my heart;
eternal hope, lift up my eyes:
eternal power, be my support;
eternal wisdom, make me wise.

Eternal life, raise me from death;
eternal brightness, make me see:
eternal Spirit, give me breath;
eternal Saviour, come to me:

Until by your most costly grace,
invited by your holy word,
at last I come before your face
to know you, my eternal God.

An Affirmation of Faith (from the Iona Community)

We believe that God is present
in the darkness before dawn;
in the waiting and uncertainty
where fear and courage join hands,
conflict and caring link arms,
and the sun rises over barbed wire.
We believe in a with-us God
who sits down in our midst
to share our humanity.
We affirm a faith
that takes us beyond the safe place:
into action, into vulnerability
and into the streets.
We commit ourselves to work for change
and put ourselves on the line;
to bear responsibility, take risks,
live powerfully and face humiliation;
to stand with those on the edge;
to choose life
and be used by the Spirit
for God's new community of hope.
Amen.

(Source: An Act of Commitment Service - The Iona Abbey Book of Worship)

** Although not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would encourage you to set you offering of money and food aside so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services resume** Please remember ministry is still taking place

Prayer over the Gifts

God of light, your Word brings to us a new vision of your glory. Accept our offering of praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Intercessions and Thanksgivings (Please allow yourself some quiet time for reflection on the intercessions)

Creator God, we pray for our world. We pray for a world that is struggling with the pandemic that is Covid 19, for the fear that it has set upon the world and the struggle to understand the spread and magnitude of its devastating effects on many people and countries. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for our country of Canada as we socially distance ourselves from one another, remind us that while physical separation is necessary, we are spiritually joined to each other in the common struggle. Help us to hold one another in prayer and to be present to one another through the various methods of technology that we have available. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for our leaders during this difficult time. Grand them wisdom to make good decisions for the people that are entrusted to them. May they be voices of calm in the midst of fear.

Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for all who have contracted the virus, that your healing presence may be with them aiding them in the struggle that the virus causes and helping them to know that they are not alone. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for all that have died. May they rest in your eternal mercy and grace. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for ourselves as we struggle with anxiety, worry and uncertainty. Help us to be a presence of comfort and hope. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

Creator God, we pray for our church families as we learn to be the church in a different way, by being present to one another in a ministry of listening and sharing, uplifting one another from where we are and helping each other to know that we are not alone but all on this journey together. Lord listen to the prayers of your children

WRITTEN BY KAREN LALDIN

Collect

Almighty God, through the waters of baptism your Son has made us children of light. May we ever walk in his light and show forth your glory in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us,

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen

Dismissal

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praise the One

Praise the One who break the darkness

with a liberating light.

Praise the One who frees the prisoners

turning blindness into sight.

Praise the One who preached the Gospel

healing every dread disease.

Calming storms and feeding thousands

with the very bread of peace.

Praise the One who blessed the children

with a strong yet gentle word.

Praise the One who drove out demons

with a piercing two-edged sword.

Praise the one who brings cool water

to the desert's burning sand.

From this well comes living water

quenching thirst in every land.

Praise the one true love incarnate:

Christ who suffered in our place.

Jesus died and rose for many

that we may know God by grace.

Let us sing for joy and gladness

seeing what our God has done.

Praise the one redeeming glory,

praise the One who makes us one.