The Service this week is prepared by and presided at by the Reverend Tim Sale
Gathering Hymn At the Name of Jesus (375 CP)
At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bow,
ev'ry tongue confess him King of glory now.
'Tis the Creator's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious, when from death he passed.
At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bow,
ev'ry tongue confess him King of glory now.
'Tis the Creator's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious, when from death he passed.
Name him Christians name him, with love as strong as death
but with awe and wonder, and with baited breath;
He is God the Saviour, he is Christ the Lord
ever to be worshipped, trusted and adored.
In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true;
crown him as your Saviour in temptation's hour:
let his will enfold you in its light and pow'r.
Christians, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Creator's glory, with his angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.
Acknowledgement of the Land
Opening Responses:Among the poor, among the proud, among the persecuted, among the privileged,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
In the private house, in the public place, in the wedding feast, in the judgement hall,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
With a gentle touch, with an angry word, with a clear conscience, with a burning love,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
That the kingdom might come, that the world might believe, that the powerful might stumble, that the hidden might be seen,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
Lenten Cross Liturgy (Three purple candles, pink candle and Christ candle are lit prior to worship)
Christ is coming to make all things new.
That the kingdom might come, that the world might believe, that the powerful might stumble, that the hidden might be seen,
Christ is coming to make all things new.
Lenten Cross Liturgy (Three purple candles, pink candle and Christ candle are lit prior to worship)
On this third Sunday during Lent, we reflect upon the walls we build between God and ourselves and others by our disobedience to God’s call for justice and commitment.
God’s laws call us to a world where all people are valued, not put down. But we often do not treat everyone as important. We forget God’s way.
We are called to a right relationship with God and each other. Sometimes we do the letter of the law but neglect the spirit in which God commands it. Sometimes doing what is right upsets others and brings with it a high cost. Responding to God’s call is not always easy. (Third candle is extinguished.)
Let us pray:O God, you have given us the challenge of following your way of justice. Help us to be brave when following your way makes others angry with us. Help us to know your will, and give us the strength to do it. Amen.
First Reading Exodus 20:1-17
God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work - you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
A reading of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 1: 18-25
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Gradual Hymn Before My Journey's Start (MV 63)
Long before my journey's start
when in my youth I searched in my heart,
I would pray for her, wait for her,
Wisdom my road, my goal and my star.
From the blossom to the seed,
long as she filled my cup in need,
may I cling to her vine, taste of her wine,
Wisdom my life, my perfect design
When I stretched my hands to the sky
when in despair my soul raised a cry
I was saved by her gaze, led in her ways
Wisdom, my love, the light of my days.
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John 2: 13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and 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 that 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 will you 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.
Homily: Laws, Foolishness and Empathy
Is there anybody listening or watching today who has kept all ten commandments? Go on, put your hand up… I can’t see you. Sadly, and I mean sadly, that’s what the reading of the ten commandments, and the 600+ laws that follow in the five “Books of Moses”, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy gets reduced to… individual failure, individual guilt. And so, through the Christian ages, Lent becomes a time for individual reflection on individual failure, individual sin.
But Moses descent from the Mountain of God is about something much more important than individual behaviour and individual repentance. It is the foundation of Israel… it is the “becoming moment” if you like. This when Israel becomes a nation under a Creator God. It is the birth of monotheism. It is the moment when a collective people take seriously their collective power, their agency, to frame their collective with laws and expectations. It is a moment for great celebration. Canada, (well most of Canada) celebrated the bringing home of our constitution from Britain, and the end of the role of the House of Lords in our country.
Good laws are sources of joy. When I was Minister of Family Services, I had a meeting with Metis leaders, and told them that we were committed to giving them their rightful authority to legally, in law, care for their children and families, there was joy in the room; there were tears. Rosemary McPherson from Dauphin gave me a huge hug, and cried tears. That is the power of good law. Of course we also know the power of bad law… but enough of that. The “Moses moment”, was a moment of joy, not sorrow, of hope, not despair, of possibility, of covenant and the future of a new nation.
Fast forward to Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth. Read that first sentence carefully…”The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing”. So what is this “foolishness”? Is it just the message of the resurrection of a Jewish prophet? No, surely not. The resurrection is the Holy one’s proclamation that justice and mercy, compassion and truth will always triumph over the forces of death. The resurrection is about the whole of Jesus’ life; the whole of his ministry, the whole of the message of inclusion, justice for the poor, forgiveness for all. His judgement of the oppressors in both the secular and the religious world.
The ones who are perishing are those who cannot hear the message, or simply do not want to hear because it upends their priorities, upends despotic power over others, upends greed, upends prejudice. For those with power and privilege, it is frightening message.
What a wonderful last line in that reading today… “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom…” It is the foolishness of trusting and empowering us creatures to create real community, to create good law, to believe in reconciliation, to care for all creatures, wounded or whole, to love the earth and treasure its richness and variety.
Then we watch Jesus, filled with Holy Anger fashion a rough whip, striding into the Temple shouting at the money-lenders and sellers of sacrificial birds, cattle and sheep. Take a moment and imagine this scene. Crowded, bustling, money changing hands, bleating of sheep, lowing of cattle. And a roughly dressed man rushes in, swinging a crude whip and screaming at the crowd “Take this all away”, as he flips over the tables of the money-lenders, scattering coins everywhere. “Stop making my Father’s House a marketplace”. It must have been chaos. Today, Jesus would have been arrested and taken for a psychiatric assessment, and a long time in a mental institution. This is also what is seen as “foolishness” by the world.
In protest against the powers that be in Hong Kong, Myanmar, Uganda, and yes, in many places we know much better and closer to home, I see the seeking of justice for all, seeking cities of compassion for street people, of inclusion for minorities of all sorts and conditions as foolishness – impossible, unworkable, unaffordable, pie-in-the-sky foolishness. Our answer must be to weep and to rise in our foolishness to try and put on the garments of compassion and empathy, of Holy Rage and Anger.
For the Kin-dom comes only as shared empathy develops and moves us forward. It only comes when Holy Rage is shared and validated in marches and demands for good law, law that enables and frees. It is a road marked by many crosses, but the road goes on, and on, and on.
Hymn Joy Shall Come
and the parched land shall then know great gladness;
as the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom,
deserts like a garden blossom.
For living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow;
for living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow.
Affirmation of faith
We believe in light beyond our seeing,
Flowing forth from the flame of life in God
Who goes on creating in us down through the ages.
We believe in healing beyond our knowing,
From the Christ whose robe stands close
To the reach of our hand and the pain of our struggle
Beyond the end of time
We believe in the energy of God's spirit,
Stirring in our being with a rhythm of courage and passion,
Moving our feet to risk Christ's way again
As those who are always called to be
The humble, human witnesses to the faithfulness of God.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
We believe in light beyond our seeing,
Flowing forth from the flame of life in God
Who goes on creating in us down through the ages.
We believe in healing beyond our knowing,
From the Christ whose robe stands close
To the reach of our hand and the pain of our struggle
Beyond the end of time
We believe in the energy of God's spirit,
Stirring in our being with a rhythm of courage and passion,
Moving our feet to risk Christ's way again
As those who are always called to be
The humble, human witnesses to the faithfulness of God.
(from The Glory of Blood Sweat & Tears by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, p. 74)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
In trust let us pray to the one coming into our hearts to awaken holiness in our midst...
Let us offer thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life...
Let us offer thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life...
(Silence)
(Silence)
Let us pray for the transformation of systems and bureaucracies, of gender relations, of race relations, of class divisions, of age and ability stereotypes.
(Silence)
Let us pray for ourselves, opening ourselves to healing and risk, to the power to let go and the courage to take on.
Let us pray for the world, especially where there is conflict, poverty, hunger.
(Silence)
Let us pray for those who suffer in mind or body, for prisoners, for those in despair, for those who mourn and for those who wait.(Silence)
Let us pray for the transformation of systems and bureaucracies, of gender relations, of race relations, of class divisions, of age and ability stereotypes.
(Silence)
Let us pray for ourselves, opening ourselves to healing and risk, to the power to let go and the courage to take on.
(Silence)
And let us pray together,
God our Mother, Living Water, River of Mercy, Source of Life.
In whom we live and move and have our being.
Who quenches our thirst, refreshes our weariness,
Bathes and washes and cleanses our wounds.
Be for always a fountain of life and for all the world, a river of hope
Springing up in the midst of the deserts of despair.
Honour and blessing, glory and praise to you forever. Amen
God our Mother, Living Water, River of Mercy, Source of Life.
In whom we live and move and have our being.
Who quenches our thirst, refreshes our weariness,
Bathes and washes and cleanses our wounds.
Be for always a fountain of life and for all the world, a river of hope
Springing up in the midst of the deserts of despair.
Honour and blessing, glory and praise to you forever. Amen
(Miriam Therese Winter, 1987)
Offertory Hymn Dust and Ashes
In the days of dust and ashes in the nights of rising fear
In the hour when hope is dashed, and we are bent in silent tears;
When earth in terror trembles when rivers rage and overflow
When the ground beneath us shudders, and angry winds begin to blow
God lift our eyes to see your presence
Lift our hearts from deep despair
Give us voice to offer solace, give us hands to offer care
Lift our hearts, lift our hearts, lift our hearts
These are the days of dust and ashes, These are the nights of rising fear
This is the hour when hope is dashed, This is the hour of silent tears
Let these times be met with courage Though our words are worn and weak
Let our hands not shrink from holding, and our wills not fear to break
God lift our eyes to see your presence
Lift our hearts from deep despair
Give us voice to offer solace, give us hands to offer care
Lift our hearts, lift our hearts, lift our hearts
The Lord’s Prayer (Cameron)
Closing Hymn Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (179 CP)
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 one 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
As we have been gathered, so must we be sown back into the world to witness to the power of God's transforming love, to support and challenge each other to bring healing and justice to the world around us.
And now may the God who shakes heaven and earth,
Whom death could not contain,
Who lives to disturb and heal us,
Bless us with the power to go forth and proclaim the gospel. Amen.
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
Blessing and Dismissal
As we have been gathered, so must we be sown back into the world to witness to the power of God's transforming love, to support and challenge each other to bring healing and justice to the world around us.
And now may the God who shakes heaven and earth,
Whom death could not contain,
Who lives to disturb and heal us,
Bless us with the power to go forth and proclaim the gospel. Amen.
Post lude People get Ready
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