Home Church Fourth Sunday in Lent March 14, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church Fourth Sunday in Lent March 14, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you

so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. During this season of Lent we are exploring the theme: Living Faith.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite

you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Greeting
One:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

            and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:      And also with you    

Call to Worship  - Gathering, Heather McClure, edited

We gather because we are hungry

We hunger for the love of God

We gather because we are distanced

We long to connect in community

We gather because we desire something more

We want to know the depths of life

We gather because we hope

We hope for new life and new living

We gather to worship, to pray, to sing

We worship and we listen for God’s words of love and belonging, promises of goodness and life.

Opening Prayer  Read the prayer slowly…  Gathering, Gail Corbett, edited

Spirit of the Living God, partner on the journey, gather us in this morning and grant us courage to explore the sacred places of our being, to embrace your word to us this morning, and to walk the road that is opening before us. Ground us and enfold us in the holy mystery as you guide us on this lengthy journey. Amen.

Hymn: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise v. 1,3,4 VU #264

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;

in all life. thou livest, the true life of all;

we blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree,

then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

4 Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light,

thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

all laud we would render, O help us to see

'tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

Prayer of Confession     BAS

Let us bring our full selves before God most loving . . .

O God, source of the gift of grace, the gift without limit, today we gather before you as a people called to repent. We confess that we are grudging in our willingness to accept this need to repent, fearful of facing you. We worry that you will judge us unworthy to be loved. God, we pray that you will open our hearts to the wonder of this moment, open us to this invitation to celebrate your love. Hear now these words from deep within us . . .

Silent prayer of confession

Chant: Attende Domine (Latin)

Refrain:
Attende Domine, et miserere,
Quia peccavimus tibi.

1 Ad te Rex summe,
Omnium Redemptor,
Oculos nostros
Sublevamus flentes:
Exaudi, Christe,
Supplicantum preces.
Refrain

2 Dextera Patris,
Lapis angularis,
Via salutis,
Janua caelestis,
Ablue nostri
Maculas delicti.
Refrain

3 Rogamus, Deus,
Tuam majestatem:
Auribus sacris
Gemitus exaudi:
Crimina nostra
Placidus indulge

Refrain

English Translation:

refrain 

Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy,

Because we have sinned against Thee.

1 To Thee, highest King,

Redeemer of all,

We lift up our eyes

In weeping:

Hear, O Christ, the prayers

of your servants.

Refrain

2 Right hand of the Father,

Cornerstone,

Way of salvation,

Gate of heaven,

Wash away our

Stains of sin.

Refrain

3 We beseech Thee, God,

In Thy great majesty:

Hear our groans

With Thy holy ears:

Calmly forgive

Our wrongdoings.

Refrain

Assurance of Grace

May God’s grace wash over you today as a great healing blessing. May you know the lightness and freedom of God’s steadfast love and mercy. You are God’s beloved, now and always. Amen

Peace of Christ

Surely Christ is in this place, offering peace that surpasses our understanding.

            One: The Peace of Christ be with you all!

            All:   And also with you!

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9 - Don Butt

Listen to the word of God to you this morning . . .

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22   (Translation Voices United)     Angela Nutter

O give thanks, for God is gracious;

       God’s steadfast love endures for ever.

Let the redeemed of God say so,

those redeemed from trouble,

       whom God gathered in from the lands,

from the east and the west,

       from the north and the south.

Some suffered because of their sinful ways,

afflicted on account of their wrongdoing.

       They loathed every kind of food;

       they came close to the gates of death.

Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble.

You rescued them from their distress.

       You gave the word and healed them;

       you saved them from the grave.

Let them thank you, God, for your steadfast love,

for the wonders you do for us.

       Let them offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

       and tell of your deeds with shouts of joy.

Gospel Reading   Angela Nutter                                                           

One:      God be with you.                                                          

All:        And also with you

One:      The Good News of Jesus Christ according to John

All:        Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:14-21 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:                                           

Silent Reflection

A New Creed

Let us affirm our faith . . .

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.         

Prayers of the People   -   Mona Smart 

One:   God of Light and Love

All:      Hear Our Prayers

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.

Offering  Gary Henschke                                                        

Offering Prayer

Let us pray . . .                                               

Thank you, O God, loving us through this long and difficult season. We give thanks for your partnership with us, for helping us find solid ground and blessing the steps we take. You are the Lord of the dance and we pray your words are true, that you will lead us, wherever we find ourselves; we pray that we will find ourselves dancing our way through this season with You. Amen.      

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: Amazing Grace    VU #266

1 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.

2 'Twas grace first taught my heart to fear

and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me,

this word my hope secures;

God will my shield and portion be

as long as life endures.

5 When we've been there ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

we've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we'd first begun.

Blessing     Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey, guiding you, cherishing you.

N-Z:       The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

A-M:      The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:        The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God!