Zoom Only Church First Sunday in Lent Feb 26, 2023, Rev. Sally Bullas

Zoom Only

First Sunday in Lent
Feb 26, 2023

Rev. Sally Bullas

Musician: Stev Smith

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

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Welcome & Announcements

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

Centering & Stillness                                                                                                 (Keri K. Wehlander)

We come to you, O God, our River of Life:

May we drink deeply, and receive your grace.

We come to you, O God, our Rock of Ages:

May we stand in trust, and receive your strength.

We come to you, O God, our Light of Compassion:

May we open our hearts, and receive your healing love.

(invitation to sit in silence)

Introit: In the Quiet Curve of Evening vs 1                              VU #278  

In the quiet curve of evening, in the sinking of the days,
in the silky void of darkness, you are there.
in the lapses of my breathing, in the space between my ways,
in the crater carved by sadness, you are there.

You are there, you are there, you are there. 

The Christ Candle is Lit 

One:  Spirit of Life, come to us!

All:    Light of Christ, be with us! 

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

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

All:     And also with you

Opening Words                                                                                 (J. Clark Saunders, adapted)

One:  God of Many Names,

All:    We thank you for persisting in making your presence known            in so many different ways.

One:  You never give up on us despite our mistakes and grave errors             that affect so many people.

All:    You continue to break into our hardened hearts and lives,             persisting with a sense of justice.

One:  May we give joyful expression to your creative love,

All:    that breaks down barriers and unites individual to individual, and community to community;

One:  that gives meaning and hope to empty lives and makes us reach               out to each other in generous self-giving.

All:    In our gathering today, make us more complete in ourselves,   

       and help us to fulfil your promise in us for the sake of all. Amen

Hymn:  I Am a Child of God                                                                             MV #157

1I am a child of God,

I am a glimpse of God’s new creation.

I am a child of God,

I am a child of God.

2I am an endless prayer,

I am a yearning for contemplation,

I am an endless prayer,

I am an endless prayer.

3I am an angry voice,

I am compassion and consternation,

I am an angry voice,

I am an angry voice.

4I am a cry for peace,

I am commitment and dedication,

I am a cry for peace,

I am a cry for peace.

5I am a song of joy,

I am the moment of jubilation,

I am a song of joy,

I am a song of joy

Opening Prayer                                                                            (Cora Krommenhoek) 

One:  O God, who loves the world, you hold all that you have created within your compassionate embrace, as you hold each life torn by pain or sorrow or hatred within your aching heart.  

All:    O God, who loves the world, we cry out for wholeness, for             ourselves, for those we love, and for our world.

One:  May your healing presence gently transform the hidden places of       our lives where we hold pain in the secret depths.

All:    May your loving presence be a comforting reality for all those who find themselves in despair, lost and alone.

One:  O God, who loves the world, we bring before you from the silence of our own aching hearts those people and places that most need your healing, loving, transforming presence…

(a time of reflection)

One:  O God, who loves the world, this is your world and we claim your   power and your presence to make it whole.  Amen.

Passing of the Peace

One:    The peace of Christ be with you! 

All:      And also with you!

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another.

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

 

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a (NRSV)                     Reader: Angela Nutter

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

 

Psalm 121 (VU #844)                                                                  Reader: Angela Nutter

Refrain

Our help is in the name of our God who made heaven and earth

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where will I look for help?

          My help comes from God, who has made heaven and earth.

God will not let your foot stumble;

the One who protects Israel will not slumber.

          The One who protects you will neither slumber nor sleep.   R

It is God who protects you,

your defence at your right hand.

          The sun shall not strid you by day,

          nor the moon by night.

God will protect you from all evil,

God will protect your life.

          God will protect your going and coming,

          now and forever.   R

                   

Gospel Reading:                                                                             Reader: Angela Nutter

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

Reader: God be with you.  
All:    And also with you

Reader:           The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to John

All:    Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

John 3:1-17 (NRSV)

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 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.        

Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.   

All:    Praise be to Jesus Christ       

Reflection:   “I Lift Up My Eyes…”

Silent Reflection

Lenten Theme: Forward in Faith – Step by Step

Second Sunday in Lent: “Pray Without Ceasing”

In the name of the Holy One, our call to ministry is achieved step by step.  Our Lenten journey places us one step after another on a pathway towards the unfolding of God’s “Kin-dom Come.”  Christ Church Gabriola is on the journey.  Our ministries bear witness to our discipleship and following in Jesus’ way.  This Second Sunday of Lent we fall to our knees and lift our eyes to the One who promises to be with us in the rough and the smooth.  Listen now to the ministry of intentional prayer that through the Prayer Wheel and Prayer Shawl ministries (Susan Brockley, Joyce Ashley) faithfully and compassionately connect our every sorrow, brokenness, and joy-filled hope within the realm of our experience, to the Presence we name as Compassion and Healing Peace.  At the conclusion of their Lenten “story,” a stepping stone representing the vitalness of these ministries will be placed at the front of the church.  This will be followed by a Blessing of the Prayer Shawls.  After the service, you are invited to take a prayer shawl to gift as a blessing to someone you know of that is in need of a prayerful hug.   

Blessing of the Prayer Shawls
One:  Holy One, Jesus came amongst us with healing hands and words 

          of peace. 

All:    May our prayer ministry and these prayer shawls continue to 

          heal brokenness and through your love bring healing peace. 

One:  We give you thanks for those inspired to create these gifts of             caring for those in need of a prayerful hug and blessing.  

All:    We offer these shawls, filled with the prayers and hopes of             those who have made them, for all who are sick, in sorrow,                       and in need of comfort. 

One:  Bless these shawls with your love that they may bring comfort             and healing strength to those who receive them.

All:    Amen.

Hymn: O Holy Spirit, Root of Life                                                                   VU #379

1O Holy Spirit, root of life,

Creator, cleanser of all things,

anoint our wounds, awaken us

with lustrous movement of your wings.

2Eternal Vigour, saving one,

you free us by your living word

becoming flesh to wear our pain,

and all creation is restored.

3O Holy Wisdom, soaring power,

encompass us with wings unfurled,

and carry us, encircling all,

above, below, and through the world.

A Statement of Faith:                                         (Daniel Sire, progressivechristianity.org)

I believe in God, the source of all life, wholeness, and love.

I believe that God is revealed in Jesus Christ.

I believe that in his life, Jesus reveals God in grace, mercy, forgiveness, and justice.

I believe that in his death, Jesus reveals God’s determined presence in the world even in the face of hatred, violence and pain.

I believe that in his resurrection, Jesus reveals God calling us to abundant life both now and forever; life beyond our fearful and fragile imaginations.

I believe that God lives among us, within us, and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that God moves us to be together in communities of faith, hope, and love.

I believe these things not out of certainty but out of faith; as one who trusts in the reality of God revealed in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Offering Invitation

Doxology                                                                                                                                         CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer (in unison)                                                                 (worshipwords.co.uk)

Eternal One, these gifts demonstrate our love and generosity.   Bless them as they reach out into our community and to the farthest edges of your creation.  Amen.

Prayers of the People                                                           Betty Schultze                                                                  

One:  Gracious God,

All:    Hear Our Prayer

The Prayer of Jesus (sung)                                                                                      VU#959

Our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name,

your Kin-dom 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 kin-, the powerdom

and the glory are yours,

now and forever.

Benediction                                                                                                                   (Keri K. Wehlander)

In each breath this day, may there be peace.

In each step this day, may there be grace.

In each word this day, may there be compassion.

In each encounter this day, may God’s presence be known.

Hymn: Be Still, My Soul                                                                                                    VU #652

1Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Trust in your God, your Saviour and your guide,

who through all changes faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend

through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.

2Be still, my soul, for God will undertake

to guide the future surely as the past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake,

all now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul, life's tempests still obey

the voice that once the waves' wild fury strayed.

3Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on

when we shall be for ever in God's peace;

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

love’s joys restored, our strivings shall cease.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Thank You

Blessing                                                                                                                       (Keri K. WehlandeIf)

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

One:  Like the air we breathe, God’s grace surrounds us.

Right/Zoom: Let us go into this world as people of grace.         

One:  Like the dawn of a new day, God’s hope renews us:

Left:  Let us go into the world as people of hope.

One:  Like the earth we walk upon, God’s love strengthens and ever           heals us:

All:    Let us go into this world as people of love. Amen.