Call to Worship – Hymn
Psalter Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. 8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Old Testament Reading and Epistle Reading as found in bulletin
Hymn of Preparation
Morning Prayer
O most loving compassionate God, I pray as one in your spirit with beloved friends who worship and praise you this day in their homes. We would feel like the dry bones in Ezekiel’s story except we believe the wind of your Spirit within us - a sign of life.
In this new day of Spring, we see before us the beauty of your world, created with land and water full of bountiful goodness, all of which nurtures us and provides for us such great pleasures. Thanks be to you who pours out new life for our weary souls again and again. We are ever amazed by your presence of loving kindness and miracle. On this sabbath day our hearts are full of thanksgiving for your care and providence in our lives.
We draw near in this time to pray and bring to you all that we are feeling in the wake of the coronavirus – all that is affecting us – and all your children around the world – those who are sick, who have lost their lives, for families who grieve and those who are not able to be with their loved ones at this time. How long, O Lord, we cry to Thee!
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers:
As we pray, we are ever reminded of your children around the world who continue to suffer for basic necessities – and we pray for those who serve on the margins of life to bring relief to all who are in need of food, shelter, medical care, vocation, friendship. We especially remember all who are giving themselves fully in caring for those with the virus.
Show each of us the ways we can participate in bringing life to others even in the midst of our sheltering places. You have a way for us to serve so that love abounds.
We continue to pray for our church in these times and we give thanks for the ways we are brought together in your love to serve again and again. Forgive our falling and raise us up again to seek your loving ways for living in the world today. Teach us how to love and forgive, to speak peace and to seek justice. Thank you for the food and shelter we are blessed to have and for all who love us and care for us. Thank you for our church and for your joy that is our strength. You draw us together one in the spirit of love, hope, peace, and joy. Amen.
Sermon
BRINGING US TO LIFE
Dear Friends,
I so long for the day when we are gathered again in the sanctuary and we sing the great hymn on Charles Wesley, “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!”
Grace and peace to each of you on this Fifth Sunday of Lent as we worship in our selective spaces remembering we are one in the “bond of love.”
As I came upon the scripture readings for today, I feltlike they each could have been part of a sci-fi week of movies with the old testament bringing us to a valley of bones, dry bones, where the prophet is called to tell these bones to listen up!
The Lord God has something to say and do!
And the psalmist calls out from the depths, the deep, deep, deep –
waiting, waiting for the Lord God –
watching for the morning with hope of redemption –
Our Gospel writer John guides us to Bethany to see about a dead man who was to not die but Jesus was late so he died – So it is as the family of Lazarus grieves his death they declare that had Jesus been present their brother would not have died –
And when Jesus does arrive, he sees and hears their sorrow before him and becomes disturbed in spirit and deeply moved, that he weeps.
That is before he has them roll the stone of the grave door away and calls Lazarus to come on out – Still wreaking and clothed in the wrappings of death.
Now there is still the letter to the Romans – let’s hear it for the mystics – as this reading is all about a spiritual life we are afforded – a life in the spirit that dwells within and brings us to resurrection – All quite amazing verses to take in –
As I thought further, I was struck by the fact that what we are living in at the moment with this pandemic -such an “outbreak” has been like that of a sci-fi – but of course this is no movie – the horror is real and the consequences of this disease is death for many, suffering for more, and global break down of things as usual.
Perhaps our ancient brothers and sisters would feel this way as well like living in a made for tv sci-fi – For Ezekiel, there were bones that come to life, a singer of psalms brings hope from the depths, a dead man is brought to life, and there is talk among the Romanancient folk about a spirit that lives within.
As we think on these verses, may I recommend to you a complete reading of these texts - the book of Ezekiel – and of the psalms in and around 130 – and the book of Romans – and the complete amazing out of this world brilliant Gospel of John –
All of these could bring a lot to a sci-fi movie – but what they really do for us is life giving – what they show to us is beyond our imagining, our understandingas we see in these verses how it is that God is ever bringing us to life – restoring our dry bones, raising us up, hearing our deepest cries, refreshing our spirits – when we are in trouble, when doubting, afraid, sick, mourning, lost – God brings us to life.
The verses remind us of our Lord God who loves us so wide and deep – who longs for us to draw near – who listens to our prayers and all we express in our cries and praises – who is about bringing us to life that we may participate in life giving ways of healing, helping, loving, and serving God and one another.
Jesus calls to us as he called to Lazarus – come out all of you who are anxious – Come out all of you who are ill with worry – or feeling dead towards any real life – We know well how Jesus was ever about calling people to the light of God’s world – life abundant and free – to come out of those dark places into life.
We have these words of beloved Father Richard Rohr who reminds us:
It seems that we have a part to play in creating a culture of life and resurrection.
We must unbind one another from our fears and doubts about the last enemy, death.
We must now “see that the world is bathed in light” and allow others to enjoy the same seeing—through our lived life.
Life bathed in light – God has for us such a life in mind – even when things get too sci-fi.
God has for us a life that is more than just struggle – more than survival – and more than our passing away – God has for us light and saltiness as we believe in God’s amazing grace and purposes for us each and every day.
Take it from our prophet Ezekiel, there he is a kind and talented bloke, who stands before piles and piles of dry bones – the fallen soldiers of his beloved Israel who is now in captivity – his king defeated – and even in the midst of such horror – Ezekiel will prophesy and will see the bones rise up and stand – the multitude of them – And he will hear God declare to him that like these bones – go on and tell the children of Israel that though they are lost and cut off like bones – God will open up their graves and bring them back to the land of Israel.
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..
That is the power of GOD – our God whose name is love and who is all about bringing us all to life. This is a story to claim today when we see too many people falling in the wake of a deadly virus, fear and depression on the loose, and so much is unknown –
To hear Ezekiel call to us as he called in ancient days - this is a gift for our living today
To hear Jesus call to us as he called out to Lazarus and exampled before all present, that God is ever about bringing us to life is the refreshing restoration we so need today.
It is not some science fiction movie stunt that the spirit of the LORD is within us – not some made up spirit that fills us with the breath of love and mercy, peace and comfort, wisdom and truth, that stands against the troubles of the world -
Hear the psalmist sing again - O Israel, hope in the LORD – or may we hear him sing to us - O People in the spring of 2020 hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
Like Lazarus, we too can be unbound with worry of death – with worry of the unknown – untied and free to feel the glory of the LORD within us moving us to stand and shine brightly as a light of hope and faith, and to season the world around us by our time, talents, gifts, and service, like salt that one can taste and seehow the goodness of the LORD WITHIN US.
As I have been recovering from some surgery, all is going fine, and now in self-isolation at my home, there have been many times for remembering life with my church family.
When thinking of how to offer a bible study online, I remembered how Frank Riggs and Florence Kessler would offer some Bible Study tips at Wednesday Night Supper wrapped in their romantic comedy routine.
Frank would always start out the routine by singing to Flo-T, as he called her, “Hey, good lookin’, what ya got cookin’, how about cookin’ somethin’ up for me.”
Of course he was referring to the wonderful meals Florence had cooked for him for years – but she would answer his moving request by singing,
“Please release me, let me go, I don’t love you anymore.”
They would start on the jokes with asking each other bible questions, like where was the first tennis match played in the bible?
Answer was When Joseph served in Pharoah’s court…..on and on they would go – but in the end they would make up when Florence would tell Frank what she planned to cook for him next and he would say something about fishing up some Brim for her.
How we miss those times around the table and especially with our beloved friends who are now with the company of heaven. But from them we have the precious memories of their loving and joyful spirits – their devotion to one another and to the church – their love of God and their neighbors – and how full of lifethey were – and how they looked forward to their life everlasting.
Can’t you just hear Frank call out to us and say … as soon as possible … get out to the garden … start something growing …. And Florence calling out to us saying …. As soon as possible …. Get your hair done, dress up in your best … and plan for church going …. Ask for your favorite hymns to be sung … and sing with gusto … if you remember Florence, you know she did sing with gusto…
The Lord God calls to us again this day through the words of the Prophet and in Jesus Christ, rise up, all children of the Lord, stand up, and live. I am bringing you to life each and every day through the spirit that lives within you, full of love and grace, life abundant and free. Our LORD GOD is bringing us to LIFE.
Amen.
Offertory Invitation
Hope we all look for information in the Wesley Oak Leaf on how to bring our tithes and offerings each week. Thanks be to God!
Holy Communion
Find a piece of bread/cracker and some juice/wine to take following The Lord’s Prayer.
Invitation
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Confession and Pardon
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God's love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
The Peace
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through the prophets. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had comewhen you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrectionyou gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us,
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Receive the bread and cup.
Hymn
Benediction as found in the bulletin
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