BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICE & REFLECTION
March 29, 2020
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Verse to Ponder: “Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” (Mark 13: 2)
Lighting of Christ Candle:
(light a candle if you wish or turn on a battery-operated flashlight or a lamp)
We light this Christ candle to remind us of the light of truth. May this light enflame our hearts with God’s grace; keep us in the radiance of Christ’s presence; and fill our hearts with the Spirit of hope.
Opening Hymn: Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah VU 651
1- Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim though this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.
2- Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.
3- When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.
Call to Gather:
Come from your busy lives into this quiet place.
May we reflect our oneness in God.
Come away from your worries and preoccupations.
May we yield to Love’s divine grace.
Gathered as one in the wisdom of God,
let us worship in the Spirit of Christ,
in whom we are pleased to dwell.
Storytime for the Young at Heart with Lorrie:
Hi Everyone! I’ve missed you!
It seems so strange to come home after my trip to Zambia and not be able to call you all up to the chancel to tell you about it – and to see your smiling faces.
When I left, just a couple of weeks ago, people were getting ready to protect themselves from this new virus. We were all getting prepared. That’s the good thing about knowing that something is going to happen – you can get ready for it.
In today’s scripture reading, the disciples are talking about the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. It was a huge building made of enormous stones. Not only was it beautiful but it was strong and everyone was sure it would last forever. I think the disciples were excited to see it. They were oohing and aahing about it but Jesus told them a strange thing. He said, “See that great big building? One of these days it’s going to be destroyed completely.”
Remember that this was before the time of bombs or even bulldozers. I bet those men could hardly imagine such a thing happening. It would have been a scary thing to think about. So, they wanted to know when it was going to happen. They wanted to be ready.
I think that’s a bit like what is happening in our world right now. We live in a time where we feel pretty safe. We were told that this new virus was coming and so we thought we could be ready for it. We know how to protect ourselves against getting sick, right? So, we are doing all the right things to protect ourselves. And that’s good! We knew it was coming and we were prepared.
When Neil and I left for Zambia, we took Lysol wipes to clean our seatbelts and tray tables and even the tv screen on each plane. We took hand sanitizer. We made sure we took our vitamins and had a good night sleep so we were strong and healthy. We were careful not to get too close to people. We did a good job of being prepared.
But there were some things we weren’t ready for – like worrying about getting back to Canada before the planes stopped flying, or not being able to see our family when we got home or not even go out of the house for groceries – or not even being able to go to church.
I know you have all had some changes to deal with too – no school, no play dates with friends, no visits to grandma and grandpa’s house, no sports practices. Some of you had to cancel March break vacations. At first, it’s kind of fun to think about being off school but I bet you are all starting to miss your friends and your teachers. I know they are missing you too.
No matter how well we thought we could be ready. There are some things we just didn’t imagine, right?
So, we have had to think of new ways to be together and new ways to carry on. I have loved reading about how families are going for walks and writing chalk messages for their neighbours on the sidewalks… how people are putting fun things in their windows for others to see… how people who can go out a little bit are helping those of us who have to stay home by picking up groceries and checking our mailboxes for us. I think we are making more phone calls to catch up with family and friends. Families are playing games and doing puzzles together. Things are different right now – but some of those differences are pretty nice, don’t you think?
I think the biggest message that has come out of this situation for me so far is that we are not alone. We have people who love us and who will find ways to show that love, even when they can’t be right beside us.
Someday, we will look back on this time and be amazed at how we all came together. This is a time that will be remembered in history – and you are part of it! So, keep on being the part that spreads light and love.
Are you ready?
Prayer of Approach and Illumination:
O God, gather us in this place of worship.
Gather us in your strong presence.
Gather us with song and scripture.
Gather us young and old.
As your church family,
we gather with thankfulness, eager to be renewed,
God of many surprises, you seek and embrace us
with your welcoming grace.
As we ponder on your life-giving Word,
help us to affirm your presence in our lives.
Here in this place, our worship will rise. Amen.
Gospel Reading: The Destruction of the Temple Foretold Mark 13: 1-8 (NRSV)
“As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” 3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.”
May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “Tumbling Down” by Rev. Kim Vidal
I am an avid traveler. I have been to many places where buildings are icons of that country. Westminster Abbey is London, UK. Edinburgh Castle is Edinburgh, Scotland. The White House is Washington DC, US. The Lotte Tower is Seoul, South Korea. The Sydney Opera House is Sydney, Australia. I marvel at these magnificent buildings. These landmark icons are silent witnesses to older eras and lost kingdoms, of history, art and culture that offer clues to the past, the present and the future hopes of the people.
In our gospel story today, Jesus and his disciples were looking at the Temple in Jerusalem, the building icon in the first century Jewish world. The historian, Josephus, noted that the Temple was truly magnificent and a sight to behold. It was Herod the Great who ordered the construction of the temple by using the best materials in the land including gold covering the outside walls of the temple. The disciples, upon seeing the brilliant temple were captivated beyond words – they were dazzled by the beauty and the great architecture of the building. The Temple stood for their identity as a people. The Temple holds every religious memory passed down to them by their ancestors. It offers the faithful Jews a potent symbol of spiritual values, merit, and worth.
Jesus and his disciples look at the same grandiose temple but they do not see the same thing. If the disciples saw an immoveable, unchangeable, magnificent structure, Jesus sees ruins. Wreckage. Destruction. Jesus surprised them with his words: “Don’t be so sure of what you see. This temple is going to be a heap of rubble; not one stone will be left upon another. All will tumble down.” It is hard for us to understand how devastating that would have been for first century Jews. It would be like telling Canadians that the Parliament House, the main edifice of Canadian history and politics would be crushed into pieces. The anxious disciples want to know: “When will this happen? What will be the signs? What should we do!” By the time Mark recorded his gospel around 65 -75 Common Era (CE), the destruction of the temple had already happened. Jesus sees all that must break and shake and end before new life and transformation will emerge.
To their questions of “what are the signs”, Jesus says a lot in response. Mostly negative things: wars, earthquakes, famines, conflicts. This passage is often described as apocalyptic, taken from the root word “apocalypse” which means an unveiling or uncovering or a disclosure of something that is difficult to understand. I like what the theologian Debie Thomas says about apocalypse which I find very helpful: “To experience an apocalypse is to experience fresh sight. Honest disclosure. Accurate revelation. It is to apprehend reality as we’ve never apprehended it before.” And she continues: “In this sense, what Jesus offers his disciples is an apocalyptic vision. He invites them to look beyond the grandeur of the temple, and recognize that God will not suffer domestication. The temple is not the epicenter of God’s salvific work; God is not bound by mortar and stone. God exceeds every edifice, every institution, every mission statement, every strategic plan, and every symbol human beings create in God’s name.”
Like the disciples, sometimes we are side tracked about what really matters. Sometimes we are easily dazzled or fascinated with what is strong and large and beautiful and solid, without even realizing that those too will come to an end. We know that life is full of endings, big or small. A small ending happens whenever winter fades fast, when March comes in with cold rainy weather that tells us spring is here. A bigger ending when the moving truck pulls up in front of your home and off you go to new house. A still bigger ending when the oncologist tells you your cancer is incurable. Sometimes the transition hurts. Sometimes changes are upsetting. When you are encountering the anxiety of any change in your life, be assured that you are not far from God in that experience. You are, instead, very near. And then, there is the ultimate ending, the fear of death which is lodged in the back of our minds, sometimes magnified by a threatening pandemic that looms large.
What is the challenge of this text for us today? We are in a huge time of change amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, we are forced to stay home, to distance socially and physically from others. Some are in self-isolation while others live in fear and panic. Borders are closed and businesses are shut down. Economy is at huge risk. Death tolls surge and human grieving is at its peak. But no matter how many times we dwell on negative thoughts and emotions about the changes brought about by this pandemic, we cannot deny the fact that there are positive outcomes as well. There are still acts of kindness, love and compassion that goes around. Neighbours helping neighbours. There’s an upsurge of phone calls and emails of keeping in touch. Prayers are lifted everywhere by people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Politicians are video-conferencing to discuss and share what each government can do in this cataclysmic period of human history. And environmentalists declare that the earth is breathing freely again.
The Markan Jesus knew that the temple's destruction and all those scary stuffs he mentioned would not mean the total end of the world; it would not mean the end of God’s grace. The world is always moving, acting, doing, creating. And our faith tells us that God gives hope to people even in the midst of hopelessness and despair. Things are getting uncovered. Things are being unveiled. Yes, there is sorrow and uncertainty now but these too shall pass. The sun still shines each day and we must not give up hope.
I agree with Debie Thomas who cited that the great challenge of this passage is “not simply to bear the apocalypse, but to bear it well.” To bear it with the courage, calm, and faith Jesus calls us to practice in this time and place. In our current troubling context, it is easy to despair. Or to lose hope. Or to let grief and exhaustion win. But it’s precisely now, now when the world around us feels the most apocalyptic, that we have to respond with resilience, courage, truthfulness, healing, hope and love.
The gospel writers tell us over and over again: Fear not! Fear not when the earth shakes, and nations make war, and imposters preach gospels of uncertainty, resentment, and hatred. Fear not when the pandemic takes toll on your personal and social lives. Don’t give in to despair. Fear not and know that God is always near, no matter what the world looks or feels like. God is still — always and everywhere — a God of love.
Mark closes this passage with a promise of hope. It is not about death, but about birth. Mark declares: “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs”. Something is struggling to be born. Something new is about to happen. Take heart. God will labour with us in the birthing of a new day. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer:
As we gather our thoughts and our hearts in prayer, we ask God to fill us with hope, challenge and love. Let us pray:
God of springtime, we long to be filled with a vision of renewal that even as the earth settles into a time of upheaval due to the COVID 19 pandemic, it still dreams of change and rebirth. May this time of worship be a time to contemplate hope and healing, envision possibilities and rejuvenate a weary spirit. Even as we travel through the depths of uncertainties and fear, may we remember that your light continues to shine, even when we don't see it.
Wise and passionate God, may the stories of faith that Jesus taught us, though sometimes difficult to understand, be heard, felt and remembered in ways that continue to inspire us to follow and make anew pathways for us.
God of vision, challenge us to see the possibilities beyond the way things are. Remind our community leaders, both political and religious, to listen to your wisdom, to be responsive to the needs of people today and be forward thinking even in the face of hardships and difficult endings. Give us the strength to share ourselves with the people we meet, the desire to be the hands, the feet, the heart of Christ to the world. Guide us with your wisdom and indwelling presence.
God of transforming hope, today we ask that you hold in your loving embrace those who are grieving, distressed or feeling hopeless, that they may be lifted and find hope. We pray for those seeking your healing touch. In your dream for the world, we ask that those who are suffering be given hope for a better life. We pray for those who are challenged by lack of resources; for those who have no shelter; for those who suffer from mental or physical illness; for those whose human rights are denied; for refugees who have had to flee from their homes; for those affected by this ongoing pandemic. Surround them with your love and may they be provided with tools of hope to lead to positive changes in their lives. We pause at this time to remember in silence and in our hearts, others for whom we are concerned.
God of love and life, be with us today and in the days to come. These we ask in the name of Jesus, our great teacher who taught us this prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in 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, The power,
and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
Offering of time, talents, treasures and prayers for the community and the world.
(If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop your offering and donations in the slot by the kitchen door of the church, mail your cheque, or donate online. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.)
Offertory Prayer:
Receive our gifts, loving God which we offer in hope and in love.
Bless and multiply these gifts we pray, so that they may be used in doing your will in the world. Amen.
Closing Hymn: This Day God Gives Me VU 410 (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
1- This day God gives me
Strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining,
Flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning,
Wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean,
Firmness of earth.
2- This day God sends me
Strength to sustain me,
Might to uphold me,
Wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful,
Your ears are list'ning,
Your lips are speaking,
Friend at my side.
3- God's way is my way,
God's shield is round me,
God's host defends me,
Saving from ill.
Angels of heaven,
Drive from me always
All that would harm me,
Stand by me still,
4- Rising I thank you,
Mighty and Strong One,
King of creation,
Giver of rest,
Firmly confessing
Threeness of Persons,
Oneness of Godhead,
Trinity blest.
Words: James Quinn, SJ © 1969 Selah Publishing Co
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
Sending Forth:
Restored in the Spirit, be strengthened this day and know that you are loved.
May our eyes and hearts be opened by God’s presence in our lives.
Let us go now from this time of worship and be a blessing in God’s world. Amen.