Camp Awesome is a summer day camp and youth leadership development program that operates within the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council (EOORC) of The United Church of Canada.
Camp Awesome provides a full-day, active program for children. The program combines Vacation Bible School activities, like stories, songs and crafts with games and theme day fun.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
May 8, 2022 10 am
* The live service will be broadcasted and recorded on YouTube, check your email for the link.
The service should be available by phone some time Monday at 613-820-8104
Hymn request from Ross Mutton in memory of Gail
1.I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send? R
Refrain:
Here I am Lord.
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
2.I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send? R
3.I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? R
Words & Music © 1981 Daniel L. Schutte New Dawn Music
Song#80670 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
Reader 1: Today as we celebrate Christian Family Sunday,
we remember that Jesus called us as family: siblings, parents, children.
Reader 2: We light this Christ candle, claiming the promise that
where two or three are gathered together, Christ is in our midst.
May this light of Christ guide us as we gather today as the family of God.
Halle, halle, halle - lujah! (3x) Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Words: trad, liturgical text; Music: anon., arr. © The Iona Community, 1980
Sisters, brothers, children, welcome to this place!
Mothers, fathers, sing praises to God.
Grandmas, grandpas, share the story.
Aunts, uncles, dance with joy.
Family by love, Christ’s own body.
Family by Spirit, God calls us as one.
As one family, we come to worship our God.
God with a Shepherd’s heart, you gather us as your children.
You comfort and hold us in your warm embrace.
When we hurt, your arms enfold us.
When we are afraid, your wings protect us.
When we are hungry, you feed us with the bread of life.
God with a mother’s heart,
your love surrounds and supports us,
in good times and in tough,
in the midst of joy and pain,
always and everywhere.
You will never leave nor abandon us.
God eternal and loving one,
God with a Shepherd’s and a mother’s heart,
We thank you this day for being part of your family. Amen.
1. Are you a shepherd, good shepherd who leads us
Safely through danger while calming our fears?
Are you a father who shelters and feeds us,
Shares in our laughter and tears.
Refrain:
Yes, you are shepherd, parent, and teacher
But you are greater than all that we know.
Holy and living, loving and giving,
God, you are with us, wherever we go.
2. Are you a mother, good mother who bears us,
Comforts, protects us and helps us to rest?
Are you a teacher who daily prepares us,
Challenging students to offer their best? Ref
3. Great, gentle shepherd, forever beside us,
Lead all your children through paths that are right.
Great, loving parent, wise teacher, you guide us.
We want to love you and bring you delight. Ref
1. I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes, I know you’re with me God I feel you here
I can feel you near me God I can feel you near
Yes, I know you’re with me God Heaven is here.
Refrain: And I’ll jump for joy I’m singing Alleluia
Jump for joy for you I will jump for joy
I’m singing Alleluia Jump for joy for you.
2. I can feel you loving me yes, I know you care
God, I know you’re loving me always everywhere
I can feel you loving me yes, I know you care
God, I know you’re loving me I know you’re there. Refrain
Words and Music © Pat Mayberry www.patmayberry.com arr. © 2005 Marg Stubbington
Song # 123573 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Nurturing God, continue to surprise us and breathe your spirit freshly upon us as your family, that renewed in faith, we may know your wisdom through this story in the Bible. Amen.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 1
3 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
May we find ourselves renewed in this Gospel story. Thanks be to God!
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
God has blessed our lives with relationships—joy inspiring and challenging. In response to God’s blessings in our lives, let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mail box by the kitchen door of the church. You may also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Shepherd God, you have blessed our lives with relationships that both inspire and challenge. We offer these gifts so that we might continue to build relationships
with one another and with your whole creation. Bless these gifts that they may bring wholeness and life abundance to all your people. We pray. Amen.
1 Would you bless our homes and families,
Source of life who calls us here,
in our world of stress and tension,
teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles,
love’s expressed in many ways.
2 When our way is un-demanding,
let us use the time that’s ours.
To delight in simple pleasures,
sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking
and a heavy path we plod.
Teach us trust in one another
and in you, our gracious God.
3 From the homes in which we’re nurtured,
with the love that shapes us there,
teach us God, to claim as family
everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer,
may we in your love remain,
may the love we share in families
be alive to praise your name.
4 Let us reach beyond the boundaries
of our daily thought and care
till the family you have chosen,
spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles
love’s expressed in many ways.
Words © 1977 Walter Farquharson, Music © 1977 Ron Klusmeier, Hope Publishing Co.
Song#80568 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
May God who brought us to birth by the Holy Spirit,
strengthen us for the Christian life.
May God who provides for all our needs
sustain us day by day.
May God whose steadfast love is constant as a Shepherd’s and mother’s care,
send us out to live and work for others.
And the blessing of God: Creator, Christ and Comforter
be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
[1] Seasons of the Spirit, 2015.
[2] Christine Sine, godspace.com
[3] www.campseaashechurch.org.uk
Have you ever met a shepherd before? Have you ever been to a farm that has sheep? These days it’s not as common a profession as it was in the region Jesus grew up and did his teaching.
Watch the video A Shepherd’s Life to get an idea of what shepherding in a remote area is like. (Turn on subtitles. Hover over the video timebar to choose from the different sections if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.)
Was there anything that surprised you?
What sort of things does a shepherd do for their sheep?
How do they take care of them?
Is it an easy job? Why do you think they continue to do it?
Now check out today’s scripture from The Message - John 10:11-18:
Jesus said:
11-13 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.
14-18 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.”
But wait a minute - before he started his ministry, Jesus was supposed to be a carpenter. So why is he calling himself a shepherd in this bible passage? How does Jesus act like a shepherd?
There are other places in the Bible where Jesus is described as a shepherd - can you think of any other passages?
How would you feel knowing you had a ‘good shepherd’ to take care of you?
We have friends and family around us who care for us in the same way as a good shepherd, don’t we? Take a moment now to name them and share something you’re grateful that they do for or with you.
Click to print PDF
Materials: crayons or oil pastels, watercolours, brushes, water cups, paper
Using crayons and/or oil pastels draw a simple outline of hills, clouds, sun, etc. that you imagine when you think about a place where a good shepherd may take their sheep . Don’t forget to add in some simple sheep shapes with the crayons and/or oil pastels. Finish by painting with watercolours to fill all the outlined areas.
Print out the worksheet. Fill in the sheep, writing words or phrases that describe how one could act as a good shepherd to others. (e.g. Offering a hand when someone falls down, Standing up to a bully, Calling to check in on a grandparent, etc.) Draw and colour a field or hillside for the sheep!
Click to print PDF
Click to print PDF
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
May 1, 2022
(Peter Chynoweth, Gathering Lent /Easter 2022, p30. Used with permission.)
This land on which we gather is the unceded territory and traditional land of the Algonquin and Anishnaabe people. We worship Creator on this land and acknowledge with respect the thousands of years of ceremony and relationship that are etched in footprint, fire, and faithfulness on the soil and rock that surrounds us.
Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we worship together on this 3rd Sunday of Easter. Today we are celebrating 171 years of our life together as a faith community that saw its beginnings in 1851 known as Drummond Presbyterian Church. We give thanks for the many ways God nurtures and feeds us, guides our roots to sink deep, and with God’s grace and blessing, bears fruits of love, justice, kindness and wisdom. And to celebrate this wonderful day, we welcome the Rev. Dr. George and Marilyn James as full members of this faith community. Happy birthday BCUC!
Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God who made us witnesses in the world and called us to be a loving and faithful community. Let us gather in worship.
On this anniversary Sunday,
we light this Christ candle
to honour and to celebrate
who we are as a community of faith.
We do so by giving thanks
for the varieties of gifts that we share
and of the love that binds us together.
May the light of Christ be our guide today
And in the years, to come.
Halle, halle, halle - lujah! (3x) Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
From before the beginning, and beyond the end,
you are our God, the God who claims us as yours.
We come, as faithful people have come, for many generations.
We may break our promises and abandon our covenants,
but you meet all our endings with a new beginning.
Stir in us a joyful celebration for what you have done and continue to do among us
From before the beginning, and beyond the end, you are our God. We delight in you.
Loving God, Your Spirit calls us to be church.
With the faithful who went before and those who will come after,
you offer us the gifts needed to be the Body of Christ,
people of God, co-creators of your new world.
Remind us to listen to your voice when our ears are closed to your call,
to pay attention when our eyes lose sight of self-giving,
to have a grateful heart when we misuse your generosity.
Be present with us in the midst of our joy and sorrow, pain and healing, despair and hope.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, the head of this church. Amen.
1.Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the word.
2.Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew-fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.
3.Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s re-creation of the new day!
Words © 1931 Eleanor Farjeon, Music Gaelic Melody, harmony © 1982 Alec Wyton
Song # 118118 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
I'm gonna live so (live so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
repeat
Work… Pray… Sing…
Words & Music © African American Spiritual Song #95386
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
God, our sure foundation, open the scripture to us and open us to the scripture so that we can hear your message of love in songs, in word and in prayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
May we find ourselves renewed in this Gospel story. Thanks be to God!
Holy and Generous God,
The hallelujahs of Easter morning still ring in the sanctuary this Sunday morning,
Reminding us of the good news. The love of Christ is alive in the world!
We wish the feeling of hallelujah could fill the world outside of this worship space but it is difficult to feel that deep joy when we come face to face with so many concerns for the world, for our communities, and for ourselves.
Hear us God as we pray.
We pray for this planet we call home and for all the amazing creation that it holds.
We pray for the damage caused by climate change – melting ice caps, thawing permafrost, violent storms, floods and forest fires;
We pray for species that are suffering and facing extinction;
We pray for places where the economic drive overrides the balance of the ecosystem.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
We pray for all your people in their diversity of colour, race, culture, and creed.
We pray for people living in places where the violence of war threatens their homes, their history, and their very existence.
We pray for those who are left on the margins because of poverty, disability, gender identification or anything that sets them apart from what someone has decided is normal.
We pray for all whose differences cause them to suffer in body or in spirit.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
We pray for our home communities, our congregation, our families, and ourselves.
We pray for all those dealing with grief and loss – of loved ones, of jobs, of familiar ways of life.
We pray for all in our midst who are suffering from illness or injury.
We pray for people struggling with mental health concerns and for all those struggling to support them.
God, help us find a new way forward, help us think outside the box, help us learn to fish on the other side of the boat.
Holy One, when you call us from the shore, help us recognize your voice. We are eager to jump in, to join you in the work needed in this world, and to break the fast of fear and anxiety that this time of Covid has caused us.
On this day of celebrating the history of this congregation and the joy of welcoming new members, we pray in the words of Jesus:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
The God of yesterday, today and tomorrow holds each one of us in tender love and care. God is gracious and good, and no one is insignificant in God’s eyes. So we respond to everything God is doing in the life of this faith community and the world by offering a portion of the bounty we have received. Let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Creator God, take these gifts that represent the fruits of our love for you, for our community and for ourselves. Use these gifts, as you use us, to spread your message of love throughout the world. Amen.
1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.
2. Deep in our hearts there is a core is a common purpose;
Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
Justice and peace in harmony.
3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
Deep in our hearts there is a common current,
Flowing to freedom like a stream.
4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.
Words © 1995 John Oldham, Music © 1996 Ron Klusmeier, musiklus
Song #117654 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Live wholeheartedly;
God calls us to make every minute count.
Live adventurously;
God calls us to uncharted places and challenging situations.
Live faithfully;
God calls us to remember where our true allegiance lies.
Live compassionately;
God calls us to notice and to work alongside those ignored or forgotten.
As we go from this time of worship, may we be inspired to live as God calls us to live.
May we go knowing that God goes with us this day and in the days to come. Amen.
[1] Inspired by a prayer posted in www.united-church.ca
[2] Deborah Ambridge-Fisher, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B. Used with permission.
[3] David Sparks, Gathering, Pentecost 2 – 2020 Year A. Used with permission.
Peter and the disciples had gone fishing. They had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. The next morning, they were headed in to shore when they saw someone on the beach. (It was Jesus, the Risen Christ, but they didn’t realize it yet.) Jesus asked them “Have you caught anything?” No, they hadn’t. “Let down your net on the right side of the boat,” Jesus told them. They did so and caught 153 large fish. All of a sudden, they realized it was Jesus! Peter jumped into the water and swam to shore. When they arrived, Jesus was cooking breakfast for them on a fire of coals. He fed them bread and fish.
After breakfast, Jesus had a long talk with Peter, who had denied knowing him three times on the night Jesus was arrested. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Peter said he did three times. (But he was embarrassed that Jesus had to ask him three times. He remembered that he had denied Jesus three times.) Each time when Peter said he loved Jesus, Jesus told him things like “Feed my lambs,” “Take care of my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” Finally, he told Peter, “You follow me.”
You can watch a version of the story here:
1. The disciples had been out fishing all night long. They were working hard but they weren’t catching any fish. Even though they were fishing the same way they had always done, it wasn’t working. Jesus gave them a new idea – a different way of looking at the work they were called to do. All through his ministry, Jesus taught people new ways to do things. What are some new ideas Jesus had for the way we live that will make the world work better?
2. In this story, Jesus shares a meal with the disciples. Can you think of some other stories in the Bible where Jesus shares a meal? Does this story remind you of any other Bible stories? What lessons from Jesus are you reminded of when you hear this story?
3. Think about the times you have shared a meal with others – your family dinners, parties or special occasions, picnics, pot luck dinners at the church… Why do you think sharing a meal together is often a way of celebrating? Do you think eating together is important? Why?
4. After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” three times! He tells him to take care of his lambs and his sheep. He is reminding Peter of the important work he has to do in the world, the work of taking care of others. Why do you think he repeats these things three times?
Print out the scenarios and cut apart. Some have been left blank for you to add your own ideas! Fold the papers and place them in a basket or bowl. Participants, alone or in pairs, can pick an action/scenario, read it silently, and act it out, trying to get the others to guess in what way they are following the call to “feed my sheep”.
Click to print PDF
Click to print PDF
Look through this week’s bulletin announcements (PDF) - how is BCUC tending to God’s flock?
Visit the Ottawa Westend Community Chaplaincy webpage (https://rom9168.wixsite.com/website) and Multi-Faith Housing Initiative site (https://www.multifaithhousing.ca/). These are initiatives supported by our church. How are these groups following Jesus’ example to make the world a better place?
Visit the United Church’s Social Action page (https://united-church.ca/social-action) and browse through the different topics to learn about some examples of our church in action in the world - Did any particular mission surprise you? Interest you?
Look through the Gifts with Vision catalogue - Notice the variety of causes and needs the Mission and Service Fund addresses.
Are there more local issues in our community that YOU are concerned about? Research ways to help and support these concerns or other interests from the M&S info. Is there something we can do as a church? Do you have new ideas for SOSA or the youth and children of BCUC to take action on?
Bring donations in on Friday, May 6, during the day and come back Saturday to shop. Sales areas will include Books, Baking, Plants, White Elephant, Linens, Women’s & Children’s Clothing and Furniture. Masking will be imperative. Information: (613) 820-8103 or office@bcuc.org
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 24, 2022 – 10 am
Eastertide Theme: “The Way of Being”
* The live service will be broadcasted and recorded on YouTube, check your email for the link. The audio recording of the live service should be available by phone Monday afternoon at 613-820-8104
Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this second Sunday of Easter also known as Low Sunday. After a spiritually intense and emotionally draining week particularly the celebration of Easter Sunday, we are so ready for a low-key Sunday. Thank you for joining us in today’s service.
Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of our welcoming God who calls us to gather with a joyful heart and alleluias. Let us gather in worship.
(Bob Root, Gathering, L/E 2022 Year C. Used with permission.)
Each new day reminds us of the light that dwells within us –
the light God has placed deep within our hearts.
We light the Christ candle, remembering that we are made of light and love,
Remembering that we are called to bring light and love to others and the world.
(Words: trad, liturgical text; Music: anon., arr. The Iona Community, 1980)
Halle, halle, halle-lu-jah (3X)
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Halle, halle, halle-lu-jah (3X)
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Kate Crawford, Gathering, L/E 2015 Year B. Used with permission.)
We come to worship bringing many things:
burdens and joys, weariness as well as celebration.
We come to worship seeking many things:
comfort and strengths, answers, doubts and questions.
We come to worship hoping many things:
peace for the world, hope for the future, life for all of creation.
Gather all of our gifts, our desires, our hopes,
and let them be our worship this day.
Creator God, we bring our doubts and our questions,
and as you touch our second thoughts,
you turn them into adventures.
Come now, O loving spirit,
and create a moment of awakening
where we can sense you among us
and the world can witness in us
the good news that resurrection brings. Amen.
(Words & Music: Gordon Light, 1985, arr. Nan Thompson, 1995)
Refrain:
Joy comes with the dawn;
joy comes with the morning sun;
joy springs from the tomb
and scatters the night with her song,
joy comes with the dawn.
Weeping may come;
weeping may come in the night,
when dark shadows cloud our sight. R
Sorrow will turn,
sorrow will turn into song,
and God’s laughter make us strong. R
We will rejoice,
we will rejoice, and give praise,
to the One who brings us grace. R
Last Sunday we celebrated Easter, didn’t we? Did you shout “Hallelujah!” with us? I’m sure you were excited when you found the treats the Easter Bunny left for you – but I hope you also shouted it because of the big message of Easter that we celebrate as Christians – that even though Jesus was put to death on the cross, that wasn’t the end of his story. He is still alive in the world!
We know this now, but at the time that all of this took place, 2000 years ago, his followers and friends didn’t understand that yet. They were upset because Jesus had been killed and they were scared about what might happen next. They were scared that something bad would happen to them too.
So, in today’s Bible reading, we hear that Jesus’ disciples were in hiding. They were all together in a locked room and they were afraid to go out. Can you imagine how they were feeling? They were sad and they were afraid. They just didn’t know what to do – they really felt like they couldn’t carry on.
But something amazing happened. Jesus appeared to them in that locked room and he said, “Peace be with you!” It reminds me of the many times we have heard messages from God in our Bible and they always start with, “Don’t be afraid!” I think that’s what Jesus was trying to say to his friends too. “Calm down, I am here with you.”
Our reading tells us that he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. He told them they had the power to do things like forgive people for their sins. He was reminding them about all the things he had taught about how to change the world – forgiveness, and love, and trusting that God is with us. I think that’s exactly what those disciples needed to hear. It was a message that said, “You have great power! Don’t stay locked up here!”
Have you ever been so worried or anxious about something that you feel like you just want to hide away and forget it? I remember just before the pandemic when I was really busy with work and school and church interviews… sometimes I just wanted to stop. I was overwhelmed with how much work I had to do, how many essays I still had to write and classes I had to take. Some days, I was really tempted to give up. Sometimes, I thought I just couldn’t do it anymore.
Then, one day, a friend sent me this special present. It reminded me that I had already accomplished so much and that I had the power to not just keep going but to do it in the best way possible. Her present told me that she thought I was amazing – and that made me feel like a super-hero!
Can you guess what she sent? (Show my Wonder Woman socks!!)
Now, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I think about these socks and the faith my friend has in me that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
I think that’s what Jesus thinks about all his followers too. He has given us the power to change the world. Sometimes, like those disciples who were hiding in the locked room, we just need to be reminded. So, put on your Wonder Woman socks or your Spiderman underwear or your Superman t-shirt… let’s go do what Jesus wants us to do and let’s change the world!
Let’s have a short prayer:
Amazing God, sometimes we feel like we are too small or too weak to make a difference in the world. Help us remember the power you have given us through Jesus. Help us be your super heroes. Amen.
O God, like the disciple Thomas, we were not in that room when Jesus appeared among the disciples breathing peace. With your Word of Life, help us to understand that the Risen Christ is in our midst. May we carry the Good News of your love to the world. Amen.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
May we find ourselves renewed in this Eastertide story. Thanks be to God!
The sign in the novelty store says, “Pretty to look at, lovely to hold, but if you break it, consider it sold!” Makes sense but I don’t get it. How could I possibly buy something if I could not even touch it, smell it or scrutinize it? How do I know that what I am paying for is worth my money? How am I sure that something is authentic without even touching it or verifying its make? I need to see it, feel it, check it. A basic human instinct! And Thomas is very much like any of us. I learned from Sunday School that we should not emulate him. We call him “the doubter” or the “bad seed”. Some would call him a “show-me disciple” because he needs to see proofs before jumping to conclusions. What is wrong with him, anyway? Is doubting too bad that it made Thomas carry this label for over 2000 years of Christianity? I confess, I am a Thomas, too – or perhaps most of us - maybe we are all his twin sisters or brothers!
The name, Thomas, sounds very English but it is in fact a transliteration from an Aramaic word “toma” which simply means “twin”. In Greek, he was “Didymus” which also means “twin”. So we don’t know Thomas’ real name at all. And we certainly have no idea who his twin was. In fact, we know very little about him. All we know for certain comes from John’s gospel and there Thomas makes his own voice heard only three times — all towards the very end of Jesus’ life on earth. It was him who said boldly at Lazarus’ death: “"Let us go and die with Jesus." What he’s saying is simply this: “If Jesus is going to die, I for one don’t want to go on living.” This was not a Gloomy Thomas, for me he was a Loyal, Allegiant Thomas.
The next time we meet Thomas is at the Last Supper. Jesus is boldly telling the disciples about the Father’s house. “In it there are many rooms,” he says. “I’m going to get some ready for you, and then I’ll come and take you there. Don’t worry; you know where I’m going.” All the other disciples are nodding wisely. But Thomas gives Jesus a “what-are-you-trying to tell us look”. “No I don’t get it,” he says. “We haven’t the slightest idea where you are going. How can we know the way?” And we might be tempted to think: What an awkward thing to say. Thomas here is just expressing a very real concern that he really doesn’t have a clue what Jesus is talking about. He was not Awkward Thomas, he was Honest, Inquisitive Thomas.
And now, this morning, we meet Thomas for the third and final time. Last Sunday, he was missing. So where was Thomas anyway? Why was he not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them behind closed doors? The gospel writer John doesn't tell us. My own guess was that he could probably went to his own little niche grieving the loss of Jesus; or he might be checking if the territory is safe again; or maybe he is trying to find out the truth why Jesus was killed; or a good guess would be that he was out and about getting on with his life, looking for food to sustain him and the other disciples for the long haul. Why do I say that? Because I think Thomas was a realist, a practical, concrete guy. "Except I see the mark of the nails in his hand and touch his side, I will not believe." He is plainspoken and straight to the point. He is not embarrassed to ask questions even for some perhaps the questions are senseless. He wants plain answers so he can truly understand what’s going on and be able to take the next steps. So while we do not know where he was that night – we know for sure he was not with the disciples who were locked in the upper room for fear of the religious and political leaders. For Thomas, life must go on!
When Jesus appeared the second time to his disciples in the closed room, Thomas was there. And far from rebuking or criticizing Thomas, Jesus offered to meet his conditions. "OK Thomas –you get what you want- put your fingers in my hands and touch my side.” It was through this personal encounter that Jesus was made real to Thomas. In fact, Thomas exclaimed his confession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas experienced the welcoming presence of Jesus. Through Thomas, we were given the “thumbs up” to question, to doubt, to quest, to seek. For that moment in time, Thomas becomes the, “real twin”, the alternate identity of every human being who loves to inquire, to explore, to seek answers. According to historical accounts, Thomas was regarded as the patron saint of the converted Christians in India. He was believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala State of India.
I wonder why we take part in dismissing Thomas so easily. Perhaps because we’ve often found ourselves in Christian communities where voicing one’s doubts or even questioning the Bible is a big no-no! We do not often talk about our uncertainties or failures because of fear that others might put us down or judge us as unbelievers or faithless people. And in churches that display mostly niceties, I’ve discovered all sorts of anxieties and resentments confronting people. I’ve talked and listened to a number struggling alone with deep questions because they were afraid of how others might react to their doubts and skepticism. Doubting and raising questions sometime frighten us. That’s why we easily reject Thomas and what he stands to be—Thomas who dares to bring doubt into our lives of faith.
Rev. Dr. William Self, a Baptist preacher tells us that “half of us are like Thomas; we are afraid to believe. Half of every heart is a Thomas. Doubt does not overtake us in the night but, rather, it creeps up on us slowly, one step at a time.” Several years ago Rev. Self spoke on a university campus, and when he finished speaking, a young man approached him in the hall. The young man said, "I don't like what you had to say in there." Rev. Self asked him why. "The young man replied, "Actually, I didn't hear you. I just don't like preachers." And here’s a dialogue that transpired between Rev. Self and the young man: "Well, what are you?" - "I'm a seeker." "That's interesting. Where do you meet?" - "We don't meet." “What are you seeking?" - "We're seeking truth.""Well, what have you read?" - "I haven't read anything in particular." They went on with the conversation for a short while. Finally, Rev. Self looked at the young man and said, "I don't think you are a seeker. I think you are a runner. I think you are hiding. For you see, not to decide is to decide. You have decided that you want to hide in unbelief." And Rev. Self finished with these challenging yet wise words: “Doubt is like a front porch. All of us go through it before we get into the house of faith.”
Through Thomas, we are given the “thumbs up” to doubt, to seek, to question. Thomas becomes the “real twin” of every human being who loves to inquire, to explore, to ask. He is a twin for every person who has ever doubted anything but made sure that something is done about it. Some of us who are skeptical quickly jump to Thomas’ defense because let’s admit it - many of us are unafraid to express doubt and ask hard questions. In fact, we claim the importance and necessity of doubt and questioning. In that moment as Jesus stood face-to-face with Thomas, there is a seamless movement from the depths of grief, confusion, and questioning into the light and life of his beloved friend, Jesus. More than looking and seeing, Thomas touches and feels. He feels the wound, the pain, the horror of the crucifixion, the separation and the love. As we witness Thomas’ quick conversion, we must ask ourselves, how do we come to believe?
There was a time when, in the scientific world, the earth was considered flat and that the sun circled around it. The idea was accepted, but a few brave souls, Galileo in particular, bravely dared to doubt that theory. Deeper examination shows that every scientific advance started with doubt. Galileo was right when he called doubt the father of discovery. Jesus himself was a doubter. He doubted that violence was the way, so he said, "Forgive one another." He doubted that the long prayers and rigid dietary laws were essential to faith. So he preached about a compassionate and just faith. He doubted that Samaritans and Syropheonicians and those deemed to be second class citizens such as the poor, the widows, women and children were an inferior race. He told parables pointing that these inferior people constitute God’s kin-dom. The capacity to doubt is the prelude to faith. Strong faith always has to be fought for.
It's true that Jesus asks for faith, but he does not ask for a blind faith. I am convinced that Jesus wants us to have an open-minded, well-informed faith. The poet Rainier Rilke offers this wisdom, "Live the questions now…you will eventually live into the answers."
Live into the answers. That would be the promise for all of us today. Because sometimes the demand to see and touch, the need to question and to seek answers, the call to be like Thomas, are not indications of a short-sighted faith. They are marks of true faith. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Let us gather our hearts in prayer.
Surprising God, like Thomas, we often find it difficult to see signs of your welcoming presence, to believe that your Spirit is alive among us. Open our eyes to receive your presence in our lives. Thank you for coming through the locked doors of pride and isolation when our fears overwhelm us. Thank you for revealing yourself to the disciples, when all they could think of was their grief and fear of the unknown. Thank you for your patience with Thomas and with us in our quest for proof and unanswered questions that we carry.
Like Thomas, we sometimes fail to experience the Spirit of Christ because we are not paying attention. Remind us that we experience him in the lives of those transformed by your grace. We have seen him in the faces of everyone whose love encourages us. Call us to bring healing to the scarred people and places of the world.
We thank you for all who are connected to us and who need care and compassion. We hold them in our hearts and pray for the healing of mind, body and soul. We pray for those awaiting medical test results and those who are facing treatments and surgeries. We pray for those who are alone, who are alienated from their families, those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We ask for your healing love and blessings for those who are in the hospitals. May your presence be felt by all those who are staying at home and for those who are fighting to survive from the ravages of this COVID pandemic. Sustain us with courage and comfort us with your peace. We also continue to pray for the people of Ukraine as they confront the horrors of war. Now in silence, hear the deepest concerns of our hearts.
Empowering God, may we live the Easter Spirit of renewal, greening and growth, this day and always. Give us peace and remind us of your welcoming presence. Help us to see you this week, to take note, to experience the beauty of this earth or hear your grace in the word that someone speaks to us. These we pray in the name of the Welcoming Christ who taught us this prayer long ago:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
On this Second Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate the power of resurrection as a community of faith, we joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Holy God, help us to share your power so that this offering is multiplied
and brings relief to those needing to know you, the Risen One. Amen.
May the Risen Christ come through the locked doors of our hearts
and make his home deep within us and in our world.
May the Risen Christ find here hospitality and welcome,
justice and peace for all.
May the blessing of God be ours as we leave:
The blessing of doubt to be our guide;
The blessing of peace to calm our troubled spirits;
The blessing of friendship to be our companion.
Go in peace. Amen.
(Words: June Boyce-Tillman, 1993; Music: Trad. Irish melody, arr. John Barnard, 1982)
We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
We shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
We shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
Tales of a love, that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
We’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
We’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
Within the vision of new life in Christ.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
We’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
We’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer.
Expressing love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping.
Raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
We’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
Including all in circles of our love.
[1] Inspired by the prayer of Peter Chynoweth, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B.
[2] Bob Root, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015.
You can watch the story here:
After Jesus came back, he visited most of his disciples and they saw him and spoke with him. Thomas, however, missed out, so when he heard what had happened, he didn’t believe it. He needed to have an experience with Jesus himself to help him believe, and Jesus gave that to him. He met with Thomas, spoke with him, and even offered to let Thomas touch his wounds. Jesus accepted Thomas just as he was—full of questions and doubts—and helped him reach a place of understanding and belief. Sometimes, in order to understand the world around us, it helps to ask questions and explore. Similar to Thomas, we can learn through our senses, our questions, and our interactions.
When do you think it is ok to ask questions? Are there times when it is not ok?
Do you think you need to experience someone actually “in-person” to believe they are alive?
What are some other ways you might “experience” someone? In a book, through a story someone tells you? Through pictures or videos? Through things they have written?
How do you think we can experience Jesus in our world today?
Materials: colouring tools, ribbon/yarn, cardstock
What words do we use to ask questions? Make a list of as many as you can! Try to think of an example of a question about God, Jesus, or the Bible that starts with those words. You could try to find answers to these questions, but it’s also okay to just have things we’re wondering about.
Cut out the cardstock to make a bookmark. Decorate it with the question words you came up with, and add ribbon/yarn at the top and any other special decorations. When you use the bookmark, stop and wonder about what you’ve read!
As you play, think about and discuss why we do or don’t believe what we are hearing and seeing. What information are we using to create our opinions? Think critically about your responses.
Have a parent or other adult come up with 3 statements about themselves, 2 of which are true, 1 of which is made up, and share them with you in any order (Ex: I went to school in Spain, I have slept in an igloo, and I got to feed penguins). The more unique or surprising the facts, the better! Try to guess the “doubtful” fact - Which of those things do you doubt is true?
Play with a regular deck of cards with jokers removed. Deal the cards out evenly. If there are remainders, place them face down in the center of the table as the beginning of the discard pile.
Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer. They place the Aces from their hand facedown on the discard pile and announces their play to the table: e.g.“One Ace” or “Two Aces.” If the player does not have any Aces, or wishes to get rid of more than one card, they may bluff and play non-Ace cards. The next player plays 2s, the next player plays 3s, and so on. If a player doesn’t believe an announcement, they can call out, “I doubt it!” The person who played the cards must turn them over and show the challenger whether they are bluffing or not. A player who is caught bluffing must pick up the entire discard pile and add it to their hand. If a challenged player is not bluffing, then the challenger must pick up the discard pile. When the rank to play reaches Kings, it then goes back to Aces and the numbers start again.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
(Source: https://www.considerable.com/entertainment/card-games/how-to-play-cheat/)
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BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 17, 2022 – 10 am
The live service will be broadcasted and recorded on YouTube, check your email for the link. The live service should be available by phone Monday midday at 613-820-8104.
Music from “The King Shall Rejoice” by Handel, Psalm 118 arrangement © 2002 Hal Hopson
Hallelujah!
Good Morning! What a joy it is to greet you on this Easter morning! Welcome to this service of worship and praise. We are happy that you have joined us today – in person, in real time on the streaming link, at another time with the recording, or on the telephone. It is good to be able to celebrate in so many ways!
Though we have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship, we are still being cautious as we realize the virus is still making its rounds. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated and still being mindful of the health protocols like masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and staying home if you feel unwell.
We also hope that you will continue to take time to reach out to each other through prayers, phone calls, emails, or video chats when it isn’t possible to gather in person.
Today is a day where hope rises: Spring weather is arriving, green shoots are poking up in our gardens, the days are getting longer, and the pandemic seems to be getting less dangerous even though it seems more rampant.
Today is a day of the celebration of hope:
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
Let us join together to worship God.
(Fern Gibbard, Gathering L/E 2019, p 41. Used with permission.)
On this Easter morning,
We shout and sing the glad news:
Jesus Christ is risen indeed!
We light the Christ candle because he is here among us.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Halle, halle, halle - lujah! (3x) Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
(Gord Dunbar, Gathering L/E 2018, p40. Used with permission.)
Well-come to worship.
Let’s yell, “Yahoo!” in praise of God’s goodness!
YAHOO! Ooh, that felt good. YAHOO!
Let’s shout “Hurray!” in praise of Christ’s good news!
HURRAY! Yes, that certainly hit the spot. HURRAY!
Let’s whisper, “Thanks!” in praise of the Spirit’s leading!
Thanks, Shhhh. Our hearts beat with a silent beat of thanks.
Let’s raise our hands as a sign of rejoicing!
(Everyone raises their hands)
Let’s applaud God’s healing among us in American Sign Language!
(Everyone raises their hands over their heads, if possible, and makes jazz hands)
Let’s blow kisses of thanksgiving for a bounty of blessings.
(Everyone blows kisses toward the communion table)
Let’s share our joy and our praise for God within each other.
(Everyone shares in one of the ways above that suits them)
(Richard Bott, Gathering L/E 2019, p43. Used with permission.)
In this moment of mystery, in this moment of hope, in this moment of life, loving God –
Open our hearts to the wonder!
Open our senses to the possibilities!
Open the tombs we’ve created, and show us they are empty of what we’ve come to expect,
But full of the new possibilities.
Alleluia! Let it be!
Amen.
This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad! (2x)
Refrain (2X):
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu,
Singing hallelu! We will rejoice and be glad!
Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie. (2x)
Refrain (2X):
Chantant Allelu, chantant Allelu,
Chantant Allelu! Nous le vivrons dans la joie
Good morning!
Today is Easter Sunday! This is a happy day for Christians all over the world because we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus!
Hmm. The word resurrection is certainly a big word. Remember the story of how Jesus died on Good Friday? Well, that is not the end of Jesus’ story. We, Christians, believe that Jesus rose again. That is a simple definition of the word resurrection – Jesus is risen from the dead. Now the question is – how did that happen?
When I think of Jesus rising again from the dead, it reminds me of wonderful things that we see around us.
(slide1) Take, for example – a caterpillar cocooning itself like a dead worm and then, in a matter of days, that caterpillar will turn into a beautiful butterfly!
(Slide 2) Think of a seed that seemed lifeless at first, but when planted in the soil and nourished with water and sunshine, that lifeless seed will turn into an apple tree with lots of flowers and fruits.
(Slide 3) Or think of a deflated balloon but when filled with air, it changes into an awesome shape that can float in the air. It’s amazing, isn’t it, how God can make these things happen.
Can you think of other examples where something insignificant might change into something different and beautiful and full of life?
The story in John tells us that after Jesus died, his body was laid in a tomb with a stone that sealed it. But when Mary Magdalene visited his tomb on Easter morning, the stone was rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone. It must have been devastating for Mary to realize that the tomb was empty. She cried the longest in her life. Her teacher, her beloved friend, Jesus, is gone. Then she heard someone call her name: “Mary!” and when she looked up, as the story goes, standing in front of her was Jesus. I think Mary, at first, thought it was the gardener who was in front of her. Mary did not know it was Jesus because, perhaps, Jesus’ appearance was changed. That is how John told the story.
I don’t know about you, but for me, the resurrection of Jesus is like baking Easter cookies. Yes – you heard it right! Baking yummy Easter cookies! Last night, I found a recipe shared by the Rev. Gord Dunbar in 2015.
(Slide 4) So, I prepared all the ingredients needed: crushed pecans, a tablespoon of vinegar, egg whites, a pinch of salt and a cup of sugar. When I looked at these ingredients, they reminded me of Jesus’ life on earth. He certainly taught us to be salt of the earth. Jesus showed us that life is both sweet like sugar and sour like vinegar. He had days that were bubbly and at their peak. But sadly, he was crushed and eventually was crucified because he taught that God’s love is for everyone, no matter who they are, and that angered some of those in power.
(Slide 5) So, I mixed all of these ingredients – symbolic of the life and death of Jesus, and baked them in the oven. And after a few minutes, voila! The fluffy mixture turned into a hard, cracked surface but the inside is hollow. Looking at the hollow cookie, I felt like Mary – sad and disappointed at first – but when I tasted it, the whole thing just melted in my mouth. And it made me rejoice and say alleluia!
The resurrection of Jesus is a moment of a sheer celebration! Jesus died but we made him alive again and again through our acts of love, kindness and compassion. We made him come to life every time we offer God’s unconditional love to others and the whole of creation. Jesus lives again when we commit ourselves to following in his footsteps. Jesus is alive in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives, like a yummy Easter cookie filled with sweetness and love that changes God’s world to a better place.
Let us pray. Easter God, thank You for the gift of Jesus in our lives. Help us to offer your unconditional love and share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection through our words and acts of love, kindness and compassion. Alleluia! Christ Risen in us! Alleluia! Amen.
Refrain: Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
Hey now! The morning has come!
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
The tomb was empty at the rising sun.
1. Jesus loved people and he made them friends
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He called to the children and the women and men.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. Refrain
2. Jesus healed people and he helped them be well.
Hey now the tomb was empty.
He taught about God in the stories he’d tell.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. Refrain
3. Jesus loved people and they said he was a king.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He turned all the tables on everything.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. Refrain
4. Jesus had power and they took him away.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
They nailed him on a cross and they killed him one day.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. Refrain
5. Jesus loves people and he lives again!
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
Calls us disciples and he calls us his friends.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. Refrain
God of joy and delight, open our hearts to receive your Word anew, and give us hope as an Easter people.
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
May we find ourselves renewed through this story of hope.
Thanks be to God.
Words & Music © 2006 Fielding & Morgan, arrangement © 2010 Sorenson
Here we are this morning, gathered together in a sanctuary filled with flowers and hallelujahs! Today is the day we celebrate the story that defines us as Christians, the one story that sets us apart from all other religions in the world. Today we shout the message of hope and conviction to the world:
He is risen!
Death does not have the last word!
Jesus lives!
Look! God is creating something new!
Hallelujah!
And yet, we weep…
We weep for a world where violence and oppression still make people cower in bunkers … where people are forced to leave their homes – their lives – and rush to join the crowds who gather at the borders, looking for safety…
We weep for a world where children go hungry, where water isn’t safe to drink, where lack of even the basic necessities of life result in disease and death…
We weep for a world where greed and the lust for power fill some pockets to overflowing while others struggle to put a meal on the table, a roof over their heads, shoes on their children’s feet…
We weep for a world where people suffer – good people who have done everything right – where pandemics go on and on, where some elderly folks are warehoused rather than cared for with the dignity they deserve, a world where a person can feel lonely and alone in a crowded, bustling city…
Sometimes, in all this weeping, shouting “Hallelujah” can seem almost inappropriate…
It struck me this week, as I read the resurrection stories, that no one seemed to be celebrating on those first days after Jesus was crucified. The hallelujahs that we raise on Easter morning aren’t reflected in the accounts of that first son-rise…
The contrast between our hymns of celebration and the passage from John that we heard this morning suddenly struck me in the heart when Mary arrived at the tomb, distraught with grief, wanting more than anything to give her beloved teacher the dignity in death that was stripped away from him in such a graphic way on the cross. I imagined how horrible those hours from sundown on Friday, when the sabbath time began to this early morning walk to the tomb where she had seen him placed must have been. Hours of grief, hours of distress, hours of desperately wanting to do something but being bound by her religious obligation, and perhaps some fear of what will happen next, what will happen to his friends and followers. She was determined, though. She arrived at the tomb as soon as she was able, as soon as the sabbath had ended and she was free to move again – even before the sun rose. She made her way in the dark, carrying the oils that would help her erase that image of his execution like a criminal, his broken and beaten body, the death cries and the stench of others hanging there, the shame and disgrace that accompanied such a death. Like Mary of Bethany who just days ago, washed those beloved feet with nard mixed with tears and wiped them with her hair, this Mary would bathe and anoint his body and give him the love and decency he so deserved. She was on a mission to right a wrong.
And when she arrived, the stone had been rolled away and that beloved body was gone…
Can you imagine what that sight, that realization, would have done to her?
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
In this increased state of distress, she turns to those who would understand, those who loved him as much as she did, those who were grieving just like her, those who would know what to do… and, in shock, these grieving men run to the tomb. No, no, no! It can’t be true. We will go there and it will have been a trick of the light, a trick of her grief… They don’t walk, they run! They need to see… to prove it wrong…
The first disciple arrives, outrunning Simon Peter, desperate to be the one who says, “It’s ok! It’s ok! He is here, just as we left him.” … but he stops short when he is faced with the horrible truth… the stone has been rolled away, the body is gone… who would do such a thing? How can this be happening? Is this what he was trying to tell us – that he would rise from the dead? Oh, please, let him be alive! Let this nightmare be over, let him come around the corner and tell us it was all a mistake…
“Why are you weeping?”
Peter sees him standing there as he arrives… Would he wonder what this man has seen inside the tomb? He goes past him – right inside – there must be some explanation… He needs to see for himself…
And the two men return home – not running this time. Confused… disappointed… distressed… maybe resigned to the realization that it is really over, that he is really gone…
“Why are you weeping?”
And Mary is left alone again… her basket of oils unopened… her need to make things right thwarted… the frustration and grief of the last few days washing over her again… unable to leave… unable to accept this insult added to injury… she bends down to look in the tomb again… she sees two angels there…
“Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? Who do you expect to find here?”
Someone is behind her and she turns her head to see…
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
Ah! It must be the gardener! He will be able to sort this out…
Confused… Distraught… Inconsolable…
And then she heard it… He called her by name!
She turns around … and in that gardener’s face she recognizes him – her teacher! – her beloved Jesus! … and in his words she hears the message that they all need to hear
I am going to my Father… your Father… my God… your God…
… a message for his brothers, his family, the ones who would now carry on…
And she told them, “I have seen the Lord!”
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
Is this not time for the Hallelujah?... Why are they not praising?
But it isn’t there… even if we continue to read John’s gospel or the writings of the others… no Hallelujahs… no celebration…
What we do find is a growing awareness… through their grief, they begin to see that they were wrong: It isn’t all over… It is just beginning…
Death did not have the final word…
We have just journeyed through the forty days of Lent – days of darkness, of confession, of deep reflection…
We have journeyed through that last week in the life of Jesus – a triumphant parade of hope… an intimate night of lessons about servanthood and love… a betrayal from a close friend… a crowd stirred to violence by shouts of rhetoric… a show of might and power to squash it all – the hope, the call to serve, the love, the new way forward… a final blow of disgrace and cruelty to end any thoughts of continuing in this new direction…
“Why are you weeping?”
The question is asked, over and over again…
I wonder… Is it really a question meant to dismiss the real grief of Mary, of Simon Peter, of all those who had loved and followed Jesus? Do these angels, this gardener, Jesus himself, not understand what they are going through?
Or… is it a challenge?
Why are you weeping? – Is it sadness that you have lost your friend, your teacher, your leader – your brother?
… or are you weeping because it’s over? Are these tears a sign of defeat? A sign that this power tactic worked? That death – that evil – has won?
I think Mary finally got it… “I have seen the Lord!” she tells them, and she passes on his message.
It’s not the end of the road… it’s the beginning of the next leg… He has shown the way and now it’s their turn to lead. Their Brother and their Father will be there to support them on the way.
There is a time for weeping, for sure. There is a time for grief, for fear, for disappointment, for frustration, anger, despair – for all the feelings Mary and the disciples were feeling on that first Easter morning. They are human emotions and they are all completely appropriate reactions to a death – particularly a death as unjust, as cruel, and as unnecessary as the death of Jesus. Certainly a “Hallelujah!” would have seemed out of place!
But… “Why are you weeping?” Is it because of the loss of a beloved one? Ok, that’s good, that’s understandable, that’s to be expected. Let me offer you comfort.
“Why are you weeping?” Is it because it’s all over now and you see no reason to go on? Let me help you celebrate the life of the one you lost. Let me help you see how you can share their legacy, how you can build on what they began.
There are many things in this world that cause us to weep – still – two thousand years after the death of our beloved teacher.
The sorrow, the anger, the despair, the frustration – all those emotions we feel when we look at the problems in our world today – they are all causes for weeping. Our grief is justified.
But it can’t stop there. These emotions are also a call to action – a challenge to each one of us to follow in the steps of Jesus – the one we call the Risen Christ – a call to use those emotions to cause the world to change.
It’s what it means to be a Christian, after all, a follower of Jesus, isn’t it? To be a Christian is to live in hope that the world can change – that the world is changing – and that we have what it will take to make that change happen – a sense of service, a sense of justice, love for our neighbour and for Creation. To be a Christian is to celebrate the life of the one who showed us the way and to celebrate our faith that following this path is exactly how that change will take place.
So, here we are this morning, gathered together in a sanctuary filled with flowers and hallelujahs! Today is the day we celebrate the story that defines us as Christians, the one story that sets us apart from all other religions in the world. Today we celebrate that he has called us by name. We celebrate that “we have seen the Lord!” Today, we shout the message of hope and conviction to the world:
He is risen!
Death does not have the last word!
Jesus lives!
Look! God is creating something new!
Hallelujah! – a most appropriate word for today – Hallelujah!
Amen.
Hymn: Bread for the Journey - More Voices #202
Pain pour la route, pour nos chemins.
De Dieu la coupe, aujourd’hui, demain.
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
Invitation:
This is the table of the risen Christ.
In this feast comes the root of our joy.
In this feast gleams the promise of the earth and the glory of all creation.
In this feast comes the Christ, Saviour and Friend to all.
Call to Give Thanks:
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord or God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Hallelujah, thanks and praise, ever-living God, worker of wonders, maker of miracles, author of all life and giver of life eternal!
Out of chaos and fear you bring beauty and hope.
Out of despair and death you create courage and new life.
And so, with the risen Christ, who makes all things new by the power of his resurrection, we join in the song of a new day to sing your praise:
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Heaven and earth praise you, O God most high!
Remembering Jesus at Table:
We do what Jesus did the night before he died.
He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said,
“Take, eat; remember me.”
Then he took the cup, and said, “Take, drink; remember.”
Affirmation of Memory and Hope:
By sharing this loaf and cup,
We proclaim Jesus,
Crucified and risen,
Our judge and our hope.
Prayer for Transformation:
Holy God, pour your Spirit on us, that we may know Christ in the breaking of bread, and that, in word and deed, we may be channels of your love, peace, and justice in the world.
Concluding Praise:
Praise be to God, the Source of love!
Praise be to Christ, Love incarnate!
Praise be to the Spirit, Love’s power!
Praise be to God! Amen.
Breaking the bread and Filling the Cup:
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
Whoever comes to me will never be thirsty.”
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Sharing the Bread and Cup
The Bread of Life.
The Cup of Blessing.
Prayer After Communion:
Life-giving God,
May we who share Christ’s body, live his risen life;
May we who drink his cup, bring new life to others;
May we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
So that we and all your children shall be free,
And all creation will live to praise your name.
Amen
Hymn: Bread for the Journey - More Voices #202
Pain pour la route, pour nos chemins.
De Dieu la coupe, aujourd’hui, demain.
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
Prayers of the People
Rev. Lorrie
(Ted Dodd, for DOTAC, April 2022. Used with permission.)
God of Easter,
Roll away the stone of sadness, turn our mourning into dancing.
God of Resurrection,
Race with us to the site of new life, turn our crying into mirth.
God of the Empty Tomb,
Help us to see angels who make holy inquiry, turn our grief into joy.
God of Easter, grant us hope and a sense of daylight.
In the face of the challenges of this year, so much is
confusing,
upsetting and
stressful.
God of Resurrection, grant us peace and a spirit of prayerfulness.
In this warring, virus world, a lot of us are weeping,
in grief,
in fear,
in anxiety.
God of the Empty Tomb, grant us reassurance and
a willingness to see the world without despair.
Despite death and misunderstanding and tears,
Easter happened.
A stone was rolled away.
Angels appeared.
Jesus spoke Mary’s name.
God of the gospel good news,
speak each of our names, that we might know assurance and faith.
God of Easter,
roll away the stone of sadness, that we might be people of hope.
God of Resurrection,
race with us to the site of new life, that we might live in courage.
God of the Empty Tomb,
help us to see angels, that we might experience strength.
We come to you in the name of Jesus, the Risen One, and in the words
he taught us to use when we pray together:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
Anthem: Meekness and Majesty
BCUC Choir
Composition © 1986 Graham Kendrick, arrangement © 1991 Jack Schrader
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings and your commitment to the work. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Rejoicing! Celebrating! Giving thanks!
Gracious God, hope and new life are your amazing gifts to us.
As we offer our gifts back to you, remind us that we are Easter people
and you call us to sow seeds of love and justice in the world. Amen.
1. Christ the Lord is risen today, hallelujah!
All creation join to say, hallelujah!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, hallelujah!
Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, hallelujah!
2. Love’s redeeming work is done, hallelujah!
Fought the fight, the battle’s won, hallelujah!
Lo, our sun’s eclipse is o’er! Hallelujah!
Lo, he dwells in death no more! Hallelujah!
3. Lives again our glorious King, hallelujah!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Hallelujah!
Once he died, our souls to save, hallelujah!
Where your victory, O grave? Hallelujah!
4. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, hallelujah!
Praise to you by both be given! Hallelujah!
Every knee to you shall bow, hallelujah!
Risen Christ, triumphant now. Hallelujah!
(Elaine Bidgood Sveet, gathering L/E 2016, p44. Used with permission)
Go out with joy this Easter morning!
May the hope and power of this holy day strengthen you.
Let your Alleluias ring!
Alleluia! Amen!
Materials adapted from: The UCC GO Project (Copyright 2022)
Easter — the story of Jesus’ resurrection — is one of the most important stories for Christians. Every Sunday when Christians gather together, they celebrate a mini version of this day, remembering how Jesus died and rose again, and how that has changed the world. There are four different stories about the resurrection in the Bible. In this one, from the Gospel of John, we hear that Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene and then tells her to share the news with all the others. You can also notice that
Mary doesn’t immediately recognize Jesus, as though she isn’t quite ready to believe in what God can do.
Video:
I wonder why Mary didn’t recognize Jesus?
I wonder why Jesus chose to appear to Mary?
I wonder what it would feel like for Jesus to call us by name, especially when we’re sad?
I wonder how we can share the news of the resurrection with others?
I wonder how God’s love can change the world?
The butterfly has long been a Christian symbol of the resurrection, for a caterpillar disappears into a cocoon and appears dead, but emerges later more beautiful and powerful than before. The four stages of the butterfly’s life are symbolic of the stages in the life cycle of Christ:
Stage 1: The butterfly begins as a tiny egg; and Jesus began as a dream from God, made real through Mary carrying the baby Jesus.
Stage 2: The egg turns into the larva/caterpillar stage; and Jesus grows into a child and then man - learning each day.
Stage 3: Chrysalis stage - when the caterpillar cocoons itself breaking down its cellular forms and becomes something new; and after Jesus is crucified and spends days in the tomb preparing to resurrect.
Stage 4: Adulthood - when the butterfly emerges from the cocoon and flies away, and when Jesus is resurrected and leaves the tomb.
Make yourself a butterfly! Try these folded paper butterflies or search for another idea online.
When you’ve made it, think of it emerging from your Lenten Toolbox – full of new life! Your self-care tools and efforts can leave you refreshed and renewed!
Explore the move from sorrow into joy by decorating a cross with flowers, butterflies and other symbols of joy. Jesus died on the cross. It was a symbol of fear for people in the ancient world. But from this cross comes new life. It is now a symbol of God’s love and the new life that God makes for us. On Easter Sunday we celebrate how God overcomes our fear and death with new life and love.
Print out the cross template, and, using any colouring tools you wish, fill the cross with flowers, butterflies, and other symbols of new life. We can remember that something that made people afraid can also bring us great joy.
Click to print PDF
God’s love can bring life when things seem hopeless, as God does by raising Jesus from the dead. God transforms the death of Jesus into something unexpected, bringing a new experience to the followers of Jesus. We can see the ways in which God is at work in the world, bringing new life to places of despair through love.
Do a web search for news stories, images, or articles that show God’s love at work in the tough and scary places in the world. Look for helpers, new chances, fresh starts, unexpected generosity and kindnesses. Gather your findings in a slideshow presentation format. Share with your family, explaining where you see the new life, love, and hope in your collection.
(Alternatively, search physical magazine and newspapers, and cut out articles, images, and headlines, and collect them in a scrapbook format)
This fun baking project reminds us of the empty tomb. The marshmallows inside the crescent roll will melt and stick to the pastry, as though they disappear from inside the “tomb.” But the rolls will still taste good!
Supplies: 2 8oz cans of crescent rolls, 16 large marshmallows, ½ cup of butter, 2 tbsp cinnamon, ¼ cup of sugar
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
2. Open the cans of crescent rolls. Unroll the dough and separate.
3. Melt the butter in a microwave.
4. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl.
5. Dip each marshmallow into the melted butter. Then dip it into the cinnamon-sugar.
6. Place each marshmallow in the centre of a crescent roll. Close the dough around the marshmallow.
7. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 15, 2022 – 10 am
Ministers: Rev. Lorrie Lowes and Rev. Kim Vidal
Music Director: Abe TeGrotenhuis
Dear friends, gather round
I have a story to tell
of one who reached inside himself
and took a handful of love
like a pile of stardust
and said: this is for you
it is all you need
it is all you will ever need
there is enough here
to change the whole world
take it
many laughed at him
mocked him
and ignored the invitation
but some dared to take it
and those who did
noticed something about this love
they found they could do what the gift-giver could do
they could stand with the lost
welcome the traveler
eat with the hungry
they found themselves doing what the man first did to them
give something of themselves to others
they became like the man
offering themselves
and as they offered themselves
others took the invitation
and many still do
and many still trust/
it is enough to change the whole world.
Today, I invite you to listen with your heart.
Through these words and music,
may we find our hearts warmed
by a love that is stronger than our fear,
and stronger even than the finality of death. Welcome to Good Friday.
Surely God is in this time and place.
Help me notice.
Help me notice.
Help me notice.
Never do we notice God’s presence more than today – this day we call “Good”.
Nowhere do our hearts break more than today – this day we call “Good”.
Nowhere do we experience the power of love more than today –
this day we call “Good”.
We bless God that we can come to this place,
in the sadness of our living,
and even here, find love,
as we wait with a dear one
for the kindness of death to arrive.
Come and let us worship God.
(Words: Isaac Watts, 1707; Music: Psalmody in Miniature, 1780)
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small:
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Into the shadows of chaos, the light of the world stops.
From the silence of death, the word of God breaks free.
For the emptiness of our souls, the Bread of Life is broken.
Together, let us pray. [3]
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
My Comforter, I have a need for your comforting presence.
In my troubled hours, you were always present.
Listen to my prayer.
Listen to my heart.
Holy God, you call us to walk the way of the cross,
but we choose the way that is easy,
or the one that promises us the best return.
Forgive us: open us to the faithful way,
the way of radical trust,
the way of true joy.
Journey with us as we take these final steps
of the Lenten journey.
(Moment of Silence)
Hear now God’s words of love:
On the cross, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
That prayer is for us as well. We are loved, we are restored. Amen.
Holy God, we have followed Jesus to the cross. Help us to receive your Word in our midst and let it bring comfort to us as we sit awhile and mourn on this Good Friday. In your name. Amen.
45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.”
48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.
49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
May these words of sorrow remind us that death is part of the human condition.
But God’s love assures us of life even in the midst of grief and fear. Amen.
And about three o’clock, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli lama-sabachthani?’ that is
‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46)
I don’t understand why, but sometimes life is a big disappointment. People we love die. Families fall apart. Friends betray us and we too often hurt those we love most. Life is not always a bed of roses. Or, as some would say, -- there are times when "Life sucks!" It sucks away our hopes and dreams; it steals away what is good and the beautiful; it robs us of joy and laughter; and even love itself seems to die. Life just doesn't 'live up' to our hopes and expectations. And sometimes it is agonizingly disappointing when the pain and suffering become nearly unbearable.
And here is Jesus hanging on the cross feeling abandoned and forsaken by his dear daddy, Abba! Father, God - Why oh why have you forsaken me?
During the six hours before his death, according to Matthew, he expressed the full range of human anguish—from the absence of water to the absence of God. “Eli, Eli, lama-sabachthani”. In the execution of a man whose only fault was to speak truth to power, the most heart-wrenching word of the dying Jesus to God was uttered. Sabachthani, forsaken: do you know what this word means? It means "to abandon, to let go, to leave." It is awful to be forsaken. We like to say that no one is an island. It isn't natural for anyone to be totally alone. We long for companionship and we need others to go through our life’s journey. But when you are forsaken, you are on your own, you become an island in the flowing stream of humanity – lonely, isolated, alone. Jesus felt abandoned and forsaken by his disciples and friends. One betrayed him, another denied him, and who knows how many of them went to hide- afraid to be identified as his friends. To be forsaken means that no one is able or willing to help you. You are totally alone and helpless.
Some years ago, a famous scholar made a comparison of the death of Socrates and the death of Jesus. When the Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned to die, he drank a cup of hemlock poison with great serenity. In the face of death—with no god to call on—Socrates discussed the pros and cons of immortality with composure and reasonableness. He died the way we would like to die. Scholars call it “death with dignity.”
When we turn to the death of Jesus, we see it was nothing like the death of Socrates. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Mark says he was trembling. Matthew says he threw himself to the ground, while Luke says he was sweating and his sweat fell like great drops of blood. He doesn’t want to drink the cup of death. He doesn’t want to be alone. Can’t you watch for just one hour? When the end comes, he is not in control but is calling out desperately like a child abandoned by his parents.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". Was not Jesus, the pious believer, simply reciting a verse he had known since childhood? After all, this was a verse quoted from Psalm 22. Dying people, amazingly, revert to prayers that formed them in their younger, healthier days—the way a person who hasn’t spoken for days may recite the Lord’s Prayer. "Now I lay me down to sleep," says the 90-year old in the nursing home, "I pray the Lord my soul to keep." O perhaps some would recite the ever-beautiful Psalm 23rd, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”
Was Jesus really forsaken by God or did he only feel abandoned? We have these moments ourselves. When we are plunged into a deep place and feel abandoned by God, we, too, will cry out to God. We may feel we are praying—desperately, fervently, unknowingly— for an Absence, like believers left hanging in the dark. St. John of the Cross spoke of the believer’s dark night of soul. Luther spoke tremblingly of the hidden God. The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that his generation might have to live as if there was no God but always in the presence of God.
Dear friends, take heart. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” was spoken by Jesus to express his despair – a human emotion that was so real when one faces death. Jesus' friends knew it. The women followers felt it. His mother Mary agonizingly witnessed her son slowly dying. Can you feel it? They, too, were devastated. Their leader, their wisdom teacher, their beloved friend dies. He was supposed to be the one who would lead them out of their social, political and religious oppressions. Without him, their hopes would die as well. And there is no one to replace him. Not in that moment of sorrow.
On this day, when death seems to take over our senses and our heart, Jesus affirms the truth about dying, of being abandoned and being forsaken by the God of love. But somehow, we forgot one thing. Others live with hope. There were the women and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross. There was his mother who kept on praying that he would no longer suffer. Yes, they held on to the painful disappointment of losing Jesus, but they lived to spread the good news of God’s love and Jesus’ teachings to others. There was Joseph of Arimathea who came forward to wrap the body of Jesus with spices and lay it in a tomb. Deep in his heart, Joseph knew that Jesus deserved a burial fit for a decent, honourable man, and a stone was rolled in place to cover great sadness and disappointment.
When life is a painful disappointment, we do what we can. We wait. We sit at our agonizing loss and wait. It is all we can do to look at the stone in front of the tomb and to weep. Life may abandon us, forsake us, crucify us, but we are not alone. The women, the beloved disciple, mother Mary, those believers did not give up. They were with Jesus until his death. And did Jesus give up on God? I don’t think so. Jesus clung to God with all his might during the darkest hour of his life. And so, must we.
On this Good Friday, we take all the unbearable failures and let-downs of our lives, wrap them up with spices and lay them in the tomb. And we wait as we cling to the God of hope. And God would seem to speak, but barely a silent whisper to those parts of our souls, a voice buried in the despair of the cross: God says to you and me: “In this world of death, of violence, of hurts and pains, I will bring about something new. Just wait in hope. There is new life that awaits us at the tomb.” Amen.
Congregation:
In the cross, in the cross, be my glory every,
Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river
“Forgive Us Lord and Remember Us”[4]
Jesus Christ, standing at the foot of your Cross on this Good Friday, we look back to see all those things that led you to the Cross. When you declared that you came to announce freedom to the poor from their poverty,
the affluent among the pious deeply resented it.
When you spoke about God’s inclusive and welcoming love,
those who took pride in their election and covenant sought to crush you.
Your proclamation of the nearness of the Just Reign of God,
incurred suspicion from powers-that-be.
You were deeply troubled.
Yet you retained your confidence in God.
If we had been there, we like to think we would not have done this to you.
But still some of us resent your bias towards the poor, while others find it a constant challenge. We find loving people of other faiths difficult.
We sometimes erect barriers of fear and suspicion and do not accept inclusivity and justice as Gospel values.
Forgive us, Jesus. Forgive us, God.
Repentance opens us, Forgiveness frees us. May the acceptance of your forgiveness lead us to follow the truth you set before us.
Remember us in your reign. Amen.
(Words & Music: African-American spiritual, arr. Melva Wilson Costen, 1987)
1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Were you there?)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (Were you there?)
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (Were you there?)
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (Were you there?)
3 Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (Were you there?)
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (Were you there?)
4 Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (Were you there?)
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (Were you there?)
5 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (Were you there?)
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (Were you there?)
This is a day of shadows.
This is a day called good,
but it is hard to see sit that good.
This day is a day when the presence of God can be seen
even within moments of despair.
And so, we say with confidence:
This is God’s Friday.
This day marks not just the end of life,
but the beginning of new hope.
Let us leave this place in hope, knowing God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
[1] Roddy Hamilton, posted in Listening to the Stones blog.
[2] Bob Root, Gathering Lent/Easter 2021, Year B. Used with permission.
[3] Bev Ripley Hall & Beth W. Johnson, Gathering, L/E 2017. Used with permission.
[4] Worship Ways, UCC 2008 (Revised and shortened)
[5] Bill Steadman and Catherine Somerville, Gathering, L/E 2017 (Year A). Used with permission.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 14, 2022
*** If you are joining us from home, please have bread and drink ready to share in the Agape Meal***
Thank you to our readers for tonight’s service: Eithne barker, David Stafford, and Neil Lowes.
Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us tonight – in person or by Zoom – as we continue our journey through Holy Week. It’s not an easy journey. A week that began with a triumphal parade into Jerusalem now takes a darker turn. It would be so much easier to head straight to the joy of Easter morning, wouldn’t it? But, in order to understand and fully appreciate the profound depth of that joy, we really need to follow Jesus and his disciples on that last week, to celebrate with them the sacredness of Passover, so steeped in the history of their ancestors – our ancestors – and to feel the chaos, confusion, and sorrow that followed the hope-filled excitement of Palm Sunday. So, tonight we will join Jesus and his closest friends as they gather together in an upper room to celebrate the night that God led the people out of slavery in Egypt, the time of Passover.
(Richard Bott, Gathering L/E 2016, p62. Used with permission)
Even as the days grow longer, Jesus’ time grows short.
Even as the Christ-Light shines, the world works to hide it:
To hide Christ’s hope,
To hide Christ’s understanding,
To hide Christ’s love.
But we will not let the Christ-light or the Christ-love be hidden.
Even on our way to the cross, in the best, in the worst,
Christ’s light shines.
(Words; John Bell & Graham Maule, 1995; Music: John Bell, 1995)
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger,
my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger
and I have promised, promised to be always near.
(Susan Lukey, gathering Lent-Easter 2022, p 39. Used with permission)
Come, let us journey with Jesus this evening.
Come, O people, to journey the way of passion.
We travel with heavy hearts.
Come, O people, to journey through shadow and valley.
We travel in trust and in faith.
Come, O people, to journey the way of conviction.
We travel in love and in hope.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
We remember, from a few short months ago, the story of Jesus’ birth.
Calmness, contentment, concord… these words could be used to set the scene.
O God, how we want to stay in that sweet place, adoring the holy child, oohing and aahing, brimming with peace. But, like it always does, time marches on…
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
That baby did grow up and he became the type of man to make his mother proud. Courageous, compassionate, convinced… that is what he became.
Surely, God we can stay by the seashore a little while longer. Perhaps we can hear one more sermon or see one more person healed. But that time, too, has passed.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Here we are, preparing to say good-bye.
Chaos, commotion, calamity… that is how this night will end. When the mob shows up in the idyllic garden with lanterns and torches and swords, they will arrest the one who changed the world.
We know what comes next. It makes us anxious, God, for we have heard the story before. We know we must go there, but first we ask for just a little more time with our friend, a moment longer to prepare ourselves so we may fully live though death is near.
Let us go now to the upper room.
And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Refrain:
Jesu, Jesu,
Fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbours we have from you.
1. Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them. (Refrain)
(This is a participatory prayer that you can do comfortably from your chair, with your feet on the floor)
(Maggie Watts-Hammond, Gathering L/E 2021, p71. Used with permission)
When the disciples came to the upper room, they had been walking for miles. They were tired and a little frightened, their hands were clenched and their feet were sore, and they were breathing so fast. Place your hand on your heart and take a deep breath in…for God is as near to you as the air you breathe… and breathe out. And now take another deep breath as you feel your heart slow, for the journey of the day is over and you are already here.
And say after me:
Look upon us, O lord, and let all the shadows of our souls vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
And Jesus came, hot and footsore but smiling: a day was ending and a new era beginning. Roll your shoulders forward and back – it’s been a long day and you can relax in the presence of the Christ.
And say after me:
Look upon us, Lord, and fill us with holy love.
The disciples saw he had a bowl and water for their tired feet. Raise your right foot slightly from the floor and set it down – the foot that symbolizes a thousand journeys. And lift your left foot from the floor and set it down; the foot that has crossed a thousand thresholds now crosses into the upper room.
Repeat after me:
Look upon us, Lord, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
Set your hands upon your knees as you would if Jesus was kneeling before you with his bowl. And, lean forward as if you are leaning toward him as he leans toward you. And imagine he takes your feet in his hands, a touch of gentle grace that makes that foot feel fresh. And imagine the feel of water, warm enough to relax, cool enough to refresh.
And repeat after me:
All our desire is known unto thee, therefore perfect what thou hast begun, and what thy Spirit has awakened in us, let us ask in prayer.
Raise your hands, palms inward beside your face. Gently lay your left hand on your left cheek. Now stretch your right hand out forward toward Christ.
Repeat after me:
Look upon us, Lord. We seek thy face. Turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Lower your hands into the prayer position, palms almost touching, thumbs toward your heart, leaving space in between for the God you have known but don’t know yet. And breathe once more into the presence of God.
Repeat after me:
Look upon us, Lord. Then shall our longing be satisfied and our peace shall be perfect. Amen.
Now rest your hearts – and rest your hands open upon your knees – as we begin the ritual that first began that night.
Before all the pandemonium, there was a beautifully intimate moment in an Upper Room – a room made holy by the love that was present there.
There was a man who was anxious, a man who was afraid, a man who was savouring a moment of comfort surrounded by his friends. He was a man who knew he was about to be betrayed, knew he would be arrested, and knew he would be denied… but, for now, he was just a person having dinner with his friends, eating and chatting…
Knowing what was to come, he left his friends – and us – with a special gift for remembrance:
“The Farewell Tear” by Joyce Rupp
a feast of friendship
a story of betrayal
a memory of gifts given
you look with such intense love
on each one gathered there,
mist covers your deep brown eyes
as you hold each one in your gaze,
you close your eyes and I see
the farewell tear of friendship
as it follows the curve of your cheek.
you take the bread,
bless it gently, profoundly,
with old words and new.
(do you mean to say it is yourself?)
and then the wine,
again with words old and new.
(do you mean to say this, too,
is now yourself?)
you look again at each one there
and give the eternal gift:
“remember me and do the same.”
like those around the table then,
so with us who gather now,
if we knew how close our hearts
are held inside of yours,
we would always be amazed
that you meant this for us, too.
how shall we ever be brave enough
to do what you have done,
when grief engulfs our every breath
and each memorial word
is laden with our loss?
Joyce Rupp so beautifully tells the story of that last meal Jesus shared with his friends. And so, as we gather tonight, we are reminded of Jesus’ instructions to his followers:
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
Pain pour la route, pour nos chemins.
De Dieu la coupe, aujourd’hui, demain.
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
On the night before he died, Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me.”
Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This is the wine of the new covenant; whenever you drink it, remember me.”
By remembering Jesus in this way now, we claim our common heritage and we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Let us pray:
Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here,
That we and these gifts, touched by your Spirit, may be signs of life and love to one another, and to the world.
With Jesus, we pray together, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
The bread of tomorrow. (Bread is broken)
The cup of new life. (Cup is poured)
Come, join the feast at Christ’s table! (Bread and wine are consumed)
Let us pray:
We give thanks that bread broken brings wholeness;
that wine poured out replenishes;
that time spent with Christ and one another is gift and grace.
Amen.
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
Pain pour la route, pour nos chemins.
De Dieu la coupe, aujourd’hui, demain.
Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup full of blessing, tomorrow, today.
33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”
Gethsemane by Mary Oliver
The grass never sleeps.
Or the roses.
Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.
Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept.
The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet,
and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body,
and heaven knows it never sleeps.
Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe *
the wind wound itself into a silver tree, and didn't move,
maybe
the lake far away, where once he walked as on a
blue pavement,
lay still and waited, wild awake.
Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut, that could not
keep that vigil, how they must have wept,
so utterly human, knowing this too
must be a part of the story.
Go to dark Gethsemane, you that feel the tempter’s power;
Your redeemer’s conflict see; watch with him one bitter hour;
Turn not from his grief away: Learn from him to watch and pray.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the pain.
Stay with us, blessed stranger, till the morning breaks again.
Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the grief.
Stay with us, blessed stranger, till the morning brings relief.
Stay with us through the night.
Stay with us through the dread.
Stay with us, blessed stranger, till the morning breaks new bread.
(Gill LeFevre, Gathering Lent – Easter 2022, p40. Used with permission.)
Whatever the next hours hold, remember that you are blessed by God, and strengthened by God.
When the wilderness looms, take comfort in God’s love, that your life may affirm the good news of Jesus Christ.
You are beloved. Amen.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 10, 2022
Theme: “Being Stones that Won’t Keep Silent”
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Song #1029313 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Good day everyone! My name is Rev. Kim Vidal and on behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Palm Sunday. Today marks the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem with the crowd waving palm fronds and leafy branches and spreading their cloaks on the ground. We are glad that you have joined us in our worship service today.
We have reopened our sanctuary for an in-person worship service at 10 am. If you are comfortable attending the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated and still being mindful of the health protocols like masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Take note that our worship service today continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.
Please be reminded of the Holy Week schedule and mark it on your calendar. We hope that you can join us on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Details are in the announcements.
A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check the many announcements on our website, including Sunday School resources for your children, at bcuc.org. There are many opportunities to participate and offer your support to the various Lenten initiatives: the Lenten SOSA appeal to support FAMSAC; Hymn-Sing and Memorial Flowers to remember your loved ones. Details are posted in the announcements.
Friends, on this Palm Sunday, know that we are all connected and embraced in God’s love. Pray for each other and take comfort and inspiration from the words of Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.” Let us gather in worship and welcome Jesus in our hearts.
(Richard Bott, gathering, L/E 2016, Year C. Used with Permission)
(Light the Christ Candle)
On this Palm Sunday, as we wave palm branches
and journey towards Holy Week,
we will not let the Christ-light
or the Christ-love be hidden.
Even on our way to the cross,
in the best, in the worst,
Christ’s light shines!
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
Words © 1995 John Bell & Graham Maule; Music © 1995 John Bell, IONA GIA Pub
Song #98424 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
(Richard Bott, Gathering, L/E 2022, Year C. Used with permission)
Here he comes!
Voices 1, 2, 3: Who?
The Messiah! The Christ! God’s chosen one! Hosanna!
Voices 1, 2, 3: Hosanna! Hallelujah!
He’s at the gates now.
He’ll be arriving any minute.
Have your palm branches ready!
Voices 1, 2, 3: Hosanna! Hallelujah!
That’s right!
Here comes Jesus the Messiah!
Hey, ho, away we go,
Riding on a donkey!
Voice 1: Wait! Why is Jesus riding on a donkey and not on a horse?
Voice 2: Why does he look so quiet in the middle of our parade?
Voice 3: Where is his army? Has he come to save the people?
Riding on a donkey.
No shouts of rebellion.
No army.
Just a message.
God’s kin-dom is coming and God’s kin-dom is here.
Just a message.
Voices 1, 2, 3: Love one another as I have loved you.
(Laura J. Turnbull, Gathering, L/E, 2022. Used with permission)
God of celebration, we line up with the crowd to herald the coming of your chosen one. May the enthusiasm we feel this day continue into the shadowed and difficult days of Holy Week. Journey with us on this Palm Sunday so that we are strengthened for the most holy of weeks. With voices of hope, we shout, “Hosanna!” Amen.
1 Hosanna, loud hosanna
the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the lovely anthem rang:
to Jesus, who had blessed them,
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.
2 From Olivet they followed
'mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm-branch waving,
and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
content that little children
should on his bidding wait.
3 "Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer;
earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence
eternally rejoice.
Words 1873 Jennette Threlfall; Music trad 18th century German
Song #97922 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Today is Palm Sunday! It’s the day we march into the sanctuary waving our palm leaves. Oh! Didn’t anyone tell you that you need a palm branch to wave this morning? Sorry! I guess I didn’t think about telling you ahead of time. Can you find something close by that you can wave around when the time comes?
You know, that’s a bit like what happened on that day when Jesus entered Jerusalem. People didn’t know till the last minute that he was coming. When they heard that he was on his way, they thought, “Oh, my goodness! Jesus is coming! We need a parade!”
They didn’t have time to organize the bands and the baton twirlers and floats and flags, so they used what they could find close by. They used leaves from the trees around them – and we think those were probably palm trees. They cheered! HOSANNA! BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! And they spread their cloaks on the ground to make a special path – kind of like the red carpet that movie stars walk on at the Oscars. They were excited and they needed to show it!
Parades are a great way to celebrate, aren’t they? We use them to celebrate special holidays. We use them to celebrate when our home town teams win big championships. We sometimes have a parade when someone important comes to town - like the Queen - and we want everyone to know that we like what this person is doing for us.
Today we are celebrating that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowd went wild! They were really liking the message that he was preaching. He was giving them hope that things would get better in the world. They shouted “Hosanna!” which can be translated as “God saves!” It sounds like a good thing for us to shout today too! It is a cheer that is full of hope – the kind of hope that is needed when a tough time seems to go on and on.
There haven’t been many parades over the past couple of years – at least not the kind where people crowd together on the side of the road while colourful floats drive by and marching bands play music while clowns dance in the street and sometimes elves hand out candy canes while we excitedly watch for Santa to appear… I miss that fun!
There have been times when people created a sort of impromptu parade, though, to thank the frontline workers during the pandemic or to celebrate the birthday of someone in a nursing home or hospital. At those times, people made lots of cheerful noise by singing or cheering and banging pots and pans.
I think it’s still important to celebrate the things that are important in our lives, don’t you? We seem to have forgotten a bit lately – maybe because the big change we were hoping for, the end of the pandemic, hasn’t happened yet. Maybe we need a parade to celebrate how well we’ve done in handling these tough couple of years and to celebrate our hope that an end to this pandemic is coming if we all keep doing our part in keeping each other safe. So, today, let’s celebrate the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem when the people were filled with excitement and hope, just like us.
Let’s pray – and then grab whatever is close that you can use to wave around – or use your hands to cheer – and, right after the “Amen”, shout “Hosanna!”:
This morning, God,
Even though we aren’t all together in the church,
We still want to shout “Hosanna!” like the people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.
We want to send that same message of hope and faith to this hurting world today.
Amen
HOSANNA!!!
Sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna, (2x)
Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna (2x)
Words & Music: traditional South African, arranged © 1993 Nicholas Williams
Song #75948 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
God of the journey, let your grace, let your love, let your hope flow through your Word to us. Let your Word transform us today and always. Amen.
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They said, “The Lord needs it.”
35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Nothing can separate us from God’s love. As we commemorate Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, may our silent hearts of stone be transformed so that we may shout Hosanna! Blessed is Jesus who comes in the name of God who is love. Amen.
On our trip to Nicaragua in 2015, we visited the crater of the historic Volcano Masaya, a famous tourist spot just outside Managua. On the way there, we dropped by a museum for a tour, informing us of the history of the volcano as well as other relevant seismological information. I learned that in the days before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Masaya Volcano was worshiped by the local people as they viewed that any disturbing behaviour of the volcano was signs of displeasure from their gods. In the 16th century, the Spanish colonizers called the Masaya Volcano the "Mouth of Hell" and placed a wooden cross near the top of the crater to rid the volcano of the demonic spirits who were thought to inhabit it. Since then, there have been at least nineteen eruptions, with the last one taking place in 2008. Towards the end of the tour, a large lava rock grabbed my attention. This rock was emitted in Masaya’s biggest eruption which occurred almost 6,500 years ago. On top of the rock was a caption that says: “The Stones Also Speak” which reminds me of the last verse in today’s text: “if the disciples were silent, the stones would shout out.”
If rocks and stones could indeed speak, they'd have a lot to say. Think of fossil rocks that have layers of dinosaur-era oil and natural gas between them, or those rocks that have been blown out of volcanoes, or those that have been washed down oceans and lakes and rivers, pushed by glaciers and flash floods. Think of Mt. Rushmore where the heads of the four famous US presidents were sculpted to represent the founding, growth and preservation of the United States. Or the spectacular Canadian Rockies, which is made up of layered sedimentary rock such as limestone and shale that speak of God’s wondrous creation? What would those rocks and stones say to us?
The story of Palm Sunday was captured by the four gospel writers. Each one has their own version of the story. Mark, who wrote some 50 years after the first Palm Sunday, tells us that Jesus’ parade into Jerusalem was not a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment event. Mark spends more time telling us about the preparations than about the event itself. Matthew wrote his account around 60-70 years after the event and can’t seem to decide between a colt and a donkey. Matthew has the disciples bring both a donkey and a colt and Jesus sits on them and rides them into Jerusalem. I wonder how Jesus did that! The crowd spread their cloaks and leafy branches on the road. John, who wrote his own version some 70 to 80 years after the event, the leafy branches are named as branches of palm trees. Waving palm branches in ancient times was a tradition that conquering military leaders were welcomed home from battle. The Gospel of John hints that Jesus is a conquering hero and this particular parade is an ironic antithesis to a military parade. As the crowd waved these branches in that procession, the crowd chanted words from Psalm 118: “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord.” “Save us” in Hebrew is hosanna. That phrasing was typically followed with the words: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Luke gets around to telling the story at the same time as Matthew. The colt in Mark becomes a donkey. The crowd did not wave palm fronds or leafy branches but spread their cloaks on the ground. There was no mention of hosanna and Jesus was proclaimed as a king. It was only Luke who mentioned the stones that would not be silent. Luke has a fascination with stones. At one point, he reports that John the Baptist, in his call for repentance, warns Israel that “God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” It was Luke who said that Jesus laments over Jerusalem, the city “that kills prophets and stones those who are sent to it.” And on yet another occasion, when some were admiring the temple and the beautiful stones that adorned it, Jesus warned that there would come a day when not one stone of the temple would be left on top of another. You will also remember that one of the temptations in the wilderness that began those forty days of Lent was the temptation to turn stones into bread. And perhaps the most notable reference to stones in the Lukan gospel has to do with that stone that was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid in death, but pushed aside at Easter.
In today's reading, we hear of the Pharisees commanding Jesus to silence his disciples and followers when they got carried away, perhaps making a noise that Jesus is king! But Jesus answered them with a daring remark, “I tell you, if my disciples were silent, even the stones would cry out.” There is a certain relentless quality to what unfolds from this point on. Jesus is someone determined to follow God and be God’s voice to the people. He has a cause. He becomes a cause, a stoppable movement that rocks the world. Even the stones cannot keep from crying out that certain truth.
If the stones cried out, what exactly would they say? The crowd who welcomed Jesus exclaimed, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of God!” If the stones cry out, the first thing they would say is a shout of praise to Jesus who was a new and different kind of king. They would proclaim that the reign of God was near. They would dare tell everyone about the compassionate care of Jesus. They would boldly announce that Jesus was the one who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, offered movement to the paralyzed and inspired hope in the discouraged.
The stones would sing out about the kind and inclusive way Jesus spoke to women, children, the poor, and the oppressed. The rocks would proclaim Jesus' wise teachings. They would tell how Jesus challenged those in authority, by pointing out their hypocrisy and holding them accountable. If the stones cry out, they would say that Jesus was a peaceful reformer not a violent military leader. The stones proclaim that Jesus didn't abuse power or hoard any power for self-gratification. Jesus was and is willing to share power with anyone who desires to live in the right relationship with God, with others and with all of creation. If the stones cry out, they will shout that Jesus did not condemn others like those who were about to condemn and stone a woman accused of adultery.
Can you hear the stones proclaiming these things? Sometimes the world’s noise is so deafening we cannot hear the subtler voices that need to be heard. The city’s sounds, for instance, are so distracting. The vehicles speed their way to workplaces, schools, busy streets and homes. The police sirens and ambulances on their missions of intervention, rushing to the scenes of emergency and violence, of fires and accidents. There are arguments everywhere and audio systems so loud they shake the windows and our eardrums. Our community has its sounds, its shouts and cries. Far away from here, there are cries of grieving people and the sound of war in Ukraine that shatters the silence of the night, and turns laughter into tears, and joy into sorrow. Were we silent, I suppose, the very stones themselves would cry out, for the violence and hatred that has been spilled upon them, for the shattering they have endured, for the cries and grieving they have heard from so many. When we listen with our very own hearts, the stones have their stories to tell.
Imagine that you are holding a stone in your hand. What would that stone tell you right now? Is it asking you to be an instrument of love for those who are grieving and lonely and vulnerable? Is it telling you to offer peace by being a peacemaker for the world? Is it provoking you to open your heart and hands in offering compassion and justice? Is the stone shouting at you – challenging you to follow the ways of Jesus? Is the stone giving you an important message that God is love and nothing can separate us from that love, in that love, ever?
Sadly, a few days from now, that love will be tarnished by greed and violence. The crowd will shout “Crucify him!” and another act of injustice will take place. Jesus will be put to death. But come next Sunday, after the events of this coming Holy Week, there will come another shout, a joyful expression of resurrection, a truth of which even the stones will speak, when the stone is rolled away from the empty tomb.
Friends, take heart! On this Palm Sunday, let the stones speak to you. Listen with your heart. Do not let the stones do the shouting alone. Take up the challenge. Be the stones yourselves. God will not allow us to be silent in the face of injustice, violence or death! Hosanna! Blessed is Jesus who comes in the name of God. Amen.
God of all times and places, our Lenten journey brought us today to enter the Holy Week. As in Jesus’ time, the people waved palms and leafy branches and spread their cloaks on the road in praise of Jesus, the movement leader who entered Jerusalem in the name of God. Like stones that won’t be silenced, we see the crowds shouting hosanna! which was replaced a few days later with “crucify him!”
What would it be like if we were among the crowd that day? Will we offer our loud praises and recognize the leadership of Jesus? Will we offer our solidarity with the peasants and not be intimidated by the presence of political, religious and military powers? Will we run away and hide in fear of being crucified for being voices of protest? O God, help us to remember that Jesus entered Jerusalem bearing his teachings of non-violence, of truth to power and of love beyond the grave. With the grace of Your spirit, enfold our daily lives with insight and clarity that we may know your presence within each of us. In this Holy season, help us to fast from resentment, hostility, and apathy and instead feast on love, peace and joy that you lavishly offer for our journey to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
God of healing, gently touch the lives of those needing comfort and wholeness in distressed lives and souls, particularly those who have been affected by the COVID pandemic and from other diseases. With love and earnest concern, we pray for those carrying heavy burdens. Use us to comfort those who have suffered deep losses in their lives. Heal those who are troubled and distressed. Assure those awaiting medical results with good news. Disturb us to afflict the comfortable and comfort those afflicted, particularly those who have felt discriminated against, marginalized or ostracised because of the colour of their skin, or their ethnicity or religious beliefs. Remind us to stand with the people of Ukraine as they seek to free themselves from the horrors of war. O God, teach us to be advocates of your unconditional love. Through your light, we become light. Through your love, we are able to love.
Prepare us now to enter into the Holy Week with a heart willing to change and a heart ready to accept your forgiveness. And with grateful hearts, let us unite as we sing this prayer that Jesus taught us:
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 forever.
Music © 1986 David Haas, GIA publications
Song #01814 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
On that first Palm Sunday, the disciples went into the village to find what Jesus asked for, with only these words, “The Lord needs them.” May we respond today and always with our gifts, our time, and ourselves, because the Lord still needs them.
(Wanda Winfield, Gathering L/E 2018, p 36. Used with permission)
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings and your commitment to the work. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
(Laura J. Turnbull, Gathering, L/E 2022, Year C. Used with permission).
God of the journey, we present gifts
– our very best and our very selves.
May all we share be graciously received.
In the name of the giving Christ, we pray. Amen.
1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain:
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
2 I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on. R
3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die. R
4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on. R
5 They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he. R
Words © Sydney Carter 1963; Music: Shaker Melody adapt. and harm. © Sydney Carter 1963
Song #01248 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
The God who rejoiced with Jesus
as he was acclaimed by the Palm Sunday crowd,
celebrates with we us we journey through the Holy Week.
The God who stayed with Jesus
as he endured agony and death on that dark hill,
will stand with us in the testing times of life.
Jesus, our leader, you are eternally faithful.
With open hands, we wait on you.
With open hearts, we receive you.
Go in peace this day
and in the days to come. Amen.
arr © Mark Hayes Song #BP1919 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214.
All rights reserved
© Althouse Song #39992 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214.
All rights reserved
This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week in the church. It begins with Palm Sunday, a time when we wave our palm branches to remember Jesus’ exciting entrance into Jerusalem. On that day, the people welcomed Jesus like a hero or a king. They lined the road, waving their branches and shouting “Hosanna!”, which means “Save Us!” They were sure he was about to save them from the oppressive Roman power. It was an exciting and hopeful day.
Because we usually attend church only on Sundays, it’s easy to skip over the rest of Holy Week and jump right to Easter – but there are other important stories we should hear, stories about the things that happened that week. They are not happy stories, but they are important to our understanding of our faith.
The week that Jesus and his disciples went to Jerusalem was a very special week in the Jewish calendar. It was the celebration of Passover. Thousands of people travelled to this big city that week because the Temple was there – the most important place of worship for the Jewish people. It was a big festival and Jesus took this opportunity, like many others, to visit with friends and celebrate together.
One day, Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship, an important part of the Jewish celebration leading up to Passover. When he arrived, however, he found that there were many vendors there selling things the people need - but cheating them to make a big profit. He thought this was a terrible thing to do in such a holy place! He got very angry, turning over their tables and chasing them away. It started a big fight and that made the leaders angry with Jesus.
On Thursday, - the day we call Maundy Thursday, Jesus had a special Passover meal with his disciples. Remember that in those days, people wore sandals and their feet got very dusty. Usually, when people entered a house, a servant would wash their feet. Well, this time, Jesus did something very strange! He put a towel around his waist and washed the feet of his friends. He wanted to show them that we it is important to be servants to each other. He had many important things to tell his friends that night. It is at this dinner that he shared the wine and the bread with them and tells them to remember him each time they do this. It is the story that we remember each time we celebrate Communion in church. This special dinner is the last time Jesus was with his disciples because he was betrayed and arrested that night. The Temple leaders were afraid that Jesus is causing too much trouble with the Jewish people. They feel they need to stop him.
On Friday, Jesus was crucified. It is a very dark day in the church calendar. Jesus died on a cross. His followers thought this was the end of all the wonderful work that Jesus has been doing.
It was a hard week for Jesus and his followers – full of both celebrations and very scary events. It is hard for us to read about too - but we know that Easter Sunday is coming! Jesus will be alive again in the world!
You can watch some of these stories in this video:
How do you think the disciples felt about having Jesus wash their feet?
How do you think you might feel if someone important wanted to wash your feet?
How can we show love for each other by serving them?
What surprises you about these stories?
Each week, we’ll be making different things to add to the toolkit that remind us of how we can come closer to God.
This week, cut out and decorate footsteps to remind you of the wonderful ways Jesus taught us about loving and caring for others. When you’re having a tough time - feeling lonely, scared, or worried - you could put your feet on the footprints, and think about feeling connected and comforted by God, always walking along with you.
Click to print PDF
Materials: printout of template, glue, scissors, assorted green paper (tissue, construction, wrapping, etc.), fabric, or felt cut or torn up into little pieces.
Make a palm branch! On the BACK of the template, cover the whole area where the leaf is (on the reverse) with a collage of green paper pieces overlapping each other. When the area is completely covered, and the glue dry, flip over to show the template. Cut out around the lines carefully. Now the green side is in the shape of the palm leaf. Attach a stick or dowel to the stem, if you wish, and wave your palm branch high!
Click to print PDF
Check out this video: Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet by Saddleback Kids
Jesus performs an action that was usually done only by servants: washing away the dust and dirt from a person’s feet. But Jesus showed his friends that no one is more important than anyone else. This is what it means to love like Jesus: to serve each other willingly.
Many churches include a foot washing ritual as part of their Maundy Thursday service. During the service, people are invited to come up and wash each other’s feet, remembering Jesus’ command to do the same. Gather basins, cloths, towels, and warm water to wash each others’ feet at home.
Follow the instructions in the video below to make paper pieces for Calvary:
United Church Mission and Service partners are responding to the rapidly unfolding crisis in the Ukraine. Shelter, clean water, food and medical attention are urgently needed. You can help by donating online at united-church.ca , by phoning 1-800-268-3781 ex. 2738 or by sending a cheque to The United Church of Canada, Philanthropy United - Emergency Response, 3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4. Please mark "Emergency Response - Ukraine" on the face of your cheque.
Would you like your favourite hymn sung in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyful occasion? With a suggested minimum donation of $30, your hymn request will be featured in one of the Sunday services from March 13 until June 5. Proceeds from this fundraising will be used for a “Welcome Back Family Picnic” sometime in June! Please send your name, hymn request and dedication to the office via email. Donations can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque, payable to BCUC with the note: “Hymn-Sing”. Thank you for supporting this initiative.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
April 3, 2022
Lenten 2022 Theme: “The Way of Being”
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Old French Carol translated: Ysobel, Arrangement © 1942 Healey Willan, Oxford University Press
Song #80984 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
(Peter Chynoweth, Gathering Lent /Easter 2022, p30. Used with permission.)
This land on which we gather is the unceded territory and traditional land of the Algonquin and Anishnaabe people. We worship Creator on this land and acknowledge with respect the thousands of years of ceremony and relationship that are etched in footprint, fire, and faithfulness on the soil and rock that surrounds us.
Good day everyone! My name is Rev. Kim Vidal and on behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Fifth Sunday in Lent with the theme of “Being Bold”. We are glad that you have joined us today.
In-person worship service at 10 am continues to be offered so if you are comfortable attending the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated and still being mindful of the health protocols like masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.
Holy week begins on Palm Sunday, April 10th. Please take note of the Holy Week schedule and mark it on your calendar. We hope that you can join us as we gather on those significant Lenten and Easter services.
A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org. There many opportunities to participate and offer your support to the various Lenten initiatives: the Lenten SOSA appeal to support FAMSAC; Hymn-Sing and Memorial Flowers to remember your loved ones. Details are posted in the announcements.
Friends, in this season of Lent, we know what God desires for us:
To remind ourselves that the message of Jesus is all about unconditional love. To remember that now is the right time to put this kind of love into action. With grateful hearts, let us gather in worship.
(Rev. Gord Waldie, worship offerings.blogspot.com)
We light this candle as a sign of
God's Spirit at work in the world.
May its light brighten our spirits.
May the light of Christ shining through us
brighten the world.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
Words © 1995 John Bell & Graham Maule; Music © 1995 John Bell, IONA GIA Pub
Song # 98424 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
This is the gathering place of God and all God’s people.
We give thanks to God for God’s extravagant love.
Come all who need comfort.
God weaves in us a sure, fragrant hope.
Come all who need love.
God recreates in us the unconditional love of Christ.
Come all who need God.
God offers us the heart of the Divine.
With boldness and daring hope, let us worship God.
(Carol E. Bayma, Gathering, Lent-Easter 2014, Used with permission.)
We are loved by God – with a love that goes beyond anything we could imagine.
Let us then turn toward God with our prayer of confession:
Holy God, we are quiet in your presence. Perhaps we are too quiet, still and lifeless. We make our excuses that we do not understand what you want from us. Our throats close up as we wait to be sure of what you want us to say. Our hands wither while we wait for you to tell us how much we should give. Our feet stiffen waiting for you to tell us how much far to walk. Our hearts grow cold as we wait for guidance about whom we should love. Forgive us, forgive our sin of hopelessness, we pray.
Moment of Silence
What can sustain us in the days to come, what will nourish us on our Lenten journey? Look, here is all the sustenance we need: God's love, God's word, God's hope.
God’s never-ending mercy washes over us, making us new, again and again.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
1 Said Judas to Mary, 'Now what will you do
with your ointment so rich and so rare?'
'I'll pour it all over the feet of the Lord
and I'll wipe it away with my hair,' she said,
'wipe it away with my hair.'
2 'Oh Mary, oh Mary, oh think of the poor -
this ointment, it could have been sold,
and think of the blankets and think of the bread
you could buy with the silver and gold,' he said,
'buy with the silver and gold.'
3 “Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll think of the poor,
Tomorrow”, she said, “not today,
for dearer than all of the poor in the world
is my love who is going away”, she said,
“my love who is going away.”
4 Said Jesus to Mary, 'Your love is so deep,
today you may do as you will.
Tomorrow you say I am going away,
but my body I leave with you still,' he said,
'my body I leave with you still.'
5 'The poor of the world are my body,' he said,
'to the end of the world they shall be;
the bread and the blankets you give to the poor
you'll know, you have given to me,' he said,
'you'll know you have given to me.'
Words & Music © 1964 Sydney Carter, Stainer & Bell
Song #38707 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Have you ever been given a really extravagant gift by someone – something so amazing and crazy that you can hardly believe they gave it to you? I have! On my birthday, when I turned 40, I stopped at the post office on my way to work because there was a card in my mailbox telling me that I had a parcel. That’s exciting, right? Everyone likes getting parcels on their birthday! So, I decided that I would pick it up that morning rather than wait till I was on my way home. What a great start to my day!
When I got to the post office, I couldn’t believe what was waiting for me! It was a BIG box – and it was from my friend Mary who had moved far away to Alberta. I missed her a lot and I could hardly wait to open that parcel. What on earth could it be? I imagined all kinds of things on my drive to the school – maybe it was something she made… or maybe it was a joke gift (she had a great sense of humour and always liked to make me laugh… Maybe it was a birthday cake! I was so curious!
I think I opened that parcel even before I took my coat off! And you wouldn’t believe what was inside! There was a whole pile of little presents, each one wrapped individually, in lots of different birthday papers! Know how many there were? 40! One for every year of my birthday!
It took me all day to open those presents because I just opened one little gift at a time. My students were excited, the other teachers in the school were excited… those gifts kept us all smiling all day long! It was incredible! Mary had been planning this present for a whole year! Every single one of those little gifts said something about our friendship, about things she knew made me happy or were interesting to me, or reminded me of something we had done together. It was amazing! My students and my colleagues thought it was crazy that Mary did this! What a lot of work for one birthday!
This is the most extravagant gift I have ever been given – not because it was worth a lot of money, but because it was something that Mary had planned for a whole year! It told me how much my friend loved me – so much that she thought about me often, even though she lived so far away. When she saw little things that reminded her of me, she wrapped them up and tucked them away for this special day. It was a gift I will never forget – a gift more extravagant than anything I could imagine. A gift that told me how much love my friend has for me.
In our scripture reading at church this Sunday, we hear about another extravagant gift. Jesus’ friend Mary pours an expensive perfumed oil on Jesus’ feet –something so expensive that it would take a whole year for someone to earn enough money to buy it. The other people who were there at the table that night thought she was crazy to do this! One even said that it was a waste! She could have sold that oil for a lot of money and used it to help the poor. But, you know what? I think I can understand why she chose to do this instead. She loved Jesus so much that she had to find a way to express that love with something so special that he would know just how deep it was, something no one would ever forget.
I think God’s love for us is like that – incredibly extravagant. We see it in the beauty around us that just never ends. We feel it in the love we share with those around us. We hear it in the messages the Bible writers give us when they tell us that God is always with us, that God loves us and always will, that God wants the very best for each one of us…special little gifts that God gives us to open every day of our lives. What an extravagant gift-giver God is!
Join me in a little prayer:
Extravagant God, thank you for showing us how much you love us, in so many ways, every day. Help us share your extravagant gift with everyone we meet. Amen
1 A prophet woman broke a jar
By love's divine appointing
With rare perfume she filled the room
Presiding and anointing
A prophet-woman broke a jar
The sneers of scorn defying
With rare perfume she filled the room
Preparing Christ for dying
2 A faithful woman left a tomb
By love's divine commission
She saw she heard she preached the word
Arising from submission
A faithful woman left a tomb
With resurrection gospel
She saw she heard she preached the word
Apostle to apostles
3 Though woman wisdom woman truth
For centuries were hidden
Unsung unwritten and unheard
Derided and forbidden
The Spirit's breath the Spirit's fire
On free and slave descending
Can tumble our dividing walls
Our shame and sadness mending
4 The Spirit knows the Spirit calls
By love's divine ordaining
The friends we need to serve and lead
Their powers and gifts unchaining
The Spirit knows the Spirit calls
From women men and children
The friends we need to serve and lead
Rejoice and make them welcome
Words © 1991 Brian Wren; Music © 1869 Robert Lowry (alternate tune: keep from singing)
Song #83036 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Through your life-giving Word, O God, fill us with the presence of your Spirit,
and help us grow as your disciples of extravagant love. Amen.
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
May God’s Love and Wisdom dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: God of extravagant love, speak to us through your Word, so that we may know your truth, grow in faith and break spiritual jars of perfume in the name of Jesus. Amen.
It has been proven by scientists that while words and numbers travel to the thinking part of the brain, smells and fragrances connect to the emotions. The smell of the salty breeze, for instance, reminds me of the beach where I grew up. That aroma of fish stew being cooked brings me back to my mom’s kitchen in the Philippines. A whiff of the Old Spice cologne reminds me of my dad. But there’s this one smell that vividly reminds me of my childhood - that of a rubbing ointment called Vicks Vaporub. This topical ointment is made from camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. I was about 7 years old and I was very sick with nasal congestion. It was hard for me to breathe. My mom tended to me with a small blue bottle of this ointment and rubbed it on my chest, my back and my throat. Doctors say that it doesn't relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol smell may trick our brain, so you feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose. And it worked for me. So, every time I smell that strong odour of Vicks, it transports me back to that particular episode in my childhood.
Our gospel story today is a story of fragrance - a story that connects not to logic or rationality but to the emotional part of our brain. Jesus and his disciples were invited for dinner at the home of his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany. A few days prior to this table gathering, according to John’s account, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This dinner might be a time of celebration – a moment of thanksgiving – a day to savour the gift of a second life for Lazarus reuniting with his sisters and his friends. Martha was at her usual best self – in the kitchen, scurrying around, preparing food and mixing drinks for the guests. And Mary, for sure, is getting herself ready for a big surprise of the night.
As the dinner progressed, no one noticed that Mary slipped from the dining room until she came back holding a jar of costly perfume in her hands. The jar was filled with costly nard – a very expensive fragrant ointment used for burial made from the spikenard plant found in the Himalayan regions of India. Without saying a word, she kneels at Jesus' feet, breaks open the lid of the jar, pours out a large portion of that perfume onto Jesus’ feet and the house is filled with fragrance. The strong scent of nard is everywhere - in every nook of the room, filling everyone’s nostrils. It must have been almost hard to breathe. Smells can overpower us like no other sense can. The fragrant smell in our story cannot be taken lightly or be overlooked.
To the surprise of the guests, mostly males, Mary loosens her long hair. It was a taboo in Jesus’ time for an honourable woman to loosen her hair in front of any man who is not her spouse. In those days, it was acceptable to anoint the head of kings or emperors with oil or perfume. But to pour the fragrant perfume on the feet of Jesus is considered a scandalous act. The mere touching and wiping of Jesus’ feet with Mary’s hair raised eyebrows and gaping mouths among her audience. A moment of awkward silence. And for us today who listen to this story, we might even interpret this as a disturbing, intimate act. Come to think of it – a woman wiping the feet of a man with her long hair and the fragrant smell of the perfume filling the room—it certainly creates havoc in one’s senses. It would certainly cause a stir, particularly among churches today, with a no-scent policy!
What do we do with this story? Mary loves her friend Jesus and believes in him. She had listened to him preach the good news and had a direct conversation with him. She had witnessed him raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. Mary’s act is undoubtedly a moment of thanksgiving for the gift of life. But Mary’s actions also allude to something more significant – a prelude of what’s forthcoming for Jesus. This story, for sure, is not about economic justice, but rather a prophetic statement, a lavish demonstration of the meaning of true love. Mary knew, more than any of the disciples, that Jesus’ death was near. The nard perfume poured on Jesus’ feet is to disguise the smell of a decaying body while it waits to be buried. The perfume becomes the smell of death. Jesus does not miss the symbol. Mary has anointed Jesus with the smell of death, the scent that is slowly building in our nostrils as we get closer to Good Friday.
This was Mary’s moment – her opportune time. It is in the present that she must show her true love for Jesus. Mary’s action foreshadows not only Jesus’ death on the cross but also Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples at the last supper- symbolic of Jesus’ servant leadership. Like Mary, would you offer a most priceless possession to someone whom you utterly trust and believe in, especially when that someone is facing an untimely death? Would you give your best attention to that person, even if it would cost a year’s wage?
And even before we answer these questions, Judas reads our minds and notices everything that some of us are about to say. "Why oh, why wasn't this perfume sold for a whole lot of money and given to the poor? That perfume costs about 300 denarii! How many hungry or sick or homeless people could have been helped with that money? To pour it all out at one time on one person does not make sense. This is too much. This giving has gone overboard. It's excessive. We cannot afford this. This is totally unacceptable!” That's what the pragmatic, practical inner voice would tell us to say.
Mary boldly responds to the call of love at the moment. Knowing what Jesus was about to face; knowing that he was in urgent need of companionship, comfort, and solace; knowing that the time was short to express all the gratitude and affection she carried in her heart, Mary showed her love extravagantly. Given the choice between an abstracted need to help the poor and the concrete need that presents itself at her own doorstep, around her own dinner table, Mary chooses Jesus. In doing so, she ends up caring for the one who is denied room at the inn like the present-day refugees fleeing from war and violence. For the one who has no place to lay his head during his years of ministry like the homeless in our communities. For the one who knew hunger and pain and humiliation like the marginalized people in our midst. For the one whose crucified body will be laid in a borrowed tomb like those who were displaced because of greed. In other words, it is the poor Mary serves, when she serves Jesus. Just as it is always Jesus we serve, when we love and care for those who need our attention, those whom God places in front of us, here and now.
Mary embodies a new way of being a woman for her time. She was bold! She was courageous! She was vulnerable! She broke a code of conduct and liberated herself with a new way of seeing and doing things. Mary took a big leap of faith and risked losing herself amidst cultural barriers of her time. So did Judge Emily Murphy who fought for the rights of Canadian women to be acclaimed as “qualified persons”; so did Nellie McClung who rallied for women’s right to vote and to hold public offices; so did the black activist Rosa Parks who refused to move to the back of the bus. So did Rev. Lydia Gruchy, the first woman to be ordained in the United Church of Canada. All of these women have tremendous extravagant love for humanity especially those who are vulnerable and whose voices are ignored by society. Sometimes the way of risky, outpouring of extravagant love is the best way to turn the world upside down.
The extravagant love displayed by Mary’s bold action - that is how God loves. Wildly, Excessively. Wasteful. God’s love is a love that breaks free from all barriers, dogmas and creeds that try to contain it. For Mary, extravagant love goes above and beyond a price tag—indeed, it is priceless, like God’s love for all of us.
Friends, what is the jar of perfume you are holding at this moment? What precious, good and beautiful thing are you being called – as individuals, and as a community of faith, that is particular to this time and place? Will you break that jar of perfume that you are keeping? For whom and for what purpose?
The cheap Vicks Vaporub that my mom used to comfort me had little earthly value, compared to the costly perfume Mary anointed Jesus with. But the gesture was the same: it was an act of bold but tender, unconditional, extravagant love. May your fragrant jars of love be opened, offered and used for good, extravagant reasons, emptied to the last drop! Thanks be to God. Amen.
Holy One
We are living with threats of going nuclear.
Refugees are on the move,
The most recent, more contagious strain is disheartening.
Tornadoes and other wild weather touch down on the planet.
And divisions and polarities add to the feeling of scarcity and isolation.
Dear and good God, I could do with a little extravagance.
Someone open a bottle of costly perfume and fill the house with fragrance and beauty,
generosity and love.
Remind me, and everyone else, that you anoint us with so many good and golden things.
Your creation filled with such blessing --
the first signs of spring,
the smell of cedar,
the colour of cornflowers,
the song of the loon,
the crashing of waves on the shore,
the tides going in and out, each and every day.
Your creatures bless us with their creations –
the sound of the violin in Lark Ascending,
the lyrics that capture Both Sides now,
the way a Rothko painting can get you to see red for the first time,
the leap of a grand jeté,
the stand-up that kills cynicism and despair,
cinema and theatre that stretches and illuminates,
books.
Your people bless one another –
the spirit of giving from donors,
heartfelt messages of support at a loved one’s end,
dinners hosted with grace and kindness,
the aunt who sent money in birthday cards,
the chaplain at the end of the bed,
challenges from friends to be our best selves.
In a weary world, your gospel anoints us -- reminding us
that our teacher preached about upending the status quo,
that the kin-dom vision is not about power grubbing,
that crucifixion is not the last word.
And we give thanks for all that anoints us,
for it is more than time to remember these gifts.
Hear our prayers as we recite together the words Jesus gifted to his followers:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Holy One, accept these gifts we offer as a token and a symbol of the offering of ourselves in Christ’s service. May all that we offer of ourselves and our resources, be acceptable, and blessed by you, Gracious God. Amen
Let us go forward into our community, our homes, our lives,
living as God would have us live, with joy and daring faith,
offering abundant love.
May we find blessing in living as Jesus taught us,
with kindness, gentleness and a bold spirit,
that all whom we meet might know God’s extravagant love. Amen.
1 My love colours outside the lines,
exploring paths that few could ever find;
and takes me into places
where I’ve never been before,
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
2 My Lord colours outside the lines,
turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
and takes me into places
where I’ve never been before
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
Bridge: We’ll never walk on water
if we’re not prepared to drown, body and soul
need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the grave-stones
if we’re not prepared to die, and realize
there are worlds outside the lines.
3, 4 My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries
where I’ve never been before, throw open doors
to worlds outside the lines. Bridge
Words and Music © 1995 Gordon Light; arr. © Andrew Donaldson Common Cup Company
Song #119027 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Words & Music © 1997 Janice Sjostran, Pure Psalms Music All rights reserved
Modified from resources provided by: The UCC GO Project 2022
In our worship service this morning we heard a story about an extravagant gift that Mary gave to Jesus. It was an unexpected way that Mary showed just how much love she had for him. There are many stories in the Bible about ways that God shows us love. Often they are not stories about God directly, but about other people showing that love in a way that seems unexpected. One of those stories is the one Jesus tells about the Lost Sheep. You can watch it here:
Jesus shares with us a vision of a great community of people where everyone is welcome, where God loves each and every person – even people who have made mistakes! God celebrates when people who have made mistakes admit them and work to do good things instead. This is cause for great rejoicing among all of God’s people. To rest in God’s presence is not only to find love, peace, delight, and hope. It is also to experience the overwhelming joy of people gathered together in the life-giving presence of God. This is what we experience in the resurrection of Jesus at Easter when God reveals that there is always new life in the midst of hardship.
I wonder if you can imagine the lost sheep being found. Can you name that sheep?
I wonder if you have ever felt like you were lost? What was it like to be found?
I wonder if there are people in your life who have helped to “find” you?
I wonder what other things God celebrates in our life?
I wonder how we can experience the loving presence of God in our everyday life?
This week, add a small bottle of moisturizer to your toolbox! If you don’t have one, fill a small container with cooking oil (olive, coconut, etc.) and include that instead. When you need a self-care moment, take a small amount of lotion or oil and gently and mindfully massage your hands (or feet). Think with gratitude about the work your hands (or feet) do for you day after day.
Materials: postcards, notecards or cardstock cut to 4x6 or 5x7, markers, stickers and writing supplies, stamps.
God loves each and every person and we are called to share love and connection with all of God's creation! Everyone loves to receive a card or letter in the mail. Sending love via a card or letter is a great way to remind someone they are loved. Use a pre-made postcard, or make a beautiful design or picture to decorate the front. Write a brief message, then fill in the address, stamp it, and send it off!
In this activity, everyone else leaves the room while a stuffed sheep (or other toy) is hidden. They are then called back in and race to find the missing sheep. Whoever finds it first gets to hide it for the next round.
As you play, think about God’s deep love of all people and how excited God is to find a person who was lost. Think about how energized you were to search for the missing sheep — God is just as excited!
Materials: Puzzle (This activity is best if it can be prepared ahead of time, by removing one piece from the puzzle, unseen by the kids/youth, and hiding it somewhere in the room)
Work together to complete the puzzle. Once it becomes clear that one piece missing, work together to go and find it — and celebrate when it is returned!
This activity reinforces the fact that everyone matters in God’s love. All of us together make a rich community and we must support one another. We celebrate when we are all together, and that we are all needed.
BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
March 27, 2022
Lenten 2022 Theme: “The Way of Being”
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
A choir anthem for Joan & Geoff Gale in memory of loved ones
God in heaven, I make my prayer for all the people everywhere
who live in fear or pain or doubt; Whose homes are gone, and hopes run out.
God in heaven, I make my prayer for all the children everywhere
Who live in terrible, warring places; Who live with hunger and strange sad faces.
God in heaven, I make my prayer for all good people everywhere
who live in comfort, love and peace; And pray sincerely for strife to cease;
But who do not always hear the call of those who live with nothing at all.
God in heaven, hear my prayer! Help all people everywhere
To come closer together in plenty and need,
And to make our world your home, indeed.
Text, Tune & Accompaniment: 1988 Mary Coulson, Margaret Tucker, Choral arr. Michael Kemp
Song #CGA855 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Good day everyone! My name is Rev. Kim Vidal and on behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Fourth Sunday in Lent with the theme of “Being Prodigal”. We are glad that you have joined us today.
We have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship service at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated and still being mindful of the health protocols like masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.
A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org. Please take note of the many opportunities to participate and offer your support to the various Lenten initiatives: the Lenten SOSA appeal to support FAMSAC; Hymn-Sing and Memorial Flowers to remember your loved ones. Details are posted in the announcements.
A Guaranteed Livable Income is Society Expressing Unconditional Love
Guaranteed Livable Income:
– recovers and secures human dignity
all are valued - no ‘undeserving poor’
– unleashes human potential
allows life changes with education and retraining
– improves health and well-being
better food and housing reduce stress on healthcare
encourages better communal participation and relationships
– supports those who lose jobs
from technology, climate change and outsourcing
Support Guaranteed Livable Income for All!
Friends, in this season of Lent, we know what God desires for us:
To remind ourselves that the message of Jesus is all about unconditional love.
To remember that now is the right time to put this kind of love into action.
With grateful hearts, let us gather in worship.
As we journey through Lent,
as we move towards Holy Week,
we light this candle as a symbol of our trust in Jesus Christ.
May its light remind us that God is with us and we are not alone.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
Words © 1995 John Bell & Graham Maule; Music © 1995 John Bell, IONA GIA Pub
Song # 98424 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
From darkness and despair, from being lost and lonely, God calls us home.
Even though we have been selfish and let God down, we are still called beloved.
Remember the welcoming love of God which has been poured out for us.
Our hearts rejoice at the wondrous ways in which God loves and forgives us.
Remember that in all your ways you can trust in God’s compassion. Welcome home!
In this season of Lent when we contemplate the path Jesus walked,
let us seek God in this prayer of confession. Together, let us pray.
God, sometimes we wander into far countries of the soul without ever thinking where we are going. We take your love for granted; we presume that we can always find our way back to you, when we’re not busy, when it’s more convenient. And then we find ourselves in places where we do not want to be, and we wonder how we got there. Lonely and afraid, we do not know where to turn. Speak to us, O God, help us find the way to the place where we always belonged. Welcome us back home with your love. Amen.
Moment of Silence
As we walk with God, we are transformed day by day.
God’s never-ending love journeys with us,
making us new, again and again. Thanks be to God!
1. Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
from failing embers build a blazing fire;
love strong enough to overturn injustice,
to seek a world more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.
2. Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
create a space for spirit to grow in us,
let life and beauty fill us, come touch and bless our souls.
3. Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
help us to open doors of understanding,
to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.
4. Come touch us in the moments we are fragile,
and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
that we may rise to follow and to serve,
steady now our nerve, come touch and bless our wills.
5. Come touch us now, this people who are gathered,
To break the bread and share the cup of peace;
That we may love you with our heart, our soul, our mind, our strength, our all,
Come touch us with your grace.
Words Music © 2002 Gordon Light, arr © 2002 Andrew Donaldson Common Cup Co.
Song #118062 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
My kids let me borrow their crayons so I could colour this page from my Lenten Journal.
(Erin colours then drops and breaks several crayons). Oops… Well maybe I can borrow a gel pen… Can I use your gel pens? Thanks! (Erin colours then snaps the pen). Uhh.. Could I use your markers now? "NO!" Hmm… I guess it was "Wreck this Journal" not "Wreck your pens"... I guess I'm not really taking care of their things….
Jesus tells a parable to his followers about a son who is given a lot of money from his father, and goes off on his own. The son is careless and wastes all the money, just like I was careless with the kids' crayons and pens. The son has nothing left, but feels too embarrassed to go back home to his family - he really messed up. He's scared about how much trouble he'll get into and how angry his parents will be. But really, he hasn't got a lot of choice, because he has nothing at all, so he goes home hoping his parents could maybe pay him to do chores and stuff.
But as the son is walking up the lane, and before the son can even apologize, the father is running out, cheering at the sight of him, and calling people up to throw a huge party!
(Music) "Let's have a party! Let's make a racket! I'm as happy, I'm as joyful as ever I can be! Let's have a party! Let's make a racket, 'cause the lost has returned to me!"
Whoa! That was unexpected! The son couldn't believe that his dad could still love him after all he had done. (Maybe the dad did sit down later with the son and talk about money management and responsibility, but the most important thing was that the son was home and wanted to make amends and try again!) Having his son back and having a good relationship with him again was more important than the money.
We can look at things like that in our own lives, too. Maybe a fight or argument over something somebody broke or took isn't really worth it anymore - maybe it's time to move on and try to have the friendship, the person, back again. (I think my kids will forgive me and still love me even though I broke some of their stuff… ) We can remember that God loves us, and is happy to forgive us when we mess up, and have us try again to make kind, loving choices.
In today's Sunday School materials, we hear about how we are God's masterpiece, and that God is delighted by us, just like the Father in the parable rejoiced when the son came back. Doesn't that give you a great feeling to be called delightful, and that someone thinks we're a masterpiece?
Let's have a prayer:
Loving God, thank you for welcoming us and loving us with your arms wide open.
Help us to forgive those around us who have made mistakes,
and to celebrate the people we love. Amen
Refrain: O God, send out your Spirit; renew the face of the earth. (2x)
1. We bless you, O God, for you are so great.
Your Spirit uncovers hidden beauty and grace.
Though times we deny all the pain and the tears,
Your Spirit empowers us and soon we face our fears. Refrain:
2. Ev’ry prayer we pray, sacred word, sacred rite,
is for the ones who are left waiting outside.
Ev’ry sermon we preach, ev’ry Spirit-filled tune;
Love says, “Remember why we do the things we do.” Refrain:
3. Ev’ry time a person reaching out is turned away
by the racist prejudicial attitudes of hate,
We are called to break the silence, sanctioning the shame,
stepping cross the lines of this sometimes unholy game. Refrain:
4. Sources of oppression that we haven’t really faced;
Human inhumanity upon the human race.
Spirit ever faithful, Spirit ever true,
Rain down all around, and ev’ry heart renew. Refrain
Words & Music © 1996 Jesse Manibusan; Ref: The International Commission on English in the Liturgy
Song # 83176 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Wise and forgiving God,
we pray that our speaking and living will reach out to others
and bring your Word honour and gratitude. Amen.
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with[b] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father[d] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
May God’s Love and Wisdom dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Holy God, may we welcome your holy presence
among us and within us as we listen and reflect on your Word today. Amen.
“…he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.”
I remember quite well that day when Justin was in Grade 1. Because we live less than one kilometer from the school, we did not have the option of having him being picked up by the school bus and bringing him home. I have to drop him off and pick him up from school. On that particular day, I went to school to pick Justin up but he was not there. I went to check with his classroom teacher but I was told that he had already left. I checked the playground and no sign of him. I went around the school building – still no sign of him. I started to panic. Where could he be? I drove around the street and he was not in sight. My body, at that point, started to shake. What happened to Justin? Where was he?
Thinking of the worst-case scenario, I decided to go home and planned to call the police. To my relief, Justin was not lost or had been kidnapped or was in danger. He was already home. He told me that he walked with his friend, took the longer way, and was so proud that he was able to find his way home with his beaming expression “I did it, Mom!”. Instead of getting upset at him, I just gave him a big hug with tears flowing from my eyes.
It must have been soul-crushing for a parent when a child is really gone. But the half an hour I experienced losing Justin - an experience shared by many parents when they cannot find their child at an amusement park or a shopping mall or when they can’t find their child in school, were some of the most frightening moments of my life.
Because, when it comes down to it, losing a child makes one vulnerable and heartbroken. This might be the reason why today’s parable speaks to most of us, because we know how it would feel when someone we love is lost. But it will also cause us to celebrate in joy when what we have lost is found!
“…he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.”
Teachings from Sunday School and traditional preachers taught us that the word prodigal is associated with a wayward son who has left his family and community to reckless living, squanders his inheritance but returns home to find that his father welcomes him with love and forgiveness. But the word “prodigal” really means “extravagant, wasteful, reckless and lavishly abundant.” To call this story the parable of the prodigal son is a misnomer. I would rather call it the parable of the prodigals. The three major characters in this parable were all prodigals.
Come to think of it - the younger son wasted his resources on reckless living; the older son abundantly used his time and energy to get himself upright with comfortable living; and the father extravagantly poured out his love to both of his children. This parable is rich and best captures all the important elements of life in relationships--grief, betrayal, trust, forgiveness, compassion, loneliness, jealousy, generosity, pride, and best of all, a welcoming love. It's the kind of story that goes deep and wide all at once and it should be revisited throughout life, since it has a tremendous capacity to look at relationships from different angles and heal our wounds over and over again. Susan Young offered the word inter-dependency. These three characters are interdependent with each other. Without one character, this parable would not have the same message we would like it to have.
Let’s admit it – family issues of sibling rivalry, favouritism, “I’m in-you’re out” dynamics – all play a part in this rich parable. The younger son is driven by curiosity and a desire for independence to undertake a quest in a faraway country. He is anxious, impulsive and precocious, wanting to leave home early even though he risks his father's life and health in order to taste that glorious freedom. No doubt, his decision profoundly disturbs his father and his community. In those days, for a younger son to leave home and demand his inheritance upon leaving was as if he was wishing his father dead. The ancient readers would have seen this as a violation of the commandment to honour their mother and father. What we are dealing with here is something more than an adolescent rebellion, or defiant behavior, or rejection and betrayal of all that has been freely given--family, parenthood, community, life. So he took off with a fat sum of money, but when he squandered all of his inheritance, the younger son lived and fed the pigs. NT Scholar Bernard Brandon Scott calls this “apostasy” – the abandonment or renunciation of his religion. Pigs were deemed unclean in the Jewish law and to eat with them meant the younger son drifted away from Torah and religious traditions. He became the lowest of the lowest.
Think, for a moment, about the dutiful older son who stayed at home. He did everything his father told him to do, was probably a little glad to see his annoying brother leave in the first place, and was more than upset to see him come back. We know that he was resentful when his younger brother returned home. Is it possible that he remained home not out of duty but because he was afraid of risks? And that he envied and resented his more adventurous and freedom-loving brother? Could some of us be like the older son – always doing the “dutiful” thing but scared of what’s out there, therefore putting on a persona of resentment and pride? I can see myself in the older brother. Not because I resent my siblings and wish they would go away. But I am not a big fan of high life – the adventurous, frivolous life out there. I don’t want to hurt the feelings of my parents. I love being home.
Accept it or not, we have been like all three prodigals in the story. We are like the younger son in so many ways – we have run away from various issues in life – we have tarnished our relationships with people we love; we have wasted our resources and talents on reckless living.
At times, we could be like the older son. We put our time and effort in being perfect but also erecting walls of indifference and callousness; we have given ourselves into unwanted pride and we cannot even make ourselves “forgive and forget”. The question now is, how do we go home again?
And here is where some of us resonate with the father. I like Bernard Brandon Scott's interpretation of the father. In Jesus’ time, fathers were authoritative figures who were distant and remote from their children. To wait for a wayward child means that this father, in the eyes of the audience, is a fool and has little honour. When he saw the son coming home, the father ran to meet him. Scott says that this action is so unorthodox for the ancient people, especially for fathers. To run means to hike up his robe to knee length, showing his legs, which is an act of disgrace. To make matters worse, the father kisses his son – again another act that is so not fatherlike. Scott concludes: “this father behaves in ways that are typical of a mother who has to maintain close ties with her sons…This image of the father in the role of the mother challenges the fundamental male hierarchy as the model for understanding the sacred.”
Which character are you in this parable? Have you left home? Or your comfortable life because of family differences or because you just want independence and want to experience some adventure out there? What would it mean for you to return, to come home again, to love, forgiveness, acceptance? A return to home is a return to love and a state of being loved. We come home, by first returning to ourselves and then returning to a life filled with compassion even as we recognize the compassionate embrace of God.
What about our church family here at BCUC? Where are we in the parable? Have we got that sense of welcoming love here at BCUC? What would it mean for us here to take this risky, boundary-less love into our lives? What grudges would we feel compelled to give up? What prejudices and biases would start to melt? What healing of relationships might be born? What self-hatred could be disarmed and forgiven?
Did you notice too that the parable is open-ended? The parable abruptly ends, leaving the conflict between the brothers unresolved. How would you write its ending? For me, I always like a happy ending where the main characters will find a way to sort their conflicts and differences and then live happily ever after. I would like the sons to follow the father’s script. I would like the older son to be moved by his father’s compassion and forgiveness and, in return, his bitterness and anger towards his younger brother will be replaced with acceptance and he will become buddies with his brother, even though it’s a hard choice to make. I would like the younger son to truly repent, to be accountable for his wayward actions and humbly admit to his older brother and his father that he committed mistakes and that he will promise to be more responsible, to change into a better person. I would like the father to continue to love both sons unconditionally as if they were his best friends, to have open communication with them, to listen to them, to guide them to the right direction and to teach them to surrender their male honour.
Phillip Yancey, author of What’s So Amazing About Grace? concludes in his book that Jesus’ parables of extravagant grace include no catch, no loophole disqualifying us from God’s love. Yancey declares that when we decide to “come home” to God it feels like the discovery of a lifetime. We were lost and we were found! And God rejoices of our return! Now it’s time to celebrate! Amen.
Sources: Inspired by the Sermon of Nadia Bolz-Weber, Re-Imagine the World, a book written by Bernard Brandon Scott, and the BCUC Lectionary Group
Open our hearts...Open our minds... Open our lives to you, O loving God... Hear our prayer.
Holy and Gracious One, the one of prodigal grace, we give you thanks for the gift of life and for the blessings of this life, for family and friends and love abundant. In this season of Lent, lead us through the challenges and struggles, the tired times, moments of despair and bleak places. Be with those who weep or cannot sleep, those who have no peace or those who seek release and comfort them with your welcoming, unconditional love.
The parable today talks about the love shown to us in the teachings of Jesus. God is like a waiting parent for prodigal children ready to welcome and restore them to life. God is like the host of the lost, the least, and all who long for home, those who wander from life-giving ways and waste the gifts they have been blessed with. Welcome us back, we pray, so that we may celebrate and rejoice in your presence forever;
Let our hearts, our homes and BCUC be welcoming places - places of return built by a love that bends towards those who return here. Let us be a place where the only appropriate response to love that has come to the end of its longing, is to serve the fatted calf, feast and celebrate, send up balloons, and prepare the party for that which has been lost and has returned to be among us. We pray for all those from whom we are estranged. Bring healing to strained or broken relationships. Forgive us for the times we have wronged others, whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention. We pray for those who are sick, the lonely, the grieving and the people of Ukraine in the midst of war.
Fill the world with hope and peace, sustained by God’s mercy. Let us be transformed in all our broken ways so that we can be made whole. And in wholeness, may we be the hands and heart of Christ. We ask these in the Spirit of Jesus Christ who gathers us in this prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
God’s love has always been abundant, in every time and place. We are grateful to a generous and loving God for every sign of new life.
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
God of great wonders, we join with you in the joy of giving.
You give us life and breath, you fill the world with beauty,
our hands with bounty, and our hearts with the desire to give.
Accept these gifts, and ourselves in your service. Amen.
Time and time again,
God waits for us with a welcoming love.
With open arms we return to God.
Go out into the world to be God’s loving embrace for others.
We will go with God’s blessings. Amen.
1 O God, how we have wandered and hidden from your face;
In foolishness have squandered your legacy of grace.
But how, in exile dwelling, we turn with fear and shame,
As distant but compelling you call us each by name.
2 And now at length discerning the evil that we do,
By faith we are returning with hope and trust in you.
In haste you come to meet us, and home rejoicing bring,
In gladness there to greet us with calf and robe and ring.
3 O God of all the living, both banished and restored,
Compassionate, forgiving, our peace and hope assured.
Grant now that our transgressing, our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch out your hand in blessing, in pardon and in peace.
Words © 1980 Kevin Nichols, Music 1836 Henry Smart
Song reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
© Schönberg/Boublil/Natel lyrics: Kretzmer arr.Brymer (from Les Misérables) All rights reserved
(Materials Copyright: The UCC GO Project 2022)
The theme for this Lent through our Sunday School resources and our Lenten ‘Wreck This Journal’ has been rest and self care following Jesus’ example. Check out this week’s video with another example of Jesus teaching the disciples to take time away.
The new reading for today is:
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
God created an amazing world and we are God’s delight: God’s piece of art, God’s masterpiece. We are made so that we might do the good things God planned for us long ago... which Jesus says is to love our neighbour in the same way that God loves us.
We don’t know exactly how Jesus played but we do know Jesus talked about love a lot. Jesus often ate meals with his friends and welcomed people in. He gave thanks. He seemed to notice and delight in the things around him. He noticed birds and plants and told stories about everyday things. He was present in his environment and present in his relationships. This suggests he delighted in the world around him and joyfully gave thanks for it.
I wonder what a work of art is?
I wonder what it feels like to be God's work of art?
I wonder what delights you? Or makes you feel full of joy?
I wonder what delights God?
Basic Homemade Bubble Solution
1 cup water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup or 2 tablespoons glycerin
4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid.
Mix up a batch of bubbles, by combining the above ingredients in a small jar. Create a bubble wand by curling one end of a pipe cleaner around in a circle or using a large straw.
Play with bubbles can be a meditative prayer activity. Take deep breaths in and blow the bubbles with a slow, steady exhale. Think about sending a prayer to God in each bubble as they float around the room or outside.
Tightly cover the jar of bubbles and place in your toolbox for another time.
Try sprouting a seed! You could use dried beans, seeds from inside a fruit or veggie you have in your fridge, or from a seed packet. Place a few in a ziptop bag with a damp paper towel. Close the bag and tape it to a sunny window to make a mini-greenhouse. Be patient… then delight in the new life growing right before your eyes!
Did you know that laughter boosts your immune system?! The goal of the following exercises is to encourage more laughter in our time together and lives - to delight in God's laughter!
Make laughter milkshakes: Mix your own laughter milkshakes. Have everyone hold a pretend glass in their hands. Say, "Imagine all the funny thoughts you are going to put into the milkshake... think of the funniest things you’ve done, times when you’ve had the giggles and of things that really made you laugh. Put all of those thoughts into your milkshake. Shake it all around and drink it up. Feel your body start to laugh. Let the laughter bubble up... laugh and let it all up and out. Drink three laughter milkshakes!" Delight in watching everyone drink from theirs and as everyone begins to laugh.
The ‘Copy My Laugh’ Game: Stand in a close circle. One person can start off with a laugh that will then be copied by the next person, and so on. The goofier, the funnier!
No Smile Game: Pair off and see who can withhold from smiling the longest – sure to make everyone laugh pretty quickly.
Materials: Milk, liquid food colouring (not gel), dish soap, q-tips, a shallow pan or plate, towels or paper towels in case of mess.
Pour a thin layer of milk in a shallow pan. Add drops of food colouring all around in the milk. Dip the q-tip into the dish soap, then press the cotton swab into the drop of colour. Press it down in one spot and hold it for about 15 seconds. Continue to play in all the colours and see what shapes you can get!
What’s happening: For a very basic explanation, milk is made up of minerals, proteins and fats. The dish soap starts to break up the milk. The soap molecules move around, trying to attach to the milk. We can see it because of the food colouring. Normally, we wouldn’t see it happen.
Check out this information sheet about play styles. Read it and think about these questions:
Which one(s) feel the most like you?
What ways that you play feel most refreshing or energizing?
Do you have similar play styles to your friends or family?
Do you have enough play in your life? If not, where it is missing? How could you can add more play?