A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am Fifth Sunday of Lent
Meditation
“O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great
power to redeem.”~Psalm 130
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
Song Show Us How to Love v.1 please join in singing! Union Church Choir
Hearts open, minds awake, change us now for heaven’s sake. Leave us not alone in hatred’s wake. Show us how to love. Show us how to love. Show us how, show us how to love.
Call to Worship
Song Show Us How to Love v. 2 please join in singing! Union Church Choir
Eyes open, shocked awake, much to learn from our mistakes. Draw us closer in our heartache. Show us how to love. Show us how to love. Show us how, show us how to love.
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession
One: Holy and Merciful One, in this season of discernment we come bringing our deepest longings, and our failed attempts at satisfying them. We have often looked for love, for acceptance and security, in the mirage of certainty, believing that if we just hold things very tightly, we will survive.
All: We yearn for lives that matter, we desire relationships that thrive, we want less regret.
One: At times we fail to see that you have already given us what really matters: your love and acceptance. You provide opportunities all around us to make a difference in the lives of others. You give us a fresh start each day, inviting us to do better. In this silence, we bring to you our pleas for openness to a different way of living.
Song Love Us Into Fullness v. 1 please join in singing
¨ Words of Assurance
One: My friends, be assured by the Psalmist who says that “In God, there is steadfast love, and the great power to redeem.” Let us respond together:
All: We open our hearts, our minds, our souls, our vision to the ways of love created by God, embodied in Jesus, and already moving in us by the Spirit. We are forgiven, loved, and freed! Amen!
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hymn #484 O Come to Me, You Weary
- “O come to me, you weary, and I will give you rest.” The blessed voice of Jesus, which comes to hearts oppressed! It tells of benediction, of pardon, grace and peace, of joy that has no ending, of love which does not cease.
- “O come to me, you wanderers and I will give you light.” The loving voice of Jesus, which comes to cheer the night! Our hearts are filled with sadness, and we had lost our way; but morning brings us gladness and songs for each new day.
- “O come unto me, you fainting, and I will give you life!” The cheering voice of Jesus, which stills our inner strife! The evil one surrounds us and would our faith subdue, but you are strong within us, our courage brave and true.
- “All you who come and seek me will never be cast out.” The welcome voice of Jesus, which drives away our doubt! And though we are unworthy of love so free and true, we hear your call to sinners, in trust we come to you.
Word and Worship
Video Reflection “More Love”
Song Love Us into Fullness v. 2
Love us into fullness, hold us in your care, cheer us with your presence here and everywhere.
Sung Psalm 130, p. 709
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. Rev. Kent will lead. You are invited to sing the response when invited, at the “R” if using the hymnal.
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing
May God’s presence guard, protect and guide you. God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you. God bless you, God bless you.
Special Music The King of Love My Shepherd Is Mack Wilberg Union Church Choir & Orchestra
The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth; and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.
And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.
Scripture Lesson John 9:1-41, p. 1295 in pew Bible
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.”
The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.
Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
Sermon Look for the Liberator Rev. Kent Gilbert
Song Love Us Into Fullness v. 3
Love us into fullness and we shall be strong; Jesus, walk beside us, fill our hearts with song.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998). A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Prayers of the Community and Kyrie Music: Dinah Riendorf, 1987
In this season of Lent, we come together in prayer with the beautiful chant of “Kyrie Eleison,” meaning “God, have mercy on us,” and “Christe Eleison,” meaning “Christ have mercy.” We sing this as a response to each intercession, prayerfully remembering that God’s mercy is a gift of love, freely given to us.
Prayer
Loving Creator, we ask for strength to work for the liberation of all that binds bodies, lives, and hearts, and keeps so many from freedom and full life. Death comes in many forms, choking out flourishing. We grieve what seems at times like the death of hope. Show us how to love in liberating ways that create more freedom and hope. As we pray for all your people in a cycle of care, we pray this day for the peoples of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia; locally we lift to you the people of First Faith Independent Church and every house of worship: that you may liberate in them and in us, all the grace and service you relish. In these places and so many more your grace and service are needed. May we be your willing servants to a world not yet made whole or healthy. God have mercy. We lift up this world to you with our love:
All: Kyrie Eleison (please sing)
Prayer
Loving Sovereign, we ask for strength to work for the liberation of our communities. Show us how to love in ways that heal and comfort. We pray this day for our elected leaders, that they may remember to serve and protect all whom they serve, and turn away from the bondage to their greed and will to power. Protect the members of our families who are now under attack and help liberate just and loving treatment for them. In the difficulties of managing our earthly affairs, may we never fail to hear the call of your Christ. May we all exit the tomb of “division for profit” and order our government, our church, our families, our lives with in the bright light of wise compassion… God have mercy. We lift up this community to you with our love:
All: Christe Eleison (please sing)
Prayer
Lover of Our Souls, we ask for strength to work for our own liberation. We create our own tombs as we cling to things that can’t give us life. Help us shed the burial cloths of past mistakes and regrets. Help us to be your love in this world and in our communities every day. Free us from that which is dead and deadly within us and call us ever closer to you. God have mercy. We open ourselves to your love:
All: Kyrie Eleison (please sing)
Our Lord’s Prayer
And so, as your people following in the ways of your Son, Jesus, who set the pattern of love as liberation from the death, we pray with confidence the prayer that he taught us:
All: Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music “Mimaamaquim” on Psalm 130 Honegger Jameson Tuwe, singer
From Here to There: We Depart
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Ruth Muskrat Bronson (October 3, 1897 – June 12, 1982) was a Cherokee poet, educator and Indian rights activist. As a young woman, she chose not to ignore either the Cherokee traditions of her father or the stories learned from her Irish mother.
In 1922, Muskrat went to Peking, China, for an international youth conference as part of a YWCA delegation. She was one of the first
Native American women to serve as a student delegate abroad. The trip, which included stops in “Hawaii, Manchuria, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.” brought Muskrat to the attention of the international press. She was inspired to work for racial equality.
After a stroke in 1972, Bronson slowed, but did not stop her activism for Native Americans. She advocated their determining their own development and leadership programs. In 1978, Bronson was among recipients of the National Indian Child Conference’s merit award for commitment to improving children’s quality of life.
Bronson also revolutionized gender norms in the Cherokee Nation, as she followed the ways of male leaders by dressing in what looked good to her and what would get her into places that she wanted to go.
She continued working for Native American rights, promoting their development and leadership in the private sector until her death in Tucson in 1982.
¨ Hymn #331 Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life The Call
1 Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: such a way as gives us breath; such a truth as ends all strife; such a life as conquers death.
2 Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength: such a light as shows a feast; such a feast as mends in length; such a strength as makes a guest.
3 Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart: such a joy as none can move: such a love as none can part; such a heart as joys in love.
¨ Benediction
Music for Departure
During Lent we depart to serve without a postlude as a kind of “fasting” from our regular routine. Please join for fellowship in the aisles or downstairs where coffee, tea, and light refreshments await.
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle (Link to World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle. (union-church.org/ministries/prayer/). Let us hold the people of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia ; and our brothers & sisters at First Faith Independent Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Prayers for all the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ For the survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria that help will arrive and that lives may be spared. Hold them in their grief and empower all those who can help to lift their hearts to the aid needed.
¨ Sharona Nelson, recovering from shoulder and arm surgery.
¨ Rita Barlow
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Doug Hindman, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Tom & Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Tom & Sara Parker, Tina’s parents, as they make the transition to their new home at Morning Pointe in Richmond after Tom’s diagnosis of ALS.
¨ Sheriden Blyth Bentley sister of Andy Blyth who passed away this last week. Our prayers surround Sue, her sister-in-law and all the family.
¨ Judith Singleton, recovering from knee surgery at home.
¨ EJ Stokes, sick with Covid.
¨ Doug Hindman, undergoing a test this week in hopes of improving his mobility.
¨ Bill Meredith, great uncle of Grace McKenzie, gravely ill and being cared for by his family.
¨ Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, undergoing chemotherapy.
¨ Jan Hamilton, recovering at the Terrace Nursing home.
¨ Jane Stephenson, recovering at Cardinal Hill.
¨ Kurt Smith, recovering from a broken leg and nasty flu, at home. Meal Train link: mealtrain.com/trains/32z9ny
¨ Patty Boyce, at the death of her sister, Caroline Anne Sewell.
Celebrations with Prayers of Joy! Birthdays: Today, March 26 – Cron Carpenter, Don Cardwell, Cansas Dowell; 27 – Judith Singleton; 31 – Colin Perman
Anniversaries: March 29 – Jerry & Gail Manning; April 1 – Richard & Cheyenne Olson
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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