Work the Works

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

God our faithful Shepherd, we depend on you for everything we need:

for daily food, for guidance and protection, for healing in injury and

comfort in sorrow. You respond in abundant provision.

Thank you for your tender care of us.

Thank you for soothing the wounds of this life.

Thank you that in the presence of enemies, especially the last

enemy of death, you are with us, as Shepherd, Host, Home.

Knowing your faithfulness in our lives O God, we bring before you the

lives of others, the cares of this world, entrusting ail things to your

goodness and mercy.

Bring healing to those who are ill in mind, body, or spirit.

Bring release to those who are held captive by old hurts or new

bonds that oppress and entangle.

Bring freedom to those unjustly accused, relief to those

burdened with debt, comfort to all who suffer from abuse of any

kind.

We pray for people living precariously in the midst of war.

Protect, we pray, citizens and soldiers alike, and teach us to put away

our weapons, taking up instead words of peace and reconciliation.

By the power at work in Christ, break down the walls of hostility we

build so that we may learn to live together graciously.

We remember those living in the midst of drought and famine.

We pray for rain to fall and crops to grow, and for generosity to

overflow from our own hands and resources, until all your

children receive their daily bread; until all your children have

clean water to drink; until all your children have adequate

shelter and medical care.

Compel us to be better stewards of creation so that our

habitation is sustainable and responsible. Loving God, help us to see the world as you see it; to see others as

you see them; and to see ourselves rightly, too. Pursue us all with

your goodness and faithful love until goodness and faithful love fills

every heart and informs every action. We pray these things in the

name of the one who came that we might see, Jesus Christ, our Lord

and Savior. Amen.

Gracious God, illumine our hearts and minds as the Scriptures are read and proclaimed, so that by the power of your Holy Spirit we may see what is good and right and true. And seeing, help us to do what is pleasing to you, so that your glory becomes visible in our words and deeds. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Ephesians 5:8-14 8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— °for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. ‘Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. '*For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; ‘but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ‘for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” John 9:1-41 1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ?His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” "Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. °As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” "When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ‘saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” "Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” ‘But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ‘tHe answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ‘4Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ‘Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. '’So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” '8The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight "and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 7°His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; @‘but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” ?7His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. **Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 2’He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 2°Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 7°We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 7*Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. **If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” °°He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” °’Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 3°Jesus said, “Il came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 4°Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” *‘Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

In typical Johannine style, the writer writes with palpable paradox and

dramatic irony. Ultimately, it is only the man blind since birth who can

truly see. The physically sighted people throughout the text—

disciples, the blind man’s parents, the Pharisees, and nameless

others—are the sightless ones. Where have you had your opinion

shifted as the Spirit has worked in your life? Where have you

realized that what you think you are seeing, isn’t the way to see the

world around us?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Taylor White

Our lives overflow with the goodness of God. Sharing what we have

so abundantly received, we bring now our tithes and offerings to God,

with gladness and gratitude

David Albulario, tenor

In gratitude, O God, we come to your table, into your presence, into your house. For all that you have done for us, most especially, for bringing us into the light of Jesus Christ, we offer our thanks and praise. We long to live as children of light, doing what is pleasing to you and bearing the fruit of the light through Jesus Christ, who awakens those who sleep, and raises those who are dead to new life. In his name we pray. Amen.

Arise! Shine! for the light of Christ is upon you. May the love of God pursue you, the light of Christ enfold you, and the Holy Spirit keep you; as you Go into the world bearing the fruit of Christ’s light so that all might see what is good and right and true; and live as children of the light to the glory of God. Amen. Blessed Be the Tie that Binds Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.