Expect Rejection— Do It Anyway

From water to wilderness:

God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.

On stone and in hearts:

God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.

From the ancestor of nations to the Son lifted up:

God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.

We follow Jesus on the Lenten path, for where he is, we would be

also.

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.

Merciful God, we confess the folly of our actions and the hypocrisy of our complaints. We grumble about the evils in our world, even as we commit injustices and in our pettiness are often no better ourselves. We fret about the scarcity of resources while hoarding earth’s goods and cheating you. We protest the problems of our world, but we do not actively work to address them. Merciful God, expose our actions and our inactions before the light of your grace. Heal our hearts and free us from our foolish ways that we me know the joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the

world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. In the

name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Sisters and brothers, confident in God’s love and mercy, let us pray

for the world and for our needs, saying,

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Holy God, you created us in Christ Jesus for good works. Help those

who profess faith in Christ to do good in the world, following the way

of life you have prepared for those who believe in him. For the church

of Jesus Christ,

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Your children walk by your light, doing what is true. Yet salvation is

not earned by good works, but through trust in your grace. Dispel

from your children arrogance of heart, that the world may be drawn to

your truth by their humble witness.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

In every age you call forth people of integrity to lead your world in the

way of loving kindness. Help pastors and teachers fulfill their calling;

give them courage to speak the truth in love, and shield them from

temptation to misuse their authority. For pastors and teachers,

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

God, your reign encompasses all the earth, though the nations may

rebel against your justice. Save the nations from the wrath of their

disobedience. Help them to dwell in peace and promote the common

good. For governments and leaders,

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

You hear the cry of the sick and the afflicted. Save them from their

distress, heal them of their disease, and deliver them from the

destructive power of suffering. For all who sorrow in distress,

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

O God, in Jesus Christ you have shown your love for the world.

Receive our prayers, grant us what we need, save us from perishing,

and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Almighty God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, open your Word and illumine our darkened world, that we may see clearly and live faithfully by the light of your truth in Jesus Christ. Amen.

John 3:¹⁴-21 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷ Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

What does the light of God’s truth reveal about your life? Are there

parts of your life that you want to hide from God? Can you imagine

what it would be like to live completely transparent to God’s piercing

light?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Jeanette Williams

Church, we have received the immeasurable riches of God’s grace in

kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; let us offer our gifts of gratitude

that they may tell of God’s deeds within and beyond our community.

Merciful God, we thank you for your wonderful works among humankind. Accept this offering with the dedication of our lives and help us be for the world an emblem of your steadfast love, in Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the light of the Spirit bless you and may you go forth to share this gift with others in the way of truth. 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.