Sunday Gathering - March 21

Trinity United Church
Lent 5
March 21, 2021
Zoom Worship

“Connection not Perfection”

WE GATHER

Greeting/Welcome 

Acknowledgement of Territory
The United Churches of Canada
repudiates the doctrine of discovery
that assumed these lands were unoccupied
when European explorers and settlers first came here.
In humble appreciation,
we acknowledge that Trinity United Church rests
on the unceded territory
of the Coast Salish peoples,
the Kwikwetlem First Nations.

Prelude “Welcome Home –Lent” with prerecorded prelude      CLICK HERE for video.

Call to Worship
“Tree of Life” and Tenebrae Candles      CLICK HERE for video.

Prayer of Approach
Holy God, by the cross and resurrection
of Jesus,
you lift the suffering world toward hope
and transformation
and open the way to eternal salvation.
As we move ever closer to the passion of Christ,
may your law of love be written on our hearts
as he draws all people to himself revealing
your love fore the world.*

*Feasting on the Word: Liturgies for Year B Vol 1, p123 ff

Hymn: “Let My Spirit Always Sing” MV 83
CLICK HERE for video.

Prayer of Reconciliation and Words of Assurance
Redeeming God,
we confess that we have not loved you
with our whole heart,
and have not love dour neighbours as we ought;
we have strayed from your commandments.
Do not remember our sins, but forgive our iniquities,
That we may fix our eyes on you and sin no more,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.*

Sisters and brothers, by the faith of Christ,
your sins are forgiven.
May you delight in the joy of your salvation.*
Thanks be to God!

*Feasting on the Word: Liturgies for Year B Vol 1, p122 ff

WE HEAR THE WORD

Retelling our Ancient Story
“Written on Your Heart” Ralph Milton Lectionary Story Bible, p89

Hymn: “Spirit Open My Heart” MV 79
CLICK HERE for video.

Reading:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
31The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

John 12:20-33
20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

This is the witness of the early church. Thanks be to God!

Message:  CLICK HERE for video.

Your Word, O God, has power to
change our lives
and to create a whole new world.
As we meditate on your word this day,
fill us with your Holy Spirit,
that we may treasure your word with
our whole hearts
and fix our eyes on You. Amen.*

*Feasting on the Word, Liturgies for year B Vol 1, p123

I hope I'm not the only one who has a little hesitation before saying, "Thanks be to God!" in response to today's text!

Good Friday is coming.

What does it mean to be "glorified"? If we were gathering in person like we once did so long ago, I would give you an opportunity to answer that question. But Zoom doesn't lend itself to that kind of engagement. So I'll have to talk to myself.

In John's Gospel, of course, there is a tension between what is "Expected" by "glorification," and the reality of what Jesus actually means by "glorification. In John's Gospel, Jesus is talking about his crucifixion. Jesus says, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain."

Why would Jesus, or John - in John's Gospel it is hard to discern when Jesus is genuinely being quoted and when John is expressing his own theology through the story of Jesus, Why would Jesus, or John, use this kind of language of glorification to describe what is about to happen on Good Friday. For that matter, why on earth do we call it "Good Friday" to begin with! What's good about it?!?

The statement of course that "if it dies, it bears much fruit." And bearing much fruit is a good thing. A very good thing in fact. This is the metaphor John's Jesus is using for eternal life. Eternal life is a very good thing.

Now, I don't want to spend a lot of time here, but "Eternal Life" according to John is not "heaven." Eternal Life is the Reign of God. It might include heaven, but it is so much more than just life after death. It is a just and equitable, joyous and fulfilling communion in this life shared by all living things. It is real. It is here. It is now. It is Glorification personified. It is the Word become Flesh.

I want to return to this grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies because it is only the Fifth Sunday of Lent and we haven't got to the resurrection yet.

"Now, my soul is troubled," Jesus says. Now. In this moment. But this moment will end. Will Jesus say, "Save me from this hour"? Not in John's Gospel.

"It is for this reason that I have come to this hour, Father, glorify your name!"

And there is a response to that. A voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and I will glorify it again!"

Jesus point out that the voice wasn't for him, it was for his audience. He has already asserted, "Whoever serves me, must follow me."

And it is left with us. Are we committed to following Jesus or not?

Back to the seed again.

Anyone who has ever planted anything knows that not every grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies bears much fruit.

Some grains of wheat are sterile. In fact, we have large industries intentionally developing grain that is sterile so that we have to buy seed from them every year.

Some grains of wheat go dormant. It can take a very long time before those grains bear much fruit. I was just reading about archeologists who have found seed in burial sites that are thousands of years old, the wheat those grains produce has been extinct, but now the archeologists are cultivating wheat that has been gone for millennia.

Some grains of wheat fall into the ground, they get too wet and they just rot.

John's Jesus doesn't say anything here about other grains of wheat, but we have good sources in other places where Jesus has quite a bit to say about grains of wheat falling into the ground. Some grains of wheat fall, but don't get into the ground, they get carried off by mice and birds and eaten.

Some grains of wheat fall and die and spring up in haste and withers in the heat of the sun because it has no roots.

A comparatively few grains of wheat fall on good soil and produce very abundantly.

So we, prospective followers of Jesus. What is for us in all of this?

When's Jesus' soul is troubled in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus prays and comes to the prayer, "Your will, not mine, be done." I think that "Father, glorify your name" is a similar prayer. The purpose of my being here, is not for my will to be accomplished, but to glorify God. And remember that Glorifying God is about the Reign of God. Eternal Life. Glorification personified. The Word become Flesh.

If I am the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and cannot change - Holy One, Glorify your name.
If I am the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and gets too wet and rots and becomes compost - Holy One, Glorify your name.
If I am the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and gets eaten by birds and mice, - Holy One, glorify your name.
If I am the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and springs up too quickly and withers in the heat of the sun because I have no roots - Holy One, glorify your name.
If I should be so fortunate to be the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies and bears much fruit - Holy One, glorify your name.
For this reason, I come to this hour, to glorify your name.
In all things, may I follow your child, your servant, and glorify your name. In the name of the one glorified on a cross I pray. Amen.

Special Music

WE RESPOND

Prayers of Thanksgiving and intercession
During the final days of his earthly life,
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with
loud cries and tears,
and in faithful obedience, he opened the way
to eternal life.
Let us open our hearts this day as we lift up
our deepest needs and concerns
to the One who is mighty to save.

[Let us pray…]

We pray for all leaders and people,
that by the power of your cross
you would drive out all violence, domination,
and injustice in our world
as you draw us to your Christ.

We pray for our war-ravaged world,
that you would reach us to walk together
in your way of righteousness and peace.

We pray for the vocation of the church,
that our prayers would bear the fruit of action
as we hear the cries of pain and suffering of those in need.

[We pray for the United Church of Canada, for General Council Staff and volunteers, for its regions and communities of faith as we discern the way you are laying out for us into the future.
We pray for Trinity United Church, Governance Team, our volunteers, staff, participants and those who receive services from us as we also discern your will for this community]

We pray for the poor, the terrified, and the oppressed,
and those who are too much alone,
that they may find a home in you as we serve them
in your name.

[We pray for Rea, Bob, Faye, Brian, and Bart; Peggy in hospice; families who are grieving those who have recently died; members of our community receiving medical treatment and awaiting tests and procedures;
You may want to consult with Linda on the prayer circle list…
…]

As your son anticipated his death on the cross
in light of your steadfast love,
may all who have died or who are dying be at rest
in your eternal care.

Through Christ, with Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
we glorify you, almighty God,
with unending thanks and praise. *

*Feasting on the Word:Liturgies for Year B Vol 1, p123 ff

The Disciples’ Prayer: “Our Father” VU 960
CLICK HERE for video.

WE GO FORTH

Hymn: “As a Fire is Meant for Burning” VU 578
CLICK HERE for video.

Commissioning and Benediction:
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there will my servant be also.”
We go in peace to love and serve Christ.*

May God, whose hand has planted the law of love upon your heart,
fill you with peace from deep within
and the commitment to live in harmony.
And the blessing of God, who loves, forgives
and calls us home,
be with you now and always.* Amen.

*Feasting on the Word:Liturgies for Year B Vol 1, p123 ff

Postlude

Announcements

Giving:

• if you are already on Pre-Authorized Remittance, thank you.
• we do ask that you continue to offer your financial support even though we are not meeting face to face, our ministry together continues.
• above you will see a "Donate Now" button. If you click on it, it will lead you to our donation page.