Gathering Lent/Easter 2018 Lectionary - united-church.ca · Web viewWithin Greek and Latin traditions, the celebration is referred to as Pascha, a name rooted in the Aramaic word

GATHERING, LENT/EASTER 2018Ash Wednesday to the Last Sunday of Easter

Lent and Holy Week................................................................................................................2Easter...................................................................................................................................... 2February 14 – Ash Wednesday................................................................................................4February 18 – Lent 1...............................................................................................................6February 25 – Lent 2...............................................................................................................8March 4 – Lent 3....................................................................................................................10March 11 – Lent 4..................................................................................................................12March 18 – Lent 5..................................................................................................................14March 25 – Palm/Passion Sunday..........................................................................................16March 29 – Maundy Thursday................................................................................................18March 30 – Good Friday.........................................................................................................20April 1 – Easter Sunday.........................................................................................................22April 8 – Second Sunday of Easter.........................................................................................24April 15 – Third Sunday of Easter..........................................................................................26April 22 – Fourth Sunday of Easter and Earth Day.................................................................28April 29 – Fifth Sunday of Easter...........................................................................................30May 6 – Sixth Sunday of Easter.............................................................................................32May 10 – Ascension Day (Thursday)......................................................................................34May 13 – Seventh Sunday of Easter......................................................................................36

Excerpted fromGathering: Resources for Worship PlannersPublished four times a year, Gathering is a worship planning magazine for ministers and lay leaders, music directors, and United Church of Canada worship committees. Subscribe or browse single issues at UCRDstore.ca.

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2 Gathering, L/E 2018

Lent and Holy WeekDates: Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls 40 days prior to Easter. Sundays are not included in the count of these days, as each Sunday is a “little Easter,” meant to celebrate resurrection.

Feast Days* and Special Days*Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Lent– Easter cycle. It is marked by the ceremonial distribution of ashes as a symbol of entering into the penitential Season of Lent. The wearing of ashes, made from the burning of the previous year’s palms from Palm Sunday, is considered a sign of repentance, sorrow, and mourning, an appropriate way to begin Lent.Women’s World Day of Prayer – first Friday in March.International Women’s Day – March 8.*The Triduum – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.

Meaning of NameThe name Lent comes through Middle English lente and Old English lencten or lengten, referring to the season of spring and the lengthening of days. It is also related to the French word lente, which means “to move slowly.”

Liturgical Colour: PurplePurple is a cool colour on the colour wheel, reflecting divinity, wisdom, dignity, mystery, and creativity. Dark purple is a penitential colour, evoking sadness and deep reflection. In the first century CE, purple dye was very hard to come by, so only the wealthy could afford purple garments.

EasterDates: Easter is currently a moveable feast, celebrated in Western Christianity on the first Sunday after the first astronomical full moon on or after the vernal (spring) equinox (fixed as March 21 for ecclesial purposes). Thus Easter falls between March 22 and April 25 on the Gregorian calendar. Easter Day within Eastern Christianity is calculated in the same manner but following the Julian calendar, using the actual vernal equinox date at the meridian of Jerusalem, and with the added condition that Easter must fall after Passover. There are talks underway exploring the possibility of fixing the date of Easter to the second or third Sunday of April. This would allow all Christians to celebrate on the same day.

Feast Days* and Special DaysApril Fool’s Day – April 1. Holy Humour Sunday – the Sunday after Easter Sunday. Earth Day – April 22. *Ascension Day – 40th day after Easter. Camping Sunday – last Sunday of April.

Meaning of NameThe name Easter comes from the Old English Eostre, rooted in the Proto–Germanic austron, meaning “dawn,” and the Proto–Indo–European aus, meaning “to shine.” The word east has the same roots. Bede, a seventh–/eighth–century English monk, made a connection between the name Easter and an early Germanic goddess of the dawn or spring, possibly named Eostre, whose feasts were celebrated in the month of April, though there is current debate about who this goddess might actually be. Within Greek and Latin traditions, the celebration is referred to as Pascha, a name rooted in the Aramaic word for Passover.

The United Church of Canada L’Église Unie du Canada

Gathering, A/C/E 2017‒2018 3

Liturgical Colours: White and GoldWhite, which is all colours of light combined, denotes goodness, innocence, and God’s faithfulness. Gold reflects glory, triumph, wealth, richness, and extravagance. Gold is also associated with illumination, love, compassion, courage, and wisdom. Together they are colours of celebration.

Please include this statement when using material from Gathering: Written by: ___________. Gathering, L/E 2018, page __________. Used with permission.


February 14 – Ash WednesdayWorship materials for Ash Wednesday were contributed by Kathleen James-Cavan, Knox U.C., Langham, Sask.

Joel 2:1–2, 12–17Return to God with all your heart.

or Isaiah 58:1–12The worship that God desires.

Psalm 51:1–17 (VU pp. 776–777)Put a new heart in me, O God.

2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10Be reconciled to God.

Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21Practise your faith in secret.

To PonderWhat sin or regret or source of brokenness is part of your life right now?

SparkPuddle grey or silver fabric around the vessel holding the palm ashes or place the vessel on a stand and drape the fabric overtop. At a side station, provide a sand table in which worshippers are invited to write a sin and erase it with a small rake before, during, or after the imposition of the ashes. Or, offer paper soap (found in camping-supply stores) onto which worshippers write a regret or source of brokenness and then drop it into a bowl of warm water to watch it dissolve. Show images of brokenness such as parched land, shattered and patched crockery, or broken hearts to enhance the contemplation of the imperfect offering of contrition during the ritual of the ashes.

With ChildrenIf children are present, include them in the making of the palm ashes prior to the service (well supervised and outdoors). During the service, encourage them to make crosses on pieces of mauve paper as you explain the meaning of the words they will hear during the imposition: e.g., “Remember that dust you are and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the gospel.” Remind the children that although Ash Wednesday services leave us with dirty foreheads, ashes are also a key ingredient in lye, which, when mixed with lard or coconut oil, makes soap. Help each child remember God’s forgiveness with the gift of a small piece of soap or paper soap in the shape of a heart.

Sermon StarterToday’s readings call us back to God and introduce the Lenten discipline. The gospel reading, a polemic, valorizes worship as discipline against performance, but worshippers will leave the church with a cross of ashes on their forehead, a very public declaration of their faith. A sermon for Ash Wednesday might reflect on balancing the private nurturing of our faith with the call to spread the good news of repentance and forgiveness. As today is also the secular feast of St. Valentine, you might illustrate the hope of reconciliation through repentance with pieces of a broken heart coming together. What if members of the congregation wrote a note about what is breaking their hearts on one side of a broken heart, which is matched by a prayer for reconciliation printed on the other?

Hymns



Joel 2:1–2, 12–17VU 381 “Spirit of Life”VU 382 “Breathe on me, breath of God”Isaiah 58:1–12VU 109 “Now quit your care”MV 173 “Put peace into each other’s hands”Psalm 51:1–17VU 371 “Open my eyes, that I may see”MV 76 “If I have been the source of pain”2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10VU 112 “O God, how we have wandered”MV 10 “Come and seek the ways of Wisdom”Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21VU 701 “What does the Lord require of you”MV 147 “God, help us to treasure”MV 187 “We give our thanks”General/SeasonalVU 105 “Dust and ashes touch our face”



February 18 – Lent 1Worship materials for the season of Lent were contributed by Kate Gregory, Belwood-Metz P.C., Belwood, Ont., and Lynn Hamilton, Eramosa P.C., Rockwood, Ont.

Genesis 9:8–17The covenant between God and Noah.

Psalm 25:1–10 (VU p. 752)Lead me in your truth, O God.

1 Peter 3:18–22Baptism now saves you.

Mark 1:9–15The baptism, temptation, and mission of Jesus.

To Ponder“God transforms, and calls us to protect the vulnerable, to pray for deliverance from evil, to work with God for the healing of the world, that all might have abundant life. We sing of grace” (from A Song of Faith, The United Church of Canada, 2006).Can you imagine baptism as “getting ready” for the journey?

SparkGod’s covenant, God’s promise, invites us to receive, to give, to move into new spaces, and to trust. Invite people or a group with whom you have a missional or ministry connection to be part of a Lenten decorating event or process. Take a risk in faith by asking a drama group or choir, a 4-H club, a Scout or Guide group, a gardening group, or a refugee-sponsorship/newcomer group to journey with you. Share snacks or a meal. Take this journey in faith, grace, and trust, as did Noah, as did Sarai and Abram, as did Moses. Over the weeks, add to your decorating the items suggested by the group and anything else that is good for your context. Today, you might include water, a fountain (if possible), or a font with a pitcher of water.

With ChildrenDo “The Hokey Pokey” song and dance with the children, explaining that God doesn’t want just a part of us, but all of us. We sometimes get into God’s mission gradually or half-heartedly—we are even tempted to withdraw from it at times—but God’s mission of transformation is “what it’s all about.”

Sermon StarterTransformative mission: God has a mission for each of us, and for all of us. Noah heard God’s directions, and even though he may have been tempted to listen to the naysayers of doubt and derision, he stuck with the mission program. God’s vision of earth turned around to a new course. First Peter says baptism is more than washing your body. Using the words of “The Hokey Pokey” song, “You put your whole self in” to the mission of God, and then you “shake it all about” in the name of Christ. Jesus heard the voice of God as well. He knew what he had to do, though the temptation was there to take an easier course. When we hear God telling us of the great mission, we have to decide whether we will wash our faces, put in earplugs to silence the noise of the world, and carry on in faith.

HymnsGenesis 9:8–17VU 219 “When all your mercies, O my God”



VU 286 “If you will trust in God to guide you”VU 356 “Seek ye first the kingdom”MV 10 “Come and seek the ways of Wisdom”Psalm 25:1–10“To you, O Lord, I lift my soul” by M. Haugen1 Peter 3:18–22VU 449 “Crashing waters at creation”MV 87 “Water flowing from the mountains”Mark 1:9–15VU 99 “Christ, when for us you were baptized”VU 623 “Dear weaver of our lives’ design”MV 115 “Behold, behold, I make all things new”



February 25 – Lent 2Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16The covenant between Abram, Sarai, and God.

Psalm 22:23–31 (VU p. 746 Parts Three and Four)You have not hidden your face, O God.

Romans 4:13–25God’s promise rests on grace and faith.

Mark 8:31–38Those who lose their life for the gospel will save it.

To PonderWhen have you known God’s blessing in your life? Consider times of transition and transformation that came about in faith and grace. How do you recognize and receive God’s invitation to blessedness and to trust? And how is your faithfulness called forth in action in mission and ministry?

SparkSee “Spark” for Lent 1 for background. Today add a compass.

With ChildrenUse a compass as a prop. Talk about how a compass helps us find our way when we are lost. Or talk about how Hermione Granger’s four-point spell transformed a wand into a compass in the Harry Potter books. God is our guide in whom we trust when we seem to be lost or feel alone. Reference the Sarai and Abram story. God keeps promises. God can be trusted to deliver us safely.

Sermon StarterThis week’s readings invite us to deepen our understanding of covenants. Reflecting on the Genesis reading, think about making and keeping promises. Consider how God’s promise to us calls forth our faithfulness. When we trust in God’s promise, we are free to take risks as followers of Jesus. Covenant invites us both to receive God’s promise and blessing and to give of ourselves by reaching out into the world. We are not alone, we live in God’s world.

HymnsGenesis 17:1–7, 15–16VU 337 “Blessed assurance”VU 353 “’Tis the gift to be simple”VU 509 “I, the Lord of sea and sky”VU 634 “To Abraham and Sarah”MV 161 “I have called you by your name”MV 182 “Grateful”Romans 4:13–25MV 97 “Listen, God is calling”Mark 8:31–38VU 561 “Take up your cross”VU 562 “Jesus calls us”VU 583 “Jesus came, a child like me”MV 172 “God says”MV 212 “Sent out in Jesus’ name”



March 4 – Lent 3Exodus 20:1–17The Ten Commandments.

Psalm 19 (VU pp. 740–741)The heavens declare the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18–25God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.

John 2:13–22Jesus clears the temple.

To Ponder“The Spirit judges us critically when we abuse scripture by interpreting it narrow-mindedly, using it as a tool of oppression, exclusion, or hatred” (from A Song of Faith, The United Church of Canada, 2006). Do you feel that you are a part of seeking justice and resisting evil?

SparkSee “Spark” for Lent 1 for background. Today add symbols of human ideas of strength: bar bells, pictures of weightlifters in contests of strength, powerful machines, money, etc. Then put an empty cross into the midst of these.

With ChildrenIf you have an old Transformer toy around, show the children how it can be turned from a machine of destruction into a machine that can help. (I have one that goes from a machine-gun-toting android to a tow truck.) Alternatively, you could help the children write a covenant of behaviour for the church and the church school. You might find out that they have some gripes about how children are treated in church (such as the children’s choir being applauded when the adult choir isn’t, which one five-year-old pointed out as demeaning).

Sermon StarterMoses receives the 10 precepts of living in communal relationships. These will bring about a radical transformation. The short-term mission of these precepts is to help people get along with one another. The long-term mission is to transform this ragtag army into a nation united under God.

In the people at the temple, Jesus perceives that God’s mission has been frustrated again. Seeing people cheated of their money and cheated of their place to worship is infuriating. When we see that God’s mission of peace—living together and of one accord—is flouted by global greed and disregard for human rights and dignity, how will we respond? We’ll want to upset the apple cart, but is violent outburst the most effective way?

HymnsExodus 20:1–17VU 368 “Holy Spirit, truth divine”VU 677 “O God of every nation”MV 1 “Let us build a house”“Days of Elijah” by Donnie McClurkinPsalm 19VU 659 “Eternal Father, strong to save”



VU 685 “We turn to you”MV 92 “Like a rock”1 Corinthians 1:18–25 VU 661 “Come to my heart”VU 663 “My faith looks up to thee”MV 188 “I thank you, thank you, Jesus”John 2:13–22VU 678 “For the healing of the nations”VU 679 “Let there be light”MV 142 “Oh a song must rise”MV 171 “Christ has no body now but yours” MV 209 “Go, make a diff’rence”



March 11 – Lent 4Numbers 21:4–9A bronze serpent heals the people.

Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 (VU p. 831 Parts One and Two)God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Ephesians 2:1–10We are not saved by our own doing, but by grace.

John 3:14–21For God so loved the world.

To PonderWhen have you known God’s grace to appear in your life? How do you recognize and receive God’s salvific invitation? How is God’s grace expressed in your community—in praise, adoration, witness, and reaching out into the world?

SparkSee “Spark” for Lent 1 for background. Today add symbols of God’s grace to the Lenten worship space. These can be personal, local, or cross-cultural. Ideas include the word grace graffitied on a banner, board, or wall. Make it bold!

With ChildrenGod loves us always and completely. God’s amazing grace is a consequence of God’s near-incomprehensible love for us. Develop symbols of God’s grace to use for homemade temporary tattoos made with wax paper and makeup pencils. Symbols can be as simple as the letters of the word grace or more elaborate to incorporate symbols of the cross or Hebrew lettering for the word/concept of God’s grace. Discuss how God takes love to a whole new level. God’s unconditional love changes our hearts and the way we live our lives individually and together in community.

Sermon StarterThis week we hear a story telling us that if we find ourselves in a desert without enough to live on, no food or water, or if we find ourselves living in a state we detest, we are not alone. We hear that when we’re not sure where the wind is blowing from, when we are anxious about how our life is going, we are not alone. Someone is with us. We hear that, lifted above all else, someone is with us in the centre of wretched times, delivering us life-giving water, food, wisdom, and care. We may not understand everything about how and why we are delivered, but its worth staying around to figure it out, because, as the story in the Gospel of John tells us, the deliverer is God’s beloved child, as are we.

HymnsNumbers 21:4–9VU 112 “O God, how we have wandered”VU 274 “Your hand, O God, has guided”MV 65 “When we are tested”Ephesians 2:1–10VU 266 “Amazing grace”



John 3:14–21VU 258 “O world of God”VU 504 “How clear is our vocation, Lord”VU 585 “Jesus bids us shine”MV 93 “What calls me from the death”MV 114 “Behold the face of Christ”



March 18 – Lent 5Jeremiah 31:31–34“I will write my law on their hearts.”

Psalm 51:1–12 (VU pp. 776–777)Put a new heart in me, O God.

or Psalm 119:9–16 (VU pp. 838–839)Finding joy in God’s commandments.

Hebrews 5:5–10Christ did not glorify himself; rather, he suffered.

John 12:20–33Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth.

To Ponder“Our living of the gospel makes us a part of this communion of saints, experiencing the fulfillment of God’s reign even as we actively anticipate a new heaven and a new earth” (from A Song of Faith, The United Church of Canada, 2006). How have you anticipated actively God’s new heaven and new earth?

SparkSee “Spark” for Lent 1 for background. Today add some heart pillows with Jesus’ commandment of love written on or pinned to them. Next to these, set symbols of judgment such as a gavel or a set of scales.

With ChildrenDo you find that life with adults can be confusing? Do you find that they are always coming up with new rules you haven’t heard of before? You know: first they tell you, “You always have to tell the truth.” Then they tell you, “You can’t tell Bobby the truth—that would hurt him.” I’m so glad God told Jeremiah that the law of God would be written on our hearts. God makes it pretty simple, too. What do you think God has written there?

Sermon StarterThere is no doubt that people do like to know the rules—more conservative churches/ministers do that better. See, for example, Laurier Campus, Spring 2017, “The Secret Ingredient That Makes Churches Grow” (which in turn cites Haskell, Flatt, and Burgoyne’s “Theology Matters: Comparing the Traits of Growing and Declining Mainline Protestant Church Attendees and Clergy,” in Review of Religious Research 58 [4] May 2016).

The article says that, in Canadian mainline churches that teach a theology more on the conservative side, people are more apt to read the Bible and give more. These churches are not experiencing a decline in congregational numbers, but are growing.

Perhaps we can think of God’s “writing on their hearts” as God giving people conscience. Listen to your body—what’s your heart saying? Sometimes old ideas for doing the mission of God have to be let go, even as older language is let go (for example, the 1940 Statement of Faith versus the 2006 Song of Faith), but the mission of God remains the same.



HymnsJeremiah 31:31–34VU 255 “The living God be praised” VU 368 “Holy Spirit, truth divine”MV 90 “Don’t be afraid”MV 101 “Jesus, you fill our hearts”MV 176 “Three things I promise”Psalm 51:1–12VU 660 “How firm a foundation”VU 662 “Lead me, God”MV 213 “Take up his song”Psalm 119:9–16VU 166 “Joy comes with the dawn”MV 40 “Never ending joy” “The joy of the Lord” by Rend CollectiveHebrews 5:5–10VU 573 “Eternal Spirit of the living Christ”VU 578 “As a fire is meant for burning”MV 93 “What calls me from the death”John 12:20–33VU 581 “When we are living”VU 584 “Through the heart of every city”MV 125 “When a grain of wheat” (“Hitotsubu no”)



March 25 – Palm/Passion SundayWorship materials for Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday were contributed by Kathleen James-Cavan, Knox U.C., Langham, Sask.

Liturgy of the PalmsMark 11:1–11 or John 12:12–16Jesus’ joyful entry into Jerusalem.

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 (VU p. 837 Parts One, Three, and Four) The stone which the builders rejected.

Liturgy of the PassionIsaiah 50:4–9aThe servant, “I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks.”

Psalm 31:9–16 (VU p. 758 Parts Two and Three)My times are in your hands, O God.

Philippians 2:5–11Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus.

Mark 14:1—15:47The narrative of Jesus’ final hours.

To PonderWhat, in Jesus, are you welcoming today?

SparkSeize the opportunity for drama. Provide palms, real or homemade, for the congregation to wave while marching and singing the opening hymn or shouting “Hosanna!” or as part of a dramatized reading of Mark 11:1–11. Focus on the joy of the day, but end with a portion of the passion liturgy to create contrast, especially for those who will be absent from the Good Friday service. For example, cover the cross or communion table with a drab grey cloth at the close of the service after reading Mark 14:1–2, 10–11 or leave the sanctuary without a benediction. If you include both liturgies, a sermon may not be necessary. Use verses of a hymn such as VU 144 “Were you there” interspersed with the appropriate sections of the narrative of Jesus’ final hours.

With ChildrenSuggestion 1: “A Palm Sunday Rap” (see Seasonal Ideas & Resources, p. 67)

Suggestion 2: Talk about Jesus’ humility as a mark of leadership. Ask about the children’s experiences of being in parades. How did they feel when they saw people looking at them? Usually parades are meant to show off our best efforts; sometimes parade organizers hand out prizes for the best floats. Jesus chooses to make a parade when he gets to Jerusalem, but he rides an untrained colt instead of a big horse. What would that feel like? Jesus shows a different way of being a leader.

Sermon StarterThe triumphal entry into Jerusalem is purposely anticlimactic. As Ched Myers points out in Binding the Strong Man (Orbis Books, 2008, pp. 295–297), Mark’s narrative emphasizes the detail of the theatrical preparation, including the deliberate replication and overturning of



messianic symbols from Zechariah. Contrary to expectation, as soon as Jesus enters the temple, he leaves. Jesus does not come to restore the temple operations; he comes to disrupt and make new, not by brute force but by facing the worst humiliation the Romans could think of: the crucifixion. Focus on how Jesus’ message of radically inclusive love disrupts our reverence for power and wealth and offers a way of justice in our everyday lives. How can we carry on this holy disruption?

HymnsMark 11:1–11 or John 12:12–16VU 124 “He came riding on a donkey”VU 128 “Sanna, sannanina”MV 8 “And on this path”MV 128 “When they heard”Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29VU 10 “Prepare the way of the Lord”MV 42 “Praise God for this holy ground”Isaiah 50:4–9aVU 145 “O sacred head”MV 78 “God weeps”Psalm 31:9–16VU 652 “Be still, my soul”MV 83 “Let my spirit always sing”Philippians 2:5–11VU 335 “At the name of Jesus”MV 47 “Born in human likeness”Mark 14:1—15:47VU 141 “They crucified my Lord”VU 144 “Were you there”



March 29 – Maundy ThursdayExodus 12:1–4, (5–10), 11–14Instructions for the first Passover.

Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19 (VU p. 836)How can I repay you, O God?

1 Corinthians 11:23–26An account of the Last Supper.

John 13:1–17, 31b–35Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.

To PonderRemember a meal where you felt radically inclusive love.

SparkThe term Maundy derives from the traditional first antiphon related to the ceremony of the washing of the feet, which begins “mandatum novum,” meaning “new order or commandment.” Traditionally held in the evening in a festively decorated church, the service ends with stripping the sanctuary. Maundy Thursday is an ideal opportunity for a shared congregational meal. The whole group should sit together at one long table or at tables set in a shape allowing people to converse easily. Food should be passed family style. Worship can take place throughout the meal. You may wish to include a ritual of foot- or handwashing (John 13:1–17, 31b–35). The table should be decorated with flowers, colourful napkins, and tablecloths. Use the words of the institution from 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 to celebrate the eucharist at the end of the meal.

With ChildrenIf you hold a meal, children will be a natural part of the festivities. A special Children’s Time could focus on the ritual of foot- or handwashing with the minister or parents washing the children’s feet or hands. This action can be done in a more traditional service as you explain that, when they were all gathered after supper in the upper room of a house during Passover, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples because he loved them. You will need a large shallow bowl, a washcloth, and a large towel.

Sermon StarterExplore the many ways that various cultures and religions gather for special meals. Jesus broke bread with all people during his ministry, demonstrating his radically inclusive love, a love he calls us to in the greatest commandment. In his final meal with his disciples, Jesus shows his loving servanthood by washing their feet. How might our congregations take up this call? How might we break down the walls of empire and enter into a truly intercultural relationship with all our relations?

HymnsExodus 12:1–4, (5–10), 11–14 VU p. 806 “O God, our help in ages past”Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19VU 549 “For all your goodness, God”VU 706 “Give thanks for life”1 Corinthians 11:23–26VU 461 “Bread of the world”VU 477 “I come with joy”



VU 550 “Bread is broken”MV 195 “Long ago and far away”John 13:1–17, 31b–35VU 130 “An upper room did our Lord prepare”VU 147 “What wondrous love is this”VU 348 “O love, how deep”VU 595 “We are pilgrims”



March 30 – Good FridayIsaiah 52:13—53:12The servant is despised, suffering, acquainted with infirmity.

Psalm 22 (VU p. 743–746)My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Hebrews 10:16–25Let us approach God with a true heart.

or Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9Jesus the High Priest.

John 18:1—19:42 The betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus.

To PonderIf you had been there that day when Jesus died, what might have been your reaction?

SparkOn Good Friday, the sanctuary traditionally has no decoration. Set up stations around the sanctuary at which people might meditate, offer prayers, light candles, and handle some of the symbols of crucifixion, such as a crown of thorns, spikes or nails, 30 pieces of silver, a whip (cat-o’-nine-tails), and coarse rope. Make numerous crowns of thorns from 12-inch lengths of barbed wire for congregation members to place on a table or wooden cross as a prayer of confession. Involve as many of the senses as possible by cracking the whip, passing pieces of rough rope, or driving nails into wood. Along with these sound and visual effects, the long gospel reading can be divided into sections and punctuated by appropriate verses of VU 144 “Were you there” or VU 148 “Jesus, remember me.”

With ChildrenThe folktale The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt (David C. Cook, 1989), which sets the cross in the context of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, could be used to introduce the meanings of the cross. Children and adults alike will be reminded of both the sorrow and the hope in the story of the Passion. God is with us in suffering.

Sermon StarterThe dramatic, responsive rendering of the gospel (see “Spark”) may be enough. If you feel the need for a sermon, consider the ways we continue to crucify the body of Christ through environmental degradation, indifference to social injustice, and other betrayals of relationship in our communities. Name some local or societal challenges such as homelessness, the water crises on First Nations reserves, or the widening gap between rich and poor. Intersperse the gospel reading with separate, short reflections on your chosen themes. Allow time for the congregation to sit with the power of the crucifixion story. Your reflections may raise problems without suggesting solutions. End the service in silence, without postlude or benediction.

HymnsIsaiah 52:13—53:12VU 614 “In suffering love”MV 78 “God weeps”Psalm 22VU 611 “Out of the depths, O God, we call to you”VU p. 743 “God, why have you forsaken me”



Hebrews 10:16–25 or Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9VU 473 “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” verses 1–3VU 591 “Jesus, united by your grace”John 18:1—19:42VU 143 “My song is love unknown”VU 144 “Were you there”VU 145 “O sacred head”VU 146 “When Jesus wept”VU 148 “Jesus, remember me”



April 1 – Easter SundayActs 10:34–43Peter preaches, “God shows no partiality.”

or Isaiah 25:6–9God provides a rich feast.

Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 (VU p. 837 Parts One, Two, and Three)God is my strength and my song.

1 Corinthians 15:1–11An account of Jesus’ resurrection appearances.

John 20:1–18 or Mark 16:1–8The resurrected Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.

To PonderWhat might you have done if you had discovered the empty tomb?

SparkUnless you have observed the Holy Saturday vigil, begin the service with the lights off and process into the church with members of the congregation carrying the symbols of Easter: shroud, fragrant oil, stone, bread, wine, cross, and lighted paschal/Easter candle. As each symbol is placed on the communion table, speak briefly about its significance and ask the congregation to respond, “Christ is risen!” Decorate with daffodils ordered, if possible, from your local cancer society. Or invite people to place the daffodils on a large cross during a hymn. Create a focal point in the worship space with white and gold drapery hanging or flowing from the cross. This central celebration of our faith calls for the participation of all the worship arts: dance, song, poetry, drama, and plastic and visual arts. Involve artists in your congregation to help prepare the sanctuary or offer liturgical dance.

With ChildrenIf you hid “Hallelujahs” on Ash Wednesday or the first Sunday in Lent, open the box with great excitement to find them gone! (For a description of this practice, see www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/burying-the-alleluia-during-lent). Send the children on a hunt through the sanctuary and celebrate (perhaps with small treats) when they are all safely found. Encourage the children to shout out “Hallelujah!” and wave the streamers as you tell the story of Mary’s discovery of the empty tomb. Or you might want to draw a connection between the story of the empty tomb and the empty chrysalis left behind after a butterfly hatches. Give out butterfly stickers or erasers to remind the children of our new life in Christ because of the resurrection.

Sermon StarterWhen have you experienced resurrection in your life? When have you seen it in others’ lives or in the church? What do we mean when we say “Christ is risen! Hallelujah!”? The sermon on this Sunday is an opportunity to explore the unruly mystery of the resurrection and how it fuels faith, hope, and love in the world. Challenge the congregation to follow Mary’s lead by letting go of loss and carrying her message of hope into the world: “I have seen the Lord.” Ask the congregation to name to one another how they have seen or experienced Christ in their lives.

HymnsActs 10:34–43VU 164 “The day of resurrection”



VU 166 “Joy comes with the dawn”VU 606 “In Christ there is no east or west”Isaiah 25:6–9VU 651 “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”MV 120 “My soul cries out” (“Canticle of the Turning”)Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24VU 409 “Morning has broken”MV 22 “God of all the world” (“Mi pela i bung”)MV 122 “This is the day” (“Voici le jour”)1 Corinthians 15:1–11VU 155 “Jesus Christ is risen today”VU 178 “Because you live, O Christ”John 20:1–18VU 180 “Christ is risen, yes, indeed”MV 121 “Hey now! Singing hallelujah!”MV 125 “When a grain of wheat” (“Hitotsubu no”)Mark 16:1–8VU 164 “The day of resurrection”VU 179 “Hallelujah, hallelujah, give thanks”MV 138 “My love colours outside the lines”



April 8 – Second Sunday of EasterWorship materials for the Second Sunday of Easter to the Fifth Sunday of Easter were contributed by Geoffrey Wilfong-Pritchard, St. Andrew’s U.C., Edmonton, Alta.

Acts 4:32–35The believers shared everything in common.

Psalm 133 (VU p. 856)How pleasant it is when God’s people are together.

1 John 1:1—2:2God is light; walk in the light.

John 20:19–31Jesus appears to the disciples; but Thomas is not there.

To PonderWhat does power look like?

SparkDisplay images of power in the sanctuary in whatever way you use imagery: a collage or pictures from magazines. Ask the musician for “music with power” for the prelude.

With ChildrenSend the children out into the congregation to ask the question, “What does power look like?” You can anticipate many of the answers that they will bring back: images of strength, force, etc. Paraphrase the passage from Acts about how the disciples testified with great power. What do you suppose that kind of power looked like. Ask the children for examples of how your congregation witnesses with power through the work and presence it has in your community.

Sermon StarterThe passage from Acts sounds like an idealization of community, with everyone being of one mind and everything being shared in common. Anyone who has ever lived in an intentional community can tell you how difficult it really can be. Luke makes it sound as if the apostles’ testimony to the power of the resurrection was not just based on what they had experienced but was also about “what God had done for them.” Their testimony spoke through the outcome of their actions—that there was no one in need. The passage asks us to consider how our response to need is our testimony to the resurrection.

HymnsActs 4:32–35VU 389 “God is here”VU 582 “There’s a spirit in the air”MV 209 “Go, make a diff’rence”Psalm 133VU p. 856 “Behold, how pleasant”1 John 1:1—2:2VU 230 “Heaven is singing for joy”VU 232 “Joyful, joyful we adore you”“Where the light of Easter Day” by Jillian Bray & Shirley Erena MurrayJohn 20:19–31VU 168 “The risen Christ”VU 185 “You tell me that the Lord is risen”



VU 586 “We shall go out with hope of resurrection”MV 137 “Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome”SeasonalVU 187 “The spring has come”VU 253 “Sing your joy”VU 396 “Jesus, stand among us”



April 15 – Third Sunday of EasterActs 3:12–19Peter preaches in Solomon’s Portico.

Psalm 4 (VU p. 727)Answer me, when I call, O God.

1 John 3:1–7We are children of God.

Luke 24:36b–48Jesus invites the disciples to touch his hands and feet.

To PonderWhat opens our minds?

SparkHave lots of scriptures or pictures of scriptures on hand for display.

With ChildrenMake a fist and tell the children they have 30 seconds to open it. (You can also invite a congregant with a strong hand to demonstrate this with you.) Most will try to pry your fingers open. After 30 seconds, your fist should still be closed! Ask them why they couldn’t open your fist, and gather their answers. Ask them if there was another way they could have opened your fist. Have someone in the congregation ready to say, “Would you open your fist, please?” if they can’t think of the answer. Open it. Remind everyone that hearts and minds function pretty much the same way. No one can force us to open our minds, our hearts, or even (often!) our fists. What opens them? Ask the congregation and the children.

Sermon StarterMany of the stories from Acts state that the first apostles blamed the leaders of their community for the death of Jesus. As painful as these passages are, they, as well as the suffering that an uncritical reading of them causes our Jewish friends, need to be acknowledged. It also needs to be acknowledged that Luke is writing theology, not history, and that in his theology, the followers of Jesus see themselves as the new leaders of Judaism because of their faith in Jesus. Paradoxically, perhaps, Luke also says that the risen Christ opened the minds of the disciples so they could understand the scriptures. One of the realities to which our minds have been opened is that when causes, such as religion and nationalism, compete for superiority, the seeds of destruction are sewn. How is it that our minds are opened? What scripture seeks our understanding in this time? When asked how such a learned man as he could get along in the desert without books, Abba Anthony, one of the Desert Fathers, replied, “My book is the nature of created things, and as often as I have a mind to read the words of God, it is at my hand.” So Anthony understood that all of creation was God’s book, and so whenever he looked into creation, he saw the hand and the mind of God. On this Sunday before Earth Day, we can reflect with Anthony on how God opens our minds to understand the scripture that is creation. Like all good books, it is an infinite source of wisdom about who we are in relation to it and to God.

HymnsActs 3:12–19VU 344 “How sweet the name”VU 589 “Lord, speak to me”Psalm 4VU 437 “The day you gave us”



MV 84 “In you there is a refuge”1 John 3:1–7VU 333 “Love divine, all loves excelling”VU 445 “A little child the Saviour came”MV 31 “Pure love”“We are sisters of the earth” by William Wallace”*Luke 24:36b–48VU 158 “Christ is alive”VU 183 “We meet you, O Christ”VU 185 “You tell me that the Lord is risen”MV 138 “My love colours outside the lines”MV 162 “Christ, within us hidden”SeasonalVU 175 “This is the day”VU 177 “This joyful Eastertide”VU 373 “As comes the breath of spring”

*William Wallace, The Mystery Telling (Selah Publishing, 2001). Search The Mystery Telling at www.methodist.org.nz.



April 22 – Fourth Sunday of Easter and Earth DayActs 4:5–12 Peter testifies before the high priests.

Psalm 23 (VU pp. 747–749)God is my shepherd.

1 John 3:16–24Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

John 10:11–18Jesus is the good shepherd.

To PonderWhat makes a good guide?

SparkMake a recording of traffic and street noises interspersed with sounds of gently lapping waves to play while the congregation gathers.

With ChildrenInvite the children to go into the congregation and ask members what makes for a good guide. Gather up their answers and affirm them. Remind them that one of the ways we describe Jesus is as being a good guide. That spirit lives in us all, so we too are good guides for each other. Ask the congregation how the children are good guides for them.

Sermon StarterThere’s a short story by Canadian author Patrick Waddington called “The Street That Got Mislaid” (search classic shorts Patrick Waddington street mislaid) about a Montreal street that was “lost” by the planning department and became a place of peace and tranquility in the middle of one of the busiest cities in Canada. Stories like this remind us of our longing to find those green pastures and still waters. Our faith tradition reminds us that such places are not necessarily physical or geographical, but reside within our own spirits and imaginations. The patriarch Origen believed that deep within us is an instinctive place in which we know what is good. The Good Shepherd passages ask us to reflect on where those places might be in our own lives and how we might access them.

Hymns Acts 4:5–12VU 218 “We praise you, O God”VU 325 “Christ is made the sure foundation”Psalm 23VU 273 “The King of love”VU p. 747 “The Lord’s my shepherd”MV 126 “Are you a shepherd?”Bobby McFerrin’s setting of Psalm 231 John 3:16–24VU 600 “When I needed a neighbour”VU 603 “In loving partnership”VU 684 “Make me a channel of your peace”John 10:11–18VU 210 “You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd”VU 657 “He leadeth me”MV 103 “Ka mana’o ’I ’O”



SeasonalVU 222 “Come, let us sing”VU 260 “God who gives to life its goodness”VU 559 “Come, O Fount of every blessing”



April 29 – Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 8:26–40Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Psalm 22:25–31 (VU p. 746 Parts Three and Four)Praise God who has heard our call.

1 John 4:7–21Everyone who loves is born of God.

John 15:1–8Jesus is the true vine.

To PonderWhat makes a good companion?

SparkLabel and display a building or shopping centre schematic with the words “Where Is Here?” rather than “You Are Here” in big letters.

With ChildrenInvite the children to go into the congregation and ask people how it feels when somebody really listens to them. Gather up their answers and affirm them. Tell them about the time Philip, the disciple of Jesus, really listened to a man who was travelling by himself and felt like he had no friends. What do you suppose Philip said to him? What would you want to say to somebody who felt they had no friends? Remind them that this is why we are the church: so nobody has to feel that they are all alone.

Sermon StarterAfoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,Healthy, free, the world before me,The long brown path before meleading wherever I choose.—Walt Whitman, “Song of the Open Road”

Walt Whitman saw the open road as a path to possibility. The Ethiopian official might see the road as a rut he is in, going back and forth from Ethiopia to Jerusalem, feeling cut off (literally) from community because of who he is. Philip tells him the good news of Jesus Christ. What ruts are we in as individuals, as a congregation, as a society? What does good news sound like today? Who might tell it to us?

HymnsActs 8:26–40VU 230 “Heaven is singing for joy” VU 460 “All who hunger”VU 651 “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”MV 144 “Like a healing stream”“Between the stillness of the rock” by William Wallace*Psalm 22:25–31VU p. 750 “Lift up the gates eternal”SFGP** 88 “Holy God, we praise your name”“In the presence of your people” by Brent Chambers1 John 4:7–21VU 333 “Love divine, all loves excelling”



VU 600 “When I needed a neighbour”MV 166 “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ”MV 179 “Sisters let us walk together”John 15:1–8VU 510 “We have this ministry”MV 103 “Ka mana’o ’I ’O”“Deep within me” by William Wallace*“Grapes from the hillside” by Sastok/Wilfong-Pritchard (visit www.saintandrewsunited.com)SeasonalVU 187 “The spring has come”VU 227 “For the fruit of all creation”VU 256 “O God beyond all praising”

*William Wallace, The Mystery Telling (Selah Publishing, 2001). Search The Mystery Telling at www.methodist.org.nz.**Songs for a Gospel People



May 6 – Sixth Sunday of EasterWorship materials for the Sixth Sunday of Easter to the Seventh Sunday of Easter were contributed by Fern Gibbard, Penticton U.C., Penticton, B.C.

Acts 10:44–48The gift of the Holy Spirit comes as Peter preaches.

Psalm 98 (VU p. 818)Sing to God a new song.

1 John 5:1–6To love God is to obey God’s commandments.

John 15:9–17Love one another as I have loved you.

To PonderWhere are your own personal limits to accepting and loving everyone?

SparkPlan an ecumenical or interfaith activity, perhaps in service to the broader community.

With ChildrenPlay a “what if” game in which various children (or people in the congregation) in turn will be excluded (e.g., “What if all kids wearing red couldn’t sit here for our story time?”). Keep the game light and make sure the children know this is play and not for real. Suggestions include colour of clothes, number of siblings, grade at school—something easily understood, but not too painful. Ask: How do you feel when you are excluded? Do you think God excludes some people and accepts others? Why or why not? Emphasize that God shows no partiality, but accepts everyone.

Sermon StarterWhere do we stand on ecumenism? How great and all-encompassing is the God in whom you believe? Is love really the first and greatest commandment or does the observance of all the rules and regulations that we have imposed on the Christian community over the centuries take precedence? Is it the letter of the law that we need to obey or is it the rule of love?

In the first century, “the Jesus movement” was still very much a part of Judaism. Never in their wildest of imaginings did anyone ever think that Gentiles (many of whom believed in myriad Greek and Roman gods or the innumerable nature gods) could be included in this new Jesus movement. It seemed impossible that there could be any common ground among them.

How seriously do we take the words “God shows no partiality?” How far do we dare expand our faith, our inclusiveness? The first commandment is to love. We could start by loving and including those who worship the same God we do but who do so with different liturgy and practices. Do we dare go even to those who differ as much from us as did those Gentiles from the early Christians? How far are we willing to believe that God’s love reaches? For more inspiration, see The Word Today by Herbert O’Driscoll, Year B, Volume 2, pp. 85–88, (The Anglican Book Centre, 2001).

HymnsActs 10:44–48VU 606 “In Christ there is no east or west”



MV 102 “Jesus, your Spirit in us”MV 145 “Draw the circle wide”MV 162 “Christ, within us hidden”Psalm 98MV 142 “Oh a song must rise”MV 213 “Take up his song”1 John 5:1–6VU 382 “Breathe on me, breath of God”MV 81 “Love us into fullness”John 15:9–17VU 283 “God is the One whom we seek together”VU 365 “Jesus loves me”MV 154 “Deep in our hearts”MV 159 “In star and crescent”MV 209 “Go, make a diff’rence”



May 10 – Ascension Day (Thursday)Acts 1:1–11The Ascension of Jesus.

Psalm 47Clap your hands, all you peoples.

Ephesians 1:15–23Paul prays for the church at Ephesus.

Luke 24:44–53Jesus explains scripture.

To PonderDo you consider yourself powerful? Why or why not?

SparkPost or project pictures related to power, both power well used and power abused. Ask the question: How do we use power as followers of the Way of Jesus?

With ChildrenWhat do you think of when I say the word power? Talk about various power sources, cultural icons, and characters (such as Superman, Batman, the latest technology, etc.). What are some of the things that you can do with power? Can power be good as well as bad? What do you know about God’s power? How does God use power? How does God ask us to use power?

Sermon StarterWe are all faced with choices. What do you do if your choice, the one that you have always considered to be of utmost importance, turns out to be unimportant and insignificant in the grand scheme of things? Are you willing to give up your choice and exchange it for another idea that will make a better difference? Or will you cling to your idea, because it is YOUR idea? Could you give up your goal for God’s goal?

The restoration of the kingdom of Israel to the children of Israel is the burning question of the day in scripture, and is of prime importance to the disciples as illustrated by their question to Jesus. But it is not of prime importance to Jesus. Jesus is concerned with the power that the disciples will be receiving. What are they going to do with this intense, overwhelming, forceful energy that the indwelling living Spirit of God will give them? Will they fritter this power away trying to restore an earthly kingdom that will be gone in the blink of an eye, or will they use this power to bring the everlasting kingdom of God to fruition? In our role as modern-day disciples, what are we doing with this God-given power? Are we frittering it away to obtain creature comforts and an easy life, or are we using it to further the fruition of God’s kingdom of peace and justice?

HymnsActs 1:1–11VU 158 “Christ is alive”VU 189 “Hail the day that sees him rise”VU 211 “Crown him with many crowns”VU 507 “Today we all are called to be disciples”Psalm 47VU p. 820 “Make a joyful noise”



MV 59 “Alleluia, praise to God”MV 183 “I’m gonna shout, shout”Ephesians 1:15–23MV 6 “Holy Spirit, come into our lives”Luke 24:44–53VU 194 “Filled with the Spirit’s power”VU 231 “I sing the mighty power”VU 397 “O praise the gracious power”MV 13 “O let the power fall on me”



May 13 – Seventh Sunday of EasterActs 1:15–17, 21–26Matthias is elected as an apostle.

Psalm 1 (VU p. 724)Blessed are those who delight in God’s law.

1 John 5:9–13 The testimony of God is greater than human testimony.

John 17:6–19 “May my joy be made complete in them.”

To PonderWhat does family mean in your life? How has your understanding of family changed with time?

SparkThis is Christian Family Sunday, a.k.a. Mother’s Day. How do we expand the traditional ideas of mother or family to include all who offer mothering gifts and the gifts of family to us? How do we challenge stereotypes and romantic notions that no longer serve and even abuse? Post or project pictures of a wide variety of types of families. You might include families in your own congregation.

With ChildrenYou might look through pictures of families in your congregation and delight in identifying them. (Offer to take photos of families whose pictures aren’t represented, perhaps after church.) Sometimes families are fun. Sometimes it is hard to be family together. You might share a story from your childhood about being frustrated with a sibling and then discovering you still love that sibling. (Remember that when you are talking about families, you are walking a fine line not knowing if some of the children are experiencing abuse or difficulty in their families.) Move to the joy that Jesus wants for us. Sometimes we find that joy in families. Sometimes we find that joy with friends, or in prayer, or in our church family, or in the outdoors. Make room for many situations. As followers of Jesus, we find joy in knowing that God is with us; we are not alone.

Sermon StarterWhat qualities, characteristics, talents, or outlooks define each of us as a member of our earthly family? What are the characteristics of members of God’s family? Does God support us and love us as members of this family? Do we have a sense of belonging, and how can we maximize this feeling?

Address issues around family, such as the fact that families are not always loving and accepting, that we may not be able to be who we really are in the family in which we grew up, and that sometimes we create our own family of friends. Family is complicated. Jesus told his disciples that he had come to bring them joy, complete joy. We might expect that joy to be found in family, and for some people, it is, while for others, family has nothing to do with joy. We speak of the “church family.” Is that a helpful image or not? How are you doing as a congregation at being a “church family” that is unconditionally loving and accepting, creating joy in people’s lives in Jesus’ name?

HymnsActs 1:15–17, 21–26



VU 562 “Jesus calls us”VU 569 “You call us out”MV 157 “I am a child of God”MV 161 “I have called you by your name”1 John 5:9–13VU 574 “Come, let us sing of a wonderful love”VU 594 “O Christian, love”MV 84 “In you there is a refuge”John 17:6–19VU 326 “O for a thousand tongues to sing”VU 630 “O Christ, in thee my soul”VU 635 “All the way my Saviour leads me”VU 642 “Be thou my vision”SeasonalVU 555 “Our parent, by whose name”VU 556 “Would you bless our homes and families”VU 557 “A prayer for homes and families”


Documents

Gathering Lent/Easter 2018 Lectionary - united-church.ca · Web viewWithin Greek and Latin traditions, the celebration is referred to as Pascha, a name rooted in the Aramaic word