Collect

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Ezekiel 37:1-14 . . . The prophet has a vision of the bones of a dead and hopeless people being restored to new life in their homeland.

Psalm 130 (Tree of Life Version). . .  waiting on God for forgiveness and redemption

Romans 8:6-11 . . . Paul draws a contrast between minds dominated by fleshly and worldly things and those in whom Christ lives and are set on Spirit.

John 11:1-45 . . . the story of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Sermon by Scott Spencer

“Can you smell that?” asks Scott Spencer’s wife. “No dear,” he replies, not to fret her, but because he genuinely doesn’t smell it. Spencer, author and New Testament scholar, says of today’s passage, John 11:1-45, “It features co-mingled scents of life and death, powerful odors, from the most pleasant to the most putrid.” By the end of the passage, “The spring-like fragrance of fresh life deodorizes the whole scene.” But, in the four days between Lazarus’ death and being raised from the dead, Mary and Martha say to Jesus, “If only you had been here.” Have you ever uttered that phrase?…”If only…?” Spencer offers an alternative way to think. Listen as he prods us to consider the “what now…” of Lazarus’ resurrection and the “what now…” in our lives.

COLLECT

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:  Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns  with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

1 SAMUEL 16:1-13 . . . the Lord sends Samuel to anoint David

PSALM 23 . . . The Lord is shepherd and guide.  God is present in the time of danger and generous and merciful

EPHESIANS 5:8-14 . . . disciples are called to be a people of the light, forsaking all the works of darkness

JOHN 9:1-41 . . . the story of Jesus’ healing of a man born blind.  Jesus brings light into a dark world

SERMON

“There’s something holy and important about paying attention to our surroundings and to the people near us,” says Rev. Dr. Kristin Adkins Whitesides, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Winchester, Virginia. She invites us to journey with the blind man who is healed by Jesus in John 9:1-41. He must figure out what his life would mean now that he was no longer blind. Those around him must also figure out what their lives meant in response to his healing. Who is truly blind?

Collect

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen

Exodus 17:1-7 . . . the people are at the point of rebellion because they are without water in the wilderness

Psalm 95 . . .  A Call to Worship and Obedience

Romans 5:1-11 . . . Paul bids disciples to rejoice in the reconciliation and hope which are theirs because of the sacrifices of Christ on behalf of sinners.

John 4:5-42 . . . the story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well.

The Sermon

Reverend Amy Starr Redwine, pastor and head of staff at First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia says, “A long tradition of Biblical interpretation concludes that the woman at the well must be a prostitute. Many of us come to this text, John 4:5-42, preconditioned to see the shame the woman carries as surely as she carries her water jar.” According to Redwine, despite what we may have been taught, this text is not about shame. Instead, Redwine invites us to consider “what might happen if we engage one another as human beings created by God, inherently valuable and worthy of love and respect.”

COLLECT

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves:  Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.

Genesis 12: 1-4 . . .  the story of God’ call of Abraham (Abram) to leave his own country and become the father of a great nation.

Psalm 121 . . . A song of trust in the Lord, the unsleeping guardian of Israel.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 . . . Paul describes Abraham as an individual who through faith found a right relationship with God.  He is the father of all who trust in the Lord.

John 3:1-17 . . . Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, comes during the night to talk with Jesus.

The Sermon

“Have you been born again?” Jim Somerville, pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Co-Founder of A Sermon for Every Sunday, was asked this question by his brother’s neighbor. It was brought about by today’s passage, John 3:1-17, the “born again” passage. Listen as Somerville explores the question, “Am I born again?

Collect

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted of Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 . . . the story of the creation of the first man and woman I the Garden of Eden and their disobedience and consequent loss of innocence

Psalm 32 . . .  thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sin

Romans 5:12-19 . . . Paul tells how the history of human sinfulness and death has been transformed by the free gift of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:1-11 . . . the story of the temptations of Jesus by the devil.

The Sermon

Ryan Ahlgrim is the pastor of First Mennonite Church in Richmond, Virginia.  His sermon for this week is called “Tempted Like Jesus.”

The first days of Holy Week confirm: there are some things worth living for, even if we find ourselves having to die for them as well.

Monday

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not us to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen (BCP p220)

Isaiah 42:1-9 . . . the mission of the Lord’s servant, the one whom God has chosen to bring forth justice and salvation

Psalm 36:5-11 . . . the expansive love of God expressed in faithfulness and justice.  God is a river of delight in whose light we see light.

Hebrews 9:11-15 . . .  Christ has inaugurated a new covenant, accomplishing all that was anticipated by the rites and rituals of the first covenant, that is, redemption from sin and transgression and the purification of conscience for the right worship of the living God.

John 12:1-11 . . . Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfume.

Tuesday

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life:  Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen (BCP p220)

Isaiah 49:1-7 . . . The servant of the Lord reflects movingly on his mission – its sorrows and frustration – and God’s high calling and promise to be with him.

Psalm 71:1-14 . . . God will continue to be my refuge and stronghold

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 . . .  Paul directs the attention of the Corinthians to God’s way of using what is weak and lowly – even what the world regards as foolish – to accomplish the divine purposes.

John 12:20-36 . . . Jesus presents teaching concerning the meaning of his death.  After his prayer to God a voice from heaven is heard.

Wednesday

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon:  Give us grace to accept joyfully and sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen (BCP p220)

Isaiah 50: 4-9a . . . the servant who speaks for the Lord and suffers persecution, but still trust in God’s help and vindication.

Psalm 70 . . . help and vindication

Hebrews 13:1-3 . . . The author exhorts hearers to persevere in the face of adversity.

John 13:21-32 . . . Jesus is troubled by the knowledge of Judas’ impending betrayal but tells his disciples that God is at work in the glorification of the Son of Man.

The scriptures of the opening days of Holy week prepare us in another way for the approaching end of Jesus’ life – and our own.