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Service of the Word
Use this service if you cannot view the video version on the website
St. Johannes Lutheran Church
April 5, 2020
Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way. Kyrie eleison, every day!
from Setting 4 of the Lutheran Liturgy
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Taizé -Hosanna
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☩ GATHERING ☩
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PALM SUNDAY/SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
Today’s liturgy begins Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Quickly the tone of the service changes as we meditate upon Jesus’ passion and death. Though Jesus is obedient even unto death on the cross, he is exalted by God and given the name that is above every name.
PALM SUNDAY PROCLAMATION
P “Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
PALM SUNDAY ACCLAMATION
The presiding minister begins.
P Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
C Hosanna in the highest!
P Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
C Hosanna in the highest!
P Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
C Hosanna in the highest!
PALM SUNDAY Gospel Matthew 21:1-11
P The holy gospel according to Matthew.
C Glory to you, O Lord!
1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5“Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
P The gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ!
PALM SUNDAY PRAYER
P Let us pray. We praise you, O God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed messiah and king by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to his death and resurrection, we enter into life with you; through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “All Glory Laud And Honor” ELW Hymn 344
Hymn is printed at the end of this service below
The minister leads the procession into the church as the hymn is sung.
PALM SUNDAY ACCLAMATION
Following the hymn the Palm Sunday Acclamation is repeated.
P Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
C Hosanna in the highest!
☩ WORD ☩
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
Contemplation OF THE PASSION
P As we now enter into the contemplation of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and meditate on the salvation of the world through his sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection, let us pray.
A brief silence for meditation.
Prayer of the Day
P O God of mercy and might, in the mystery of the passion of your Son you offer your infinite life to the world. Gather us around the cross of Christ, and preserve us until the resurrection, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen
FIRST READING Isaiah 50:4-9a
A reading from the Isaiah.
4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
6I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
7The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
9aIt is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
L The Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God!
PSALM 31:9-16
9Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble;
my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11I am the scorn of my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors,
a dismay to my acquaintances;
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind;
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around;
they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD.
I have said, "You are my God.
15My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love."
SECOND READING Philippians 2:5–11
A reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
L The Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God!
PASSION OF OUR LORD Matthew 27:11-54
P The Passion of Our Lord according to St. Matthew the 27th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” 44The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
45From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
P The Passion of the Lord.
C Praise to you O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Cooper
A PERSONAL PALM SUNDAY
I have been in the ministry for some 42 years
And you would think that by now
Preaching a Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday sermon,
Would be a breeze?
But the truth is I am anxious.
In fact I have found that as I get older
I find I am anxious a lot.
Even doing things I have done most of my life.
Like, preaching on Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday.
And while I was anxiously trying to come up with this sermon
I happened to read a column written by a good friend of mine,
By the name of Karoline Lewis,
A pastor, author, and professor of homiletics at Luther Seminary,
The column is called, “Working Preacher.”
And she suggested,
That when it comes to preaching on the Passion of our Lord this year,
We need to make it personal.
And so I went back and reread the Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday Gospels,
In fact, the whole Passion story according to Matthew.
This time in the midst of my own anxiety
And this Lenten Season like no other we have ever known.
And the paragraph that spoke to me was this one
In the verses just prior to our gospel this morning:
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane;
And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated.
38Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”
And it hit me, that Jesus too was anxious.
Just like me.
And so, I went and read the passion story again,
And I realized that even though Jesus was anxious
His life was not ruled by his fear and anxiety,
But instead
By faith and compassion.
In fact, that is what makes Jesus’ story
So amazing, so divine.
Not just starting with Palm Sunday,
But all the way back to the Annunciation
Which we celebrate just a little over a week ago.
Almost every paragraph of Matthew’s Gospel
Is filled with fear and anxiety.
Mary is found to be with child from the Holy Spirit
And Joseph being a righteous man
Doesn’t want to expose her to public disgrace
And plans to dismiss her quietly.
Until an angel of the Lord appears in a dream
Will Joseph marry her and adopt her unborn son as his own?
Then Herod orders all the children in and around Bethlehem,
Under the age of two to be killed.
And Joseph in another dream is warned to flee into Egypt.
Will the infant Jesus survive?
Fast forward and Jesus is baptized by John
And God says,
“This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
And you think
OK, now Jesus knows he’s the Son of God,
He doesn’t have to worry any more,
But Matthew says,
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit
Into the wilderness
To be tempted by the devil.”
As far as I can see,
There was never a time in Jesus life
When he wasn’t in danger,
From governors and kings,
From Sadducees and Pharisees,
Even from his own disciples,
“Is it I Lord?”
But here’s the thing,
Jesus may have been anxious,
Even fearful,
And, yes, he was often tempted,
“Get behind me Satan”
But he never let those fears overpower him.
Jesus was not ruled by his fears.
Jesus was ruled by his faith in his Father God
And his love for all of God’s people on earth.
As his arrest, trial, and crucifixion approached,
Jesus was “grieved, even unto death.”
Yet he prayed,
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me;
Yet not what I want but what you want.”
And later even stronger,
“My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it,
Your will be done.”
What made Jesus so beloved by his disciples
And by the crowds who cried out,
“Hosanna to the Son of David.”
And by us this morning who add our own shouts of praise,
“Hosanna in the highest!”
Is that here at last, was one who was not ruled by fear and anxiety,
Or intimidated by power,
Or threatened by rejection, or humiliation.
But one instead,
Who despite his fears refused to stop loving,
To stop caring,
To stop giving of himself.
One who though he was in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
Being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death –
Even death on a cross.
It’s OK to be anxious!
These are anxious times.
And sometimes we are called upon to do anxiety provoking things.
But I think Jesus this morning would remind us
Of the words of psalm 31,
For I have heard the whispering of the crowd,
Fear is all around;
They put their heads together against me;
They plot to take my life.
But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord.
I have said, “You are my God,”
When we were baptized God said to us,
Just like he did to Jesus at his baptism,
“You are my son, my daughter, with you I am well pleased!”
But that does not mean we won’t face temptations.
Nor will it protect us from the coronavirus,
Or keep us from all harm,
But, what it does mean is,
That like Jesus,
Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit,
We can resist temptation,
Overcome evil with good,
Risk our lives for the sake of others,
Suffer pain and humiliation.
And even face death,
Confident that ultimately
Good triumphs over evil,
And that sin and death and even the devil
Have already been defeated!
And that with God,
All things are possible with Christ who strengthens us.
These are indeed anxious times,
But all around us I see signs of hope
And the assurance that Holy Spirit is alive and well
And in our midst.
In fact, I invite you to join me this morning in shouting Hosannas.
Hosanna to doctors and nurses, orderlies and lab technicians!
Hosanna to police officers and grocery clerks and cart sanitizers!
Hosanna to scientists and social workers and nursing home caregivers!
Hosanna to national, state and local leaders
Doing their best to get us through these difficult days.
Hosanna to all of those staying home, washing their hands,
And social distancing.
After reading and rereading the passion story,
After hearing all the stories of these heroic deeds
Being done by faithful people trusting in their Father God.
I confess I am still anxious.
But I am also hopeful, and even more confident that God is with us.
And that we will get through this.
I once heard the evangelist Tony Campolo preach a sermon
About the events of Good Friday and the Crucifixion.
And after telling all the terrible things that happened that day.
He would shout, “Its Friday, but Sundays a comin’!”
Well right now in Charleston, In America, in the whole world,
It’s Friday! But Sunday’s a comin’!”
Because, God loves you!
And so do I.
Amen.
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 and ever. Amen
C Our Father, who art in heaven,
P Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray.
LORD’S PRAYER
C Amen.
P According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord.
C Your mercy is great.
), let us boldly confess the name of Jesus Christ, our resurrection and our hope. Hear us, O God.especiallyP God of mercy, when we breathe our last, you raise us to eternal life. With all your witnesses in heaven and on earth (
Here other intercessions may be offered.
C Your mercy is great.
P God of mercy, we pray for all who ponder again your holy passion in this Week we call Holy. In all things, show us the ways that you call us to die to self, to live for you, and to give of ourselves for the sake of others. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
Hear us, O God.We pray especially for Marcy, Connie, Betty, Charles,, Anne, Marie, Barbara, John, Mary, Elmore, Ted, Bob, Bill, Marilyn, Harry, and Pooh … : of all others we now remember and lift up to youor silent requests eceive now the spokenRP God of mercy, send your saving help to all who suffer. Heal the sick, comfort the dying, bring peace to those suffering chronic or terminal illness. Tend to all who cry out for relief.
C Your mercy is great.
P God of mercy, send peace and hope to all who watch and wait during this time of global pandemic: those who are sick and their loved ones, those who are at high risk for contagion, and those doing everything they can to slow the spread of the disease, doctors and nurses and hospital employees. And to all those who risk contagion to provide essential services for the rest of us. We pray also for all who face the loss of employment or income, especially those in dire need of relief. Send us your comfort and healing presence. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
P God of mercy, quiet the earth where it trembles and shakes. Protect vulnerable ecosystems, threatened habitats, and endangered species. Prosper the work of scientists, engineers, and researchers who find ways to restore creation to health and wholeness. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
P God of mercy, awaken your church to new proclamations of your faithfulness. By your Spirit, give us bold and joyful words to speak, that we sustain the weary with the message of your redemption. Hear us, O God.
A brief silence.
Please kneel or sit, as you are able.
A Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Please Stand.
ELW Hymn 349“Ah, Holy Jesus” HYMN OF THE DAY
Hymn is printed at the end of this service below
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.
☩ SENDING ☩
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
BLESSING
P Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
C Amen.
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Stay With Me- Taizé
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From sundaysandseasons.com.Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB129223.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989,
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress.
Used by permission.
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E-Blast editor and designer: Chuck Long
Assistant editor: Amy Bifano
Webmaster: Bob Mays
If you wish something to be announced in E-Blast, please email me at clongteach@comcast.net no later than Tuesday at 12:00 PM.
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Copyright © 2020 St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church, All rights reserved.
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Physical services in our sanctuary are postponed until further notice. However we are posting some shortened versions of our service on the St. Johannes Lutheran Church Facebook page. We are testing better ways to connect with our congregation and friends as we navigate the social distancing. Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please call the church office and leave a message at (843)722-8906.
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Fifth Sunday in Lent
St. Johannes Lutheran Church
March 29, 2020
Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way. Kyrie eleison, every day!
from Setting 4 of the Lutheran Liturgy
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- POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE --Dr. Michael Kogan's Bible Study on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM!
- POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE --Women's Bible Study-Home of Cynthia Mays MONDAYS, 6:00-8:00 PM
- Thursday, April 9 Maundy Thursday Service
- Friday, April 10 Good Friday Service
- Sunday, April 12- Easter Sunday
- April 19th Citadel Sunday- The Citadel Cadets will lead the service.
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In today’s gospel Jesus reveals his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those in exile or living in the shadows of death, these stories proclaim God’s promise of resurrection. In baptism we die with Christ that we might also be raised with him to new life. At the Easter Vigil we will welcome the newly baptized as we remember God’s unfailing promise in our baptism.
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ELCA beautiful hymn to sing during these tough times!
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Outreach Project for St. Johannes
Help Tricounty Family Ministeries by donating individual toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and deodorant
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Please come out and help the last Friday of each month! 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Giving back to the community is what church is about!
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Bereaved: The family and friends of the Reverend John L. Satterwhite. Recently learned that Rev. Frank and Barbara Lylery's son, Charlie, passed away in 2017 of esophageal cancer.
Sick and/or Recovering: Marcy Floyd, Connie Morgan, Betty Budds, Charles Long III, Anne Foster, Marie Mood, Barbara Lyerly (wife of former pastor of St. Johannes Lutheran Church, Rev. Frank Lyerly) John Fowlkes, Mary Sweat, Elmore Marlow, Ted Bowers, Bob Oswald, Bill Cornwell, Marilyn Stehmeier, Harry Kluttz, Pooh Kanapaux.
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I don't always know what your will is Lord, especially in times like now, when I desperately seek your face. I offer you no promises, no bargains, no deals to exchange for my health. I simply bow my heart before you to tell you the desire of my heart: that I want to spend as many years as I can loving you here, loving others, and wanting to become more like you. However you choose to accomplish that is up to you—and okay with me. If you use doctors to provide healing, give them wisdom to know what to do. Regardless of how you accomplish it, the healing you give is always miraculous. And you deserve all the praise.
I absolutely believe you have the power to heal. You demonstrated that on earth, and you still heal in miraculous ways today. Even when my faith is weak, you say it is enough, and my love for you is strong. And I know you already hold my heart and life in your hands. It's up to you. If I can bring you more glory through healing, then that's what I ask for. That's what I desire.
But if your answer is no, or not now, I know that your grace is sufficient for me. Ultimately, I want your will to be my will. I look forward to spending an eternity with you. But Lord, if you have planned still more for me to do here on this earth, I not only need and want your physical healing, Lord, but a thorough, deep-down cleansing and strengthening—a whole-hearted renewal of all that I am. Because all that I am is yours. Use this trial to strengthen me from a "what-if" faith to a "no-matter-what" faith. And no matter what, I choose to honor you and give you glory. In Jesus's name, Amen.
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The St. Johannes Questionnaire!
If you did not receive a questionnaire, contact the church office. Copies will be available in the form of an email, a text, or printed copy.
The St. Johannes Listening/Transition Team has handed out the congregation-wide Questionnaire. Please return them by March 29th. The Team will plan a series of Listening Posts, so the results of the Questionnaire will be shared, along with a chance to share any additional information for the health and well being of the congregation.
Dr. Bill Mitcham, St. Johannes' Consultant
Jeff, Boss, Chair of Committee
Kathy Allison, Recorder
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The Parsonage at
St. Johannes
Call Manager, Barbara Pace, to schedule your wedding, reception, bridal luncheon, dinner party, including week's stay in this beautiful home!
843-789-0639
bapace7223@att.net
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E-Blast editor and designer: Chuck Long
Assistant editor: Amy Bifano
If you wish something to be announced in E-Blast, please email me at clongteach@comcast.net no later than Wednesday at 12:00 PM.
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Copyright © 2020 St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church, All rights reserved.
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Wednesday Meditation
St. Johannes Lutheran Church
April 1, 2020
Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way. Kyrie eleison, every day!
from Setting 4 of the Lutheran Liturgy
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Greetings from Pastor Steve Cooper
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Pastoral Greeting Message
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Wednesday's Meditation
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Wednesday and Sunday E-Blasts will only have the text for the service beginning this Palm Sunday(April 5). NO videos of the sermons or the devotionals will be posted in the e-blast! The videos will be posted ONLY on our church website- www.stjohanneschurch.org. To access the videos, click on the "Sermons" button on the front page. Then select which video you want to watch.
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Devotional Meditation Service- Text format matches Meditation Video above.
April 1, 2020
Prayer of the Day
Creator God, in this Lenten Season open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love given to all through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Gospel John 12:1-11
1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor? 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
9When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
Sermon “Mary, Martha, And Lazarus Pastor Steve
Judas wasn’t the only one shocked at Mary’s extravagance you know.
Everyone was.
Well, everyone but Jesus.
What would cause a young girl, like Mary,
to do such a thing?
And I believe that’s what she was
A young girl, that is,
or at best a teenager
I don’t know how old Lazarus was when all this happened,
but I am pretty sure Martha and Mary were still quite young.
You see there is no mention in the story of any parents.
So the chances are very good they were orphans.
And, that Lazarus,
as the male head of household,
would have had the responsibility for caring for his sisters
until they were old enough to marry.
So, I think Mary and Martha were young girls or teenagers.
And Lazarus,
who probably wasn’t very much older himself,
had the responsibility of taking care of them.
And, incidentally,
I think Jesus may have had that same responsibility
of caring for his younger brothers and sisters after Joseph died.
Which would explain his rather late entry into his ministry
at the age of thirty.
And maybe her young age had something to do with it.
Maybe Mary was too young
to repress her love for Jesus,
or question what others might think of her reckless behavior.
Remember how passionate you were as a teenager.
How deeply you felt things,
For years I helped to lead a weeklong youth event called AFFIRM,
where middle and high school youth
would spend around six hours a day, every day,
in small groups of six or eight youth and one or two caring adults,
learning and sharing and growing
And then they would spend another couple of hours every day,
with two hundred or more other youth,
singing and worshiping and sharing communion.
And at the end of the week, we would have to remind them
that all their friends and families and churches back home,
had not had this awesome experience.
And warn them not to go overboard when they got back.
Otherwise, they would often go home and be overly enthusiastic
And sometimes obnoxious,
Wanting to know why their churches weren’t as loving and caring
and exciting as their experience at AFFIRM had been.
And, I must confess,
often when I went home and back to my congregation,
I often wonder the same thing.
Maybe we could all use a little youthful exuberance now and then.
And maybe that’s why she did it.
She was just too young to know better.
But then maybe it was because Jesus,
Despite their young age,
Did not dismiss these three young kids
trying to make it on their own,
in what could be a very scary world,
As unimportant.
He went to their house and stayed with them.
Lazarus may have been the “male head of household”
in this family of three siblings,
but I think Martha was the one who called the shots.
And it was Martha, according to Luke 10:38
who first invited Jesus into “her” house.
And Jesus accepted her invitation
And while not as shocking as his eating with tax collectors and sinners
Like Zacchaeus and Matthew,
Even the Pharisees made a big deal about having the famous rabbi Jesus
as their guest for dinner.
And I suspect many very were surprised and shocked
that he would choose to stay with Mary and Martha and Lazarus.
But he did,
And not just once,
but at least three times that we know of.
And can you imagine what healing and comfort those visits
must have brought to these three kids,
grieving the loss of their parents
and struggling to make it on their own,
Wouldn’t you like Jesus to come and stay with you
In times like that?
And I suspect for many of you,
He has done just that,
even if you weren’t aware that he was there.
And I know that he is with us right now in fact,
As we go through this Covid-19 crisis.
And maybe that’s why Mary did it.
Or maybe she did it,
because Jesus didn’t just love and accept her family,
he loved and accepted her.
We all know the story of how Martha tried to triangle Jesus
into taking her side in a dispute with her sister Mary,
who Martha thought wasn’t doing her share of the “serving.”
But Jesus told Martha that it was she, Martha,
who was anxious and troubled about many thing
when only one thing was needed,
and that Mary had chosen the better part.
I think poor Martha gets a bum rap in this story,
By the way.
It seems obvious that she had a gift for inviting people in
and waiting on them,
but her busy-ness and anxiety were getting in the way
of the most important thing,
taking the time to listen to her guests
and care for them as individuals.
And I am glad that after that first visit,
and the death and resurrection of Lazarus,
that Martha was still serving in today’s gospel account.
Only now she wasn’t just waiting on a visiting rabbi,
she was serving her Lord Jesus, the Messiah,
with a love and devotion,
that in her own way,
may have been just as extravagant
as that jar of costly perfume made of pure nard.
But I think Mary poured out that bottle of perfume
because Jesus didn’t just love and accept her family.
He loved and accepted her.
Refusing to dismiss her as just a woman,
in what was a male dominated society,
or a child, because she was young and not yet married,
but accepting her totally and completely
as a beloved child of God worthy of his love and attention.
Inviting her to sit and listen at his feet,
to be a disciple, in fact,
of the great rabbi Jesus,
if for but a few hours,
just like Peter and James and John.
And when chastised by her sister
to get up and help with the serving,
he had defended her right to be there.
And she did it because,
when her brother Lazarus died
and she and her sister Martha
had blasted him for not getting there sooner to save his life,
he saw only her hurt and tears,
and the tears of those around her.
And he did get angry,
but not at her!
He got angry, instead, at death itself,
demanding to see where they had placed his body.
And he cried,
not as she thought at the time for Lazarus,
for he must have known that he was going to resurrect her brother.
Instead crying for Mary and Martha,
and all who like them have lost fathers and mothers,
husbands and wives, sisters and brothers,
without the hope of the eternal life
that he came to bring for everyone.
And as a sign of that resurrected life
he had called forth her brother Lazarus,
unbound him and set him free.
Of course, that’s why she did it.
And maybe, just maybe,
she did it because she knew that Jesus resurrection of her brother
had been the last straw for those who opposed Jesus
and that they were even at that very moment plotting to kill him
and her brother too if they could.
And so, she took all the money she had.
Three hundred silver pieces?
Money most likely set aside for her dowry,
All that a woman was allowed to own in her own right.
And purchased the most expensive aromatic oils you could buy.
And got down on her knees and anointed Jesus’ feet
and then wiped them with her hair,
because it was the only way she could think of
to let him know how dearly she loved him.
They say that the last sense to leave you
before losing consciousness
is your sense of smell.
And within only a few days,
those feet that Mary anointed
would be pierced by Roman nails.
And I can’t help but wonder if that fragrance,
A fragrance, so strong that it filled the house,
might still have remained.
And if so, might Jesus last breath
Have been filled with a reminder a young girl’s love and devotion.
I hope so.
Thank you Jesus for coming into our homes and churches
As you did the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus,
to share a meal with us and be our loving friend.
And thank you for giving us the assurance of eternal life,
the communion of all the saints,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Help us see you in everyone you have called us to serve,
and to remember that our listening and caring for them
as the beloved children of God they are,
is even more important than any other service we might offer them..
And finally, free us Lord, to love you extravagantly,
even as Mary anointed your feet with costly oil
and You gave your life on a cross extravagantly for us. Amen.
God loves you!
And so do I.
Amen.
Prayer
Gracious God, it is good for us to gather as your beloved in community. Be with us in these days when gathering together is not possible. When we must be apart for reasons of safety, we trust that you surround us with your sheltering wings. Encourage us in connecting as we are able, reaching out to our neighbors in need and being persistent in prayer. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our constant companion. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
God, our peace and our strength, we pray for our nation and the world as we face new uncertainties around coronavirus. Protect the most vulnerable among us, especially all who are currently sick or in isolation. Grant wisdom, patience, and clarity to health care workers, especially as their work caring for others puts them at great risk. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Guide us as we consider how best to prepare and respond in our families, congregations, workplaces, and communities. Give us courage to face these days not with fear but with compassion, concern, and acts of service, trusting that you abide with us always. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Permeate this world with the sweet perfume of Christ’s anointing. Fill your people with such gratitude that it spills over into service of those who are poor or in any need. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Accompany those for whom death draws near. Bring us with all your saints to receive the abundance of heavenly glory through the covenant Christ sealed in his death and resurrection. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Into your hands we commend all for whom we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
Amen.
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Physical services in our Sanctuary are closed for month of April. We will notify you when services resume in our sanctuary! Please be safe!
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