Stations of the Cross

Walking with Jesus to the Cross

Song: Were you There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Opening:

Lord Jesus Christ, we want to understand why you died upon the cross.  Now we want to pretend that we are walking with you on the last day before you died.  Help us to understand how much you love us and forgive us.  Amen.

Leader: Let us walk to the First Station.

1.The Judge named Pilate gives Jesus the Death Penalty after some People lied about Jesus.

People: This Jesus is trying to overthrow the King Caesar.

Pilate: Is this true Jesus? (no answer)  Well, then take this Jesus and crucify him.

Lord Jesus, we wish that we could have been there with you to tell the truth about you.  We would have told Pilate that you loved children, you healed the sick, you welcomed the strangers.  But since we were not there, we want everyone to know the truth about you now.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Second Station

II. The Heavy Cross is put on the back of Jesus.  He must carry it to the place where he will die.

A tree is beautiful, but the wood of the tree is made into an instrument of death and torture.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are sorry that a beautiful tree was destroyed to make such a bad thing as a cross.  Help us to use all good and beautiful things in our world in the right way.  Please help us get rid of the things that cause harm and pain in our world.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord”

Leader: Let us walk to the Third Station.

III. The Cross was so heavy that Jesus fell to the ground.

People: What is the matter Jesus, are you clumsy?

Lord Jesus, we wish that we could have been there with you to help you carry the cross.  Sometimes we slip and fall too.  Help us to have the strength to get up and keep on going.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Fourth Station

IV. Jesus sees his Mother Mary.

Mary:  My Son is a good man.  Why are they treating him in this cruel way?

Mary’s Friends: Mary, come with us, we will stay with you.

Lord Jesus Christ, your mother was proud of you and she loved you and stayed with you in difficult times.  We thank you for our mothers and grandmothers who have been with us in our times of trouble and sorrow.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified”

Leader: Let us walk  to the Fifth Station

V. A man named Simon helped Jesus carry the Cross.

Soldiers: Jesus is too weak to carry the cross.  Let’s find someone else to carry it for him.

Simon: I will help you carry the cross.

Lord Jesus Christ, give us strength to help you carry the cross.  Help us to make it through the difficult times in the day and at night when we feel sad, alone, or afraid.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Sixth Station

VI. A woman wipes the face of Jesus

Woman: Jesus, stop for awhile and get some rest.  Here, let me wipe the sweat off your face!

Jesus: Thank you for your kind deed.

Dear Jesus, we want to help you in any way that we can.  Help us to do kind deeds to those people in need, because when we help others, we are helping you.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Seventh Station.

VII. Now Jesus has been walking so long, he falls a second time.

People: What is the matter Jesus, are you clumsy?

Jesus: I must be dizzy from being hit too many times.

Lord Jesus, we will help pick you up when you fall.  Help us to be kind to people who have accidents and misfortune.  May we never  make fun of them, but always help them.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Eighth Station

VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Jesus: Where are my friends Peter, Andrew, & James?

The Women of Jerusalem:  They were afraid that they might be put to death so they ran and hid.  We will stay with you, Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ, you had men and women and girls and boys who followed you.  Help us always to be faithful to you and never run away from you.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk  to the Ninth Station

IX.  Jesus Falls a Third Time.

Jesus: I am tired and thirsty.  I don’t know if I can walk much farther.

The Soldiers: You must keep going on.  Get up and walk.

Lord Jesus Christ, please help us to stop the violence and the cruelty in our world.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There”

Leader: Let us walk to the Tenth Station

X. The Soldiers Strip the clothes from Jesus.

Jesus: I am getting cold.

Soldiers: Too bad.  Let us take his clothes.

Dear Jesus, we pray for all of the people in our world who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter.  Give them strength to survive, and make us people who are willing to help the poor in this world.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Eleventh Station.

XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.

The Soldiers: This Cross will not fall from you now, because the nails will keep you on the cross.

Jesus: My hands and feet hurt!

Lord Jesus, please help us bring an end to the unnecessary cruelty in our world.  Let all wars and hatred come to an end.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they nailed him to the Tree?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Twelfth Station

XII. Jesus dies on the Cross.

Jesus: My God, why have you forsaken me?  It is finished.  Into your hands I give my spirit.

The Roman Soldier: Truly this man was God’s Son.

Lord Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross, you showed us that God is with us at all times and at the time of death. Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they pierced him in the side?”

Leader: Let us walk  to the Thirteenth Station

XIII. The Body of Jesus is given to his Mother Mary.

Mary: O my Son, my Son.  Why did you have to die in this way?

Mary’s Friends: Come Mary, we will help you.  We will mourn with you.

Lord Jesus Christ, comfort all parents who have had to see their children suffer.  Give them the assurance of your love and care.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they laid him in the Tomb?”

Leader: Let us walk to the Fourteenth Station

XIV. The Body of Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Joseph of Arimathea: Come let us have a funeral for Jesus and put him in the tomb.

Friends of Jesus:  This is the saddest day of our lives because we have lost our best friend.

Dear Jesus, it is sad when we must say good bye to someone who dies.  Give us hope and let us know that all good people will live on in heaven.  Amen.

Song: “Were you There when they laid him in the Tomb?”

 

Blindness and Darkness. Sight and Light

4 Lent A        March 22, 2020

1 Sam. 16:1-13   Ps. 23 

Eph. 5:1-14     John 9:1-38      

Lectionary Link

We are blessed to be reading from the Gospel of John during Lent.  The Gospel of John includes some interesting features. The Gospel writer has a penchant for presenting the conversion from literal seeing to inner or spiritual seeing.

The Book of Signs found within the Gospel of John are wisdom narratives of Jesus of how the encounter with Christ enables me to be able to make this switch from literal understanding to spiritual understanding.

The physical in the Gospel of John is used as a metaphor for the spiritual.

Two weeks ago, we read about Jesus telling Nicodemus, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless one is born from above, or born again."

In our Gospel reading for today, the issue is about blindness and seeing.  Physical blindness is presented as a metaphor for those who are blind and cannot see the kingdom of God.  The Gospel writer lives in the new paradigm of those who have encountered the Risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they have come to see the kingdom of God.  They have been cured of their blindness.

The Pharisees and religious leaders are presented as those who remain blind because they are unable to perceive the new paradigm of God's inclusive love for all people, yes even the Gentile people.

There are two kinds of blindness.  There is physical blindness which is a significant impairment.  But we know that people who are blind can live truly enlightened lives.

The other kind of blindness is the kind of blindness which all seeing people experience.  It is the blindness caused by "darkness."  In the Pauline writing we read, "Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light...."

Darkness is the condition of not being able to see well because of one's environmental surrounding.  The progression in enlightenment means that we have gone through many conversions from darkness to new light, and new seeing.

Followers of Jesus and Christians in many ages who experienced the new seeing because of encounters with Jesus and the Risen Christ, still continued in societies and situations which still practiced slavery and the subjugation of women.  How can we say that they were truly enlightened by Christ?

What this indicates to us is that the work of creation, the work of enlightenment, the work of seeing the fullness of the ideals of the kingdom of God as the full practice of love and justice is not yet finished.  There is no time to criticize or blame people of the past for not living out the fullness of enlightenment.  But we should not delay the full practice of love and justice once we have seen.

Who caused this blindness, his sins or his parents sin?  It is very easy to play the victimization game by presuming to know exact causation.  What did Jesus say?  This man was not blind because of his particular sins or his parents', but for the work of God.   The work of God is always the future when we are offered new seeing, new conversion and new birth into better living.  The Risen Christ is more concerned about our future going forward than what caused the way we were in the past.

And the lesson for us today, is that there is new recovery from the environments of darkness in which have often found ourselves living.

Another saying of Jesus in the Gospel of John is, "I am the Light of the World."  Christ is the light who shines in the darkness of the failing paradigms in which we have been trapped.

As we now live in the midst of the most pronounced pandemic in our life history, it may seem like we are covered with darkness.  But what could the Light of Christ be showing us during this time of crisis?

It is showing us that in good times and in crisis, we are still together.  The worsening situation has forced upon us the demand to care for each other as connected neighbors, in ways in which we have not been doing.  It often seems that we have been living out a "survival of the fittest" mentality in letting the strong, rich and powerful dominate the world's resources.  And this have left many people without enough.  And now the coronavirus is no respecter of person, of class, race or socio-economic-educational status or nationality.  This evil virus is requiring of us to become enlightened by the Risen Christ and recover from the blindness that we have practiced to the needs of other.  Resources are going to have to be reallocated to take care of everyone.  Doing this may be good practice for the times when the crisis is not so dire.

Today you and I are invited to be born from above and see the kingdom of God as a call for us to prove that we love God by loving our brothers and sisters with significant care.  And if we can become enlightened with the practice of care during this time of need, what will we be able to do in better times when we care for each other with the same intensity.

While the coronavirus may seem to be covering our lives with the blindness of darkness, let us see the Risen Christ who is now calling us to the enlightened care of each other as the best model for the paradigm of the kingdom of God becoming the practice in the kingdoms of this earth.  Amen.

Sunday School, March 22, 2020 4 Lent A

Sunday School, March 22, 2020   4 Lent A

Theme:

Seeing

What kind of vision did Superman have?

He had X-ray vision.

What could he see with X-ray vision?  He could see the what was behind a wall.  He could see a hidden gun in a pocket.  He could see through things.

Before David was chosen to be king, a Judge named Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to look for the next king.  David had many bigger and stronger older brothers, but God did not tell Samuel to choose any of the older brothers.  God told Samuel to choose the youngest boy, a shepherd boy named David.  And Samuel ask God, “Why should I choose David when there are so many other stronger brothers?”  And God told Samuel, “I don’t choose like people choose; people look at things on the outside like muscles and appearance, but I choose because I see inside a person.  I see their hearts.  And so I choose David to be the next king.”

Jesus healed a blind man and when the blind man could see he learned to see that Jesus was the Messiah.  Many religious people could not see that Jesus was the Messiah but this blind man learned to see that Jesus was the Messiah.

We have to be changed inside of our hearts through learning and through prayer to learn to have God’s X-ray vision and see what is in the hearts of other people.

There are many people who do not “look pretty, or strong or successful” but inside they are really good and kind people.  And we need to learn how to have this kind of X-ray vision to learn how to see and honor true goodness.  The most popular people are not always “good” people in kindness and love.  We need to learn to find God’s X-ray vision which helps us see goodness.

If we practice looking at Jesus by reading and studying his life and by prayer, we can learn to receive the X-ray seeing and vision of God that helps us find true goodness.

Sermon:

Could you close your eyes for a moment and pretend that you cannot see.

  And imagine that you could never see.  And try to imagine sitting on the street and asking people for money to help you live.

  That would be a really difficult life wouldn’t it.

  That is what people who were blind used to have to do.

  Today, we know that a person who is born blind can do many things that seeing people do and they also do many things better than seeing people do.

  Jesus met a blind man and he made the blind man to see.  But he also taught people a very important lesson about blindness.

  You and I can see, but that doesn’t mean that we always see everything.  We miss seeing lots of things.

  What about when your mom asks you to clean your room and pick up all of your toys?  And you finish and you say,”I’m done Mom.”  And then Mom comes in your room, and she sees some clothes on the floor and toys.  And she says, “Didn’t you see these toys?  How could you miss seeing these toys?”

  Sometimes we miss seeing things don’t we?  Why?  Because we’re not paying attention.  Or we forget.  Or we’re in a hurry.  Or we just don’t think it’s important.

  When Jesus helped the blind man to see, he also said that there were many people who could see, and yet they acted as though they were blind.

  They missed seeing this blind man; for them he was just a beggar sitting on the street.

  If they truly saw the blind man they would have helped him and taken care of him so he wouldn’t have to beg.

  And we too, even with good eyesight, we can miss seeing some important things in this life.

  Jesus said that misfortune and bad luck was just an opportunity for God’s work to be done.   And so we have to have our eyes open to the people whom God wants us to care for.

  If we care for the people who need our care, then we will not miss the good work that God wants us to do in our lives.  Amen.

Intergeneration Family Service with Holy Eucharist

March 22, 2020: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Gathering Songs: Only a Boy Named David; Have Thine Own Way,  The Lord is My Light;  May the Lord

Liturgist: Bless the Lord who forgives all of our sins.

People: God’s mercy endures forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Only a Boy Named David (All the Best Songs for Kids:  # 112)

Only a boy named David, only a little sling.  Only a boy named David, but he could pray and sing.  Only a boy named David, only a rippling brook.  Only a boy named David and five little stones he took.  And one little stone went in the sling and the sling went round and round.  And one little stone went in the sling and the sling went round and round.  And, round and round and round and round and round and round and round.  And one little stone went up in the air, and the giant came tumbling down.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

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 for ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Praise be to God! (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Praise be to God!

O God, you have made us! Praise be to God!

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Praise be to God!

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Praise be to God!

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Praise be to God!

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Praise be to God!

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Praise be to God!

Liturgist: A reading from the First Book of Samuel

Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; * I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures * and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul * and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."  They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory:  Have Thine Own Way Lord  (LEVAS, # 145)

1-Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me, after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2-Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.  Search me and try me, Master, today.  Purer than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast. 

Words of Administration

Communion Song: The Lord Is My Light (Renew! # 102)

The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: in Him I trust, in Him I trust.

The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: in him I trust, in him I trust.

Post-Communion Prayer. 

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: May the Lord (Sung to the tune of Eidelweiss)

May the Lord, Mighty God, Bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, Courage in every endeavor.  Lift up your eyes and seek His face, Trust His grace forever.  May the Lord, Mighty God Bless and keep you for ever.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 

People: Thanks be to God!