You can watch some parts of the service here (mostly bible readings and sermon) or scroll down and read the prayers and songs in the order they happened.
Acknowledgement of Country
As we gather together in this time and place, we acknowledge the Dharawal people who have walked, lived, and told stories on this land for thousands of years. We honour their Elders, past and present, and their deep listening to Country.
As Lent invites us to bring our whole selves before God—with our loss, longing, and hope—may we commit to truthful listening and renewed relationship with First Peoples
Here at Engadine Uniting we believe all people are made in the image of God and that no matter your experience of life or their age, ability, gender, sexuality, or culture you are welcome here. The story of God is bigger, wider, more inclusive and welcoming, filled with more love than we could ever imagine. There is room here for everyone, there is room here for you.
Introduction to Theme
This Season of Lent invites us to bring our whole selves into God’s presence, where grief and hope are held together. As we continue our Lenten journey, we are challenged to see others and ourselves in new ways as we learn of God’s choice for a new leader and consider God’s loving care for us. How do we live with an awareness and attentiveness to God, making wise decisions and being open to truth in our relationships?
WE LIGHT OUR LENTEN CANDLE
We gather to worship God.
We gather so we can turn to Christ.
Whose life gives Life to all.
We will journey with him to Calvary and beyond.
This is our prayer and our hope.
Praise be to God!
Call to Worship
As we come to worship you today, O God, you ask how we see ourselves. The economic world sees us as consumers in constant need.
We see that your encompassing love brings us deep peace.
When we see the gloom on our paths;
you see us and keep us company.
While others may see us as an enemy,
you see us as your guests.
As we come to worship you,
help us to see ourselves as you see us.
Holy One, shine your love and wisdom into our lives as we continue on this Lenten journey. Help us to follow in the way of Jesus, who put your loving plan and purpose first in all his decision-making. Amen.
SONG – Love will be our Lenten Calling
Love will be our Lenten calling
love to shake and shatter sin
waking every closed, cold spirit
stirring new life deep within
till the quickened heart remembers
what our Easter birth can mean.
Peace will be our Lenten living
as we turn for home again
longing for the words of pardon
stripping off old grief and pain
till we stand, restored and joyful
with the Church on Easter day.
Truth will be our Lenten learning:
hear the Crucified One call!
Shadowed by the Saviour’s passion
images and idols fall
and, in Easter’s holy splendour
God alone is all in all.
Words © Elizabeth J Smith. Music by permission Oxford University Press CCLI Licence # 31951
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, you are with us, surrounding us and filling us with life and love. As the sun shows up every detail hidden in shadow, so your Spirit reveals every part of our lives.
You know what is in our hearts and we are thankful that we do not have to hide from you.
Often, we do not like what we see in ourselves; sometimes we feel like failures and close ourselves off to our God-given gifts and strengths. Open our hearts and minds to your grace and forgiving love toward ourselves and toward each other.
Words of Grace
God is with you in the depths of night’s shadows and in the brightness of the day. God’s loving presence will keep you company throughout life’s journey and beyond. We place our trust and our hope in this God. Amen.
Intergenerational Conversation and Video – Let’s hear now from Carolyn Sharp from Project Reconnect as she talks about today’s Old Testament reading from 1 Samuel when God chooses a new king.
VIDEO Project reconnect Project Reconnect
LENT EVENT – Sue
SONG – Christ be our light
Longing for light, we wait in darkness, Longing for truth, we turn to You
Make us Your own, Your holy people, Light for the world to see
Christ, be our light, Shine in our hearts, Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light, Shine in Your church gathered today
Longing for shelter, many are homeless, Longing for warmth, many are cold
Make us Your building, sheltering others, Walls made of living stone
Christ, be our light, Shine in our hearts, Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light, Shine in Your church gathered today
Many the gifts, many the people, Many the hearts that yearn to belong, Let us be servants to one another, Making Your kingdom come
Christ, be our light, Shine in our hearts, Shine through the darkness, Christ, be our light, Shine in Your church gathered today
Songwriters: Bernadette Farrell
Bible readings – Robyn and John
John 9:1-14 (Jesus heals a man born blind). As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Ephesians 5:8–14
8 You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9 and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful, 10 as you try to please the Lord. 11 Don’t take part in doing those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are. 12 It is disgusting even to talk about what is done in the dark. 13 But the light will show what these things are really like. 14 Light shows up everything,[a] just as the Scriptures say,
“Wake up from your sleep
and rise from death.
Then Christ will shine on you.”
Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak.
All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.
REFLECTION – Kathy
SONG – The Summons
Verse 1
Will you come and follow Me If I but call your name
Will you go where you don’t know And never be the same
Will you let My love be shown Will you let My name be known
Will you let My life be grown In you and you in Me
Verse 2
Will you leave yourself behind If I but call your name
Will you care for cruel and kind And never be the same
Will you risk the hostile stare Should your life attract or scare
Will you let Me answer prayer In you and you in Me
Verse 3
Will you let the blinded see If I but call your name
Will you set the prisoners free And never be the same
Will you kiss the leper clean And do such as this unseen
And admit to what I mean In you and you in Me
Verse 4
Will you love the you you hide If I but call your name
Will you quell the fear inside And never be the same
Will you use the faith you’ve found To reshape the world around
Through My sight and touch and sound In you and you in Me
Verse 5
Lord Your summons echoes true When You but call my name
Let me turn and follow You And never be the same
In Your company I’ll go Where Your love and footsteps show
Thus I’ll move and live and grow In You and You in me
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God, our shepherd We bring you these gifts to be used in this community and beyond to bring faith, hope and love where they are most needed. Help us make our tables longer, our fences lower, our hearts and lives ever opening to you in the life, and the lives, around us. Amen.
Prayers for Others – Kathy
SONG God of the Bible, by Shirley Murray Tune: Morning has broken
God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
you are our centre, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.
God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empower us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.
Those without status, those who are nothing,
you are made royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights.
Not by your finger, not by your anger,
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way.
Hope we must carry, shining and certain
through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
bonding us gladly one to the other,
till our world changes, facing the Cross.
Words © 1996 Hope Publishing Company
Blessing/Benediction – Kathy
Continue on the Lenten journey into the week ahead.
Open your heart to the presence of God each day,
in times of quietness, in times of refreshment and in times of trouble,
when the path is gentle and when it leads through valleys of shadow.
Go from here with the blessing of God, Creator, Pain-Bearer and Life-Giver.
We go in peace, Amen.
Blessing Song – Be thou My vision – 2 verses ( changed Lyrics)
Verse 2
Be Thou the vision that burns in my heart
That makes me to shine Your light in the dark
Place me where lonely and broken ones weep
Be Thou my vision that others may see
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