Are You Chicken?
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For March 16, 2025:
Are You Chicken?
by Katy Stenta
Luke 13:31-35
In the Scriptures
It does us good to remember that Jesus experiences a full range of human emotions. When my family sings "Away in a Manger," we are sure to sing “lotsa crying he makes” because there is no baby in the world who does not cry when they are brought into the world. So, too, is John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible is so beautiful for the testimony that Jesus wept. It tells us a lot about Jesus’ full humanity on display. In a world where tenderness and mercy are not popular at the moment, the parable of the good neighbor who “shows mercy” in Luke 10:37, and the fact that Jesus weeps for his beloved found family member Lazarus, tell us the truth that Jesus does not want us to hide or bottle up our emotions and compassion for one another. We have been given emotions so that we might show our protectiveness, love, tenderness, mercy, and lament. The full range of human emotions is here for us to use.
In the News
As Trump addressed Congress in a 90-minute speech of falsities, it spread more disinformation and gave more ammunition for a Disctrict Attorney to successfully mount counter-suits to his grabs for power. Trump did not talk about the price of eggs — something that seems to be endlessly on everyone’s minds, even as the bird flu rises as a spector and symbol of disease control, food, and the economy that no one wants to touch with a ten-foot pole in this pandemic-weary world. When we, as a society, have not even dealt fully with the trauma of Covid, and probably partially elected Trump as a misguided hope to go back to the pre-pandemic era, there is almost no way to think about what lament is and how the United States should be engaging in it. To memory, there have been no public days of mourning, no national ways of remembering, no huge policy shifts in terms of learning to mark how it is we have marked the pandemic — just this quick and hopeful striving to “return to normal.” This has sadly meant a return to far-right policies and more bigoted stances with less accountability on the whole.
Following this trend, during his address, the current and former president did not actually use the time to try to fix any economic qualms or cast any real vision — he just talked about being the greatest, sinking his numbers even more. Most people can see that the DOGE cuts have little to do with efficiency and a lot to do with revenge and a power grab. This means that even those who voted for Trump are being hurt by his policies. There are a lot of jokes about leopards eating faces. However, there is very little compassion for those who are being hurt. In fact, a couple of people have pointed out that instead of the FAFO attitude, how different would it be if we wept with those who are weeping? How might we find true compassion and help change the name of the game?
In the Sermon
Jesus shows a full range of human emotions here. He names Herod to be the sly trickster he is — the one who imprisoned and killed his cousin. Jesus knows the name of the game. "You tell that fox, my time will come, but between now and then, I will keep up the healing work, because that is more important." Whew, does that cut us to the bone. How might our work change if we focused on that? Mitch Randell says that he is focusing on kindness instead of on Trump, not that he is ignoring everything, but he thinks there is important work to be done.
How different would our work be if those who are betrayed by Trump were swept into our healing work? If we wept with them and said, "Ouch, that must hurt!" and welcomed them into the resistance with open arms? (The resistance being a move toward mercy and justice for all those who need access to food, shelter, and basic human rights.)
We know that some people must have been taunting Jesus with the question “Are you chicken?” and Jesus does what he always does in these cases and turns it on its head, saying, “Exactly, I am like a chicken protecting its brood, where you can no longer distinguish my legs from those of my chicks.” (See this beautiful illustration of a hen.) Jesus is not afraid to weep with those who are weeping, to hug, and to protect. It is quite a portrait of biblical parenthood, motherhood, and even manhood that transfigures the stereotypes of today. How can we be more like Jesus and shelter one another, leaving room for anger and lament, even as we nestle together under the wings of God? The allowances for a full flock of birds truly will be the way forward as we get past the price of eggs in this new era.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Monkey See, Monkey Do – Improved Version
by Mary Austin
Philippians 3:17--4:1
During his recent address to Congress, the President used an ethnic slur for Senator Elizabeth Warren, “belittling the Massachusetts Democrat with his favorite nickname for her – ‘Pocahontas…’” The taunt came after Trump mocked Democrats for wanting to keep supporting Ukraine with military aid in its war with Russia over the next five years, which prompted Warren (D-Mass.) to clap. She kept doing so even as the president ridiculed her. Last month, the Vice President called a reporter a “dummy.” The reporter, a veteran journalist, later wrote on his site that he was “amused” Vance had called him a name “like a second-grader.”
When President Zelensky of Ukraine visited the White House recently, the conversation was "a horror show" according to foreign policy experts Daniel Kurtzer and Aaron David Miller. For them, “that meeting represented the most serious threat to an idea that has underscored and driven U.S. foreign policy since World War II—that the United States stands with its allies in support of liberal, democratic values and in opposition to autocrats and naked aggression.” For those who admire the U.S. for its global citizenship, the meeting, often called “an ambush,” was a blow.
As social creatures, we learn from each other and create connections by imitating each other. It’s an advantage in human life to imitate wise people. Regardless of your politics, it’s hard to admire the conduct of the President and Vice President these days.
Imitation is so important for human survival that “researchers think that, rather than making our living as innovators, human beings survive and thrive precisely because we don’t think for ourselves. Instead, people cope with challenging climates and ecological contexts by carefully copying others—especially those we respect. Instead of Homo sapiens, or ‘man the knower,’ we’re really Homo imitans: ‘man the imitator.’”
So, who should we imitate, if not our elected leaders?
Paul’s word to the believers in Philippi is a timely word for us, too. Philippi is a Roman colony, Scott Hoezee notes, and the citizens were “granted a lot of freedom and given a lot of financial benefits by virtue of being considered a colony of the empire. So here Paul is saying that the church itself is a colony of heaven.” Paul invites us to think carefully about whom we imitate. Don’t turn toward wealthy people and political figures, the subtext says; turn toward people who lead us toward Jesus. Observe the people who live like he does, and find your path there, Paul urges.
How, then, do we live as citizens of God’s world? Paul invites us here to separate the layers of our lives and to see the difference between being citizens of this republic and also citizens of the realm of God. When the two diverge, how do we live in the more important world? Scott Hoezee observes, “Paul reminds us that within the church we are a colony of heaven first of all, and that this badge of cross-shaped kingdom citizenship must determine our attitudes and actions everywhere we go.”
In this epistle, Paul offers himself as one possibility on this path. “Join in imitating me,” he urges, which is an off-putting invitation. For Paul, though, copying him brings us a step toward imitating Jesus. For the people who think that doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, he says that this will end better than we imagine it will. In the end, Jesus “will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.”
In Lent, we’re always thinking about what kind of disciples we want to be. Imitating people who have greater faith draws us closer to God, if their practices fit our faith. Copying the habits of people who know how to be generous deepens our giving. Examples of cruelty abound. In contrast, we can set a Lenten discipline of looking for compassion. Examples of vanity and greed are never hard to find. Following Paul’s advice, we can spend our Lent searching for people who embody the spirit of Jesus and use their faith to make our own stronger.
If imitation is the secret to our survival, then choosing the right people to imitate is the key to a thriving faith.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer
Phillippians 3:17--4:1
Most scholars agree that when Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me…” he means, “imitate the way I imitate Christ.” Here are some illustrations about imitation, especially about the imitation of Jesus.
* * *
Minneapolis Lion’s Den
North Minneapolis has struggled for a long time. In the 1950s, there was a thriving African American community, with many families, churches, and Black-owned businesses. Then there was a wave of white flight, followed by racial unrest that scared away financial investors, and the construction of an interstate that cut Near North off from downtown. Today, the area is marked by instability and poverty.
Not long ago, Bishop Larry Cook of the Real Believers Faith Center in north Minneapolis confronted some young men selling narcotics in the alley between his church and the corner store that seemed to do more business in illegal goods than snacks or fuel. Things got heated pretty quickly. Voices were raised.
“The owner doesn’t care about it,” one of the young men yelled, as Cook and his wife, Sharon, recall the confrontation. “If you want to do something about it, you need to buy the gas station.” “I will,” Cook responded. “I absolutely will.”
In the fall of 2022, the store came up for sale, and Cook and his wife put everything they had toward the purchase of the $3 million property. They’ve now reopened it under the name the Lion’s Den, a testament to faith surrounded by danger and their belief that even urban blight can be redeemed.
Sharon Cook said, “This is what Jesus would do. If he were walking in 2023, he would buy this gas station. He would feed the hungry. He would lend a helping hand to the elderly the same way we’re doing.”
* * *
How Hunting Dogs Learn To Hunt
I know a fellow who trains hunting dogs to hunt. His specialty is Weimaraners, the big, silver-gray shorthaired dogs known for their hunting skills and their fierce loyalty. The teaching takes several weeks of working with the trainer alone, but at one crucial stage in the training, the trainee is taken out to hunt with a dog that is already trained, and it learns the finer points of hunting and pointing from the adult dog.
This is true of any number of animals. Plough horses learn to pull a plough by walking next to a trained plough horse in the field. Jumping horses learn to jump by running with a jumper.
Animal behaviorists theorize that cats get stuck in trees because they were taken from their mothers before the lesson about getting out of trees could be taught. We know from scientific studies that a great deal of animal behavior is learned behavior. It's not just instinctual. Scientific studies have been done on all kinds of animals—tigers, wolves, cheetahs, birds, lizards, fish, and even ants—and those studies show that animals learn how to be a particular kind of animal by watching, observing, and imitating their mothers, fathers, or other members of their animal group. They learn by imitation.
And Christian children and youth learn to be Christians by spending time with Christian adults.
* * *
Learning to Cook
I love to cook, and I’m pretty good at it. I enjoy the creative challenge, and I enjoy the instant gratification of getting to eat what I cook. For years, people asked me how I learned to cook, and I honestly couldn’t remember. It just seemed like I always knew how to do it.
Then it dawned on me that while my mother never gave me a lesson in cooking and rarely explained to me how to do it, I nevertheless learned from her.
Starting when I was about six years old, in the first grade, I would come home from school every day and sit on a stool in the kitchen, and we would talk while she cooked supper for the family. Later, when the family grew and we moved to a bigger house, our ritual never changed. I would sit at the counter, and we would talk while she cooked.
And while we talked and she cooked, I watched. I watched her measure and stir and boil and broil and bake and cook, and maybe occasionally I might ask her a question, but usually, I just watched.
Then, one day, she and my dad announced that she was going to be in the hospital for a couple of days for some minor surgery, and we kids would have to step up and take care of things around the house that she usually did. Dad handed each of us a piece of paper with our assigned chores written on them.
One of the things written on mine was “Meals.” That’s all. It would be my responsibility on those days to prepare the meals for the rest of the family. And, oddly, I just knew I could do it. I had learned, after all, by sitting at the feet of the master.
That’s also how I became a Christian.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
Continuing with the imitation theme, we might look to this passage to see that Jesus’ first instinct, even toward those who rejected him, was to offer them protective and nurturing love as a mother hen does her brood.
Annie The Protector
The Australian Shepherd is widely held to be one of the smartest, most loyal, and most athletic dog breeds in the world. That’s probably why my sister immediately snatched hers up when she recognized it at a local dog shelter.
She named it Annie and soon discovered that, as a working dog, Annie was not happy and could not rest until she had worn herself out working, in particular, herding and protecting sheep. But in the absence of sheep, any group of small animals would do, and sometimes just one.
Lisa, my sister, noted to me that Annie would spend the day circling the children, and then, when they laid down for a nap, she would rest at the foot of the bed, there to protect her charges.
One morning, Lisa let Annie outside while she fixed breakfast and, after a few minutes, went to the door to call her back in again. She could see Annie lying in a field, her head poking above the weeds behind the house, not moving. She called again, and Annie ignored her. Unusual behavior, to be sure.
Lisa asked her husband, DJ, to call the dog, and he did with the same results. Finally, DJ went out to get her and see if something was wrong. He returned shortly, laughing.
There were two little fawns lying in the grass, he reported. And Annie was lying with them, protecting them. The mother was standing about 50 yards off, afraid to approach because of her instinctive fear of dogs.
DJ took off his belt and used it as a leash to bring Annie back to the house, whereupon the mother took charge of her twins.
* * *
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
This passage tells of how YHWH created the covenant between YHWH and Abram (Abraham), which would become the basis of the covenant between God and Israel. It raises some issues for preaching about the nature of covenants in general and this one in particular.
Covenant vs. Contract
Any sermon based on this passage requires that the preacher have a clear understanding of the difference between a covenant and a contract. Legal scholars tend to agree that while both covenants and contracts are agreements between parties, they differ in some significant ways:
* * *
Ceasefire vs. Peace Treaty
As we ponder the concepts of covenant vs. contract, our attention is drawn to the war in Ukraine, which is struggling toward a ceasefire in hopes of using it to establish a peace treaty. But is a ceasefire and a peace treaty a covenant or a contract?
A peace treaty or a ceasefire agreement can have characteristics of both a contract and a covenant, but they are generally considered more like contracts due to their formal nature and legal enforceability.
A Peace Treaty is a formal agreement between countries or parties to end hostilities and establish peace. It usually includes specific terms and conditions, and it is legally binding. Peace treaties are often ratified by the governments or leaders of the countries involved, and international law typically governs their enforcement.
A Ceasefire agreement is a temporary halt in fighting between warring parties. It is also a formal agreement with specific terms and conditions, and it can be legally binding. Ceasefires can be short-term or long-term and are often a step towards negotiating a more permanent peace treaty.
While both peace treaties and ceasefire agreements can involve solemn promises and commitments, their primary function is to establish clear, enforceable terms to end conflict, which aligns more closely with the nature of a contract.
* * *
Ceasefire In the News
For a ceasefire or peace treaty to be viable, it must function at a level of trust. Each side must trust that the other will abide by not just the letter but the spirit of the agreement. One of the reasons a ceasefire will be so difficult to establish in Ukraine is that Ukraine does not feel that it can trust Russia to keep its word.
More specifically, President Zelensky does not feel that he can trust Putin to keep his word. Why does he feel that way?
It has been reported that between 2014 and 2022, over 200 talks were held between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the two countries agreeing to 20 ceasefire agreements. Russia violated all of them and invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
* * * * * *
From team member Tom Willadsen:
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)
Mountaintop Experiences
I grew up in Central Illinois — a very flat place. Still, I was very fortunate in terms of topography because the Illinois River flows right past my hometown, and the bluffs overlooking Upper Peoria Lake and Lower Peoria Lake — extremely wide spots in the river — offered a beautiful view of the valley. The bluffs were hardly mountains, but it didn’t take much elevation to create a panorama.
Teddy Roosevelt toured Grandview Drive and called it “The World’s Most Beautiful Drive.” Peoria’s oldest radio station’s call letters are WMBD. We’re proud of our relative mountaintop.
It is said that Dan Fogelberg composed the song “Illinois,” which appears on his 1974 album Souvenirs, one evening while watching night fall on Grandview Drive.
When Japanese automaker Mitsubishi opened a plant in Bloomington, about 40 miles east of Peoria, there were rumors that the Japanese executives would drive to Peoria because at least we had hills. Take that, Bloomington!
All this is to say that one does not need to climb a high mountain to see a long way. Just being off, away from people, and what is familiar and ordinary can help a person see and imagine new things.
* * *
Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
Don’t talk
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying.
Mark Twain said, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.”
Sylvan Engel said, “It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
In today’s gospel reading, Peter spoke, “not realizing what he was saying.”
The wisdom of silence appears in popular songs of my salad days also.
The chorus of “Don’t Speak,” by No Doubt, written by Gwen and Eric Stefani, goes
Don’t speak
I know just what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Don’t speak
I know what you’re thinkin’
I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
A lover trying to avoid the pain of a breakup is captured in that desire for silence.
In the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” David Byrne sings
You start a conversation
You can’t even finish it
You’re talking a lot
But you’re not saying anything
When I have nothing to say
My lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?
Finally, there’s “Don’t Talk,” by 10,000 Maniacs, where the survivor of a relationship with domestic abuse sings
Don’t talk, you keep your distance
For I’d rather hear some truth tonight than entertain your lies
So take your poison silently.
Let me be. Let me close my eyes.
Don’t talk, I’ll believe it.
* * *
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Can we trust the Lord? How do we know?
The action in Genesis 15 pivots around Abram needing to be reassured that the Lord will keep the promises made to Abe back in Genesis 12. At this point, Abram is a seasoned traveler, and it’s been a long time since the Lord called him to leave Ur. Abram needs reassurance about two things: an heir and land. The Lord reassures him on both accounts. Starting at verse 12, Abram effectively leaves the stage, and the Lord alone acts to reassure Abram. Apparently, Abram is aware of the promises the Lord made to him in vv. 13-16 (not part of today’s lection) even though a “deep sleep” has fallen on him.
* * *
Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18
Count the stars if you can!
It appears that this scene begins at night while Abram is in his tent. Verse 5 reads: “(The Lord) brought him (Abram) outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” A tradition for Jewish weddings is to be outdoors, under the sky, as a reminder of the Lord’s promises in Genesis 15:5. Sky blue is considered an appropriate, festive color.
One origin story for the Jewish custom to hold weddings under chuppot (the plural form of chuppah) is to recall God’s promise to Abram. Chuppot are temporary canopies the bridal couple stands under, reminders of Abram’s tent. Another origin story is that because Jewish weddings are supposed to be outside, under the sky, but they often took place on village market days, when it would be easy for strangers to wander into the wedding, chuppot were used to show that a wedding was taking place. The covering of chuppot is always fabric so that the sky is not blocked. Today, even at indoor Jewish weddings, chuppot recall this story and these traditions.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
The chickens have come home to roost
Shortly after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Malcolm X famously said, “The chickens have come home to roost.” This clip gives a little more context to this statement. One way to interpret it is to see that President Kennedy’s assassination was merely another example of violence leading to more violence because the original violence inherent in racism has not been addressed.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
The fox in the henhouse
It is probably not a coincidence that a few verses after Herod is referred to as a fox, Jesus uses the imagery of a mother hen, showing His desire to shelter and protect Jerusalem. That image is one of vulnerability and peril in the wake of Jesus referring to the Roman leader as that image’s enemy.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
Every day is a miracle
My niche with the Immediate Word is references to popular music. I know my role well, and I always say, “When you find your niche—scratch it.” With that in mind, I offer these lines from “Every Day is a Miracle” from David Byrne’s 2018 album “American Utopia.”
Now the chicken imagines a heaven
Full of roosters and plenty of corn
And God is a very old rooster
And eggs are like Jesus, his son
Every day is a miracle
Every day is an unpaid bill
You've got to sing for your supper
Love one another
* * * * * *
WORSHIP
by George Reed
Call to Worship
One: The Lord is our light and our salvation whom shall we fear?
All: The Lord is the stronghold of our life; whom shall we fear?
One: One thing we asked of the Lord, this will we seek after.
All: Let us behold the beauty of God, and inquire in God’s temple.
One: You shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
All: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage!
OR
One: Jesus calls us to come into the shelter of his love.
All: We long to be held in his strong, loving arms.
One: He comes to shelter us and to direct us to life.
All: We need direction so that we can follow the Christ.
One: He sends the Spirit to all who desire to know the truth.
All: We will open our hearts to guidance of God’s Spirit.
Hymns and Songs
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
UMH: 138
H82: 645/646
PH: 171
GTG: 802
NCH: 248
LBW: 456
ELW: 502
Renew: 106
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
UMH: 133
GTG: 837
AAHH: 371
NNBH: 262
NCH: 471
CH: 560
ELW: 774
W&P: 496
AMEC: 525
The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
UMH: 136
GTG: 801
NNBH: 237/241
CH: 78
LBW: 451
ELW: 778
W&P: 86
AMEC: 208
Hope of the World
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
GTG: 734
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
W&P: 404
Spirit Song
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 362
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
Jesus Calls Us
UMH: 398
H82: 549/550
GTG: 720
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171/172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELW: 696
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
Trust and Obey
UMH: 467
AAHH: 380
NNBH: 322
CH: 556
W&P: 443
AMEC: 377
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
UMH: 500
PH: 326
GTG: 688
AAHH: 312
NCH: 290
CH: 265
LBW: 486
ELW: 800
W&P: 132
AMEC: 189
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
UMH: 479
H82: 699
PH: 303
GTG: 440
NCH: 546
CH: 542
W&P: 439
AMEC: 253/254
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
UMH: 474
PH: 404
GTG: 834
AAHH: 471
NCH: 472
CH: 628
ELW: 773
W&P: 500
AMEC: 393
STLT: 199
God Is So Good
CCB: 75
I Call You Faithful
CCB: 70
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who covers creation with your loving presence:
Grant us the faith to trust in your care for us
so that we may choose wisely who we follow;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you are the one who covers all your created with your loving presence. You keep us safe in the shelter of your wings. Help us to be open to your love so that we can trust in your care. Open our hearts so that we may choose wisely who we follow. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to follow the Christ we say is our Lord.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed many voices to lead us astray. We are more likely to quote politicians and pundits as the source for our decisions than we are to quote Jesus. We are filled with reasons to justify our choices but they are not reasons given by the Christ. Forgive us and renew us with your Spirit so that we might truly follow the Christ who longs to shelter all under his wings. Amen.
One: Jesus longs to draw us to him so that we might draw others into his care. Receive his forgiveness and receive his call to be true disciples.
Prayers of the People
We bow our heads and acknowledge your holiness, O God. You are perfect and good as you lovingly bless your creation.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed many voices to lead us astray. We are more likely to quote politicians and pundits as the source for our decisions than we are to quote Jesus. We are filled with reasons to justify our choices but they are not reasons given by the Christ. Forgive us and renew us with your Spirit so that we might truly follow the Christ who longs to shelter all under his wings.
We give you thanks for the love you offer us through Jesus the Christ who comes to take us into his care. We are blessed to be offered the guidance that will lead us to life everlasting. Thank you for the others who have shown us how to be true disciples. We need all the examples we can get.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for the needs of all your children. We pray for those who have lost their way and are drawn to following those who lead them to death instead of life. We pray for those who have hardened their hearts so that they no longer hear your invitation. We pray for your church that we might be faithful in leading people to you.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the blessed and holy Trinity. Amen.
* * * * * *
CHILDREN’S SERMON
I Will Follow You!
by Chris Keating
Philippians 3:17--4:1
It seems Paul wants us to be copycats — which could either be helpful or dangerous. Obviously, imitation is more than mere flattery. Whether it is playing “Follow the Leader” or simple imitation games, children enjoy imitating others. Child life specialists describe the positive impact of imitative learning. As babies and children mimic the behaviors of adults and others around them, they are creating neural pathways — even before they can talk.
But negative behaviors can also be copied. Any preschool teacher will tell you how kids pick up on the positive and negative actions they see in classrooms. And, likely, every parent has heard their precious child repeat words they have heard around the house which mom and dad would prefer were left unsaid!
In thinking about this week’s scripture, I immediately thought of the closing scene from the old movie “Sister Act.” Go, listen to it now! It got me thinking — how can we talk about following Jesus in Lent as a form of imitating him?
Paul is concerned that the congregation has picked up some bad habits from less reliable teachers. Instead, he says, learn from more mature spiritual teachers. Look to Christ, he says, and stand firm in doing the things Jesus did.
That got me thinking about the wonderful story, “Ruby the Copycat” a beloved children’s book by Peggy Rathman. She addresses both the up and downsides of imitating someone. You could consider reading it during the children’s time, or incorporating some of the story into your conversation with the children. (A recording of the book is available on YouTube.)
If time constraints won’t allow for reading the book, try beginning with a quick game of “Follow the Leader,” or another game where children copy your behavior. This will help lead to a conversation about what it means to follow someone. Invite them to name both good and bay forms of imitation. Paul tells his friends to “stand firm,” which makes me think of planting your feet in the sand at the ocean and trying to maintain your balance while the waves wash over us. It’s hard, but we can learn from each other! Ask them, “I wonder if Paul wants us to imitate him by doing the sorts of things he learned from Jesus?” Remind them of some of the things that Jesus did:
Let us pray:
God, help us to follow Jesus. Let us imitate the way he shared your love, and was always faithful to what you asked him to do, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, March 16, 2025 issue.
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- Are You Chicken? by Katy Stenta. People may ask, “Are you chicken, Jesus?” And Jesus may well reply, “Yes, I am exactly a chicken.”
- Second Thoughts: Monkey See, Monkey Do – Improved Version by Mary Austin based on Philippians 3:17--4:1.
- Sermon illustrations by Dean Feldmeyer, Tom Willadsen.
- Worship resources by George Reed.
- Children’s sermon: I Will Follow You! by Chris Keating. “Join in imitating me,” Paul says to his friends in Philippi — not by becoming copycats of the apostle, but by becoming like Jesus, picking up our crosses and learning from him.
Are You Chicken?
by Katy Stenta
Luke 13:31-35
In the Scriptures
It does us good to remember that Jesus experiences a full range of human emotions. When my family sings "Away in a Manger," we are sure to sing “lotsa crying he makes” because there is no baby in the world who does not cry when they are brought into the world. So, too, is John 11:35, the shortest verse in the Bible is so beautiful for the testimony that Jesus wept. It tells us a lot about Jesus’ full humanity on display. In a world where tenderness and mercy are not popular at the moment, the parable of the good neighbor who “shows mercy” in Luke 10:37, and the fact that Jesus weeps for his beloved found family member Lazarus, tell us the truth that Jesus does not want us to hide or bottle up our emotions and compassion for one another. We have been given emotions so that we might show our protectiveness, love, tenderness, mercy, and lament. The full range of human emotions is here for us to use.
In the News
As Trump addressed Congress in a 90-minute speech of falsities, it spread more disinformation and gave more ammunition for a Disctrict Attorney to successfully mount counter-suits to his grabs for power. Trump did not talk about the price of eggs — something that seems to be endlessly on everyone’s minds, even as the bird flu rises as a spector and symbol of disease control, food, and the economy that no one wants to touch with a ten-foot pole in this pandemic-weary world. When we, as a society, have not even dealt fully with the trauma of Covid, and probably partially elected Trump as a misguided hope to go back to the pre-pandemic era, there is almost no way to think about what lament is and how the United States should be engaging in it. To memory, there have been no public days of mourning, no national ways of remembering, no huge policy shifts in terms of learning to mark how it is we have marked the pandemic — just this quick and hopeful striving to “return to normal.” This has sadly meant a return to far-right policies and more bigoted stances with less accountability on the whole.
Following this trend, during his address, the current and former president did not actually use the time to try to fix any economic qualms or cast any real vision — he just talked about being the greatest, sinking his numbers even more. Most people can see that the DOGE cuts have little to do with efficiency and a lot to do with revenge and a power grab. This means that even those who voted for Trump are being hurt by his policies. There are a lot of jokes about leopards eating faces. However, there is very little compassion for those who are being hurt. In fact, a couple of people have pointed out that instead of the FAFO attitude, how different would it be if we wept with those who are weeping? How might we find true compassion and help change the name of the game?
In the Sermon
Jesus shows a full range of human emotions here. He names Herod to be the sly trickster he is — the one who imprisoned and killed his cousin. Jesus knows the name of the game. "You tell that fox, my time will come, but between now and then, I will keep up the healing work, because that is more important." Whew, does that cut us to the bone. How might our work change if we focused on that? Mitch Randell says that he is focusing on kindness instead of on Trump, not that he is ignoring everything, but he thinks there is important work to be done.
How different would our work be if those who are betrayed by Trump were swept into our healing work? If we wept with them and said, "Ouch, that must hurt!" and welcomed them into the resistance with open arms? (The resistance being a move toward mercy and justice for all those who need access to food, shelter, and basic human rights.)
We know that some people must have been taunting Jesus with the question “Are you chicken?” and Jesus does what he always does in these cases and turns it on its head, saying, “Exactly, I am like a chicken protecting its brood, where you can no longer distinguish my legs from those of my chicks.” (See this beautiful illustration of a hen.) Jesus is not afraid to weep with those who are weeping, to hug, and to protect. It is quite a portrait of biblical parenthood, motherhood, and even manhood that transfigures the stereotypes of today. How can we be more like Jesus and shelter one another, leaving room for anger and lament, even as we nestle together under the wings of God? The allowances for a full flock of birds truly will be the way forward as we get past the price of eggs in this new era.
SECOND THOUGHTSMonkey See, Monkey Do – Improved Version
by Mary Austin
Philippians 3:17--4:1
During his recent address to Congress, the President used an ethnic slur for Senator Elizabeth Warren, “belittling the Massachusetts Democrat with his favorite nickname for her – ‘Pocahontas…’” The taunt came after Trump mocked Democrats for wanting to keep supporting Ukraine with military aid in its war with Russia over the next five years, which prompted Warren (D-Mass.) to clap. She kept doing so even as the president ridiculed her. Last month, the Vice President called a reporter a “dummy.” The reporter, a veteran journalist, later wrote on his site that he was “amused” Vance had called him a name “like a second-grader.”
When President Zelensky of Ukraine visited the White House recently, the conversation was "a horror show" according to foreign policy experts Daniel Kurtzer and Aaron David Miller. For them, “that meeting represented the most serious threat to an idea that has underscored and driven U.S. foreign policy since World War II—that the United States stands with its allies in support of liberal, democratic values and in opposition to autocrats and naked aggression.” For those who admire the U.S. for its global citizenship, the meeting, often called “an ambush,” was a blow.
As social creatures, we learn from each other and create connections by imitating each other. It’s an advantage in human life to imitate wise people. Regardless of your politics, it’s hard to admire the conduct of the President and Vice President these days.
Imitation is so important for human survival that “researchers think that, rather than making our living as innovators, human beings survive and thrive precisely because we don’t think for ourselves. Instead, people cope with challenging climates and ecological contexts by carefully copying others—especially those we respect. Instead of Homo sapiens, or ‘man the knower,’ we’re really Homo imitans: ‘man the imitator.’”
So, who should we imitate, if not our elected leaders?
Paul’s word to the believers in Philippi is a timely word for us, too. Philippi is a Roman colony, Scott Hoezee notes, and the citizens were “granted a lot of freedom and given a lot of financial benefits by virtue of being considered a colony of the empire. So here Paul is saying that the church itself is a colony of heaven.” Paul invites us to think carefully about whom we imitate. Don’t turn toward wealthy people and political figures, the subtext says; turn toward people who lead us toward Jesus. Observe the people who live like he does, and find your path there, Paul urges.
How, then, do we live as citizens of God’s world? Paul invites us here to separate the layers of our lives and to see the difference between being citizens of this republic and also citizens of the realm of God. When the two diverge, how do we live in the more important world? Scott Hoezee observes, “Paul reminds us that within the church we are a colony of heaven first of all, and that this badge of cross-shaped kingdom citizenship must determine our attitudes and actions everywhere we go.”
In this epistle, Paul offers himself as one possibility on this path. “Join in imitating me,” he urges, which is an off-putting invitation. For Paul, though, copying him brings us a step toward imitating Jesus. For the people who think that doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, he says that this will end better than we imagine it will. In the end, Jesus “will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.”
In Lent, we’re always thinking about what kind of disciples we want to be. Imitating people who have greater faith draws us closer to God, if their practices fit our faith. Copying the habits of people who know how to be generous deepens our giving. Examples of cruelty abound. In contrast, we can set a Lenten discipline of looking for compassion. Examples of vanity and greed are never hard to find. Following Paul’s advice, we can spend our Lent searching for people who embody the spirit of Jesus and use their faith to make our own stronger.
If imitation is the secret to our survival, then choosing the right people to imitate is the key to a thriving faith.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean FeldmeyerPhillippians 3:17--4:1
Most scholars agree that when Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me…” he means, “imitate the way I imitate Christ.” Here are some illustrations about imitation, especially about the imitation of Jesus.
* * *
Minneapolis Lion’s Den
North Minneapolis has struggled for a long time. In the 1950s, there was a thriving African American community, with many families, churches, and Black-owned businesses. Then there was a wave of white flight, followed by racial unrest that scared away financial investors, and the construction of an interstate that cut Near North off from downtown. Today, the area is marked by instability and poverty.
Not long ago, Bishop Larry Cook of the Real Believers Faith Center in north Minneapolis confronted some young men selling narcotics in the alley between his church and the corner store that seemed to do more business in illegal goods than snacks or fuel. Things got heated pretty quickly. Voices were raised.
“The owner doesn’t care about it,” one of the young men yelled, as Cook and his wife, Sharon, recall the confrontation. “If you want to do something about it, you need to buy the gas station.” “I will,” Cook responded. “I absolutely will.”
In the fall of 2022, the store came up for sale, and Cook and his wife put everything they had toward the purchase of the $3 million property. They’ve now reopened it under the name the Lion’s Den, a testament to faith surrounded by danger and their belief that even urban blight can be redeemed.
Sharon Cook said, “This is what Jesus would do. If he were walking in 2023, he would buy this gas station. He would feed the hungry. He would lend a helping hand to the elderly the same way we’re doing.”
* * *
How Hunting Dogs Learn To Hunt
I know a fellow who trains hunting dogs to hunt. His specialty is Weimaraners, the big, silver-gray shorthaired dogs known for their hunting skills and their fierce loyalty. The teaching takes several weeks of working with the trainer alone, but at one crucial stage in the training, the trainee is taken out to hunt with a dog that is already trained, and it learns the finer points of hunting and pointing from the adult dog.
This is true of any number of animals. Plough horses learn to pull a plough by walking next to a trained plough horse in the field. Jumping horses learn to jump by running with a jumper.
Animal behaviorists theorize that cats get stuck in trees because they were taken from their mothers before the lesson about getting out of trees could be taught. We know from scientific studies that a great deal of animal behavior is learned behavior. It's not just instinctual. Scientific studies have been done on all kinds of animals—tigers, wolves, cheetahs, birds, lizards, fish, and even ants—and those studies show that animals learn how to be a particular kind of animal by watching, observing, and imitating their mothers, fathers, or other members of their animal group. They learn by imitation.
And Christian children and youth learn to be Christians by spending time with Christian adults.
* * *
Learning to Cook
I love to cook, and I’m pretty good at it. I enjoy the creative challenge, and I enjoy the instant gratification of getting to eat what I cook. For years, people asked me how I learned to cook, and I honestly couldn’t remember. It just seemed like I always knew how to do it.
Then it dawned on me that while my mother never gave me a lesson in cooking and rarely explained to me how to do it, I nevertheless learned from her.
Starting when I was about six years old, in the first grade, I would come home from school every day and sit on a stool in the kitchen, and we would talk while she cooked supper for the family. Later, when the family grew and we moved to a bigger house, our ritual never changed. I would sit at the counter, and we would talk while she cooked.
And while we talked and she cooked, I watched. I watched her measure and stir and boil and broil and bake and cook, and maybe occasionally I might ask her a question, but usually, I just watched.
Then, one day, she and my dad announced that she was going to be in the hospital for a couple of days for some minor surgery, and we kids would have to step up and take care of things around the house that she usually did. Dad handed each of us a piece of paper with our assigned chores written on them.
One of the things written on mine was “Meals.” That’s all. It would be my responsibility on those days to prepare the meals for the rest of the family. And, oddly, I just knew I could do it. I had learned, after all, by sitting at the feet of the master.
That’s also how I became a Christian.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
Continuing with the imitation theme, we might look to this passage to see that Jesus’ first instinct, even toward those who rejected him, was to offer them protective and nurturing love as a mother hen does her brood.
Annie The Protector
The Australian Shepherd is widely held to be one of the smartest, most loyal, and most athletic dog breeds in the world. That’s probably why my sister immediately snatched hers up when she recognized it at a local dog shelter.
She named it Annie and soon discovered that, as a working dog, Annie was not happy and could not rest until she had worn herself out working, in particular, herding and protecting sheep. But in the absence of sheep, any group of small animals would do, and sometimes just one.
Lisa, my sister, noted to me that Annie would spend the day circling the children, and then, when they laid down for a nap, she would rest at the foot of the bed, there to protect her charges.
One morning, Lisa let Annie outside while she fixed breakfast and, after a few minutes, went to the door to call her back in again. She could see Annie lying in a field, her head poking above the weeds behind the house, not moving. She called again, and Annie ignored her. Unusual behavior, to be sure.
Lisa asked her husband, DJ, to call the dog, and he did with the same results. Finally, DJ went out to get her and see if something was wrong. He returned shortly, laughing.
There were two little fawns lying in the grass, he reported. And Annie was lying with them, protecting them. The mother was standing about 50 yards off, afraid to approach because of her instinctive fear of dogs.
DJ took off his belt and used it as a leash to bring Annie back to the house, whereupon the mother took charge of her twins.
* * *
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
This passage tells of how YHWH created the covenant between YHWH and Abram (Abraham), which would become the basis of the covenant between God and Israel. It raises some issues for preaching about the nature of covenants in general and this one in particular.
Covenant vs. Contract
Any sermon based on this passage requires that the preacher have a clear understanding of the difference between a covenant and a contract. Legal scholars tend to agree that while both covenants and contracts are agreements between parties, they differ in some significant ways:
- Nature of the Agreement
Contract: A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law. It usually involves an exchange of goods, services, or money.
Covenant: A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement, often with a moral or religious significance. It is usually more about a pledge or commitment than a legal obligation. - Basis of Enforcement
Contract: Contracts are enforced by the legal system. If one party fails to fulfill their obligations, the other party can take legal action for breach of contract.
Covenant: Covenants can be enforced by moral, social, or religious expectations rather than legal means. However, some covenants, especially in property law, can be legally binding and enforceable in court. - Formality
Contract: Contracts often require specific formalities, such as written documents and signatures, to be legally valid.
Covenant: Covenants can be formal or informal. They may be written or spoken and often rely on the honor and trustworthiness of the parties involved. - Scope and Duration
Contract: Contracts generally have a specific duration and scope, outlining precise terms and conditions that need to be met.
Covenant: Covenants can be more open-ended and may involve long-term or perpetual commitments. - Examples
Contract: Employment agreements, rental leases, and sales agreements are common examples of contracts.
Covenant: Marriage vows, community covenants, and religious commitments are examples of covenants.
* * *
Ceasefire vs. Peace Treaty
As we ponder the concepts of covenant vs. contract, our attention is drawn to the war in Ukraine, which is struggling toward a ceasefire in hopes of using it to establish a peace treaty. But is a ceasefire and a peace treaty a covenant or a contract?
A peace treaty or a ceasefire agreement can have characteristics of both a contract and a covenant, but they are generally considered more like contracts due to their formal nature and legal enforceability.
A Peace Treaty is a formal agreement between countries or parties to end hostilities and establish peace. It usually includes specific terms and conditions, and it is legally binding. Peace treaties are often ratified by the governments or leaders of the countries involved, and international law typically governs their enforcement.
A Ceasefire agreement is a temporary halt in fighting between warring parties. It is also a formal agreement with specific terms and conditions, and it can be legally binding. Ceasefires can be short-term or long-term and are often a step towards negotiating a more permanent peace treaty.
While both peace treaties and ceasefire agreements can involve solemn promises and commitments, their primary function is to establish clear, enforceable terms to end conflict, which aligns more closely with the nature of a contract.
* * *
Ceasefire In the News
For a ceasefire or peace treaty to be viable, it must function at a level of trust. Each side must trust that the other will abide by not just the letter but the spirit of the agreement. One of the reasons a ceasefire will be so difficult to establish in Ukraine is that Ukraine does not feel that it can trust Russia to keep its word.
More specifically, President Zelensky does not feel that he can trust Putin to keep his word. Why does he feel that way?
It has been reported that between 2014 and 2022, over 200 talks were held between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the two countries agreeing to 20 ceasefire agreements. Russia violated all of them and invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
* * * * * *
From team member Tom Willadsen:Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)
Mountaintop Experiences
I grew up in Central Illinois — a very flat place. Still, I was very fortunate in terms of topography because the Illinois River flows right past my hometown, and the bluffs overlooking Upper Peoria Lake and Lower Peoria Lake — extremely wide spots in the river — offered a beautiful view of the valley. The bluffs were hardly mountains, but it didn’t take much elevation to create a panorama.
Teddy Roosevelt toured Grandview Drive and called it “The World’s Most Beautiful Drive.” Peoria’s oldest radio station’s call letters are WMBD. We’re proud of our relative mountaintop.
It is said that Dan Fogelberg composed the song “Illinois,” which appears on his 1974 album Souvenirs, one evening while watching night fall on Grandview Drive.
When Japanese automaker Mitsubishi opened a plant in Bloomington, about 40 miles east of Peoria, there were rumors that the Japanese executives would drive to Peoria because at least we had hills. Take that, Bloomington!
All this is to say that one does not need to climb a high mountain to see a long way. Just being off, away from people, and what is familiar and ordinary can help a person see and imagine new things.
* * *
Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
Don’t talk
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying.
Mark Twain said, “Never miss an opportunity to shut up.”
Sylvan Engel said, “It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
In today’s gospel reading, Peter spoke, “not realizing what he was saying.”
The wisdom of silence appears in popular songs of my salad days also.
The chorus of “Don’t Speak,” by No Doubt, written by Gwen and Eric Stefani, goes
Don’t speak
I know just what you’re sayin’
So please stop explainin’
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
Don’t speak
I know what you’re thinkin’
I don’t need your reasons
Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts
A lover trying to avoid the pain of a breakup is captured in that desire for silence.
In the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” David Byrne sings
You start a conversation
You can’t even finish it
You’re talking a lot
But you’re not saying anything
When I have nothing to say
My lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?
Finally, there’s “Don’t Talk,” by 10,000 Maniacs, where the survivor of a relationship with domestic abuse sings
Don’t talk, you keep your distance
For I’d rather hear some truth tonight than entertain your lies
So take your poison silently.
Let me be. Let me close my eyes.
Don’t talk, I’ll believe it.
* * *
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Can we trust the Lord? How do we know?
The action in Genesis 15 pivots around Abram needing to be reassured that the Lord will keep the promises made to Abe back in Genesis 12. At this point, Abram is a seasoned traveler, and it’s been a long time since the Lord called him to leave Ur. Abram needs reassurance about two things: an heir and land. The Lord reassures him on both accounts. Starting at verse 12, Abram effectively leaves the stage, and the Lord alone acts to reassure Abram. Apparently, Abram is aware of the promises the Lord made to him in vv. 13-16 (not part of today’s lection) even though a “deep sleep” has fallen on him.
* * *
Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18
Count the stars if you can!
It appears that this scene begins at night while Abram is in his tent. Verse 5 reads: “(The Lord) brought him (Abram) outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” A tradition for Jewish weddings is to be outdoors, under the sky, as a reminder of the Lord’s promises in Genesis 15:5. Sky blue is considered an appropriate, festive color.
One origin story for the Jewish custom to hold weddings under chuppot (the plural form of chuppah) is to recall God’s promise to Abram. Chuppot are temporary canopies the bridal couple stands under, reminders of Abram’s tent. Another origin story is that because Jewish weddings are supposed to be outside, under the sky, but they often took place on village market days, when it would be easy for strangers to wander into the wedding, chuppot were used to show that a wedding was taking place. The covering of chuppot is always fabric so that the sky is not blocked. Today, even at indoor Jewish weddings, chuppot recall this story and these traditions.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
The chickens have come home to roost
Shortly after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Malcolm X famously said, “The chickens have come home to roost.” This clip gives a little more context to this statement. One way to interpret it is to see that President Kennedy’s assassination was merely another example of violence leading to more violence because the original violence inherent in racism has not been addressed.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
The fox in the henhouse
It is probably not a coincidence that a few verses after Herod is referred to as a fox, Jesus uses the imagery of a mother hen, showing His desire to shelter and protect Jerusalem. That image is one of vulnerability and peril in the wake of Jesus referring to the Roman leader as that image’s enemy.
* * *
Luke 13:31-35
Every day is a miracle
My niche with the Immediate Word is references to popular music. I know my role well, and I always say, “When you find your niche—scratch it.” With that in mind, I offer these lines from “Every Day is a Miracle” from David Byrne’s 2018 album “American Utopia.”
Now the chicken imagines a heaven
Full of roosters and plenty of corn
And God is a very old rooster
And eggs are like Jesus, his son
Every day is a miracle
Every day is an unpaid bill
You've got to sing for your supper
Love one another
* * * * * *
WORSHIPby George Reed
Call to Worship
One: The Lord is our light and our salvation whom shall we fear?
All: The Lord is the stronghold of our life; whom shall we fear?
One: One thing we asked of the Lord, this will we seek after.
All: Let us behold the beauty of God, and inquire in God’s temple.
One: You shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
All: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage!
OR
One: Jesus calls us to come into the shelter of his love.
All: We long to be held in his strong, loving arms.
One: He comes to shelter us and to direct us to life.
All: We need direction so that we can follow the Christ.
One: He sends the Spirit to all who desire to know the truth.
All: We will open our hearts to guidance of God’s Spirit.
Hymns and Songs
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
UMH: 138
H82: 645/646
PH: 171
GTG: 802
NCH: 248
LBW: 456
ELW: 502
Renew: 106
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
UMH: 133
GTG: 837
AAHH: 371
NNBH: 262
NCH: 471
CH: 560
ELW: 774
W&P: 496
AMEC: 525
The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
UMH: 136
GTG: 801
NNBH: 237/241
CH: 78
LBW: 451
ELW: 778
W&P: 86
AMEC: 208
Hope of the World
UMH: 178
H82: 472
PH: 360
GTG: 734
NCH: 46
CH: 538
LBW: 493
W&P: 404
Spirit Song
UMH: 347
AAHH: 321
CH: 352
W&P: 362
CCB: 51
Renew: 248
Jesus Calls Us
UMH: 398
H82: 549/550
GTG: 720
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171/172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELW: 696
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
Trust and Obey
UMH: 467
AAHH: 380
NNBH: 322
CH: 556
W&P: 443
AMEC: 377
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
UMH: 500
PH: 326
GTG: 688
AAHH: 312
NCH: 290
CH: 265
LBW: 486
ELW: 800
W&P: 132
AMEC: 189
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
UMH: 479
H82: 699
PH: 303
GTG: 440
NCH: 546
CH: 542
W&P: 439
AMEC: 253/254
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
UMH: 474
PH: 404
GTG: 834
AAHH: 471
NCH: 472
CH: 628
ELW: 773
W&P: 500
AMEC: 393
STLT: 199
God Is So Good
CCB: 75
I Call You Faithful
CCB: 70
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who covers creation with your loving presence:
Grant us the faith to trust in your care for us
so that we may choose wisely who we follow;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you are the one who covers all your created with your loving presence. You keep us safe in the shelter of your wings. Help us to be open to your love so that we can trust in your care. Open our hearts so that we may choose wisely who we follow. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to follow the Christ we say is our Lord.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed many voices to lead us astray. We are more likely to quote politicians and pundits as the source for our decisions than we are to quote Jesus. We are filled with reasons to justify our choices but they are not reasons given by the Christ. Forgive us and renew us with your Spirit so that we might truly follow the Christ who longs to shelter all under his wings. Amen.
One: Jesus longs to draw us to him so that we might draw others into his care. Receive his forgiveness and receive his call to be true disciples.
Prayers of the People
We bow our heads and acknowledge your holiness, O God. You are perfect and good as you lovingly bless your creation.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have allowed many voices to lead us astray. We are more likely to quote politicians and pundits as the source for our decisions than we are to quote Jesus. We are filled with reasons to justify our choices but they are not reasons given by the Christ. Forgive us and renew us with your Spirit so that we might truly follow the Christ who longs to shelter all under his wings.
We give you thanks for the love you offer us through Jesus the Christ who comes to take us into his care. We are blessed to be offered the guidance that will lead us to life everlasting. Thank you for the others who have shown us how to be true disciples. We need all the examples we can get.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need and for the needs of all your children. We pray for those who have lost their way and are drawn to following those who lead them to death instead of life. We pray for those who have hardened their hearts so that they no longer hear your invitation. We pray for your church that we might be faithful in leading people to you.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the blessed and holy Trinity. Amen.
* * * * * *
CHILDREN’S SERMONI Will Follow You!
by Chris Keating
Philippians 3:17--4:1
It seems Paul wants us to be copycats — which could either be helpful or dangerous. Obviously, imitation is more than mere flattery. Whether it is playing “Follow the Leader” or simple imitation games, children enjoy imitating others. Child life specialists describe the positive impact of imitative learning. As babies and children mimic the behaviors of adults and others around them, they are creating neural pathways — even before they can talk.
But negative behaviors can also be copied. Any preschool teacher will tell you how kids pick up on the positive and negative actions they see in classrooms. And, likely, every parent has heard their precious child repeat words they have heard around the house which mom and dad would prefer were left unsaid!
In thinking about this week’s scripture, I immediately thought of the closing scene from the old movie “Sister Act.” Go, listen to it now! It got me thinking — how can we talk about following Jesus in Lent as a form of imitating him?
Paul is concerned that the congregation has picked up some bad habits from less reliable teachers. Instead, he says, learn from more mature spiritual teachers. Look to Christ, he says, and stand firm in doing the things Jesus did.
That got me thinking about the wonderful story, “Ruby the Copycat” a beloved children’s book by Peggy Rathman. She addresses both the up and downsides of imitating someone. You could consider reading it during the children’s time, or incorporating some of the story into your conversation with the children. (A recording of the book is available on YouTube.)
If time constraints won’t allow for reading the book, try beginning with a quick game of “Follow the Leader,” or another game where children copy your behavior. This will help lead to a conversation about what it means to follow someone. Invite them to name both good and bay forms of imitation. Paul tells his friends to “stand firm,” which makes me think of planting your feet in the sand at the ocean and trying to maintain your balance while the waves wash over us. It’s hard, but we can learn from each other! Ask them, “I wonder if Paul wants us to imitate him by doing the sorts of things he learned from Jesus?” Remind them of some of the things that Jesus did:
- Jesus helped those who were sick, including healing Peter’s mother in law (Luke 4:38);
- He showed compassion on a man who was paralyzed (Luke 5:17);
- He told his disciples to not judge others (Luke 6:37), and had compassion on a widow whose son had died (Luke 7:11)
- Other stories show us Jesus praying, welcoming sinners, and having compassion on those who were upset.
Let us pray:
God, help us to follow Jesus. Let us imitate the way he shared your love, and was always faithful to what you asked him to do, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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The Immediate Word, March 16, 2025 issue.
Copyright 2024 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
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