Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
We Offer Ourselves In The Spirit Of The Living Christ
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the unique, one of a kind, human, Jesus of Nazareth, welcome to the fourth Sunday in Lent. We're here! Now what? No matter what our reason for coming, now that we're here, with what kind of expectations of the pastor, of yourself, of God, did we come? Any care to respond? (Wait.) As your pastor, I want to share one expectation with you. Here it is. (Give your response.)
Hymn of Praise
"Be Thou My Vision," Ancient Irish poem; trans. Mary E. Byrne, 1905; vers. Eleanor Hull, 1912; alt.; harm. David Evans, 1927. (Hymn for the last three Sundays of Lent.)
Prayer of Praise
Include this idea: We thank you for getting here long before we arrived, and for waiting for us. For whatever reason we have come, for whatever expectations we bring, take hold of our minds, hearts, wills....
We Receive New Life
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
One author has suggested that one way to understand the fall of Adam and Eve, who are you and I, is to view their fall, our fall, as the continuous falling short of our human existence, with respect to our highest possibilities. God has called us to live on dead center; we choose to live on the periphery. God has called us to live in the light; we choose to live in the darkness. For two minutes of silence, write down ways that you choose to live on the periphery and in the darkness. Conclude with prayer in which we ask forgiveness for living on the periphery and in the darkness.
Response
"I Am the Light of the World," chorus only. Words and music by Jim Strathdee; found in Genesis Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Word of Acceptance and New Life (Pastor and Ministers)
God continues to invite us to live on center and in the light. We can do nothing about our response to the Good News up to this moment, except to allow the Spirit of God to forgive our past. Are we willing to do that? (One minute of silence.)
P: Jesus said, "Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven."ÊDo you believe that reality?
M: We believe that truth intellectually.
P: God promises us that we also can believe that emotionally.
M: Help us, Lord, to trust you to the point of obeying you, and your promises, with our whole being, with our heart, mind, will.
P: Amen to that!
M: Yes, indeed! In the name of God the Creator, God the Liberator, God the Sustainer, God the Energizer!
Response
Once more, "I Am the Light of the World," chorus only.
We Are Listening
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you do things in the dark that you would never do in the daylight? Maybe we ought not to respond. Maybe a better question is this: "Do your friends do things in the dark that they never would do in the daylight?" No names please; do name some of the things that people do in the dark that they would never do in the daylight. Describe what Jesus was talking about, and how he came to bring the light to dark places. Name some of those places, and persons, to whom he has brought the light.
Reading of the Gospel
Before reading the passage, explain what you think Jesus meant in verses 14 and 15. Then, have someone stand in the middle of the chancel, and speak the words that Jesus spoke.
Proclamation of the Good News
Expose this idea: Have you allowed the Spirit of God to expose your personal darkness to God's light in Christ? If not, what serves as your barrier for doing so? Or, have you allowed God's Spirit to penetrate you, your darkness that may look so suave and acceptable on the outside? Make certain that the people know that belief is far more than mouthing the words, "I believe in God." Jesus says that "even the demons believe, and shudder." When did we last "shudder" over our belief? How do we expose our darkness to God's light, and to those whom we have offended?
We Respond In Faithful Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
How do we keep our pocketbook in the darkness? Are we willing to expose it to the light of the Christ? If so, how will we do this?
Response
"Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples," H. Kenn Carmichael, 1985; English Country Songs, 1893; arr. and harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906. (Use this as the Hymn of Commitment for the last three Sundays in Lent.)
Charge to the Congregation
God loved, and loves, the world, the whole world, black, brown, white; heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual; fundamentalists, conservatives, liberals; communists, socialists, capitalists -- so much that God gave the unique, one-of-a-kind son, that whoever believes in him (that is, who trusts him to the point of obedience; can't have one without the other) shall not perish (that is, shall know how to receive the full, complete life), but have life eternal, beginning now, now, now!
Meditation
Christ's love which, indeed, makes us vulnerable to each other, opens us to God's love. Christ invites us to love without counting the cost; for love fails, not when we do not receive it; it fails when we fail to give it. God calls us to love radically.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Gloria,"ÊMozart's Mass No. 12.
Hymn of Praise: "The Great Creator of the Worlds," from Epistle to Diognetus, second or third century; para. by F. Bland Tucker, 1939, 1972. (Change the sexist language as you sing.)
Preceding the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity: "By the Babylonian Rivers," based on Psalm 137:1-4, Ewald Bash, 1964.
Response to the Word of Acceptance and New Life: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Robert Robinson, 1758.
Response to the Proclamation: "What Wondrous Love Is This," American folk hymn, c. 1811; Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Cantate Domino, 1980.
Hymn of Commitment: "God Is My Strong Salvation," James Montgomery, 1822; alt. 1988; Melchior Vulpius, 1609. (For a variation, change "my" to "our.")
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Song of Triumph," Rogers.
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the unique, one of a kind, human, Jesus of Nazareth, welcome to the fourth Sunday in Lent. We're here! Now what? No matter what our reason for coming, now that we're here, with what kind of expectations of the pastor, of yourself, of God, did we come? Any care to respond? (Wait.) As your pastor, I want to share one expectation with you. Here it is. (Give your response.)
Hymn of Praise
"Be Thou My Vision," Ancient Irish poem; trans. Mary E. Byrne, 1905; vers. Eleanor Hull, 1912; alt.; harm. David Evans, 1927. (Hymn for the last three Sundays of Lent.)
Prayer of Praise
Include this idea: We thank you for getting here long before we arrived, and for waiting for us. For whatever reason we have come, for whatever expectations we bring, take hold of our minds, hearts, wills....
We Receive New Life
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
One author has suggested that one way to understand the fall of Adam and Eve, who are you and I, is to view their fall, our fall, as the continuous falling short of our human existence, with respect to our highest possibilities. God has called us to live on dead center; we choose to live on the periphery. God has called us to live in the light; we choose to live in the darkness. For two minutes of silence, write down ways that you choose to live on the periphery and in the darkness. Conclude with prayer in which we ask forgiveness for living on the periphery and in the darkness.
Response
"I Am the Light of the World," chorus only. Words and music by Jim Strathdee; found in Genesis Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Word of Acceptance and New Life (Pastor and Ministers)
God continues to invite us to live on center and in the light. We can do nothing about our response to the Good News up to this moment, except to allow the Spirit of God to forgive our past. Are we willing to do that? (One minute of silence.)
P: Jesus said, "Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven."ÊDo you believe that reality?
M: We believe that truth intellectually.
P: God promises us that we also can believe that emotionally.
M: Help us, Lord, to trust you to the point of obeying you, and your promises, with our whole being, with our heart, mind, will.
P: Amen to that!
M: Yes, indeed! In the name of God the Creator, God the Liberator, God the Sustainer, God the Energizer!
Response
Once more, "I Am the Light of the World," chorus only.
We Are Listening
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you do things in the dark that you would never do in the daylight? Maybe we ought not to respond. Maybe a better question is this: "Do your friends do things in the dark that they never would do in the daylight?" No names please; do name some of the things that people do in the dark that they would never do in the daylight. Describe what Jesus was talking about, and how he came to bring the light to dark places. Name some of those places, and persons, to whom he has brought the light.
Reading of the Gospel
Before reading the passage, explain what you think Jesus meant in verses 14 and 15. Then, have someone stand in the middle of the chancel, and speak the words that Jesus spoke.
Proclamation of the Good News
Expose this idea: Have you allowed the Spirit of God to expose your personal darkness to God's light in Christ? If not, what serves as your barrier for doing so? Or, have you allowed God's Spirit to penetrate you, your darkness that may look so suave and acceptable on the outside? Make certain that the people know that belief is far more than mouthing the words, "I believe in God." Jesus says that "even the demons believe, and shudder." When did we last "shudder" over our belief? How do we expose our darkness to God's light, and to those whom we have offended?
We Respond In Faithful Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
How do we keep our pocketbook in the darkness? Are we willing to expose it to the light of the Christ? If so, how will we do this?
Response
"Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples," H. Kenn Carmichael, 1985; English Country Songs, 1893; arr. and harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906. (Use this as the Hymn of Commitment for the last three Sundays in Lent.)
Charge to the Congregation
God loved, and loves, the world, the whole world, black, brown, white; heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual; fundamentalists, conservatives, liberals; communists, socialists, capitalists -- so much that God gave the unique, one-of-a-kind son, that whoever believes in him (that is, who trusts him to the point of obedience; can't have one without the other) shall not perish (that is, shall know how to receive the full, complete life), but have life eternal, beginning now, now, now!
Meditation
Christ's love which, indeed, makes us vulnerable to each other, opens us to God's love. Christ invites us to love without counting the cost; for love fails, not when we do not receive it; it fails when we fail to give it. God calls us to love radically.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Gloria,"ÊMozart's Mass No. 12.
Hymn of Praise: "The Great Creator of the Worlds," from Epistle to Diognetus, second or third century; para. by F. Bland Tucker, 1939, 1972. (Change the sexist language as you sing.)
Preceding the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity: "By the Babylonian Rivers," based on Psalm 137:1-4, Ewald Bash, 1964.
Response to the Word of Acceptance and New Life: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Robert Robinson, 1758.
Response to the Proclamation: "What Wondrous Love Is This," American folk hymn, c. 1811; Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Cantate Domino, 1980.
Hymn of Commitment: "God Is My Strong Salvation," James Montgomery, 1822; alt. 1988; Melchior Vulpius, 1609. (For a variation, change "my" to "our.")
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Song of Triumph," Rogers.
