PIONEER
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship
via Blog 3rd Sunday in
Lent March
7, 2021
~~~~~~~~~~
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service.
Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in the eye,
we are still the Pioneer faith community, gathered as children of God to
worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be equipped to go out to serve in
Christ’s name—though we do it differently during this pandemic.
Pioneer offers worship in several modes:
a)
The
blog.
b)
The
blog service mailed through US Postal service.
c)
Sermons
only, mailed to those who so request.
d)
Zoom
services at 10:00 Sunday mornings.
e)
Live
worship with masks and social distancing has plenty of room for additional
worshipers.
We will share the
Lord’s Supper as part of this worship service. So please pause
and gather your choice of bread and beverage. While the bread and grape juice
served in community and led by the pastor in person is our tradition, we are
facing times that call for us to do worship in new ways rather than being tied
to rigid tradition—much like the early church.
-
Session
is cancelled for March
-
Lenten
Soup Supper is Thursday at 5:30
-
Next
Sunday M&M meets following worship
Now allow yourself a brief time of silence
as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BAPTISM: Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.
CALL TO WORSHIP
The heavens are telling the glory of God.
The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
We
celebrate the steadfast love of God, our Creator.
Surely
God is faithful to all who live in covenant.
From the sun’s rising to its setting, the
creation speaks.
Day and night, earth’s creatures announce
God’s works.
The
commandments of God are clear, enlightening the eyes.
God’s
law is perfect, calling forth our best.
God’s foolishness is wiser than human
wisdom.
God’s weakness is stronger than human
strength.
The
ordinances of God are true and righteous.
In
following them, we gain wisdom and strength.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
All-wise and all-loving God, we are drawn
together in this place because all our knowledge and discernment is not enough
to give meaning to our lives. All the pieces of our busy days need a center,
and we have come to see that center in the ‘foolishness’ of the cross. There,
Love went the distance for us. There, the paths of service were lifted up above
our passion for personal gain. We are frightened by what you might ask of us,
but we long for the wholeness only you can offer. Let the words of our mouths and
the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our
redeemer. Amen.
OPENING
SONG: “Awesome God” LU#23
CALL TO CONFESSION
The psalmist declared that our souls are
revived by God’s perfect law. We are confronted by that law today. At its
center is the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. It is more desirable than
all the gold in the world. Let us confess those things in our lives that keep
us from realizing that love.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We
come to you, Loving God, because we know our failings. We confess that we
forget that all the world belongs to you as we scramble for all we can claim
for ourselves. Our actions deny your love. Our minds have justified the bending
and breaking of your law to suit current trends and feelings. We cry out for
forgiveness and the opportunity for a fresh start. (continue with
personal prayers …..) Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life has gone; the new life has
begun.
Friends, believe the Good News!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and
restored to new life!
PASSING THE PEACE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart
and prayer to one another.
GLORY
BE TO THE FATHER
SCRIPTURE 1: John 2:13-22
The Passover of the
Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those
who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their
business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and
oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and
overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take
these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade."
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will
consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show
us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken
forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three
days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was
raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they
believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
SCRIPTURE 2: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it
is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of
the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the
scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom
of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to
save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we
proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human
wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
SERMON: “Foolish Faith” Rev. Jean
Hurst
Historically, human communities have
been incredibly imaginative in taking the life of someone they feel worthy of
death. Examples include stoning in ancient Israel, walking the plank on a
pirate ship, burning at the stake at the Salem witch trials, beheading by La
Guillotine in France, hanging for horse thieves in the old west. Society moved
on to gas, electrocution, and lethal injection. We’ve actually tried to become
more humane in taking life.
That wasn’t Rome’s interest in the
time of Jesus. The Roman occupation chose crucifixion--the cruelest, most
humiliating form of execution they could invent. It was a method that had been
in use by the Romans, Persians, Seleucids, and Carthaginians since about 600
years before Jesus.
The word crucify means fix to a
cross--either by nails or rope--and leave to die a slow, painful, public death.
The word excruciating is derived from that method of execution. It was intended
to be a deterrent as well as a punishment. In 337 A.D., the Emperor Constantine
abolished crucifixion out of veneration for Jesus.
Yet this humiliating and painful death
became a symbol of hope for Christians then and now. Many of us wear crosses as
symbols of that hope. Through the eyes of those who scoff at the cross, it
would be the modern day equivalent of wearing the image of an electric chair
around our necks. Paul’s detractors not of the faith, thought he was nuts and
denounced this new religion as foolishness. Their thinking is
understandable.
The Jews of that era were still
looking for the coming of a Messiah who would reestablish the throne of David
and throw off the Roman occupation. They wanted a live Messiah, not a dead one.
They sought signs of God’s action in the world consistent with what was
recorded in ancient scripture, like the fire and cloud of the wilderness journey.
The Greek culture embraced gods who were mighty and invincible and heroes who
survived. Their modern heroes (for that period) were men of great philosophical
prowess who could assimilate and debate the great wisdom of the age.
Paul speaks of them as perishing and
acknowledges that to them, the cross is foolishness. To the non-Christian Jews
it was not only foolish, it was offensive. According to writings in the Old
Testament book of Deuteronomy (21:23), someone hanged from a tree was not only
a criminal, but cursed by God. Yet both proponents and opponents of the cross
believed in power. When it came down to what that power represents, the two
groups are at opposite poles.
This is where God makes foolish the wisdom of the world. That worldly
wisdom is the one that would define power as that which allows one person or
group to maintain control over another. It’s the thinking that elevates one in
society by virtue of wealth or status or ability to influence in a self-serving
way. It’s the mentality that says the more you accumulate, the more important
you are.
In our American culture of rugged
individualism, it’s every man for himself. It’s being number one no matter who
you have to trample to get there. It’s making a name for yourself. It’s being
the best. It’s one-upping your neighbor. It’s out-smarting your competitor or
adversary. It’s getting the best deal even if it hurts or exploits others. It’s
maximizing profits with no regard for ethics or human need. It’s being so
independent you don’t need God and you don’t need the foolishness of the cross.
Jesus’ teachings contradicted the
wisdom of that and this day. In his appearance, demeanor, and teachings he was
a contradiction to all that popular culture promotes. Jesus made a regular
practice of turning the understandings of the world upside down. Old and New
Testaments both spoke of the coming of the Messiah linked with the mighty being
brought low and the poor being lifted up.
And indeed, when Jesus came, he taught
and demonstrated recognition and love and acceptance of the marginalized, the
outcast, the poor, the diseased, the alien, the despised, the oppressed, the
sinner. He said love your enemies rather than grind them under your heel. He
said to share with the poor rather than build bigger barns to hoard your
wealth. He said forgive rather than harbor resentment and hatred, forgive
because God has forgiven you. He said treat people justly rather than exploit
them for your own gain. He said pay attention to the two-by-four in your own
eye rather than self-righteously pointing out the speck of sawdust in someone
else’s eye. He said above all else, love God, and then love your neighbor. He
said treat others the way you want to be treated.
And Jesus taught and demonstrated
being the humble servant, turning the other cheek for offenses, suffering and
dying for the sake of a lost world. For my sake. For your sake. And he died on
that cross, bearing the sins of a world that had rejected him--rejected
Emmanuel, God With Us.
Had that been the end of the story, it
would have been a sad story indeed. A good man, one who had done no wrong other
than challenge the power systems of the day and point to God as the source of
love and grace, was cruelly executed because his opponents just didn’t get it.
The cross was a symbol of shame and death and despair. But that was not the end
of the story.
For the foolishness of God is wiser
than man’s wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
God’s power, displayed in Jesus’ willingness to suffer and die, is stronger
than death itself. The tomb is empty. The cross became a symbol of victory and
glory.
The message of the cross, the power of the
cross is non-coercive, non-manipulative, non- dominating--the opposite of the
ways of worldly power. Of course it looks like weakness according to the
culture’s values. Really, what kind of system would promote gentleness over
aggression, forgiving over getting even, giving over taking all you can get,
serving over controlling, helping over winning, giving away wealth over
accruing wealth, loving over being right?
The world can call it foolishness, but
it is our hope. It is not just the hope of eternal life, though that is a very
important part of it. It is the hope of life now. It is discovering
relationship with the God of life, the God of love and grace. It is finding
forgiveness and a slate wiped clean. It is the freedom of letting go of fear,
of old resentments, of anger, of all the things that pull you down and leave
you feeling defeated. Hope is letting go of the pain of the past and the fear
of the future. It is the hope of new beginnings, even if it’s just one little
step at a time.
The message of the cross is the hope
of being able to see the reflection of God’s image in the mirror ... and in the
eyes of the person you thought was an enemy. It is the hope of living at peace
with that person ... and with the person in the mirror. It is the hope that
love is more powerful than hate or old hurts, that you really can be reconciled
to that brother or daughter or parent. It is the hope that is fulfilled in
discovering that God loves you, will never reject you or abandon you. It is the
hope that enables you to love. It is the hope that no matter what happens in
life, you’re not alone, that the One who died for you, walks with you. It is
the hope of a child of the resurrection. Foolish? Maybe. But it’s a wise foolishness.
And it invites choices. We cannot not
choose. For all those many things I’ve just listed, each time you live one over
the other, each time the culture and values of the world win out, you’re making
a choice. Fence riding is itself a choice. Which do you choose to live by ...
the wisdom of the world or the foolishness of the cross? Amen.
HYMN: “God
of the Sparrow” Glory
22
PRAYERS OF THE
PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Eternal God, whose wisdom defies our
limited insights, and whose commandments are from everlasting to everlasting,
open our hearts and souls and minds to your love that surrounds us and seeks a
dwelling place in us, that we may regard ourselves as your valuable and beloved
children and accord the same care and concern to others as we would, at our
best, lavish on ourselves. May our lives honor you and display the power of
your love to the world.
Trusting in that love and the love you
have kindled in us, we lift up to you our prayers for family, friends, and
neighbors here and around the world. We pray for your loving presence and
healing touch for Lari Higgins ... Summer Bauer ... Bill Kaesemeyer ... Tasha Sizemore … Stephen Meinzinger … Phyllis Bauer … Beverly
Patterson … Lois White … John Matthews …
Jacob Cunningham … Virginia … Cherry … Darlene … Margaret … Trisha … Dave … George
… Joyce … Jennifer … Chuck … Courtney … Ethel … Helen. (Additional prayers
…………)
Help us, God of our lives, to act on the
truth that we know, to be faithful followers of Jesus, hearing his voice and
obeying, living our lives differently because we know the truth in him. Help
each of us to live as a child of your grace, a child of your love. It is your
unconditional love, your healing touch, your presence and your peace that makes
such a difference in our lives. Thank you. We pray together as Jesus taught:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
CALL TO OFFERING
The commandments invite us to a Sabbath
time in which we give ourselves completely to the worship of God. The gifts we
bring are important, but even more, we are invited to commit ourselves to God’s
foolishness, to the way of love. May it be our passion to extend love to all of
earth’s people.
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER
OF DEDICATION
We
bring our offerings, O God, not to buy your favor, but to express our
gratitude, not to support an institution, but to further your mission. We
support the church in its efforts to challenge the false wisdom that pervades
our culture. We seek to make this community of faith a center of values that
are consistent with your will. May we be zealous in your service, willing to
sacrifice for love’s sake, and eager to embrace your word in our everyday
living. Amen.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
Song of
Preparation: “I Come with Joy” Glory #515
Invitation to the Table
The
Lord’s table is not a piece of wood with clay dishes, but a place in our hearts
that connects us to our Lord Jesus. It is a place to which we come as we
remember his sacrifice, as we seek to experience his presence, as we are
nourished to continue his work, as we recognize our community in him despite
whatever distance or disease or obstacle that might separate us. It is the
place we come to renew our commitment to continue his ministry and mission. Our
Lord invites us to the table without condition, simply because we are loved.
Come with grateful hearts. Come with joyful hearts.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, O Holy God, to
give thanks for your amazing grace, to praise you for who you are, for who you
created us to be. We marvel at the truth that you are with us wherever we may
be. Though we worship from home, separated and for some, isolated, it is still
in you that we find life and purpose. We are children of grace and nothing can
separate us from your love.
You have given us the gift of your
Holy Spirit who unites us, binding us together as one body across the miles. By
your Spirit of grace transform our social isolation and distance into a holy
community, connecting us to each other by your sacred presence.
Bless the elements we each have
gathered, elements common to our ordinary lives. Let them represent for us the
body and blood of our Savior who gave himself for us. Amen.
Words of Institution
As we share these symbols of bread and
cup across the distance, we remember the story of Jesus with the disciples that
last night before he was arrested. He took the bread and blessed it and broke
it and gave it to them saying “Take, eat, this is my body, given for you.” And
with the cup he said, “This cup is the new covenant, my blood poured out for
you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink of it, remember me.”
And so we do. As we lift up many
pieces in scattered places rather than sharing the same loaf and as we drink
from separate cups instead of one, we do so remembering that throughout history
God’s people have often been scattered and in exile. Through the power and
mystery of the Holy Spirit, we are made one in Christ Jesus. These are the
gifts of God for us the children of God.*
The Bread of Life……………..
The Cup of Salvation …………….
*portions of
prayer adapted from prayer by Rev. Steve Kliewer, Interim General Presbyter,
EOP
Unison Prayer of Thanks
Gracious God, you have made us one with all
your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and
renewed us for your service. Help us who have shared Christ’s body and received
his cup, to be his faithful disciples so that our daily living may be part of
the life of your kingdom, and our love be your love reaching out into the life
of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “Song
of Hope”
Glory #765
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Permission
is granted. Go out and be as foolish as you like—as long as it is God’s
foolishness-the foolishness of the cross. Your challenge is to prove that the
foolishness of the cross is the only wisdom we need. Show the world that love
may seem foolish but that love can heal the world—one person at a time.
As
you do the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit is with you now and always. Amen.
CHORAL RESPONSE
May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes
and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and
keep you forever.
~~~~~~~~~~
LOOKING
AHEAD
March 9 6:00 p.m. Session canceled
March 11 5:30 p.m. Soup Supper
March 14 following worship M&M
March 16 10:30 Women’s Spirituality
March 18 5:30 p.m. Soup Supper
March 21 following worship Worship & Music
March 21 1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry
March 23 noon downstairs PPW lunch meeting
March 25 5:30 Soup
Supper
March 28 10:00 a.m. Palm/Passion Sunday Service
March 28 following worship Deacons
PRAYER
CARE:
Lari Higgins
(breast cancer), Summer Bauer (breast cancer), Bill Kaesemeyer (breathing
problems), Tasha Sizemore (Crohn’s), Stephen Meinzinger (Covid-19), Lois White
(lymphoma), John Matthews (cancer), (Jacob Cunningham, Trisha Cagley (health
problems), Dave Clark (kidney cancer), Virginia DesIlets (age 99!), Margaret
Dunbar (aging issues), George Sahlberg (infection in knee), Joyce Sahlberg
(health issues), Jennifer Schirm (Parkinson’s), Chuck VanHise (leg/walking
rehab), Darlene Wingfield (heart valve, pulmonary fibrosis, breast cancer), and
Courtney Ziegler (Huntington’s).
LECTIONARY
FOR 3/14/21
Numbers 21:4-9,
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10,
John 3:14-21
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