Lectionary - Lent 4 Year A

| DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

1 Samuel 16:1-13 David is chosen to succeed Saul
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd
Ephesians 5:8-14 Live as children of light
John 9:1-41 Neither this man nor his parents sinned

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
 

lesson	Hymns for Lent 4, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
G	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)	129	56
E	Awake, my soul, and with the sun	557	469
E	Awake, awake, fling off the night		412
G	Christ is the world's light, he and none other	246	191
G	Christ is the world's true light	238	179
G	Christ whose glory fills the skies	212	140
G	Come Holy Spirit, our souls inspire	396	[308]
E	God be in my head and in my understanding	549	456
O	Hail to the Lord's anointed	275	203
G	I heard the voice of Jesus say	585	500
E	I want to walkj as a child of the light	643
Ps	I will sing the wondrous story	233	173
G	I'll praise my Maker while I've breath	90	44
G	In heavenly love abiding	588	504
E	Jesus comes with all his grace	219	149
E	Jesus the Lord said,"I am the bread"	239	185
G	Just as I am, without one plea	584	497
O	Lord let me see, see more and more	681
G	Lord the light of your love is shining	675
G	Lord we are blind, the world of sight	633	563
O	Lord you have searched me and you know		90
G	Lord your almighty word	447	61
O	Lord, I come to you	685
Ps	My God your table now is spread	510	432
G	O Christ the healer, we have come	638
s	O dearest Jesus, why aren't you acquitted	337	[254]
G	O for a thousand tongues to sing	210	141
G	O Jesus king most wonderful		125
Ps	The king of love my shepherd is	145	81
Ps	The Lord is my shepherd and I want to follow	659
Ps	The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want	10	16
O	This day God gives me	642	570
Ps	Thuma mina, somandla	749
G	To God be the glory, great things he has done	147	85
E	Wake, awake! for night is flying	266	195
	What God ordains is always good		109
O	Your hand, O God, has guided	456	389

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)
25 (TIS 107) Sing praise and thanksgiving
144 (TIS 215) Ye servants of God
337 (TIS 430) Your words to me are life and health

Sermon summary | Click here for Complete sermon

Who sinned? Who is blind?

Who sinned? Who is responsible? What can account for this calamity! It is a common enough concern when things go wrong. There must be somebody to blame! There are many subtle ways in which the ancient search for guilt is still with us. What is more, sometimes people are indeed guilty.

However confused we may be, we do have a sense of the question that was put to Jesus about who had sinned that a man was born blind. (John 9:2-3) Main point of it has yet to come, but it does focus our attention on something quite basic in human nature: the sense that our actions have consequences. And we can understand Jesus saying, No, it was not the fault of either the man himself or his parents. In comparison, it is important to see that the moral teachers of the community at the time were of a different opinion, blaming the man. (John 9:34.)

But, yes, there is something else, the awkwardness of the following comment about its being to the glory of God: he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. Is God really like that? We misunderstand when we think in causal scientific ways. It could be understood to say something like: don't worry about who sinned, but rather give thanks that God was able to use this misfortune to reveal the presence of the Messiah. That is brought out in the remainder of the story. It was a question of who could have done such an amazing thing (John 9:30-33), and it was important for the authorities to establish the facts (John 9:20-21,24-25).

But the question of what people will accept about the events remains in our minds. If Jesus was who we and John have believed him to be then it is at least possible that he literally did what John said he did. There is a different account, either of a similar event or the same occasion, in Mark 8:22-26, which has some of the same details. There is an interesting clue in Mark:24 which points to an experience similar to what research in modern times has shown to happen with people who were born blind having to learn to see when their sight is restored through surgery. That they began to believe that he was the Messiah suggests very strongly that they saw in what he did good reason to think that he might be.

We come back to the question of guilt at the end of the story as John tells it. (John 9:38-41). They would not be guilty if they were not equipped to see, but if they were able to see and did not they sinned. Is blindness evidence of sin? The answer is Yes, but not in the way you think!

| DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

Order of Service - Lent 4 Year A

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. (Psalms 23:1-3)
Lord, lead us now in your ways to worship you
In the name of Christ. Amen

HYMN The Lord's my shepherd TIS 10 AHB 16

PRAYER OF ADORATION
Loving and eternal God, we praise you now in the same Spirit who inspired those who worshipped you in psalms long ago. Throughout the ages, you are to be trusted to lead and to care for the people whom you have called to follow as a flock would once have followed a shepherd; and you sent your son Jesus to be a good shepherd to us. We look to him for guidance and we worship you through his example and in his care. All praise and glory to you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

CONFESSION
We confess that we wander away like lost sheep. The confess the pain and suffering caused to you and to those who care for us because of our wilful ways. Lord have mercy up us, and grant us the peace of being restored to right ways of living in your care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
As the Father welcomed home the lost son, and angels rejoiced at the return of the lost sheep, so God is to be trusted to receive again those who return to him.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Hear then Christ's word of grace, 'Your sins are forgiven'
Thanks be to God

DOXOLOGY:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Seeing and believing
A word to the children

OLD TESTAMENT 1 Samuel 16:1-13 David is chosen to succeed Saul
[PSALM 23 The Lord in my shepherd]
EPISTLE Ephesians 5:8-14 Live as children of light
GOSPEL John 9:1-41 Neither this man nor his parents sinned

HYMN Your words to me are life and health TIS 430 AHB 337

SERMON

HYMN Lord, we are blind TIS 633 AHB 563

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work;
for our families, friends and neighbours, and for those who are alone.
For this community, our country, and the world;
for all who work for justice, freedom and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
for those who minister to the sick, the friendless and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
for all who proclaim the gospel, and for all seek the truth.
For the Uniting Church in Australia,
for James, president of the Assembly,
for ...., Moderator of the Synod,
and for ... , Chairperson of Presbytery, and ...., Presbytery Minister,
for elders and members of the parish council,
and for all who hold office in this congregation;
for all who serve God in the church.
For our own needs, and for others for whom you have called us to pray.
[Silence]
Hear us, Lord
for your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of life.
[Silence]
We exalt you, O God our king;
and praise your name for ever and ever.
We give thanks for all those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for the promise of your eternal kingdom.
[Silence]
In Christ you have called us to eternal glory;
to you be praise for ever and ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Let us pray (that our human weakness may be transformed into God's strength):
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Christ is the world's light TIS 246 AHB 191

WORD OF MISSION
For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Let your light so that even the blind may see.

BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

| DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

| DBHome | Christian Beliefs | Family History | Public Affairs | Higher Ed Research | Hobbies and Interests | Issues in the UCA | Personal Background | Psychological Research | Templestowe UC | Worship and Preaching |