Bulletin – Sunday, March 15, 2026 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 15, 2026
Fourth Sunday in Lent

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Tennebrae # 4

One:   Today is a day of rest. God invites us to let go of our worries and our anxieties. There will be enough this week for each of us to handle. God provides us reprieve from the heavy burdens we carry. No matter where you are in your life – relieved about what you have accomplished or concerned about what still needs to be done — Let us hand it over to God. Whatever is true for you right now, in this moment, be it joy or sadness, gratitude or worry, let it be and let God share it with you. God will hold what we offer and take and carry the load for us. For God is with us in these moments. God meets us where we are and calls us moment by moment to new life. God guides us slowly and surely to an endearing relationship where we can fully trust and find peace. Thanks be to God.

(Silent Time)

One:   As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness and pain caused by the lack of basic needs for all – a lack of food, of shelter, of education, of healthcare, or love.

(A candle is extinguished)

One:   Let us pray
All:      Loving God, we thank you that you are with us, and that we may call upon you no matter where we are and what we are feeling. Keep us mindful of your presence and trusting in your promise – We know you are working with us in the moment – by – moment unfolding of your grace into our lives. Amen.

Minute Person

Announcements

Call to Worship

When we gather in your name open to your transforming word, your life poured out in song, embodying the Holy Spirit we are empowered to love. To be your agents of transformation in the world today, a source of love for one another. Nurture and feed us as we open our hearts and mind to you now in humility and with gratitude, we pray. Amen.

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Come, Let Us to the God of Love” (Voices United #653)

Come, let us to the God of love with contrite hearts return:
Our God is gracious, nor will leave the desolate to mourn.

God’s voice commands the tempest forth, and stills the stormy wave;
And though God’s arm be strong to smite, ’tis also strong to save.

Long has the night of sorrow reigned, the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise with gladness at that sight.

As dew upon the tender herb diffusing fragrance round,
As showers that usher in the spring and cheer the thirsty ground.

So shall God’s presence bless our souls and shed a joyful light,
That hallowed morn shall chase away the sorrows of the night.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

One:   God of Love and Assurance
All:      Remind us that we are perfect just as we are flawed and broken, blessed and gifted

One:   God of Justice and Equity
All:      Show us how to be greater advocates of your grace in a world that groans for redemption

One:   God of Compassion and Care-giving
All:      Fill us up when we are empty that we can care for one another Putting aside pride show us how to live vulnerable lives open to your spirit

Words of Assurance

Julian of Norwich once said: Between God and the soul there is no in between. God grant us the sight to see how your grace is alive in us. To see that no matter what even in the darkest times or even when there is much joy and gladness in our hearts. You are with us bringing spiritual healing and bodily transformation that we might know your love and comfort always.

Sung Response – “How Deep the Peace” (More Voices #95)

How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “The Lord’s My Shepherd” (Voices United #747)

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me,
The quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for his own name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For though art with me; and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me,
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Readings

The first scripture reading is from the book of Psalms 23

¹ God is my shepherd, I shall not want. ² She makes to lie down in green pastures;

and leads me beside still waters; ³ my soul is restored God leads me on the right path for God’s names sake

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

The Second Scripture Reading is from the Gospel of John 9:1-41

¹ As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷ saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. ⁸ The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” ¹² They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴ Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. ¹⁷ So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

¹⁸ The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹ and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰ His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹ but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³ Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

²⁴ So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” ²⁵ He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” ²⁶ They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” ²⁷ He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” ²⁸ Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” ³⁰ The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. ³² Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” ³⁴ They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” ³⁸ He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. ³⁹ Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” ⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Sermon

Anthem – “Jesus Teach Me”

Jesus, teach me what I need to know.
Guide and lead me where I need to go.
In everything I say and do, teach me how to love like You.

Shine Your heavenly light.
Touch me and open my eyes.
As I go through the day, Lord, let me follow Your way.

Jesus, teach me what I need to know.
Guide and lead me where I need to go.
In everything I say and do, teach me how to love like You.

Lord, the sound of Your voice fills me with comfort and joy.
Now I know I must start listening with all of my heart.

Jesus, teach me what I need to know.
Guide and lead me where I need to go.
In everything I say and do, teach me how to love,
Teach me how to love, teach me how to love like You.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Sung Response – “These Lenten Gifts We Bring”

These Lenten gifts we bring,
Our living faith expressed,
We offer them, most lovingly,
And thus our hearts are blessed.

O loving God receive
These gifts we gladly give,
That show our faith and hope and trust;
Your way we seek to live.

Offering Prayer

Generous God, we offer you a portion of what you have given us. Gifts that care for those relegated to the margins by systems too heavy to bear, gifts to support our partners here and throughout the world. Bless what we give for your purpose of the world’s transformation. Amen.

Prayers of the People

We are a world that is desperate for you, God.

When powers struggle for dominance, and war, oppression and abuse result; when groups of people oppose one another because of ideology, religion or culture; we need a God who is bigger than ourselves, and our personal interests.

When people are disregarded and devalued because of poverty, geography or disease; when compassion and justice is withheld to some because of sexuality, race or gender; we need a Saviour who is more compassionate than we are who includes even those we would exclude.

When resources are mismanaged and abused, and the world and its creatures are destroyed; when motivation is scarce and creativity is in short supply to address the challenges that we face; we need a Spirit who is more powerful and more creative than we could ever be.

Lord God, Loving Saviour, Empowering Spirit, we offer you these prayers because we need you so desperately. We pray for those in our faith community who we pray for in our hearts and those who we name this morning:…

Captivate us, call us, and fill us, that we may be carriers of your eternal life to this world that you love so dearly. Amen.

(adapted from John van de Laar: 2008 Sacredise.com)

Invitation to the Passing of the Peace

I invite you now to pass the Peace of Christ to each other as you are comfortable.

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

One:   Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: Our Creator who is like…
All:      Our Mother and 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 trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Christ, You Made the Blind Man See”

Christ, you made the blind man see; with some mud you healed his eyes.
So you acted lovingly, bringing health and changing lives.
Yet it was a Sabbath Day; rules were all that some folks saw;
They were quick to scorn the way you put love before the Law.

Christ, you came to judge the earth, bringing truth and life and light,
Showing humble ones their worth, giving vision, bold and bright.
Those who proudly think they see are the ones who often find
Though they act quite boastfully, they, in fact, are really blind.

God, we pray that we will be people filled with light and grace.
Show us what we need to see in this culture, time and place:
We are called to be your light, telling how you’ve changed us here.
Love can make the darkness bright; faith in you makes all things clear.

Commissioning

May God be with you in your challenges and in your celebrations, in your laughter and in your pain, in your sorrow and in your joy may you know God is with you. Go into the world, this week, sustained by God’s loving embrace of all you are God’s merciful presence like a light on your path in all you do.

Benediction

Strengthened and fed, may God’s love give us hope and strength for our journey. The courage of Christ’s risen spirit empower us, singing with joy of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Let us go rejoicing in God’s never-ending love for all creation. Amen.

Sung Response – “May the Christ Who Walks on Wounded Feet”

May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
Travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet
And may all you meet see Christ’s face in you.