Scripture lessons for March 22

The communion table at Buckfast Abbey.

 
Our Lenten worship series brings us next Sunday to Maundy Thursday. Our lessons will be taken from 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 and Matthew 26:20-30.

Bulletin for March 15

“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light.”          – Ephesians 5:8 (CEB)

Call to Worship – Psalm 24:3-6 (CEB)

Who can ascend the LORD’s mountain? Who can stand in God’s holy sanctuary? Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart; the one who hasn’t made false promises, the one who hasn’t sworn dishonestly. That kind of person receives blessings from the LORD and righteousness from the God who saves. And that’s how things are with the generation that seeks God—that seeks the face of Jacob’s God.

Hymn: “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” #381

Prayer: May God, who comes to us in the things of this world, bless your eyes and be in your seeing. May Christ, who looks upon you with deepest love, bless your eyes and widen your gaze. May the Spirit, who perceives what is and what may yet be, bless your eyes and sharpen your vision. May the Sacred Three bless your eyes and cause you to see. Amen. – © Jan L. Richardson. 

Gloria Patri: #70 

Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 26:20-25

Hymn: “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” #301

Gospel Lesson: John 12:1-8

Sermon: “A Traitor in Our Midst”

Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” #297

Choral Amen

No worship service tomorrow

Due to the blizzard warnings covering southern Minnesota tonight and tomorrow, the decision has been made to cancel the worship service for tomorrow morning. 

Please visit this blog tomorrow morning to see the bulletin with links to the hymns and scripture readings.

Bishops name US Regional Conference organizers

Planning is officially underway for the U.S. Regional Conference — a new decision-making body never seen before in The United Methodist Church.

The Council of Bishops on March 13 announced the 25 United Methodists from across the United States who now have the task of organizing the regional conference’s first meeting . 

The committee also will include three advisers from the Africa, Europe and the Philippines — selected by their respective regional bodies — who will ensure a global perspective in the planning. 

Read more at this link.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

John Wesley at The New Room in Bristol

"A poor wretch cries to me for alms: I look and see him covered with dirt and rags. But through these I see one that has an immortal spirit, made to know, and love, and dwell with God to eternity. I honour him for his Creator’s sake. I see through all these rags, that he is purpled over with the blood of Christ. I love him for the sake of his Redeemer. The courtesy, therefore, which I feel and show toward him is a mixture of the honour and love which I bear to the offspring of God; the purchase of his Son’s blood, and the candidate for immortality."

John Wesley (“On Pleasing All Men”, Works, VII: 145).

Scripture lessons for March 15

Church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna

We continue to make our way through the days of Holy Week next Sunday with a focus on the events of Holy Wednesday. 

Our lessons will come from Matthew 26:20-25 and John 12:1-8.

Joint Ecumenical Statement on the Widening Conflict in the Middle East

The World Council of Churches, Middle East Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council, Mennonite World Conference, Christian Conference of Asia, and ACT Alliance join in expressing their deep concern regarding the humanitarian and social impacts of the widening conflict in the Middle East, and the threat it poses to the peace and security of the region and the world. Having endured many years of complex political, economic and social challenges, the people of Iran—numbering more than 92 million—now face the immediate threats of the current conflict, and a very uncertain future.

Read more at this link.