BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
March 20, 2022
Lenten 2022 Theme: “The Way of Being”
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Gathering: Fairest Lord Jesus – Voices United #341
Duet: Ellen & Bernice Nov 2020
Bill & Nora McGee In memory of loved ones
1 Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God to earth come down:
thee will I cherish, thee will I honour,
thou my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
2 Fair are the meadows,
fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
who makes the troubled heart to sing.
3 Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
and fair the twinkling, starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.
4 All fairest beauty heavenly and earthly,
wondrously, Jesus, is found in thee;
none can be nearer, fairer or dearer
than thou, my Saviour, art to me.
Arr © 1958 Stewart Landon, Words 1677 German Crusader’s Hymn, Music 1842 Silesian Folk Melody
Song #1050509 & 97906 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Welcome & Centering for Worship
Rev. Kim Vidal
Good day everyone! My name is Rev. Kim Vidal and on behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Third Sunday in Lent with the theme of “Being Truthful”. We are glad that you have joined us today.
We have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship service at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated and still being mindful of the health protocols like masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.
A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org. Please take note of the many opportunities to participate and offer your support to the various Lenten initiatives: the Lenten SOSA appeal to support FAMSAC; Hymn-Sing and Memorial Flowers to remember your loved ones. Details are posted in the announcements.
Friends, let us take this moment to reflect what truth God is calling us to embrace in this season of Lent. Let us now worship together in spirit and in truth.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Acolyte: Elly Crow, Conor Morris & Cian
Christ candle, burning bright,
Guiding our way in this season of Lent.
Christ candle, glowing light,
The blessing of God, giving new sight.
Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid - More Voices #90
Susan Feb 2021
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.
Words © 1995 John Bell & Graham Maule; Music © 1995 John Bell, IONA GIA Pub
Song # 98424 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
*Call to Gather (Responsively)
Erin Berard
God will surprise us with kindness.
Our lives will be carried beyond the horizons of
human mercy and enrich us with overflowing love.
Pause, turn around on the Lenten road and see a new reality.
On this road we may find in faith, the gifts of God through Christ.
Then in celebration we will refresh the world,
with generosity beyond the ordinary.
Let us worship the God of second chances.
Prayer of Confession (In Unison)
Erin
In this season of Lent when we contemplate the path Jesus walked,
let us join together to seek God in confession. Let us pray together:
There are times when we do not walk in God’s ways,
when we do not grow the way God wants.
Sometimes our actions do not help others to grow:
we laugh at them, we put them down, we are mean.
Sometimes we hurt people by telling them that
bad things “are God’s will” and making them feel worse.
Sometimes we give up on others,
and write them off as bad, useless, hopeless, worthless.
Sometimes we reject the care that God offers us:
we think we can grow without Jesus,
without the guidance of God who lovingly prunes us and guides our growth.
Forgive us, O God when we forget what you offer us.
Moment of Silence
Erin: Each of us is known to God, each of us is forgiven by God, each of us is made whole by God.
Praise be to our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen
Hymn: In the Bulb, there is A Flower - Voices United #703
BCUC Choir Feb 2021
Ian & Ruth Howes In loving memory of family and friend
1.In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
2.There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
3.In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Words and Music © 1986 Natalie Sleeth
Song #52456 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Storytime
Erin Berard
I’ve got some seeds here that I want to get started so they’ll be ready for the garden later this Spring. I’ve got some basil, peppers, and tomatoes.
What do I need to do to help these seeds grow?
Yes, water, sunshine and warmth, and soil for support and nutrients.
(plants some seeds in an egg carton with dirt and water)
They will need space to grow, too - they can’t be too crowded. I’ll have to thin them out by pulling up some of them so they don’t block the sun for the others, and allow them to grow to their full size.
In the parable for today, Jesus tells a story about a tree in a garden that wasn't making fruit. The owner of the garden wanted to get rid of it - it was just taking up space. The gardener, however, asks for more time - to give it another chance to do its job - to make fruits for people or animals to eat. Maybe the gardener wanted to give it extra water, or prune it differently, or give it more nutrients, or find a way to give it more or less sun.
What if we imagine we were like fruit trees or bushes (I'd be a raspberry - yum! What about you?) But seriously, we don’t make real fruit for people and animals to eat… what could we produce or make for other people… How about love, kindness, peace, patience…. Those sound like the kind of things God would want us to do.
So what do we need to grow and be the best we can be? Good food, water, a home, for sure. What about loving adults - parents, grandparents, teachers, babysitters? Loving caregivers, like the gardener in the story, tend to us, guide us, and help us to grow. God is also helping and encouraging us all the time, just like God helps trees to grow good fruit.
I love that in this story, the gardener doesn’t give up when the tree doesn’t do exactly as it is supposed to. We’re all still learning and God and those around us can give us a chance to be forgiven and try again when we’re not at our best.
Let us pray:
Loving God, you have blessed us with a beautiful world, food to eat, and opportunities to learn and grow. Thank you for those around us who nurture and care for us in body, mind, and soul.
Help us to share our fruits - kindness, patience, gentleness - with all those we meet.
Amen
Hymn: There is Room for All – More Voices #62
BCUC Choir May 2021
English:
There is room for all
in the shadow of God’s wing;
there is room for all, sheltered in God’s love.
And I rejoice and sing,
“My refuge and my rock, in whom I trust.”
There is room for all, there is room for all!
French:
Chacun a sa place
á l'abri sous l'aile de Dieu;
Chacun a sa place en l'amour de Dieu.
De joie, je chanterai:
"Mon refuge en lequel je me confie”.
Chacun a sa place, chacun a sa place.
Words and Music © 2004 Bruce Harding evensong.ca French © 2006 David Fines
Song # 127055 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Prayer for Illumination (In Unison)
Reader: Ellen Boynton
God of plenty and of open doors,
you feed the deep places in our spirits
and speak the words that evoke turning for the good.
Send your Spirit to illuminate us with your Word of Life. Amen.
The Reading: Luke 13: 1-9 (NRSV) Repent or Perish
13 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
May God’s Love and Wisdom dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “Being Truthful”
Rev. Kim
Prayer: Create in us a clean heart, O God,
so that your Word may renew and transform us in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Why do people suffer?”
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
“Where is God in these situations?”
The Rev. William Sloane Coffin was senior minister of Riverside Church in New York City, when his son Alex was killed in a tragic car accident. Alex was driving in a terrible storm; he lost control of his car and careened into the waters of Boston Harbor. Rev. Coffin thanked all the people for their messages and acts of condolence. But he also got upset at those who had hinted that Alex's death was God's will. "I knew the anger would do me good," he said. "Do you think it was God's will that Alex never fixed that lousy windshield wiper...that he was probably driving too fast in such a storm? Do you think it was God's will that there were no street lights along that stretch of the road and no guard rail separating the road and Boston Harbor? The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is, 'It is the will of God.' Rev. Coffin closed his homily with these words: “My own consolation lies in knowing that when the waves closed over the sinking car, God's heart was the first of all hearts to break.”
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is being pulled into a conversation about two tragic stories in Galilee - two events that were probably familiar to first century people. The first one was a politically sanctioned murder, of how Pilate ordered Roman soldiers to murder some Galileans in the temple alongside their animal sacrifices. This act was not only offensive and revolting, but also sacrilegious and ungodly. The second one is a random accident of 18 construction workers who were crushed when the Tower of Siloam fell on them. Jesus’ questions were direct: “Do you think those Galileans who were killed under the hands of Pilate were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Do you think the labourers were worse sinners than those whose lives were spared from the crash?” Jesus went on to say that just because people suffer a nasty, horrible death does not mean they were worse sinners than anybody else. He reminded his hearers that they should not think for one moment that the murdered Galileans and the victims in Siloam were responsible for their fate… any more than those who died in Ukraine or those who died and are still suffering from the COVID pandemic or those in tragic car accidents. Jesus implies that the victims did nothing wrong, nothing that caused their deaths. Both events tell the truth that our human life is unsteady, imperfect and short.
I grappled with two theological issues from this text. One is the understanding of sin and sinfulness, and two, the connection between suffering and punishment. The common understanding of sin at the time of Jesus was that of a cause and effect. Most people in those times believed that when tragedy strikes, it was a punishment from God because of human sinfulness. They believed that good things happen to good people. And when bad things happen, it is the result of the person’s sinfulness or alienation from God. Instead of saying that the Galileans were murdered because they were seen as posing a threat to the existing regime, people think they were killed because they must have done something terrible to anger God. What about those who were crushed by the tower? Instead of looking at construction mishaps, people say it was time for them to die. This was the conventional wisdom in Jesus’ time, and I know some of us today have the same line of thinking. However, Jesus implies that we must not equate tragedy with divine punishment.
We in the modern world are not far from the ancient people in interpreting tragic news. Those murdered school children? Well, it happened because we’ve banned prayers in schools. Those two towers that collapsed in New York City on Sept. 11? Oh - it was God’s punishment on a corrupt and immoral society. Those people who died from the fire? That must be their fate. If someone is ill, if someone dies, or if someone suffers, some of easily point fingers at God – to explain the situation as “God’s will” or “God’s turning away from us” or even “the absence of God” in our lives. We often conclude that sufferings are God’s punishment. But I disagree with this view – do you? Jesus says, “no.” That’s not how this works. The sun continues to shine and the rain falls on both the just and the unjust.
You may or may not agree with me, but I believe that suffering is caused by our human condition. We make bad choices that lead to our own failures. We are a flawed humanity. We are not perfect – and so is the world we live in. In addition, there are natural disasters and tragedies beyond our human control. Suffering is not a form of punishment. Suffering comes to us because we make choices irresponsibly or because of things beyond our control. Suffering is also caused by personal and systemic sins. The murderous acts of terror – as well as those horrific actions of today’s tyrants that we read about in the news – are sins that alienate us from God’s love. Sin has consequences, and there are all kinds of bad behaviour that contribute to much of the misery in the world, and the more we can stand up and confront these sins, whether personal or systemic, the less suffering there will be.
Jesus taught his listeners this profound truth: “unless you repent, you too will perish.” I think Jesus doesn’t mean to say that if you do not change or turn around or transform from your evil ways and turn to God, that you’ll stop breathing or physically die. I think what Jesus was trying to say here is that if you do not repent, you will never experience the fullness or abundance of life God has in store for all of us. Matt Skinner calls it “the destruction of one’s soul.” One can never be satisfied and content with what one has. They will always be consumed by emptiness or restlessness, or bitterness, anger, fear or anxiety.
Despite the fact that life sometimes may appear to be tragic and harsh, Jesus is calling us to a transformed life - to repent from embracing doctrines or ideologies that teach of a God who punishes and sends violence, tragedy, illness and death to people and the whole of creation; to repent from pointing fingers at someone for your own mistakes and wrongdoings; to repent of believing that retribution is accepted to get even; to repent of one’s acts that harm others. Jesus calls us to repent. To turn around. To change for the better.
Unless we are about the truth that leads to change, we’re just going in circles, unproductive and fruitless, like the fig tree in the parable Jesus told his followers. The fig tree was not doing what it’s supposed to do. It does not produce fruits. The owner’s response to the tree’s lack of productivity is to cut it down. But the gardener, full of hope and compassion, stood up for the tree. The gardener begged the owner to give the tree another year to live. A second chance. A year of reprieve, a year of grace. It is limited time, but it is a time to turn around, to heal and to grow. With good loving care, the gardener knows that it’s worth the wait.
How do we interpret this parable? What if the owner is not God but those of us who value productivity the most? Those who take rigid rules seriously? Those who measure human value by good works and achievements? The vineyard owner is one who measures human value by how good people are, if they are following all the rules, if they are doing what they are supposed to do? Or those that do not meet the owner’s standards. It is this kind of owner that sees an unproductive tree and demands that it be cut off.
The gardener could be God or Jesus or the practitioners of unconditional love that proclaims the value of the fig tree not in terms of the fruits or works or accomplishments - but hopes in good faith that this tree, once given a second chance, might turn around and bear fruit.
I believe the fig tree is all of us. Sometimes we are unproductive, malnourished or unable or unwilling to nourish others. Other times we are achievers, we bear fruit. Sometimes we feel helpless or hopeless, ignored or dismissed. Sometimes we feel on top of the world and ready to take another step. Sometimes we mess up. Other times we are OK. The gardener steps forward and challenges the opportunistic owner to quit his judgmental character and offer the fig tree a second chance, another season, another year, some more space to begin again.
Jesus is saying through this parable that in the midst of tragedy or unfortunate events, don’t blame the victims of violence, the victims of hunger, the victims of poverty, the victims of grief, the victims of suffering. Don’t try to explain away the tragedy by blaming it on God or on others. Instead, Jesus wants us to repent. That is the truth of this difficult gospel.
Dear friends, we have heard some basic truths as people of faith. Many of us do not bear the fruit in our lives we would like to bear. But take heart. There is still time to turn our lives around. Why not make this your commitment in this season of Lent? It’s never too late. Your second chance is awaiting your response. Amen.
Sources:
BCUC Lectionary Group; Inspired by the commentaries, sermons and reflections of Barbara K. Lundblad, Bill Coffin, David R. Henson, and Alyce Mackenzie, Debie Thomas and Matt Skinner.
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Kim
God of us all, as the winter season changes to spring, help us to remember to look beyond our own busy-ness to both the beauty and the needs around us.
Jesus challenges us to look at the world with new eyes, to put our egos aside and consider the deeper meaning of repentance to which you call each of us, as we strive to become the people you need us to be, in the world as you envisioned it:
We pray: For BCUC that we may listen and pay attention to one another, particularly to those in need, and that this church be an example of love lived out in the world.
We pray: For greater awareness, that we may recognize our common humanity in spite of differences in race or culture, or status, and that we strive to accompany one another along the journey of life.
We pray: For a spirit of truth and humility, that we may recognize all our gifts as gifts from God, gifts to be used and shared. And we pray that we may recognize our need for one another in our quest to become our fullest selves.
We pray: For a clearer recognition of healthy and unhealthy ambitions, that we may be aware of the motivations that stir our hearts, and respond to those that lead us closer to God and toward greater wholeness in ourselves, our communities, and the world.
We pray: For the people in Ukraine as they seek to find refuge in this time of war. We ask for your spirit of peace to prevail and to embrace them in your love. For the protesting people in Russia who are not in favour of this war, for their voices to be heard. For the world leaders to find solutions to stop this war in the name of peace and the freedom to live.
For the poor and powerless in our society, that we may hear their voices, understand their pain, and humbly walk alongside them through life’s challenges, that we use our privilege to empower others rather than to lift ourselves.
We pray: For healing and strength, that the Good News of Jesus may bring hope to the sick and strength to those who care for them. We pray especially for those in our faith family who are facing illness, injury, and grief. Let them feel the love with which we hold them.
We pray: For all of the burdens in our hearts, voiced or held in silent thought, and through these ancient words we repeat together with followers of Jesus throughout the world...
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
(With inspiration from Joe Milner, St. Louis University, https//liturgy.sluhostedsites.org and Rev. Lorrie Lowes)
Invitation to Offer
Rev. Kim
God’s love has always been abundant, in every age. We are grateful to a generous and loving God for every sign of new life. We come together to thank God and to offer our gifts so that the ministry of this church will continue to grow and be a blessing to the world.
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer (In Unison)
Holy One, accept these gifts we offer as a token and a symbol of
the offering of ourselves in Christ’s service. May all that we offer of
ourselves and our resources, be acceptable, and blessed by you,
Gracious God. Amen
Sending Forth
Rev. Kim
As you walk through the world,
look up, look out, look all around,
seeking those who need love;
love that you may show them,
love by which they may know of God’s love.
We are called to be God’s people.
Let us follow in love, hope and trust. Amen.
Hymn: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love - Voices United #593
TeGrot family Nov 2020
Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.
1. Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them. R
2. Neighbours are rich and poor,
varied in colour and race,
neighbours are near and far away. R
3. These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love,
all are neighbours to us and you. R
4. Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet,
this is the way we should live with you. R
Words & Music Arr. © 1969 Tom Colvin Ghanaian Folk Song Hope Pub.
Song #00047 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Departing Music: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling – Voices United #333
Choir Mar 2022
Desna Sulway In honour of Vernon’s Life
1. Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart.
2. Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all thy grace receive.
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
3. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
Words: 1747 Charles Wesley & Music 1831 Rowland Pritchard.
Song #84255 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved