“Water for Our Souls”

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Bulletin: March 19, 2023

Newsletter: March 19-26, 2023

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:4-7; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:15-17; 24-41

Songs:

Introit: Lamb of God (songwriter live, background, contemporary cover)
Christ Be Our Light (lyrics, video, large congregation)
Beneath the Cross of Jesus (lyrics & melody, video)
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (background, Dance, harp, choir)
Response: Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer (lyrics, Getty video)

Joel Russell-MacLean

This is God’s invitation to everyone and the focus of Lent:

We are all invited to return to God; to come home.

We are all invited to draw closer to the heart of our creator, whether it be for the first time or the thousandth time. Throughout the Sundays of Lent, we will look at various Scripture stories that invite us to return to our Lord.

This week, our scripture lessons tease those of us who are sighted and think we can see everything clearly. The sighted people in both stories failed to recognize,” to see”, the person standing before them. In fact, in the Gospel lesson, it is a man born blind who recognizes that God the Father is at work through Jesus.

We do not know as much as we think we do, and those who are sighted do not see as much as we think we see. In Lent, we humble ourselves and admit our limitations. What we know and perceive is a gift, it is all due to God’s grace. If we want to know God, we need God’s help.

Today is the fourth Sunday in Lent, a season to prepare ourselves for the coming of Easter and to help us see the hardships of life and even our death in the context of the resurrection and life everlasting. Lent is a season of 40 days plus 6 Sundays to prepare our hearts for the realities of Jesus going to the cross, in all its significance. For some, this may be the first opportunity to observe Lent. For others, this may be very familiar.

From Fear to Love – Lenten Devotional

To supplement our Sunday services, we are also inviting everyone to join us in reading a short daily devotional by Henri J.M. Nouwen entitled From Fear to Love.

If you have not picked up a copy, it’s not too late to join in as we seek to collectively encourage one another to draw closer to the heart of our amazing and loving God.