God's "X-ray" vision
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: The key contrast in this wonderful story of Samuel's anointing of David as God's hand-picked successor of Saul as king is contained in verse 7b, which declares that God's vision is very different from humanity's, in that the latter focuses on outward appearances, while God's "X-ray" eyes see the inner person: the heart, which is to say, the spirit. In the present case, God's first choice was Samuel's least likely candidate (and would have been ours as well).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
God is our shepherd: we shall not want!
People:
GOD GIVES US PLACES OF REST AND MEANS OF REFRESHMENT!
Leader:
God leads us beside living waters and restores our souls!
People:
GOD IS WITH US, AND WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE! HALLELUJAH!
Collect
Most wise God, you have the power to see into our souls and to know our true spirits. Bring us to a better knowledge of ourselves: that, our illusions and delusions dispelled, we may know our shortcomings and open ourselves to your salvation in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we confess with regret how consistently we avoid seeing ourselves and our fellow human beings for what we really are; how deliberately we rely on outward appearances; how successfully we fool ourselves and others into believing that we are leading happy, spiritual, and fulfilling lives; and how completely we thus ignore our need for your grace. Forgive us, we pray, and give us a measure of the power of your vision, which penetrates to the inner spirit and sees the real person, one yearning for your forgiveness and fulfillment. In the redeeming name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Ephesians 5:8-14
Theme:
Waking from darkness, walking in light
Exegetical note: This passage was probably a part of catechetical instructions for baptisands in the primitive Church; hence, the sharp contrasts (e.g. "once ... darkness, now ... light"), which may echo some dualistic cosmologies that were current (e.g., Zoroastrianism's). But Paul's message is clearly Christocentric: like the rising morning Sun, the Christ shines on those sleeping in darkness (i.e., death!) and makes them children of light, who should "walk" (i.e., act) accordingly.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
God is like a caring shepherd!
People:
GOD LEADS US IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Leader:
Christ Jesus is like the morning sun!
People:
HE WAKES US FROM THE SLEEP OF DEATH AND BIDS US TO WALK IN THE LIGHT!
Collect
Great God of light, you have wakened our spirits from dark nights and made our souls to walk in broad daylight. Shine brightly upon us: that, basking in your glorious Spirit, we may truly live as children of light, and sisters and brothers of the Light. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most radiant God, we humbly confess that we often live as though our spirits were captives of the darkness of sin rather than beings upon whom you have shed a new, divine light; and that our deeds bespeak evil, not goodness. Forgive us, O God, and bring us once again out of the shadows. Set us aglow with the brightness of the one true Light, Christ Jesus, and make us and all of our acts reflect his brilliance. In his name we pray. Amen
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 9:1-41
Theme:
Believing as seeing
Exegetical note: The miracle of the restoration of sight in this carefully-tailored narrative works at two levels: (1) at the literal, it is a mighty act that demonstrates the inbreaking of God's Reign and the identity of Jesus as the Messiah; and (2) at the figurative, it refers to the ability of this Christ to deliver people from spiritual blindness (as well as the capacity of some to choose blindness by rejecting him).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
Let us enter God's house!
People:
LET US SIT AT GOD'S TABLE!
Leader:
Let us feast on God's abundant food!
People:
LET US DRINK FROM GOD'S OVERFLOWING CUP!
Collect
God of wondrous miracles, you have relieved people of their infirmities throughout history. Heal now our spiritual blindness: that, the eyes of our souls made whole, we may at last set our sights on you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Holy and healing God, we confess with the deepest sorrow how intentionally and persistently blind we have been to your divine word and will for our lives, and how unrighteously and miserably we have lived as a result. Forgive us, we pray, restore to us our spiritual sight, and direct our vision thus renewed to the wonderful and inspiring image of your coming Kingdom, to the Christ who embodies it, and to the peace, hope, love, and justice that mark it as your new creation. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
God is our shepherd: we shall not want!
People:
GOD GIVES US PLACES OF REST AND MEANS OF REFRESHMENT!
Leader:
God leads us beside living waters and restores our souls!
People:
GOD IS WITH US, AND WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE! HALLELUJAH!
Collect
Most wise God, you have the power to see into our souls and to know our true spirits. Bring us to a better knowledge of ourselves: that, our illusions and delusions dispelled, we may know our shortcomings and open ourselves to your salvation in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we confess with regret how consistently we avoid seeing ourselves and our fellow human beings for what we really are; how deliberately we rely on outward appearances; how successfully we fool ourselves and others into believing that we are leading happy, spiritual, and fulfilling lives; and how completely we thus ignore our need for your grace. Forgive us, we pray, and give us a measure of the power of your vision, which penetrates to the inner spirit and sees the real person, one yearning for your forgiveness and fulfillment. In the redeeming name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Ephesians 5:8-14
Theme:
Waking from darkness, walking in light
Exegetical note: This passage was probably a part of catechetical instructions for baptisands in the primitive Church; hence, the sharp contrasts (e.g. "once ... darkness, now ... light"), which may echo some dualistic cosmologies that were current (e.g., Zoroastrianism's). But Paul's message is clearly Christocentric: like the rising morning Sun, the Christ shines on those sleeping in darkness (i.e., death!) and makes them children of light, who should "walk" (i.e., act) accordingly.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
God is like a caring shepherd!
People:
GOD LEADS US IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Leader:
Christ Jesus is like the morning sun!
People:
HE WAKES US FROM THE SLEEP OF DEATH AND BIDS US TO WALK IN THE LIGHT!
Collect
Great God of light, you have wakened our spirits from dark nights and made our souls to walk in broad daylight. Shine brightly upon us: that, basking in your glorious Spirit, we may truly live as children of light, and sisters and brothers of the Light. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most radiant God, we humbly confess that we often live as though our spirits were captives of the darkness of sin rather than beings upon whom you have shed a new, divine light; and that our deeds bespeak evil, not goodness. Forgive us, O God, and bring us once again out of the shadows. Set us aglow with the brightness of the one true Light, Christ Jesus, and make us and all of our acts reflect his brilliance. In his name we pray. Amen
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 9:1-41
Theme:
Believing as seeing
Exegetical note: The miracle of the restoration of sight in this carefully-tailored narrative works at two levels: (1) at the literal, it is a mighty act that demonstrates the inbreaking of God's Reign and the identity of Jesus as the Messiah; and (2) at the figurative, it refers to the ability of this Christ to deliver people from spiritual blindness (as well as the capacity of some to choose blindness by rejecting him).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 23)
Leader:
Let us enter God's house!
People:
LET US SIT AT GOD'S TABLE!
Leader:
Let us feast on God's abundant food!
People:
LET US DRINK FROM GOD'S OVERFLOWING CUP!
Collect
God of wondrous miracles, you have relieved people of their infirmities throughout history. Heal now our spiritual blindness: that, the eyes of our souls made whole, we may at last set our sights on you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Holy and healing God, we confess with the deepest sorrow how intentionally and persistently blind we have been to your divine word and will for our lives, and how unrighteously and miserably we have lived as a result. Forgive us, we pray, restore to us our spiritual sight, and direct our vision thus renewed to the wonderful and inspiring image of your coming Kingdom, to the Christ who embodies it, and to the peace, hope, love, and justice that mark it as your new creation. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen
