Third Sunday In Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
I Hunger And I Thirst (CBH474)
Let's Sing Unto The Lord (CBH55, UM149)
What Wondrous Love Is This (CBH530, PH85, UM292)
Creator God, Creating Still (NCH278)
Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken (PH446, UM731)
Soul, Adorn Thyself With Gladness (CBH473)
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say (CBH493)
Fill My Cup, Lord (UM641)
Anthems
Desert Song, Robert Kreutz, SATB
Look Around!, Helen Kemp, Unison/2--part
Two Rainstick Pieces, Hubert, CG
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 95)
Leader: Come, let us sing to our God. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
People: Let us come into God's presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise!
Leader: Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before God, our Creator.
People: For we are the people of God's pasture, and the sheep of God's hand. We come today to listen for God's voice.
Call to Confession
We say that God is our rock and redeemer, but we often don't act like we believe it. Let us come before God during this Lenten season, pouring our hearts out together. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
Loving and faithful God, don't you get tired of us calling out to you, "We're thirsty. Give us a drink. We need more. We're worried. Are you really there? Prove it - give us what we think we need and what we want." Forgive us, God. We are a fearful people - and there is so much of which to be afraid. There's war, and the economy, and people out there who don't look or act like us. They frighten us. Sometimes we then frighten those we love because we're so frightened. Help us, God. Show us the way, and help us to know that you are steadfast in your love for us and faithful in your everlasting presence. Give us courage to face our demons, whatever and wherever they may be. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
In his letter to the Romans, Paul says, "Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Exodus 17:1--7 and John 4:5--42 have the commonality of the phrase, "Give me a drink of water," and the theme of people thirsting for God and yet not trusting. Both passages lend themselves well to story. The Exodus passage may be read as a litany between a Narrator, Moses, Yahweh, and the Congregation. The John passage is perfect to be presented as drama.
Exodus 17:1--7
Pastor or Narrator: From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as Yahweh commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said,
Congregation: Give us water to drink.
Narrator: Moses said to them,
Moses: (Dressed in biblical costume, standing in the middle of the main aisle) Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?
Narrator: But the people thirsted there for water,
Women: We thirst.
Children/Youth: We're thirsty.
Narrator: And the people complained against Moses and said,
Men: Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?
Narrator: So Moses cried out to Yahweh,
Moses: What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.
Narrator: Yahweh said to Moses,
Yahweh: (Standing behind altar in contemporary clothing) Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; (Moses asks leaders of the congregation to join him and begins moving forward to chancel area, carrying a staff) take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. (Moses hits large rock in center of chancel)
Narrator: Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested Yahweh, saying,
Congregation: Is Yahweh among us or not?
John 4:5--42
Leave large rock in center of chancel. Move well (with sign on it, "Jacob's Well," perhaps created by the children) next to large rock. Characters: Jesus, several Disciples, Samaritan Woman, eight to ten Samaritans, sitting in the middle of the congregation.
(Jesus comes up to well, looking hot and tired, and sits down on the rock. After a few seconds Samaritan woman comes with a water jar to draw water. She does not look at Jesus)
Jesus: Give me a drink.
Samaritan Woman: (Looks up in surprise, and then back down) Why are you asking me, a woman from Samaria, for a drink? Jews and Samaritans don't like each other.
Jesus: If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.
Samaritan Woman: (Astonished) Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that "living" water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob (Points to sign), who gave us the well, and with his sons drank from it?
Jesus: Everyone who drinks of this water here will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty. The water I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.
Samaritan Woman: Sir, give me this water, so that I'll never be thirsty or have to keep coming here in the middle of the day to draw water.
Jesus: Go get your husband, and then come back here.
Samaritan Woman: (Looking embarrassed) I have no husband.
Jesus: You are right in saying, "I have no husband"; for you have had five husbands, the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.
Samaritan Woman: Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.
Jesus: (Stands up) Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (Comes out closer to the congregation) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. For God is spirit (Turns back toward woman), and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Samaritan Woman: I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.
Jesus: I am he, the one who is speaking to you.
(Disciples come up side aisle and see Jesus talking to a woman. Hurrying toward him, they are astonished, but say nothing. Woman leaves her water jar and moves down the center aisle to the center of congregation. Puts hand on several people as if to get them to come with her. She is excited)
Samaritan Woman: Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (Several people get up and go with her back up aisle slowly)
Disciples: (Offering bread) Rabbi, eat something.
Jesus: (Shakes head no) I have food to eat that you do not know about.
Disciples: (Looking at each other) Surely no one has brought him something to eat?
Jesus: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, "Four months more, then comes the harvest?" (Samaritans gather around, listening) I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.
One Samaritan: I believe in him because of what the woman told me.
Other Samaritans: Come, stay with us for a few days.
Second Samaritan: I believe in him because of what he tells us.
(Jesus and Disciples exit down center aisle)
Third Samaritan: (Speaks to Samaritan Woman) Now it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the whole world.
Benediction
Leader: God is your rock, and your salvation.
People: God keeps us from stumbling in our going out and coming in.
Leader: God be with you till we meet again.
People: We go with God, filled with reverence and joy.
I Hunger And I Thirst (CBH474)
Let's Sing Unto The Lord (CBH55, UM149)
What Wondrous Love Is This (CBH530, PH85, UM292)
Creator God, Creating Still (NCH278)
Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken (PH446, UM731)
Soul, Adorn Thyself With Gladness (CBH473)
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say (CBH493)
Fill My Cup, Lord (UM641)
Anthems
Desert Song, Robert Kreutz, SATB
Look Around!, Helen Kemp, Unison/2--part
Two Rainstick Pieces, Hubert, CG
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 95)
Leader: Come, let us sing to our God. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
People: Let us come into God's presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise!
Leader: Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before God, our Creator.
People: For we are the people of God's pasture, and the sheep of God's hand. We come today to listen for God's voice.
Call to Confession
We say that God is our rock and redeemer, but we often don't act like we believe it. Let us come before God during this Lenten season, pouring our hearts out together. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
Loving and faithful God, don't you get tired of us calling out to you, "We're thirsty. Give us a drink. We need more. We're worried. Are you really there? Prove it - give us what we think we need and what we want." Forgive us, God. We are a fearful people - and there is so much of which to be afraid. There's war, and the economy, and people out there who don't look or act like us. They frighten us. Sometimes we then frighten those we love because we're so frightened. Help us, God. Show us the way, and help us to know that you are steadfast in your love for us and faithful in your everlasting presence. Give us courage to face our demons, whatever and wherever they may be. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
In his letter to the Romans, Paul says, "Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Exodus 17:1--7 and John 4:5--42 have the commonality of the phrase, "Give me a drink of water," and the theme of people thirsting for God and yet not trusting. Both passages lend themselves well to story. The Exodus passage may be read as a litany between a Narrator, Moses, Yahweh, and the Congregation. The John passage is perfect to be presented as drama.
Exodus 17:1--7
Pastor or Narrator: From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as Yahweh commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said,
Congregation: Give us water to drink.
Narrator: Moses said to them,
Moses: (Dressed in biblical costume, standing in the middle of the main aisle) Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?
Narrator: But the people thirsted there for water,
Women: We thirst.
Children/Youth: We're thirsty.
Narrator: And the people complained against Moses and said,
Men: Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?
Narrator: So Moses cried out to Yahweh,
Moses: What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.
Narrator: Yahweh said to Moses,
Yahweh: (Standing behind altar in contemporary clothing) Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; (Moses asks leaders of the congregation to join him and begins moving forward to chancel area, carrying a staff) take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. (Moses hits large rock in center of chancel)
Narrator: Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested Yahweh, saying,
Congregation: Is Yahweh among us or not?
John 4:5--42
Leave large rock in center of chancel. Move well (with sign on it, "Jacob's Well," perhaps created by the children) next to large rock. Characters: Jesus, several Disciples, Samaritan Woman, eight to ten Samaritans, sitting in the middle of the congregation.
(Jesus comes up to well, looking hot and tired, and sits down on the rock. After a few seconds Samaritan woman comes with a water jar to draw water. She does not look at Jesus)
Jesus: Give me a drink.
Samaritan Woman: (Looks up in surprise, and then back down) Why are you asking me, a woman from Samaria, for a drink? Jews and Samaritans don't like each other.
Jesus: If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.
Samaritan Woman: (Astonished) Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that "living" water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob (Points to sign), who gave us the well, and with his sons drank from it?
Jesus: Everyone who drinks of this water here will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty. The water I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.
Samaritan Woman: Sir, give me this water, so that I'll never be thirsty or have to keep coming here in the middle of the day to draw water.
Jesus: Go get your husband, and then come back here.
Samaritan Woman: (Looking embarrassed) I have no husband.
Jesus: You are right in saying, "I have no husband"; for you have had five husbands, the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.
Samaritan Woman: Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.
Jesus: (Stands up) Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (Comes out closer to the congregation) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. For God is spirit (Turns back toward woman), and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Samaritan Woman: I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.
Jesus: I am he, the one who is speaking to you.
(Disciples come up side aisle and see Jesus talking to a woman. Hurrying toward him, they are astonished, but say nothing. Woman leaves her water jar and moves down the center aisle to the center of congregation. Puts hand on several people as if to get them to come with her. She is excited)
Samaritan Woman: Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he? (Several people get up and go with her back up aisle slowly)
Disciples: (Offering bread) Rabbi, eat something.
Jesus: (Shakes head no) I have food to eat that you do not know about.
Disciples: (Looking at each other) Surely no one has brought him something to eat?
Jesus: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, "Four months more, then comes the harvest?" (Samaritans gather around, listening) I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.
One Samaritan: I believe in him because of what the woman told me.
Other Samaritans: Come, stay with us for a few days.
Second Samaritan: I believe in him because of what he tells us.
(Jesus and Disciples exit down center aisle)
Third Samaritan: (Speaks to Samaritan Woman) Now it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the whole world.
Benediction
Leader: God is your rock, and your salvation.
People: God keeps us from stumbling in our going out and coming in.
Leader: God be with you till we meet again.
People: We go with God, filled with reverence and joy.
