Living Thankfully - The love just pours out

Phone +61 4 1934 9815 51 Creekstone Dr, Alfredton Vic 3350 Page 0 of 9 23C LENT 5 LITURGY CRESSYWARRION Living Thankfully – It just pours out Abstract Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 (NIV) Jim de Jong [Email address] Page 1 of 9 GOSPEL John 12:1–8 (NIV) 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” i For the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 2 of 9 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Living Thankfully – It just pours out SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022 | LENT 5C | YEAR C Old Testament Psalm New Testament Gospel Isaiah 43:16–21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b–14 John 12:1–8 ii John 12.1-8 Jesus spends time in the house of his friends. In an outpouring of thanks for raising her brother from the dead, Mary pours oil over Jesus’ feet and washes them with her hair. This act was an extravagant gesture that went against the social codes of the time. Judas’ indignation at the waste might reflect how many would have felt. When Jesus defends Mary, he is not promoting a disregard for the poor but highlighting the power of her gratitude. Today we explore being thankful to God, appreciating the big and little things that make life special, that make us feel alive and express our love to God. This week we explore living thankfully. Pre-Service Greeting May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ The Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all and also with you Introduction Aaron Copland - Simple Gifts Meister Eckhart once wrote: ‘If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you” that would be sufficient.‘ Today’s Gospel reading is the story of Martha, Mary and Lazarus who invited Jesus to a special meal to say thank you for bringing Lazarus back to life. Mary made it extra special by doing something extraordinary. It was so surprising, we are still talking about it today! Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 3 of 9 We Gather Call to worship Waking up this morning, we see a new day has dawned. Let us raise our hands in thanksgiving for the wonders of being alive, for the 24 brand-new hours in which we are now living, and the possibility of so many, many more. Acknowledgements We acknowledge the First people, the first inhabitants and custodians of this place from time beyond remembering. We acknowledge their elders, past, present, and emerging. We pledge to listen carefully to their stories and learn from their wisdom. At this time, we also pay our respects to all who continue the work of caring for this land and its communities. This is a time of worship in the presence of God. It is a safe place for all created in God’s image. A gathering prayer Invite people to be still and quiet for a while, consciously noticing their own breathing. Wonderful God, thank you for the sensations of sacred breath, your miraculous gift of life to each one of us. We lift our hearts to you. Our souls sing with joy. May we know your presence in all our challenges, and may our thankfulness pour out of our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Hymn/song TIS #162 – “Thank you for giving the morning” Welcome Lent 5 Today as we complete our Lenten journey We hear from John as looks at the conclusion of Jesus’ ministry. Today we read the extraordinary account of Mary’s anointing of Jesus, which set the stage for His coming sacrifice. In the weeks to come we will relive Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and His death. iii But today we sit back and consider how to express our thankfulness Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 4 of 9 And to consider what we can do so that it ‘rubs off’ on others. Prayer of approach Giving God, no money can buy your love, no words can adequately express our thanks, no actions can fully demonstrate our gratitude. But as we sing, as we pray, as we listen to your Word, we offer you our best, and celebrate your presence with us – now and each moment of every day. Amen. We say Sorry Please, forgive us, faithful God, when we fill the rooms we enter with negativity, not warmth. Forgive us, and bless us with love like that of Mary. Forgive us when we justify our reluctance to give and share. Forgive us, and bless us with love like that of Mary. Forgive us when we are slow to express gratitude, and take what we have for granted. Forgive us, and bless us with love like that of Mary. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Words of Assurance Ever-giving God, we sometimes close our hearts to you and to others; but your heart is always open, pouring out your grace and love, filling our lives with the fragrance of forgiveness and friendship, wiping away our fears and our regrets, and receiving the thanks we would offer you. May the trickle of our praise become a torrent, and may the whole world be filled with your truth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Readings John 12:1–8 respond For the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Hymn/Song TIS #703 – “As the deer pants” Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 5 of 9 Response Living Thankfully – It just pours out John 12:1–8 I remember my parent’s getting Readers Digest for years though I doubt if many were read. Even for me, if your carefully read the references at the end of my liturgies, you will often see attributions from old Readers Digests that the wordsmiths I use to data mine the internet find looking for short, wholesome illustrations find for me. Do you remember the letters that came with them trying to sell things. “You may have already won $10,000,000!” says a flyer. It was from one of those companies like Readers Digest. Surely everyone remembers getting them. Notice the clever wording. “You may have already won . . .” implying that it was a done deal . . . and you were the winner. I haven’t heard of Readers Digest for a few years now, but there seems to be many similar companies, still in business also selling magazines by promising major prizes to their winners. I’m not going to ask how many of you have ever returned one of their entry forms. Some of you are still probably receiving magazines that you first purchased years ago. Somehow in 1997, a church the Bushnell Assembly of God got on the mailing list of a magazine Publisher. Their computer somehow mistook the name of the church as a persons name, and a sweepstakes notice to the Bushnell Assembly of God in the town of Bushnell was addressed to “God of Bushnell” and was sent to the church address. The accompanying letter read like this, “Dear God, we’re searching for you. You’ve been positively identified as our $11,000,000 mystery millionaire!” I’ll bet God was excited about that! The letter went on to say, “What an incredible fortune there would be for God! Imagine the looks you’d get from neighbours. But don’t just sit there, God, come forward now and claim your prize now!” iv We’re not told if God returned the order form or not. Certainly, for most of us lowly humans, $11,000,000 would be a substantial prize. However, for God, I doubt that it would buy one tiny piece of pavement on the streets of gold. Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 6 of 9 May be for God, if we were truly thankful for living thankful for being alive in His creation it would be prize enough. There is another beautiful old story of love. it tells of a young poor couple that had no money to buy each other a Christmas present. The woman’s crowning glory is her beautiful long golden hair. So she goes out on Christmas Eve and sells it to buy a watch chain for her husband. When Jim comes home that evening, she admits to him that she has sold her hair to buy him the chain. The husband then shows his wife her present. He bought a set of ornamental combs for her hair by selling his pocket watch. She now, will be unable to use her set of ornamental combs until her hair grows back out. He will be unable to use the watch chain because he has sold it to buy her a gift. Although neither gift can be used, in these once-in-a-lifetime, sacrificial gifts the couple have recognised the preciousness of their relationship. Mary of Bethany pours onto Jesus’ feet fragrant oil worth an annual wage. The pound of ointment would have cost about 300 denarii. It’s high cost means it had likely been in Mary’s family for quite some time and was used only in small portions as a perfume on special occasions such as funerals. Jesus seems to confirm this. He seems to recognise that He will die soon. The anointing with precious nard is a once-in-a-lifetime action to express overwhelming gratitude for the restoration to life of her brother Lazarus, but also expresses thankfulness for her own friendship with Jesus. It costs a great deal in terms of its money value, but also in terms of the courage needed to do it in front of all the male disciples, and in the personal cost of making herself vulnerable with such an intimate gesture of love. Thanksgiving has always held a central place in Hebrew and Christian Scripture and traditions. In America, thanksgiving is an important festival day. In the UK and in Australia we often have celebrations for important family and personal events. Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 7 of 9 This afternoon we will come together to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, Though Charlotte will no doubt celebrate it as another birthday party for her. On such occasions we will bring family and maybe friends together to enjoy the food and festivities. It usually costs, sometimes not a lot! Celebration is a way of saying a big thank you for a blessing we don’t want to take for granted. Saying grace before a meal is a smaller, and for some people a daily, often public, ritual of thanksgiving. For others it is the pause in the daily routine maybe in the morning or as we go to bed at night to say thank you to God for the means of life and what it means to be alive. But to give thanks, shouldn’t be routine. it shouldn’t be automatic. it should be an expression of our heart-felt thanks for the gift we are receiving. And, as we do this, as we say our grace, our daily prayer of thanksgiving, our daily thank you to God for life, love and His creation; and It’s goodness, we often use words that make us mindful of those less fortunate those who go hungry, and we renew our intention to share our own blessings. The point is, being thankful, giving thanks and praying blessings and in a manner that might inspire others to do the same is a good and Godly way to live your life! Amen A prayer of praise and thanksgiving For the unselfconscious outpouring of Mary’s love: we praise you! For the generous receiving of her beautiful gift by Jesus: we praise you! For the opportunities we have to give to others: we praise you! For friends and family who give to us: we praise you! For your love and for the promise of eternal life: we praise you! Father, Son and Holy Spirit: we praise you! Amen. Hymn/song Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 8 of 9 TIS #717 – “Give thanks” Offering OFFERTORY SENTENCE: Let us now bring our gifts to God, and to express our love and concern for others. Our offering will now be received. v Offertory Prayer Gracious God, we give [thanks for] your great gifts to us by offering these gifts to you. Gifts of money, of time and talents, the gift of our lives. May they declare your praise in ways which sweeten lives with the love of Christ. Amenvi Notices Prayers for all people Let us pray for all who serve their neighbours: we remember those who put their lives at risk in providing emergency services ambulance, fire brigade, police, Lifesaving, medical, and others. Uphold and strengthen them, loving Lord. Let us pray for all who serve their neighbours: we remember those so often taken for granted those working in shops, cafes and restaurants. May they know that they are honoured and valued, generous God. Let us pray for all who serve their neighbours: we remember those who travel overseas to work for aid agencies and charities. Give them wisdom and compassion, gracious God. Let us pray for all who serve their neighbours: we remember those whom you call to serve you in the Church. May they be sustained by your unending love, anointing Lord. Hear our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Page 9 of 9 as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. AMENvii Hymn/song TIS # 726 – “I will give thanks to thee” We are sent out Amazing God, we are so thankful for the gift of being alive! May our thankfulness to you pour out in our actions, in our choices, in our dealings with other people, in all that we do. Amen. May the Lord bless us and keep us May His face shine upon us and be gracious to us May he lift up His countenance upon us and give us peace Benediction Thank you i The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 12:1–8. ii Revised Common Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009). Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 316.(Adapted from source) iii From a sermon by Alan Smith, Cruciform Church of Christ, Spring Lake, North Carolina, www.cruciformcoc.com. [Adapted for local understanding] iv v Words for Worship FW160313.DOC March 13, 2016 vi Moira Laidlaw Liturgies ABC, Lent 5C vii English Language Liturgical Consultation, 1988 Document Title: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion Document: 23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx Jim (J.W.) de Jong Revision Date:2/04/2022 Version #: 3.2 JdJ - C:\Users\jimde\JCT computing Dropbox\Church\RCL C\23C 03-Apr-2022 Lent 5\23C Lent 5 Liturgy Cressy-Warrion.docx I’m thankful to God today because __________________________ ___________________________________________________________. The person that I’m thankful for today is _____________________ ___________________________ because they __________________ ___________________________________________________________. The thing I’m thankful for today is ________________________ because __________________________________________________. Puzzle Fill in the blanks to help you think about what you are thankful for today. Mary was so thankful to Jesus she was happy to use up all her expensive perfume, washing his feet. During a meal when Jesus’ friend Mary poured expensive perfume over his feet to wash them, Judas is angry at the waste of money. But Jesus defends Mary, saying she has done a wonderful thing. John 12.1-8 Name My name I am thankful for... 3-9 April 2022 • Lent 5 © ROOTS for Churches Ltd Weekly worship and learning resources at www.rootsontheweb.com Write your name down the left-hand side of the space below and make each letter of your name the first letter of different things that you are thankful for. love Jesus pray peace glory grace pray love love pray grace peace glory love glory glory peace Write peace pray Jesus love grace grace pray grace grace love grace peace peace Draw the other people in this story sitting around the table. Show how they are feeling. Surprised? Angry? Amazed? Draw Activity sheet 3-9 April 2022 • Faith 24/7 It just pours out A note on the passage John 12.1-8 Jesus visits his friends – Mary, Martha and Lazarus – at Bethany. Mary anoints him with expensive perfume and Judas disapproves due to the waste of money. Jesus affirms Mary for her love and kindness. Mary makes an extravagant gesture of gratitude – possibly for Jesus’ raising of Lazarus. John makes clear that Judas’ plea for the poor is insincere, and Jesus affirms the importance of making gracious acts of love and thanksgiving. Now read John 12.1-8 see p.2 for text. 5 In this week’s Gospel story, Mary poured perfumed oil on Jesus’ feet as a sign of thanksgiving. Add something scented, perhaps a small amount of perfume, to your Hands-on Lent bowl as a reminder of how powerful saying ‘thank you’ can be. You don’t have to anoint each other’s feet on Easter Day (though, you could!), but perhaps the perfume will remind you to find a way to express your thanks to each other – and to God. How does this painting make you feel? What makes you glad to be alive? PULSE P INTS Make some fragrant oil, either by using olive oil and essential oil or simply by using fragrant herbs such as rosemary. Anoint your wrists – or in a group, each other’s – with the words: ‘May I/you be filled with the beauty of holiness.’ Make a list of your favourite smells. Without naming them, get someone to guess what they are, e.g. for a rose, you could mime picking a flower and smelling it, or for freshly-brewed coffee, you could mime sipping from a cup. Why are some smells so special? What do they evoke? E D A A C Y H Each time you use something that is fragranced (soap, shower gel, shampoo, washing-up liquid) think about its fragrance and put aside a coin. At the end of the week, give the money you have accrued to a charity that helps the poor, e.g. Christian Aid. See if you can persuade others in your household to do the same. Make your own scented candles. Herbs have their own language. For example, parsley represents gratitude, basil: love, rosemary: remembrance, thyme: courage, sage: wisdom, mint: virtue and oregano: joy. Use the herbs you have available as a prayer aid: spend time reflecting on the themes they represent. You will need: new wicks, which can be purchased at good craft stores or online. Collect old half-burnt candles and heatproof containers, such as jam jars. Carefully melt the wax in a saucepan. Measure the wick length so that it touches the bottom of each holder and stays straight. Tie the wick string around the middle of a pencil/skewer and balance it horizontally on top of the jam jar so that the wick is centred. Carefully pour the melted wax into the jam jar. Add essential oils as desired while the wax is molten. Place the filled candle holders onto a flat surface to cool. Faith 24/7 – Helping you to go with God this week. © ROOTS for Churches Ltd 2022 rootsontheweb.com • 1 It just pours out John 12.1-8 3-9 April 2022 Choose a version of the passage to read. The first is the ROOTS version for children, the second is the NRSV text which may be suitable for older children, young people and adults. T m, Jesus he night before he arrived in Jerusale he had recently stopped at Bethany. Lazarus, whom Mary and Martha, raised from the dead, and his sisters a special dinner. lived here. To welcome Jesus, they held g at the table, Lazarus and other guests were sittin ing food and serv eating with Jesus. Martha was busy e Mary with a jar drinks to everyone. Suddenly, in cam To everyone’s of very expensive sweet-smelling oil. red it gently over astonishment, she took the oil and pou n and wiped Jesus’ Jesus’ feet. Then she let her hair dow with the sweet feet with it. The whole house was filled smell of the perfume. ld later turn Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples who wou t happened. wha saw against him, was at the table and do that with such He said angrily to Mary, ‘Why did you and give the money expensive oil? Why did you not sell it h a year’s wages! to the poor instead? That oil was wort seem that Judas It should have been sold.’ (Now it may money he really cared about the poor, but it was the cared about. He was a thief. He kept the group’s money purse and would often steal from it.) Jesus did not agree with Judas. ‘Leave her alone,’ he replied. ‘Mary bought this oil for me, for the day of my burial. She was right to use it. The poo r will always be here with you, but I will not.’ John 12.1-8 Did you know? • Mary might have been thankful because Jesus raised her brother (Lazarus) from the dead. • Jesus wasn’t saying that we shouldn’t help the poor, but he knew Judas didn’t care about the poor and might keep the money for himself. Jesus was defending Mary’s act of thankfulness. John 12.1-8 (NRSV) Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume Faith 24/7 – Helping you to go with God this week. not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” © ROOTS for Churches Ltd 2022 rootsontheweb.com • 2