Opening Prayer
God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

<Silence>

Lord, you have always offered
Strength for the day
And though I feel weak
Today I believe.

Lord, you have always offered
Peace for the day
And though I am anxious
Today I believe.

Lord, you have always marked
The road for the coming day
And though it seem hidden
Today I believe.

Lord, you have always spoken
When time was ripe
And even if you seem silent now
Today I believe.

+ + +

A reading from St. Matthew’s account of Holy Week (Matthew 21:6-45)
The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

    “Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written,

“My house shall be called a house of prayer”;
  but you are making it a den of robbers.’

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’, they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read,

“Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
    you have prepared praise for yourself”?’

He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.’

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected
  has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
  and it is amazing in our eyes”?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

+ + +

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake
of your love. Amen.

<A time of prayer and reflection, silent or aloud.>

All: Lord Christ, we thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times you have called us together in the past and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your first disciples, be our companion on the way. May your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.

Cantilène Op. 29, N° 2 G. Pierné (1863-1937)

Jesus said, “The Gentiles’ rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it will not be so among you. Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Let us pray.

Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Grant that we may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

4 Who only does great wonders, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

5 Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

6 Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

7 Who created great lights, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

8 The sun to rule the day, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

9 The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

11 And brought out Israel from Egypt, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

12 With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

13 Who divided the Red Sea in two, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

16 Who led his people through the wilderness, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

17 Who struck down great kings, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

24 And delivered us from our enemies, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

25 Who gives food to all creatures, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

First Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens– wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Canticle
All: O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all their righteous offspring: You made the heavens and the earth, with all their vast array. All things quake with fear at your presence; they tremble because of your power.

But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; it surpasses all that our minds can fathom. O Lord, you are full of compassion, long-suffering, and abounding in mercy. You hold back your hand; you do not punish as we deserve. In your great goodness, Lord, you have promised forgiveness to sinners, that they may repent of their sin and be saved.

And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my wickedness only too well. 

Therefore I make this prayer to you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me. Do not let me perish in my sin, nor condemn me to the depths of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, and in me you will show forth your goodness. Unworthy as I am, you will save me, in accordance with your great mercy, and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.

For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.

Second Lesson: Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

1 Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
the King and Blessed One. 

2 The company of angels
is praising thee on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply. 

3 The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before thee we present. 

4 To thee before thy passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted,
our melody we raise. 

5 Thou didst accept their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King!

Matthew 21:1-11
When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

    “Tell the daughter of Zion,
    Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

    “Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Reflection

Apostles’ Creed
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven & earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,  the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,  & the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Leader: God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.….
☩ Lord, hear our prayer

For the church throughout the world , for Shannon our bishop, for this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place.….☩

For us in our daily life: open our eyes to the people within our reach; inspire generosity, courage, and compassion in our hearts…. ☩ 

For the leaders of this nation and all the nations; for all in authority…. ☩ 

For health care workers and public officials, for medical professionals and all who work in health care, caring for the sick while also caring for themselves and their loved ones….  ☩ 

For those facing economic uncertainty, hunger, and homelessness…. ☩

For all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. For all who live in fear…. ☩ 

Give peace to those who have died, grant them eternal rest, and give comfort to those who mourn….☩

Now we offer prayers and thanksgivings, silently or aloud….

St. Martin’s prayer list 

Sierra O’Leary, Mrs. Gillies, Clyde Holt, Bob Martin, Steve Ward, Susan Korbet, Paul Dunn, Mak Yost, Robert Buhner, Richard Erb, Pat Ottina, Robert Hertzberg, Jaqueline Wren, Nancy Hanger, Sara Boardman, Bill Hamilton, Sandra Trowbridge, Joe Davis, Vera Mallary, Richard Erb (RIP), Susan Clark (RIP), Timothy Treadway

All: Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never‑failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   (BCP, p. 831)

Brandenburg Concerto, no. 2: Andante J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

The collect for Palm Sunday

All: Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do more than we can ask or even imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church, and forever in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prelude: “Nocturne” by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”

Confession
All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you  in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all our sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy; come, let us worship.

Psalm 130

1  Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! *
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
2  If you, O LORD, should mark in-iquities,*
Lord, who could stand?
3  But there is forgiveness with you,*
so that you may be revered.
4  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,*
and in his word I hope;
5  my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,*
more than those who watch for the morning.
6  O Israel, hope in the LORD!*
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
7 It is he who will redeem*
Israel from all its iniquities.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.

Canticle
All: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a migh-ty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his ho-ly covenant. 

This was the oath he swore to our fa-ther Abraham, to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Ho-ly Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

John 11:1-45
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Reflection

Anthem: “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” (Brother James’ Air)

Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Leader: God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.….
☩ Lord, in your mercy / Hear our prayer

For the church throughout the world , for Shannon our bishop, for this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place.….☩

For us in our daily life: open our eyes to the people within our reach; inspire generosity, courage, and compassion in our hearts…. ☩ 

For the leaders of this nation and all the nations; for all in authority…. ☩ 

For health care workers and public officials, for medical professionals and all who work in health care, caring for the sick while also caring for themselves and their loved ones….  ☩ 

For those facing economic uncertainty, hunger, and homelessness…. ☩

For all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. For all who live in fear…. ☩ 

Give peace to those who have died, grant them eternal rest, and give comfort to those who mourn….☩

Now we offer prayers and thanksgivings, silently or aloud….

St. Martin’s prayer list 
Sierra O’Leary, Mrs. Gillies, Clyde Holt, Bob Martin, Steve Ward, Susan Korbet, Paul Dunn, Mak Yost, Robert Buhner, Richard Erb, Pat Ottina, Robert Hertzberg, Jaqueline Wren, Nancy Hanger, Sara Boardman, Bill Hamilton, Sandra Trowbridge, Joe Davis, Vera Mallary, Richard Erb (RIP), Susan Clark (RIP)

All: Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never‑failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   (BCP, p. 831)

Postlude: “Allemande” from Partita no. 1, by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

The collect for Lent 5
All: Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

God of every generation that has been and is yet to be,
we praise and thank you
    for those who have served and shaped your church.
In our day give us new challenges, new insights,
    and renewed confidence in you
and in the enlivening good news of your Son. Amen.

All: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do more than we can ask or even imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church, and forever in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”

Confession
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you  in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all our sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy; come, let us worship.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me
    in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
    and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Romans 5:1-11
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person– though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Canticle
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near. Let the wicked forsake their ways * and the unrighteous their thoughts; and let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, and to our God, for he will richly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain and snow fall from the heavens and return not again, but water the earth, bringing forth life and giving growth, seed for sowing and bread for eating, so is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty; but it will accomplish that which I have purposed, and prosper in that for which I sent it.

Gospel, from John 4:
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; this happened so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Leader: God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you.….
☩ Lord, in your mercy / Hear our prayer

For the church throughout the world , for Shannon our bishop, for this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place.….☩

For justice, peace, and freedom among peoples of the earth. For the leaders of this nation & all the nations & all in authority…. ☩ 

For us in our daily life: open our eyes to the people around us; inspire generosity, courage, and compassion in our hearts…. ☩ 

For all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. For all who live in fear. ☩ 

Give peace to those who have died, grant them eternal rest, and give comfort to those who mourn….☩

Now we offer prayers and thanksgivings, silently or aloud….

St. Martin’s prayer list 
Sierra O’Leary, Mrs. Gillies, Clyde Holt, Bob Martin, Steve Ward, Susan Korbet, Paul Dunn, Mak Yost, Robert Buhner, Richard Erb, Pat Ottina, Robert Hertzberg, Jaqueline Wren, Nancy Hanger, Sara Boardman, Bill Hamilton, Sandra Trowbridge, Joe Davis, Vera Mallary, Richard Erb (RIP), Susan Clark (RIP)

All: Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never‑failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   (BCP, p. 831)

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God of every generation that has been and is yet to be,
we praise and thank you
    for those who have served and shaped your church.
In our day give us
    new challenges, new insights,
    and renewed confidence in you
and in the great good news of your Son. Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do more than we can ask or even imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church, and forever in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Sheep May Safely Graze” by J.S. Bach (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #411, O bless the Lord, my soul

Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”

Confession
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you  in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy; come, let us worship.

Psalm 95
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd;*
I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul; *
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; *
thou annointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Hymn: 488, Be thou my vision

Ephesians 5:8-14
Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Hymn: #343, Shepherd of souls

Gospel, from John 4:
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

If you’d like to hear a sermon, here’s something from a service that provides one every week. I haven’t listened yet, but plan to this morning:

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom 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 kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation.  
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;  Let your people sing with joy.  
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;  For only in you can we live in safety.  
Lord, keep this nation under your care;  And guide us in the way of justice and truth.  
Let your way be known upon earth;  Your saving health among all nations.  
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;  Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.  
Create in us clean hearts, O God;  And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.  

Now let’s take some time to present our own prayers before God….

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Sick
Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve those who are sick, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs. May they be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (modified BCP 260)

For Doctors and Nurses
Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 460)

God of every generation that has been and is yet to be,
we praise and thank you
for those who have served and shaped your church.
In our day give us
new challenges, new insights,
and renewed confidence in you
and in the great good news of your Son. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #690, Guide me, O thou great Jehovah

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do more than we can ask or even imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church, and forever in Jesus Christ.

 Postlude: Prière à Notre Dame by Léon Boëllmann

Dear Friends–

Happy Easter!

There are only a couple of Sundays in the church year when we hear the same Gospel account year in and year out, no matter whether it’s year A, B, or C in our lectionary. One of them is the Sunday after Christmas, when we always hear the great beginning of the Gospel of John (“In the beginning was the Word….”) so that, having heard the story of the Incarnation from the bottom up on Christmas Eve (“she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn”), we can hear it again from the top down (“and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….”).
Another is the Sunday after Easter Sunday, when we always hear the story of “Doubting” Thomas. It’s a story of forgiveness, new purpose, conversion, and the great patience of Jesus (which of course means hope for us):

http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Easter/CEaster2_RCL.html#gsp1

I hope you can join us.

After church, our Lent group will meet one more time, one Easter meeting, before the Bishop visits on May 19. The tool in our spiritual toolkit we’ll encounter this week is the Baptismal Covenant, and you are welcome to join us whether you’ve come to any previous sessions or not. We’ll leave a few minutes for Coffee Hour, then meet for way less than an hour.
And after after church, you’re all welcome to make the trek down to Springfield to meet the next bishop of Vermont, the 11th of that line. She’ll be one of the three candidates we’ll meet at the “walkabout” at St. Mark’s, which begins at 5:30 and should be done by 8. Details here:

https://diovermont.org/2019/04/01/details-about-the-walkabout-events-at-which-you-can-meet-the-nominees-for-the-eleventh-bishop-of-vermont/

The Spring garden cleanup will be held next Sunday, May 5th after church (and Coffee Hour). Please bring whatever tools you can, especially rakes. Tick repellent is recommended(!) We will clean up around the parking lot as well as the Memorial Garden.

And there are concerts! Bel Canto’s spring concerts are next weekend (the 4th and the 5th):

https://www.belcantosingers.org/concerts.html

The Thetford Chamber Singers are singing the weekend after that (the 11th and 12th):

http://www.thetfordchambersingers.org/tickets-1

And, finally, here’s a word on conversion, from Frederick Buechner:

There are a number of conversions described in the New Testament. You think of Paul seeing the light on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19), or the Ethiopian eunuch getting Philip to baptize him on the way from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:28-40). There is also the apostle Thomas saying, “My Lord and my God!” when he is finally convinced that Jesus is alive and whole again (John 20:26-29), not to mention the Roman centurion who witnessed the crucifixion saying, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Luke 23:47). All these scenes took place suddenly, dramatically, when they were least expected. They all involved pretty much of an about-face, which is what the word conversion means. We can only imagine that they all were accompanied by a good deal of emotion.

But in this same general connection there are other scenes that we should also remember. There is the young man who, when Jesus told him he should give everything he had to the poor if he really wanted to be perfect as he said he did, walked sorrowfully away because he was a very rich man. There is Nicodemus, who was sufficiently impressed with Jesus to go talk to him under cover of darkness and later to help prepare his body for burial, but who never seems to have actually joined forces with him. There is King Agrippa, who, after hearing Paul’s impassioned defense of his faith, said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28, KJV). There is even Pontius Pilate, who asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) under such circumstances as might lead you to suspect that just possibly, half without knowing it, he really hoped Jesus would be able to give him the answer, maybe even become for him the answer.

Like the conversions, there was a certain amount of drama about these other episodes too and perhaps even a certain amount of emotion, though for the most part unexpressed. But of course in the case of none of them was there any about-face. Presumably all these people kept on facing more or less the same way they had been right along. King Agrippa, for instance, kept on being King Agrippa just as he always had. And yet you can’t help wondering if somewhere inside himself, as somewhere also inside the rest of them, the “almost” continued to live on as at least a sidelong glance down a new road, the faintest itching of the feet for a new direction.
We don’t know much about what happened to any of them after their brief appearance in the pages of Scripture, let alone what happened inside them. We can only pray for them, not to mention also for ourselves, that in the absence of a sudden shattering event, there was a slow underground process that got them to the same place in the end.

Peace,
Mark.

Dear Friends–

It’s Maundy Thursday, the beginning of the “Great Three Days” that stretch through to Easter.

It’s a special night in the church, when we’ll gather to remember Jesus’ last meal with his friends, the meal in which the rest of our life together finds its meaning. We’ll hear three linked stories: the story of the Passover, when God led the Hebrews out of slavery; the story of the Last Supper — a meal in memory of the Passover and in anticipation of a new kind of Exodus to a new kind of freedom; and the story of a Communion service in Corinth — a meal in memory of that last supper — that’s gone horribly wrong. We won’t wash any feet tonight, but we’ll remember Jesus’ new commandment (“mandatum,” in Latin) that we love one another. We’ll give thanks and celebrate “the memorial of our salvation.”

And then we’ll “strip the altar,” removing all the things that can be taken away, not least to remind us of what we cannot lose:  “I am convinced,” says St. Paul, “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It’s a powerful evening, a bit of a roller coaster, taking us from the fullness of Communion and setting us on the road that leads to the emptiness of Good Friday and, finally, the emptiness of the tomb on Easter morning. I hope you can join us at 6 this evening.

Peace,
Mark.

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. We’ll gather up our palm branches and begin the journey of Holy Week. 

Palm Sunday is a unique day in the church year. Most weeks we take our scripture in small bites, and it’s pretty clear what we’re supposed to be thinking about: prayer or faith or forgiveness or eternal life or whatever. But on Palm Sunday the story we hear is long and full of detail. We know where it seems to end up, of course, and we know where it goes after that, but as the reading begins we are setting out without a rudder, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us to what we need to hear. It’s a spiritual experiment, different every year. I hope you can join us.

There’s “A User’s Guide to Holy Week” here:
https://stmartinsvt.wordpress.com/1645-2/

Lord Christ,   
behind us in all our yesterdays,       
with us now,           
before us in all our tomorrows,   
you deliver us from fear and sin and death;   
bring us a new beginning,       
bring us an empty tomb; 
and grant us the vision and the humility       
to enter into the life you offer           
as the new day dawns.
Amen.

Peace,

Mark.
——————–
The Rev. Mark Preece
Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Fairlee, VT
Here are the best ways to reach me: 
    215-370-0479 (my cell phone)
smcpriest@gmail.com

The Bible doesn’t name the three kings who visited the manger where Jesus lay. In fact, it doesn’t tell us there were three of them, and it doesn’t tell us they were kings. Those stories came later. What the Bible does tell us (in Matthew 2:1-12) is that some “magi” noticed a new star, somehow identified it as the star of a newborn king of the Jews, and followed where it led.

It seems an odd thing, that God should call these foreigners by a star. On Christmas eve we heard the reading from the Gospel of Luke, where angels led the shepherds to the manger, and that’s less surprising – angels are God’s messengers throughout the Bible. Angels were the natural choice for bringing the good news.

But God led the magi to Jesus by a star. They were not Jews; some translations of the Bible call them “astrologers,” maybe they were from Persia. Stars were the language they understood, not angels. God found the right language in which to call them.

What draws people to an encounter with God? What brought you? How did you come to glimpse the great light shining? Who did God use to speak to you in a language you could hear and understand? Epiphany is a time to reflect on questions like these.

God is always looking for the right language. And this is where we come in. God is using us – as individuals and as a community – to speak a language no one else is speaking to reach people who otherwise would not hear and know of God’s presence with them.

Many of you became members of St. Martin’s because you heard God speak to you in the language which is St. Martin’s. You came here, maybe after trying some place else, and in one way or another it just seemed “right”. And, now that you are here, you are a part of that language yourself. You are the way God is speaking here, irreplaceable parts of the work God is doing right now through St. Martin’s.

There are lots of ways to “do church,” but whatever we do together in the future — whatever new things we try, whatever old things we hold on to — they will only “work” if they are expressions of what makes this community special, if they grow out of what God is already doing here. Our job is to discern the way God is working, to recognize the language of God that is uniquely St. Martin’s, and to learn to speak that language more fluently.

There used to be a poster that said “The only gospel some people will read is the one written in your life.” God is trying to use us to be somebody’s star.

The Spirit is at work in us, opening our eyes. And the Spirit is also working through us, reaching out to bring new life to others. That’s how Epiphany works.

 

If you’ve been following the Winter Olympics, you may be aware of Chris Mazdzer, the first athlete from the US to win a medal in the luge. After taking silver,  Mazdzer was asked how he did it:

“Honestly? It’s all in the mentality. I was so comfortable with who I am. I had to go through those ruts to be comfortable with who I am without results. Basically, as a human, I’m comfortable where I’m at, I know what I can do, I know what I can give to the world…I was just so relaxed, just knowing that. I was really at peace with myself. So no matter what happened, I have an amazing group of friends and family that are there to support me, and I think they give me tons of energy for this.”

Nick Lannon, writing at Mockingbird, brings this around to our relationship with God:

“Chris Mazdzer gets it. If he had to slide fast to earn the love and acceptance of his family, he’s done for. He might as well have—and probably would have—crashed into the first turn. How sweet it is for him, then, to know that the love and acceptance of his family is something he already possesses…. He is free to go all out, court failure, and actually win (or at least come as close to winning as an American luger could possibly get)….

“When we lie back on the luge and look down the track of the Christian life (too far? I’ve stretched the metaphor too far, haven’t I? Oh well, might as well plow ahead…), we can push off knowing that we can crash into every turn all the way down and not sacrifice one iota of love, acceptance, and favor that is ours, from God, on account of Christ.”

From Mockingbird. (<– click there to read the whole thing)