Jesus is Condemned

Narrative Lectionary Series

Innocent but Condemned

Click on the image to view the SERVICE
The Sermon begins at 17:53

Based on John 19:1-16a – Jesus is Condemned

          In this season of contemplation, we ask God to help us to recognize that God revealed himself in Jesus, who walked among us and was handed over to be crucified so that we may be strengthened by his presence among us today. Judas betrayed Jesus by selling him to the chief priests with 30 silver coins (Matthew 26:14-16). Pontius Pilate washed his hands, saying, “am innocent of this man’s blood,” and sentenced Jesus to death (Matthew 27:24-26). They both took part in condemning the innocent man to death.

 Order of Worship Service – April 3, 2022

Prelude: “Were You There”, David Lasky

Candle Lighting & Call to Worship

Hymn: “What Wondrous Love Is This”VU 147

Scripture Reading: John 19:1-16a – Jesus is Condemned
Reader: This is the Word of God.
Response: Thanks Be to God!

Anthem: “Give Me Jesus” Traditional Spiritual; Arr.: Kurt Kaiser

Sermon: Innocent but Condemned

Communion Hymn: “We Gather Here” VU 469

Communion

The following prayer was used by the General Council Executive of the United Church of Canada during a service of repentance in 1998. The service took place soon after making the official apology to First Nations peoples for the church’s role in the abuse stemming from the residential school system. (Page 254 of Celebrate God’s Presence, A Book of Services)

May God be with us
      God is with us.
Let us open our hearts to God.
      We open them to God and to one another.
Let us give thanks to God.
      It is right to give thanks and praise.

O Holy Wisdom of God, eternally offensive to our wisdom, and compassionate toward our weakness, we praise you and give you thanks, because you emptied yourself of power and entered our struggle, taking upon you our unprotected flesh.

You opened wide your arms for us upon the cross, becoming scandal for our sake, that you might sanctify even the grave to be a bed of hope to your people.

Therefore, with those who are made refugees in their own land, abandoned, or betrayed by friends, whose bodies are violated or in pain; with those who have died alone without dignity, comfort, or hope; and with all the company of saints who have carried you in their wounds, we join to praise you, saying:

Holy, holy, holy, vulnerable God.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is our brother, Jesus, who, before his suffering, earnestly desired to eat with his companions the Passover of liberation, who, on the night that he was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he passed the cup, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it, to remember me.”

Remembering the death and celebrating the resurrection,
We await with hope the coming again
Of compassion and justice to the earth.

Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we are proclaiming Christ’s death until he comes. In this communion, we restore to memory and hope the broken and unremembered victims of tyranny and sin; and we long for the bread of tomorrow, and the wine of the age to come.

Come then, life giving Spirit of our God, brood over these bodily things, and make us one body with Christ, that we may labor with creation to be delivered from its bondage to decay, into the glorious liberty of all the children of God. Amen.

The Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Sharing the Bread and Cup

(Please be seated. The ushers will bring the bread and cup to you. And wait for everyone to receive the gifts. We will celebrate them together).

Meditative Music: “O Sacred Head”,
Johann Gottfried Walther, Malcolm Archer

Hymn: “Jesus Christ Is Waiting” VU 117

Commissioning and Benediction

Commissioning Song: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”

I want Jesus to walk with me.
I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along this pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.
In my trials, Lord walk with me.
In my trials, Lord walk with me.
All along this pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

Postlude: “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”, arr. David Lasky

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Questions for Weekly Lenten Reflection (Lent 5)

-Judas betrayed Jesus because he felt Jesus did not deliver what he wanted. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

-Are you bitter or angry with God or life because things are not going well according to your expectation?

-Pilate condemned the innocent man (Jesus) to death because the crowd pressured him. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

-Have you ever been pressured to condemn or judge an innocent person?

-What is God saying to you in your reflection?

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Land Acknowledgment:

We acknowledge we worship on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.  We thank them for having cared for this land and look forward to relating with them as covenant people of God as we continue to care for this land together.

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