Worshipping at Home 3rd April 2022
Home Worshipping 

Lent 5 - Passion Sunday - 3rd April 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!

Many churches used to have large screens at the front of their buildings with a cross on the top.
These were called rood screens because ‘rood’ was an old word meaning ‘cross’. As the worshipper entered, their eye would be drawn to the cross. The focus was Jesus. With or without a screen, the focus of every church is Jesus. So, welcome, as we look to him.


Psalm 119: 9-16

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.
I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.
I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word

Acclamation

The Lord calls us, 
and our spirit rises within;
we long for the one who is our life!
Place us, Lord, like a seal 
over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like a blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
Praise the Lord, oh my soul;
let all that is within me 
bless his holy name!

The Collect Prayer

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him
who suffered on the cross
we may triumph
in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, Amen

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

John 12:1-8 (Jesus is anointed at Bethany.)

 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about half a litre 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. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ 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. ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me

Thought for the Day

We are now two weeks away from Easter. It is very difficult not to look forward to all the good things that Easter conjures up – Spring weather, fresh colours, Easter eggs and all the usual celebrations. But our challenging Lenten journey with Jesus is not over yet. In fact it is now entering its most demanding phase. We sometimes call this Sunday ‘Passion Sunday’ – passion in this context meaning ‘suffering and endurance’. As we get closer to Easter we will be remembering the physical sufferings of Jesus but in the lead-up to those terrible events we are invited to join Jesus on some very moving moments. 

Today we recall Jesus’ visit to his very good friends – Lazarus, Martha and Mary. We can sense the tension in the room. For some time Jesus had been warning his closest disciples about the troubles that lay ahead – the confrontations with the authorities that would cost him his life. We can be pretty certain that Lazarus, Martha and Mary were aware of what was to come. So, what could they do? They held a dinner in Jesus’ honour – and honour is a good word to describe the gathering. This was a farewell meal when friends would share their last words, shed tears and embrace one another. This outpouring of emotion is given expression when Mary pours perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. But there is always one who is oblivious to the gravity of the moment, so preoccupied with their themselves that they fail to appreciate what is glaringly obvious to everyone else. Judas Iscariot objects to Mary’s extravagance, and Jesus has to put him in his place. 

As we head towards Holy Week and Easter, let’s make sure that we have a clear vision of Jesus in front of us – his humanity and his divinity on full display – his unwavering determination to do what he had to do for the salvation of the world. And as an after-thought, let’s make sure that as we are presented with other moments of suffering, we see things and appreciate them for what they really are and respond accordingly – to recognize the moment and be generous.

Let us Pray

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, joyful Trinity, one God in the dance of holy light, three persons in the perfect unity of love, unchanging in being, active in mercy. Foreshadowed in the anointing of David, your mystery was made manifest in the baptism of Jesus. The Son took his stand with sinners; the Spirit led him to the service of the cross. The reign of peace dawns in our darkness; the fellowship of love is opened for all. Light of the city that is to come, fountain of beauty, source of all joy, blessed are you, eternal God, Holy and undivided Trinity. Amen.

Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness and your grace waters the desert. Help us to recognise your hand working miracles beyond our imagining. Open our hearts to be transformed by the things you are doing, so that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love for all, and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.

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, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Exodus 40:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-25
Tuesday: Judges 9:7-15; 1 John 2:18-28
Wednesday: Habakkuk 3:2-15; Luke 18:31-34
Thursday: Isaiah 53:10-12; Hebrews 2:1-9
Friday: Isaiah 54:9-10; Hebrews 2:10-18
Saturday: Leviticus 23:1-8; Luke 22:1-13

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent / Priest in charge

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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