March 8
Second Sunday in Lent
Lectionary
Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online
(http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BLent/bLent2.htm)
Genesis 17:17,
1516
The covenant between Abram, Sarai, and God.
Psalm 22:2331 (VU
pg. 746 parts 3 and 4)
You have not hidden your face, O God.
Romans 4:1325
Gods promise rests on grace and faith.
Mark 8:3138
Those who lose their life for the gospel will save it.
Spark
Drama: develop a modern-day version of Abraham and Sarahs story: an elderly couple moving from a house in the country to a smaller condo and suddenly needing to find space for a nursery.
With Children
Ask whether the children have stories about their names, such as the derivation or meaning of their names, or whether they were named for someone. Bring a name book and share what some names mean. Relate this to Abram and Sarai and the changing of their names.
Sermon Starter
Reflecting on the reading from Genesis, deal with making and keeping promises. What does it mean to be a part of a faith lineage? What does it mean to name oneself a follower of Jesus, or a child of Israel? Illustrate and/or explore ways in which we see that God can be trusted to keep promises.
Hymns
Hebrew
Scriptures
VU 244 Sing your praise to God eternal
VU 268 Bring many names
VU 274 Your hand, O God, has guided
VU pg. 806 O God, our help in ages past
MV 161 I have called you by name
Epistle
MV 97 Listen, God is calling
Gospel
VU 561 Take up your cross
VU 562 Jesus calls us, oer the tumult
MV 113 Jesus saw them fishing
MV 172 God says
MV 212 Sent out in Jesus name
Call to Worship (based on
Psalm 22)
Give praise to the Lord, and bow down
before your God!
We bow down before no worldly power,
but God is great!
Dominion belongs to the Lord,
who rules over the nations!
Let all the ends of the earth remember
and praise the Lord!
Commissioning
The Lord remembers even the poor,
and despises no one!
In our distress, we call to the Lord!
Call to the Lord, and God will hear your prayer!
The Lord will do saving deeds in my life!
Neil Young, Erindale United Church, Mississauga, Ont.