March 11 – Third Sunday in Lent

March 11 – Third Sunday in Lent

 

Exodus 20:1–17

The Ten Commandments.

 

Psalm 19 (VU pp. 740–741)

The heavens declare the glory of God.

 

1 Corinthians 1:18–25

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.

 

John 2:13–22

Jesus clears the temple.

Spark

Display items that portray a sense of balance or harmony, e.g., a balance scale, harmonious music, a bonsai tree, draped fabrics that go well together, items that represent the four colours/directions of Aboriginal traditions, a mini sand garden.

Theme Engagement Question

What balance does faith bring to your life?

With Children

Use a balance scale or the game “Tip It” to show how easily things can get out of balance. Talk about how the Ten Commandments fall into two groups: five commandments help us be better when part of a group, and five help us be better as individuals. The commandments show us that we need balance in our lives. To help people visualize this, place five objects on each pan of the scale, or distribute five black pieces and five red pieces on “Tip It” so they balance.

Sermon Starter

God calls us back into balance. The Ten Commandments include commandments that address our communal behaviour and those that address personal behaviour. God’s world is about “both/and” more than it is about “either/or.” Balance comes more often when we bring the various elements of our lives into harmony with one another, like voices in the choir or instruments in a symphony. With Jesus overturning the tables in the Temple, we are reminded through this powerful act that God wants society, people, individuals, and the world to rediscover harmony and balance. The sacrifices that were supposed to bring the people back into right relationship with God were being distorted by the corruption present in the money-changing, by the siding with empire rather than with one’s community by many of the leaders, and by their going after worldly power and privilege rather than right relationships with God and God’s people.

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 248            “When long before time”

VU p. 877        “The Ten Commandments”

MV 10             “Come and seek the ways of wisdom”

MV 24             “Breath of God, Breath of peace”

 

Psalm

VU 388            “Spirit dancing”

VU 530            “All beautiful the march of days”

MV 143           “We cannot own the sunlit sky”

MV 165           “There is a time”

 

Epistle

VU 111            “As the sun with longer journey”

VU 499            “O Christ, the Word incarnate”

VU 624            “Give to us laughter”

 

Gospel

VU 691            “Though ancient walls”

MV 6               “Holy Spirit, come into our lives”

MV 173           “Put peace into each other’s hands”