Christ Lutheran ChurchFebruary 21st , 2021—10 a.m.

The First Sunday in Lent

140 Russell AvenueSt. Catharines, Ontario L2R 1W1

Church: 905-685-8294 Fax 905-685-7661 www.christlutheransc.ca

February 21st, 2021 ********************************************************************************************************

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCHChurch: 905-685-8294, Fax 905-685-7661, www.christlutheransc.ca

Pastor: Pastor Todd Hoeffs (289-362-0113) pastortoddhoeffs@gmail.comParish Assistant: Louise Gondosch (905-329-8579), parish.assistant@christlutheransc.ca

Business Manager: Karen McCumber, business.manager@christlutheransc.caSecretary: Pat Kimpel, secretary@christlutheransc.ca

SOUL Ministry: Trinda Rensen, Gillian LeaverChurch Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday—9 a.m. – 12 noon

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristLutheranChurchSCBulletin by email: Judy Mason, chairman.outreach@christlutheransc.ca

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please send to secretary@christlutheransc.ca. Deadline for submission is Thursday at 9 a.m.

********************************************************************************************** THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

Prayer: O Almighty and eternal God, we implore You to direct, sanctify, and govern our hearts and bodies in the way of Your laws and the works of Your commandments that through Your mighty protection, both now and ever, we may be preserved in body and in soul; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Service: 10 a.m. Live-Stream (printed copy of service at back of bulletin)Sunday Musician: Mayumi Munoz Sunday Reader: Nate Kuhl

Sunday School: Fruit of the Spirit #7- Faithfulness -- https://youtu.be/OgCH69eqZ5sPrecious Moments: Snowflakes - https://youtu.be/2wxe4ac1vHkChildren’s Message (Feb. 21st): https://youtu.be/YrXFZlgiqfUDAILY SCRIPTURE MEDITATIONS: Monday: Jas. 4: 1-10 Wed.: Heb. 4: 14-16 Friday: Matt. 16: 21-28 Tuesday: Jas. 1: 13-18 Thurs: Heb. 12: 1-7 Saturday: Matt. 12: 38-42

Almighty God, heavenly Father, give us grace to trust You during this time of illness and distress. In mercy put an end to the epidemic that afflicts us. Grant relief to those who suffer, and comfort all who mourn. Sustain all medical personnel in their labours, and cause Your people ever to serve You in righteousness and holiness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [From the Lutheran Service Book: Pastoral Care Companion]

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: What should the Christian life look like? Join us as we study the book of James (by Jesus' brother). Together let's study and journal what it means to live authentically and victoriously through challenges of life!  Join us on Zoom bi-monthly at 7:00 p.m. as we learn with Dr. Lina AbuJamra through our Right Now Media Ministry. For more information or to receive the link contact Louise 905-329-8579.

FOR LENTEN MIDWEEK:1. A Devotional Message: Recorded by Pastor Todd and uploaded to his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3a4p6prdJGEyP5S-q-cNSg. Featuring "The Crosses of Lent” every Wednesday morning leading up to Holy Week.

2. A ZOOM Lenten Bible Study: 7 - 8 PM every Wednesday in Lent leading up to Holy Week, focusing our eyes on the suffering and death of Jesus as recorded in Mark's Gospel.

Mary Martha: The National LWMLC Triennium of 2018 - 2021 is almost finished so all donors are encouraged to submit their mites to Ivy ASAP by mail or drop off at the church. We are hoping to fulfill all the Mission Projects before March 31. Thanks to all who continue to support the Lord’s command. Fran Porteous, Zone Pres.

Last Sunday Attendance: Budget Weekly Need Last Sunday Year To Date

Current: 2,597.00 11,179.17Missions 720.00 1,323.50Property Improvement: 290.00 538.50

MEMORIAL DONATIONS have been given to Christ Lutheran Church in memory of Elke Laumann from Tim and Elly Reck, Don and Lois Fretz and Pastor Frank and Mary Silver.To Christ Lutheran Church in memory of Lillian Dueck from Andy and Bette Vasko.To Haiti Mixte Nazareth Feeding Program in Memory of Lillian Dueck from Susan Honey.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHURCH DURING THE PANDEMIC: it's important for members to keep in mind that expenses for payroll, utilities, maintenance, etc. continue to accumulate even when in-person services are not available. 1. THROUGH EFT DONATIONS:Lutheran Church - Canada, East District Corporation continues to facilitate this service for us. To assist you in continuing your financial support to your church, we encourage you to fill out the form that is available for printing at: http://christlutheransc.ca/?page_id=96 and then mail the form along with a voided cheque to:

Lutheran Church - Canada, East District Corporation, 275 Lawrence Ave., Kitchener, ON N2M 1Y3 Attn: Darryll Holland

2. BY MAIL: cheques can still be mailed to: Christ Lutheran Church, 140 Russell Ave. St.Catharines, ON L2R 1W1

or dropped in the Church mailbox at the East entrance.3. ONLINE VIA LUTHERAN CHURCH-CANADA: Lutheran Church-Canada has opened a web portal that allows parishioners to donate directly to their home church. Just visit:

https://lutheranchurch-canada.tng-secure.com/?pageId=donation-edit&categoryId=10972select "St. Catharines-Christ Lutheran-30950" from the drop down menu, enter the amount of your donations and LCC will transfer your donation to Christ. Donation is via VISA or Mastercard. Tax receipts will be issued by LCC (not Christ). This opportunity will be in effect until the COVID-19 emergency is over.

SCRIPTURE SERVICE OF CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS The 1st Sunday in Lent

February 21, 2021

OPENING HYMN ”Through the Night Of Doubt” Tune: Thy Strong Word # 578

Through the night of doubt and sorrowonward goes the pilgrim band,

singing songs of expectation, marching to the promised land.Clear before us through the darknessgleams and burns the guiding light;

pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim, stepping fearless through the night.

One the light of God's own presenceon the ransomed people shed,

chasing far the gloom and terror, bright'ning all the path we tread.Christ the object of our journey, His the faith which never tires,

one the earnest looking forward, one the hope our God inspires. Onward, therefore, sisters, brothers;

onward, with the cross our aid.Bear its shame, and fight its battle till we rest beneath its shade.

Soon shall come the great awaking,Soon the rending of the tomb!

Then the scatt'ring of all shadows, and the end of toil and gloom.CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION (From LCMS Human Care Liturgy 2013) In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen. PSALM FOR PREPARING (spoken responsively) I waited patiently upon the Lord,

Who stooped down to me and heard my cry.The Lord lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the miry clay;

And He set my feet upon a high cliff, making my footing sure. The Lord put a new song in my mouth!

A song of praise to our God.You are the Lord,

Do not withhold Your compassion from me.Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me.

May Your never failing love and truth keep me safe. For troubles without number have crowded upon me;

My sins have overtaken me and I cannot see. Though I am poor and afflicted, the Lord has plans for me.

You are my Help and my Saviour!

SONG FOR PREPARING “Change My Heart, O God” ELW # 801

While we were still sinners,Christ died for us.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit,God our Father promises to heal us and forgive us.

Let us confess our sins in the presence of Almighty God, and one another:(Silence for prayerful thought and reflection)

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us and hear us, O Father. For self-centred, sinful living, for failing to walk with humility and truth, for longing to have what is not ours, for misuse of human relationships, for jealousies that divide us, for rivalries that create strife and upheaval, for cold, reluctance in sharing the gifts of our God with others, for our hurtful words that condemn, for angry actions that cause harm, for idleness in witnessing the faith, for squandering what You have given us, for all the ways we sin in thoughts, words and deeds, by what we have done and what we have left undone, sins known to us and those unknown, we confess to all our wrongs and truly repent of them. We are sorry and pray for forgiveness, that we may change our sinful lives, and seek Your grace and mercy in mending all that is broken. Give us strength to turn away from sin and serve You in newness of life.

By water and the Word in Baptism, our gracious Father bestows on You His Holy Spirit and unites you to Christ our Lord, Who rescues you from sin, death and hell, through His holy death and resurrection. In the place of Christ

and by His Holy Command, I therefore forgive you all of your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

SUNG KYRIE

Have mer - cy, O Lord, have mer-cy and hear us;

Have mer - cy O Christ, have mer-cy and hear us;

Have mer - cy O Lord, have mer - cy and hear us;

Please give us Your peace; please give us Your peace.

NO GLORIA SUNG DURING LENT

GREETING & PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you: And also with you.Let us pray: O Lord God, You led Your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that following Your Son, we may safely walk through the wilderness of this world toward the life You alone can give. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

SACRED SCRIPTURE Old Testament Genesis 9:8-17 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Epistle James 1:12-18Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.  Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SUNG GOSPEL VERSE FOR LENT _---

Turn back to the Lord, Your God, Who is grac-ious;

Turn back to the Lord, Your God, Who shows mer-cy;

Turn back to the Lord, Who’s slow to get an - gry;

A - bound-ing in love; is faith – ful and true.

The Holy Gospel St. Mark 1:9, 12-15The Holy Gospel, according to St. Mark, the 1st chapter: Glory to You, O Lord.In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan… And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, O Christ.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life + everlasting. Amen.

HYMN “Jesus Refuge of the Weary” LSB # 423

MESSAGEPRAYERS

Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, thank you for your selfless love expressed in creation, and thank you for your ongoing commitment to this sinful world. Help us use the freedom we have to serve you well, as stewards of your good world. Bring to an end all abuse of your world and of the people you have made. Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.Help us to care for the earth so that it will be a healthier place for our children and the generations to come. And give us the faith and wisdom to do our duty well, as we participate with you in creating the future. Preserve the earth from natural and man-made disaster, and bless it with good seasonable weather. Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

Be with all your people in times of trouble and temptation, and remind us that our real life is with Christ. Give courage and hope to those who want to give up on life or who are afraid of the future. Help us provide for hungry or homeless, for lost and lonely, and all who cry out for help. Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.Support all science, medicine, academics and places of learning. Protect all who are in places of danger or distress, especially where war or disaster threatens life and property. Instill mercy in the hearts and conversations of all world leaders. Bless our own land and her governing body. Defend all Christians who are persecuted and harassed for the faith. May we in our lives overcome all evil through the gift of Christ Who endured suffering for the life of this world. Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.Watch over us in this Lenten season O God, and draw us closer to our suffering Saviour. Strengthen those who are weak in the faith, who struggle through doubts, and guide those who are preparing for baptism and confirmation. Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.Relieve all who are coping with sickness, pain, and any who are suffering in mind, body and spirit. Give your peace and patience to those awaiting surgery or to hear the results of medical tests. Grant an end to the death, the isolation, the strains and fears surrounding COVID 19, bringing healing, relief and new living once again. Support all those we know personally......Let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

Finally, humbly voicing our concerns together as one:

O God our Father, by the cross of Your Son You reconciled the world to Yourself, enabling us to live in love and harmony. We thank and praise You for the forgiveness of sins and the precious gift of peace. Help us forgive each other and all others and to establish truth and harmony throughout the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYERLord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

 BLESSING Let us praise the Lord.

Thanks be to God.The Almighty God, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

Amen.The Lord has made you free! Go in peace!

Thanks be to God!SENDING

BENEDICTION The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord upon you with favour, + and give you peace.

Amen.

CLOSING HYMN “On Eagles’ Wings” # 727

REV. TODD HOEFFS

LENT 1 Scripture: St. Mark 1:12ffFebruary 21, 2021

Freedom Ministries Church in Grandview, West Virginia, burned down last year at this time. The building was a complete loss. A fire department official reports: "Picture this, a building so hot that at one point in time, firefighters had to back out. In your mind, everything should be burned, ashes.” However, God's Word remained intact. "Not a single Bible was burned and not a single cross was harmed!! Not a single firefighter was hurt!" The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God lasts forever. While that may not always cover earthly items like paperback Bibles, this event does stand as an amazing image of faith and hope.

Our Lord Jesus stands as THE image of faith and hope. Whose very being as the LIVING BREATHING WORD attracts Satan’s attention. Alone in the wilderness, the devil has a great opportunity to prove God’s all wrong about His Word made flesh. That He’s just like all other people. That somehow He’ll succumb to testing.

Here is Jesus, still wet from Baptismal waters of the Jordan, led by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, ready for the devil’s tempting tongue.Temptation and Satan and evil we just don’t always know what to make of today. Sometimes evil is easily identified, such as when children are murdered in their schools from a crazed shooter. But more often than not, evil presents itself in the guise of an angel of light, much like Satan tempting Jesus. You don’t have to starve—just turn the stones to bread. You want the people to believe who you are—throw yourself off the temple, the angels will catch you, and the people will be dazzled. You want to be lord of creation, I will give it all to you if you worship me. Subtle, crafty, on the surface, quite logical, but the price needed is the human soul. All of humanity would be thrown away if Jesus bit for the devils bargains.

Every day the Holy Spirit leads you into the wilderness, where you’re tempted by the devil, the world, and your old flesh. Now, this old flesh, is anything that you find a trigger. To anger, or fall off any wagon you should be on. They could be your hot buttons no one should press. Your weaknesses, vulnerabilities, shortcomings, patterns of no so great behavior or thoughts. We may discover that the real problems in life are not ‘outside influences’ but our own hearts, our own motives, our own ideas.

Will you love your neighbor as yourself? Will you love the Lord, your God, with your heart, soul and mind? Like our Lord, you, too, are hungry. You may not have everything that you need, or at least it may feel like you don't have everything that you need. Rather than trusting that God will provide and care for us, we hoard and cling and test God by sinning and making Him pick up the pieces of your own mess.

But our God knows you, and what's more, He knows your neighbor needs you. He knows that every day you have opportunity to love, to show mercy to the loveless and the unloved. You have opportunity time and time again to rejoice in the good the Lord your God has given you. You show mercy to those around you, be they friend or foe, neighbor or enemy. You have opportunity to rejoice and give mercy, because Your God has shown mercy to you.

The biggest temptation at the core of all that tests we face is: maybe God WILL ONE Day not help us and leave us all alone and we’ll be sitting targets for all kinds of suffering in life. Do you doubt God’s existence, or His love, because He won’t show you what you want to see or do what you want Him to do? Do you demand that God prove His love for you? Jesus knows this feeling too! He knows what it’s like to be tempted to not believe God when He says that He cares for us and loves us more than anything.

Well, Jesus’ baptism and his Father’s approving words get confirmed by Satan’s testing in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of uncharted territory, easily lost, on your own, desolate.

The wilderness, of course, recalls the sojourn of the Israelites after being led out of slavery in Egypt.  Likewise, Jesus being in the wilderness for 40 days recalls the 40 years of the Israelites' wanderings.  Like the Israelites, Jesus will be hungry.  Luke pointedly tells us that he did not eat during those 40 days. Jesus is revamping the history of Israel – making SALVATION IN HIM PRIME IMPORTANCE & THE COMPLETION OF GOD’S PLAN TO SAVE THE WORLD.  God, however, gave the Israelites at least something to eat.  Manna & quail. Jesus has nothing.  The devil, trying to play God, suggests Jesus turn a stone into bread and feed Himself--if He is the Son of God, that is. 

Just one loaf of bread.  Jesus is hungry, and He’ll soon feed 5,000 in the wilderness with bread and fish. What’s one loaf? In this case, Jesus would only be feeding himself.  Thus, the devil is not tempting Jesus to do an unabashedly good thing, such as feed a hungry world.  But the hungry Jesus identifies with the hunger of the Israelites in the wilderness.  He doesn't transcend his hunger.  He embraces it. He empties Himself that we who are empty will be filled up with His life and presence!

Once the bread test fails, Satan chooses worldly power -- the past, present, and future—and says that they belong to him to give to whomever he wishes.  (Keep in mind:  The devil is a liar.  The world does not belong to the devil, but to God.)

Gospel Luke gives a Greek word for the world which specifically means "the inhabited world."  It’s an official term used by Greeks, then Romans, to describe their political kingdom.  They ruled the inhabited world, while the barbarians were left with the dregs. Is Luke slamming the Romans here?  Jesus might have seen all the kingdoms ever, but the current ruler of "all the world" is Caesar Augustus (2:1).  Maybe Luke is saying that the current ruler of the inhabited world is on the devil’s side?

Well, Jesus responds by a summarization of Deuteronomy 6: 12-14:  "You will worship the Lord your God and him only will you serve”. Jesus is very dismissive of the devil.  He's not there to negotiate. [As the saying goes, you never negotiate with a terrorist – and certainly not a satanic one.] No need for diplomacy here.    

The final temptation is for religious power. Expecting Jesus to jump off the Temple and have angels take him up.  Jesus again fights back with scripture--'You will not tempt the Lord your God" (Dt. 6:12)—

The devil goes and returns at an “opportune time…” Interestingly. Luke uses the word “Kairos” for time, not chronos. Chronos is our earthly time. Kairos is GOD’s TIMING. The devil will return at GOD’S Timing and fall right into His trap, meaning, His plan to save the world.

Satan will enter into Judas Iscariot, setting in motion the last days of Jesus’ Passion. He’s there in the Garden of Gethsemane telling Jesus that He shouldn’t die, that it would be too awful. He’s in the crowds before Pilate, encouraging them to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus. And He remains at the foot of the cross speaking through the religious leaders and the soldiers who mockingly cry out, “If you’re the Chosen One save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down off the cross and then we’ll believe in you!”

He could’ve come down. He could’ve come down and destroyed them all with His holy wrath. And yet even in His death He is so faithful and focused on saving us and this world: As Paul says, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” By being faithful, by being the perfect man, the true Israel, He saves you. It’s God’s plan, to fully empty the devil of his control and sentence him to eternal hell. The devil loses and Jesus wins! And in Him you all win!

We do and will fall for testing and temptations. But because of Christ we are not the sum of our failures. There are times you’ve stood your ground and actually resisted ‘TEMPTATION’ because we know WHO WE ARE in Christ! God doesn’t give us a Heavenly pass or fail on our temptations. We learn the truth about how we see ourselves. We learn the truth about the direction our life who we are

in Christ. This learning is neither easy nor pain free but it is the necessary learning by which our Lord reshapes and transforms our life.

Because we are not left ALONE. God sends you out led by the same spirit to love Him by loving those around you. Giving of your bread to those in need, trusting that your Father will provide for you. Jesus Christ has conquered it all. HE Who is faithful and righteous makes us faithful and righteous because His life is in our lives.

We are baptized in the same Spirit that led Jesus in the wilderness. We are tried and tested and tempted and given a way out. THE WAY out. Jesus is the One who leads us on the path through the Valley of the Shadow of death. Here we see what that path will be like. And without His aid, without His continual presence and word and Bread and Wine and forgiveness – we’d be lost. But thanks be to God, Christ has won us life and peace and power and strength. As Hebrews 4 says, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

The late German Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a little book titled, “Temptation.” He says, 'The Bible tells only two temptation stories, the temptation of the Adam and the temptation of Christ…so either the Adam in me is tempted, in which case we are bound to fall. Or the Christ in me is tempted, in which case Satan is bound to fall.”

So, as you live your life in Christ, Satan is always bound to fall. So as you remain in the living Word, as you rely on the Bread of Life, you have real power, real strength, real life, real purpose – and you trust in God’s plan to keep you in His Son no matter where the Spirit leads you. Amen.

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH Zoom Bible Study 2021+ Pastor Todd Hoeffs

Midweek Lenten Study #1Jesus Christ and His message: the same yesterday, today and

foreverJESUS’ PASSION IN MARK’S GOSPEL

We begin with prayer--O God, Your Son chose the path leading to pain before joy and the cross before glory. Plant His cross in our hearts by virtue of Your Baptismal promises, so that in its power and love we may come at last to joy and glory with You in Heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We begin-- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever1) React to the word “change”—2) What kinds of change do you like? What kinds do you “hate”? 3) Does Jesus Christ change? Does He “create change”? How is this different?

Reading from Mark’s Gospel account of the PassionMark 14:1-31It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’ The Anointing at Bethany While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarius, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. The Passover with the Disciples On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was

evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ The Institution of the Lord’s Supper While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ Peter’s Denial Foretold When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ But he said vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same. Discussing and learning4) Why the concern in the Gospel passage over what the woman in Bethany was doing? 5) What usually comes out of fear in a person’s life? 6) What happens when you fear change? 7) Look at the part of the passage regarding the Passover. What is “old” & “traditional” about it? What is “new” and “progressive”? What can we learn from this? 8) If Jesus lives in me, I can………………………9) Can I live without fear running my life? What helps me not be afraid?10) Examples of fear-less living:

a) trust –how? b) hope—what does hope look like?c) strength – who’s? d) support—in our lives – can we name a support network? e) future – what does it look like 2, 3, 5, 10 years from now?

11) How does our culture deal with fear? How can WE help?

Midweek Lenten Study #2Jesus Christ and His message: the same yesterday, today and forever

JESUS’ PASSION IN MARK’S GOSPELBegin with PrayerLord Jesus Christ, You have called us to follow You. Help us, that our love may never grow cold in Your service, and that we may not fail or deny You in the hour of trial, in Your holy name we pray. Amen. Reading from Mark’s Gospel account of the PassionMark 14:32-72 -- Jesus Prays in Gethsemane They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’ The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.’ All of them deserted him and fled.  A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked. Jesus before the Council They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.” ’ But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus said, ‘I am; and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power”, and “coming with the clouds of heaven.” ’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we

still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, ‘Prophesy!’ The guards also took him over and beat him. Peter Denies Jesus While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I do not know or understand what you are talking about.’ And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, ‘This man is one of them.’ But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.’ But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about.’ At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

Discussing and learning Passion fruit became a Lenten symbol from Roman Catholic missionaries to South

America in the 1700’s. The deep purple color reminds us of the robe Christ wore when He stood before Pilate in mocked array as “King of the Jews.” The flesh of the fruit is aromatic, sweet yet acidic. Reminding the eater that Christ is a sweet aromatic offering to God for our sin, thus the acidic nature of suffering, or “passion”. What about Jesus’ Passion?

A Closer look at passion….Passion, or zeal or interest or hope, all must be “maintained” by God’s Word, Sacraments, prayer, community, fellowship, a worship life and a vision for the future (purpose)

The following are examples of things that can hurt passion-AN UNCLEAR PURPOSE

Without a purpose for living, why bother?Why put forth the effort?Why get out of bed in the morning?Do you see how passion and purpose go together? If so, how?

“I have labored to no purpose. I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.” (Isaiah 49:4)A purpose creates passion.

1) Do you see more people today living only “for themselves”? Why is this so? Why would that purpose be self-destructive?

2) Should the church have a passion? What should it be? Are we fulfilling it?3) Will thinking about a church’s passion for the future be good to direct or change or

create?4) Are you surprised that Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial didn’t throw Jesus off of His

plan for saving the world? Why? 5) Does Jesus headlong submission into sinful hands despite the events surrounding

His suffering give us any hope or is it too sad and evil?

Midweek Lenten Study #3Jesus Christ and His message: the same yesterday, today and forever

JESUS’ PASSION IN MARK’S GOSPELBegin with PrayerGracious Lord, through water and the Spirit you have made us your own. You forgave us all our sins and brought us to newness of life. Continue to strengthen us with the Holy Spirit, and daily increase in us your gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

1) Have you ever thought you were about to die? When? How? 2) When did you last encounter death in your life? 3) Should we be laughing at humour that includes death? Why or why not?

Getting personal with Jesus’ PassionMark is the shortest Gospel. He keeps moving. Translators often joke about Marks

42 uses of the Greek word ‘euthus’ which means ‘immediately/straight away/right then’. Mark’s account of Christ’s suffering is swift too – as if was too painful to write. Mark shows us that Christ’s power is not revealed in escaping suffering but in choosing the cross. Mark records only one utterance of Jesus from the cross – but chooses it carefully for impact.

The suffering of Jesus is not just details (or else Mark would have written much more). As you read Mark’s crucifixion account in chapter 15 agree with each other first that pointless discussions about gory details are BANNED. Instead we want you to focus on the HEART – your HEART – and what it means for us today. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want but please don’t take us away from the heart to discuss how much blood was lost, the style of whips, placement of nails and all that other technical detail – it’s not the point. Mark left that sort of detail out because it was not his focus. Mark does not distract us with gory details. He wants you to confront the reality of Christ’s suffering for you. Reading from Mark’s Gospel account of the PassionMark 15:1-15As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

3) Jesus, the Son of God, is on trial with Barabbas, whose name means “son of the father”. Is this significant? The Son of God dies, and the son of the father is free. Are we not also made free, as we are “sons and daughters of the father”?

4) Does Jesus headlong submission into sinful hands despite the events surrounding His suffering give us any hope or is it too sad and evil? 7) Does it help people to know they are “free”? Is so, how?

Midweek Lenten Study # 4 Jesus Christ and His message: the same yesterday, today and forever

JESUS’ PASSION IN MARK’S GOSPELBegin with Prayer

Almighty God, Your dear Son, our Saviour, suffered at the hands of sinful men and endured the shame of the cross. Help us, by Your Word and Spirit, to walk in the way of His cross and find in it the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. Reading from Mark’s Gospel account of the PassionMark 15:16-41Then the soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. The Crucifixion of JesusThey compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. The Death of Jesus When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’ There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

1) Despite the fact that Jesus said at least seven things from the cross Mark has recorded this one (verse 34 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) only in great detail – in both the original Aramaic as well as in the common language. Why are these particular words so important to Mark? What was going on when Jesus said this? These haunting words (verse 34) have been the most comforting to Christians of all ages. How are they of comfort to you?

2) If Jesus is a “suffering servant”, is it right to remove people from your community of faith for differing views? How does Jesus deal with them? 3) We are living in a culture now of “you are wrong, you must leave your life behind and never be seen again”. How can we model forgiveness in this cultural climate?

4) Is the crucifixion of Jesus difficult to talk about when you talk about your faith with other? If so, why? Or does it depend on the person? 4) Change involves transformation. Christians are often in opposition to change. If any Christian wishes not to change anything, be it what we do or how we do things (in the church) or the way we deliver the message to people (as Paul says, be all things to all people)or if we show un-Christian actions, how do we expect our message of love to be well-accepted?

Midweek Lenten Study # 5Jesus Christ and His message: the same yesterday, today and forever

JESUS’ PASSION IN MARK’S GOSPELBegin with PrayerHoly God, Source of all love, on the night of His betrayal, Your Son, Jesus Christ, gave us a new commandment, to love one another as He loves us. Remind us of this commandment and as Your Holy Spirit keeps us in the faith, may our will be service to all who has need in the name of Him Who is servant of all, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1) What things make you feel really alive? 2) What’s your definition of really living?

Reading from Mark’s Gospel account of the PassionMark 15:42-16:20 end -- The Burial of Jesus When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. The Resurrection of JesusWhen the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene[[Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Jesus Commissions the Disciples Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ The Ascension of Jesus So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. ]]

3) Notice the parts of the passage involving fear? Did you know fear is the greatest “killer” of passion? Why do you think?

4) What part do you like the best about the Easter story?

A Multiple Choice Ending? The ending of Mark’s Gospel is a mystery. The most ancient and best manuscripts of Mark’s gospel end at verse 8: "... They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

In your Bibles you are likely to find a "Shorter Ending" and then a line or division of some kind before the "Longer Ending" (verses 9-20) is added. Good translations say at verse 9 something like “The most reliable and early manuscripts do not contain Mark 16:9-20”.

The ‘longer ending’ with the extra verses (9-20) is almost commonly agreed to NOT be a part of the original Gospel of Mark. It is still printed out of respect for those who copied it.

This ‘longer ending’ uses many distinct words that Mark uses nowhere else – so it’s not his vocabulary. The sentence style and structure is not like the rest of Mark. The earliest copies don’t include these verses. The themes are different too and some question the theology. It’s safe to assume that Mark’s Gospel ended originally without these verses.

The shorter ending is tantalising and exciting! It leaves it open – like real life it leaves ‘loose ends’. It’s also perfectly like the way Mark write – abruptly and always with ‘amazement’ or ‘fear’!

This could have been a useful way to end! Some believe that this short ending had something to do with the Gospel’s original use at baptisms. Mark’s Gospel would be read and then those about to be baptised would be invited to ‘end the story’ with their own witness that Jesus is alive!

If you saw a movie that ended this way what would you assume was coming? - If you were writing an account of Jesus, how would you end it? - As you look at your own life what beginnings and endings are you experiencing or

approaching? - Do you feel as if your life experiences can be neatly summarized or are there mainly

loose ends?

Your Turn To Finish The Story Tell others about Jesus and how he lives in you! Tell what Jesus’ resurrection means to you!