Scripture Sentences
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. (Colossians 1:19)
Opening Prayer
One: God who is our rock and our stronghold,
All: gathers us to worship today.
One: Jesus, who is our teacher and guide,
All: calls us to pay attention and pray.
One: The Holy Spirit, who is our comforter,
All: calls us to be in loving community with each other.
One: Come, let us worship! (Phyllis Flemming, Gathering)
Gathering Prayer
One: In the beauty of our world,
All: we come to pray, to worship, and to receive healing and hope.
One: We come from the struggles and triumphs of the week,
All: needing to feel the soothing presence of God.
One: Holy One, be with us today.
All: Calm and soothe our souls.
One: We rejoice in our time together,
All: where we gather to talk
of your presence and your love,
to sing your praises and to be empowered
to go forth to serve our community. Amen. (Heather Tober, Gathering(adapted))
Scripture: John 11:17-27 Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
Reading: The Source by Meister Eckhart
Just as the sun illumines the air and shines through it,
but keeps its source for itself, so You pour all pleasure
and every delight into every one of your creatures –
and into me – and yet You keep the root of pleasure
and guard delight’s essence in Yourself so that
I might seek You as the ever-giving source of
what gives true pleasure and lasting delight.
A New Creed
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Pastoral Prayers
A prayer from the Indigenous Ministries and Justice Circle:
Creator, God,
We ask you to be with us.
We pray for those who are ill, and for those we cannot be with as closely as we wish.
When we are afraid, help us to remember and be grateful for:
Water, which gives life.
The land, which sustains us and restores us to health.
The wisdom of Elders, who guide us.
Our young people, who deserve a bright future.
Our strength and resilience, which will bring us to a new day.
Help our leaders respond appropriately to the specific needs of Indigenous
communities.
Help us to walk compassionately with all who are ill or afraid.
Help us to understand that we are all relatives.
And now we pray for those who we name in words and in the silence of our hearts
and we hold them in the light of your love…
Help us to remember that
you called us by name and
hold us in unconditional love. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (Paraphrased by Sarah Dylan Breuer)
(Each Sunday in Lent we are reciting a different version of the Lord’s Prayer)
Loving Creator
we honor you,
and we honor all that you have made.
Renew the world
in the image of your love.
Give us what we need for today,
and a hunger to see the whole world fed.
Strengthen us for what lies ahead;
heal us from the hurts of the past;
give us courage to follow your call in this moment.
For your love is the only power,
the only home, the only honor we need,
in this world and in the world to come. Amen.
Sending Forth and Benediction:
May the Christ who walks with wounded feet
walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands
stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart
open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,
and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you. (VU 349)
Going Forth: MV #215
Peace be with you, peace forever,
peace be with you my friends.
Till we meet again,
may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace. (Words and music Alison L Wesley (Slaats) 2000. Words and Music copyright Alison L. Wesley (Slaats). Used by Permission (©LicenSing #605256))
Penticton United Church 
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