Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19, 2023

Welcome to the Season of Lent

A SANCTIFIED ART: During this church season we call Lent, we are using a wonderful worship resource called “A Sanctified Art LLC.” It is a collective of artists in ministry who create resources for worshiping communities. Their mission is to empower churches with resources to inspire creativity in worship and beyond. Driven by the connective and prophetic power of art, they believe that art helps us connect our hearts with our hands, our faith with our lives, and our mess, with God. Through their art, prayers, poems and music, we hope you will find moments to connect deeply with the sacred time of traveling through the wilderness these 40 days – The Rev. Dr.

Lisa Tucker-Gray

INSIGHT

by Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Inspired by John 9: 8-41

Silk painting with digital drawing and collage

Artist’s Statement: In seven verses, the gospel writer tells us that a man born blind is given sight. But after that, the narrator devotes thirty-three verses to the details of disagreement that swell after the healing takes place. I used to find this second part of the story tedious and exhausting. In a world with constant conflict, I’m tired of listening to endless bickering.

However, this second half of the story makes me realize that this encounter is hardly about physical healing or literal blindness. It’s about how harmful theology can prevent us from seeing people truly seeing them. It’s about how our narrow imagination can harden into accusation and blame. It’s about how we can be threatened by new ideas or shifts in someone’s identity. It’s about how our doctrine can lead to exile. Ultimately, it’s a story about our resistance to change. Can this be a cautionary tale for us?

In this image, hands expressing denial and exclusion press in on the man. In the background, I wrote a barrage of questions I imagine emerging from the crowd: Why did God heal you? What did you do to cause this? Who sinned? Alongside those questions, I wove in contemporary statements I’ve heard spoken in situations when we think a tidy rationale will comfort us: Everything happens for a reason. God only gives you as much as you can handle. Pray harder.

I wonder what this story would look like had better questions been asked. What if his neighbors had instead asked the blind man, “How do you feel?” What if the man had asked the crowd, “What are you afraid of?” What if the Pharisees had asked one another, “What if it’s time to change?”

Surrounded by remnants of narrow vision, the man has new insight. He looks beyond the words, beyond the crowd, beyond the accusations driving him out of town. Can we seek understanding without denigrating or objectifying humans in the process?

Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity

 A PENITENTIAL ORDER 

Prelude Amazing Grace Traditional (Bradley Baker, Kim Buehler and Grace Mauk)

Welcome

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Call to Worship Prayer by Rev. Sarah A. Speed, A Sanctified Art LLC, sanctifiedart.org

Priest: Listen!

People: There is hope to be found here.

Priest: Listen!

People: God calls you by name here.

Priest: Listen!

People: There is love that abides here.

Priest: The world is full of chatter, so may we do our best to listen.

People: God is speaking.

Priest: Let us worship.

People: Amen.

Confession & Absolution

We Make the Road by Walking, Brian McLaren

Priest: Let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor.

People: Gracious God, we have hurt others, and we have been hurt. We have presumed upon others, and we have been presumed upon. We have taken others for granted, and we have been taken for granted. We have dishonored others, and we have been dishonored. As we receive forgiveness today for our wrongs, may we also extend forgiveness to other who have wronged us. Have mercy upon us all. Amen.

Priest: To all and to each where regret is real, The God of Love pronounces pardon and grants us all the right to begin again. Amen.

Kyrie

M. Roger Holland II The

Sound of My

People

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy, mercy, mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy, mercy, mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy. Lord, have mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy.

Collect of the Day Prayers for an Inclusive Church Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also withyou. Leader: Let us pray.

Lord of the wellspring, source of life and truth: Jesus asked for water from the hands of a woman in the land of the stranger; may he teach us to name our need, to love our neighbor and worship you in spirit and truth, through Jesus Christ, who shows us who we are. Amen.

The First Lesson

Reader: A reading from First Samuel.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm will be offered by the Trinity Section Leaders

the Lord is my shepherd i have all i need She makes me lie down in green meadows beside the still waters She will lead She restores my soul She writes my wrongs She leads me in a path of good things and fills my heart with song

even through I walk through a dark and dreary land there is nothing that shake me She has said She won’t forsake me i’m in her hand

She sets a table before me in the presence of my foes She anoints my head with oil and my cup overflow

surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life and i will live in Her house forever forever and ever glory be to our Mother and Daughter and to the holy of holies as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. amen.

The Second Lesson Ephesians 5:8-14

Reader: A reading from Ephesians

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

There’s a place you can get to without any sound

It’s a place where the wick has burned out

There’s a place at the point that’s past turning around There is a place to be lost long after you’re found Coax your quiet questionings

Speak your soft uncertainties

There is room for these

In the land of the seeking

THE GOSPEL John 9:1-41

Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John. People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon George Benson, Director of Community Engagement (Pause for reflection )

Affirmation of Faith

Prayer by

Rev. Sarah A. Speed, A Sanctified Art LLC, sanctifiedart.org

We believe in a God who meets us in the shadows, who welcomes our questions, who invites us to begin again. We believe that Jesus showed us a new way, a deeper faith, a more compassionate existence. We believe that all of our beginnings should return us to this foundation, and that no matter how many times we lose our way, God always welcomes us home. Amen.

Prayers of the People

During this season we will sing and speak our petitions of prayer.

REFRAIN

Intercessor: God of justice hear the cry of those who yearn for justice around the world; the persecuted and oppressed, the exploited and the ill-treated.

God of love hear the cry of those who yearn for love; fractured families, broken homes neglected, unwanted, alone

REFRAIN

God of peace hear the cry of those who yearn for peace; in battle zones and broken states, those who are frightened, fearful and anxious. (Pause)

God of healing hear the cry of those who yearn for healing; physical and spiritual hurting, weakened and depressed. (Pause)

REFRAIN

God of mercy hear the cry of those who yearn for mercy; convicted, in need of your Grace, contrite, humble, bowed down. (Pause)

May we know the peace of God the love of God the justice of God the healing and mercy of God this day and all days. Amen.

REFRAIN THE PEACE

Deacon: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.

Announcements

Offertory Invitation

To give online, visit www.trinitytoledo.org/online-giving/, choose GIVE NOW and today’s date. You can also text the word “Give” to 419-OMG-LOVE (419-664-5683) to make your weekly offering. This season we will not “pass the plate” at the time of the offertory; offerings can be deposited in our Giving Box stationed at the back of the sanctuary.

Offertory

Hear My Prayer Moses Hogan (Trinity Choir)

 The Liturgy of the Table 

The Great Thanksgiving

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

A Wee Worship Book, Iona Community

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise. We praise you, O God, whom eternity cannot contain, for coming to earth and entering time in Jesus. We praise you for his life which informs our living, for his compassion which changes our hearts, for his clear speaking which contradicts our harmless generalities, for his disturbing presence, his innocent suffering, his fearless dying, his rising to life breathing forgiveness and restoring us forever to you. For these gifts we praise and worship you.

All that is spectacular, all that is plain have their origin in you. All that is lovely, all who are loving, point to you as their fulfillment. Therefore we gladly join our voices to the song of the Church on earth and in heaven:

Sanctus

The Sound of My People, M. Roger Holland Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts

Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest Blessed is they who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest

Jesus was always the guest. In the homes of Peter and Jairus, Martha and Mary, Joanna and Susanna, he was always the guest. At the meal tables of the wealthy where he pled the case of the poor, he was always the guest. Upsetting polite company, befriending isolated people, welcoming the stranger, he was always the guest.

But here, at this table, he is the host. Those who wish to serve him must first be served by him. Those who want to follow him must first be fed by him. For this is the table where God intends us to be nourished. This is the time when Christ can make us new. So come, you who hunger and thirst for a deeper faith, for a better life, for a fairer world. Jesus Christ, who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be his guests.

On their last night together, and as they were sitting at a meal, Jesus gave thanks, took a piece of bread and broke it. He gave it to the disciples saying, “This is my body. It is broken for you. Do this to remember me.”

Later, after they had eaten, he took a cup of wine, gave thanks and said, “This cup is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death. Drink this all of you, to remember me.”

So now we do as Jesus did. We offer this bread and this wine to each other, and proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

We ask that these signs of your love be filled with the fullness of Jesus. Let that same love rest on us, converting us from the patterns of this passing world, until we conform to the shape of him whose food we now share. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray this version of the Lord’s prayer:

The Lord’s Prayer Version from New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth! In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

The Fraction: Breaking of the Bread Enriching Our Worship

Celebrant: We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ. People: We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread. Celebrant: The Gifts of God for the people of God; holy food for holy people.

Invitation to Communion

Please be seated until you are invited to come forward to receive communion. Please let us know if you would like the bread brought to you. All are welcome.

Communion Hymn I Need Thee Every Hour See insert..

The Post Communion Prayer (Please stand as you are able.)

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Jesus, we have feasted on the bread of life. Together we have tasted the love of your kin-dom here on earth. In your risen power you have united us with all of those who have come before, with those gathered today, and with those yet to find their way to this table of love set and ready to welcome all. May the sense of a new heaven and a new earth strengthen and renew us today and in the days to come. Now, send us out into the world to do the work you have given us to do offering your fearless love and priceless peace to all we meet in the name of our loving, liberating life-giving God. Amen.

BlessinG Prayer by Rev. Sarah A. Speed, A Sanctified Art LLC, sanctifiedart.org

As we leave this place, may God bless us with seeking. Seeking out the hungry. Seeking the weary. Seeking the good in every person we pass. Seeking out the hopeful. Seeking the faithful. Seeking God in everyone. As we seek and as we wonder, may we all find what we are looking for. In the name of our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, who is always seeking us. Amen.

. May the rain fall off your shoulders when you’re caught in a storm. When the frost comes a callin’ may it find you safe and warm. May your place be set, and may your promises be kept. And may you never forget that you are loved.

Dismissal

Deacon: Go in peace to serve our loving, liberating, life-giving God. People: Thanks be to God.

Reminder: All are invited today to join us upstairs in My Brother’s Place for lunch and conversation about Community Engagement following the service.

Trinity’s Daily Bread- As a community of faith, we are called to love and be loved; to serve and be served, to give and to receive. In short, we don’t want anyone to “fall behind or drop out.” In this season of connecting in new ways, we are introducing Trinity’s Daily Bread. Please let us know if you need prayer, assistance or connection by filling out our Daily Bread form on our website, www.trinitytoledo.org!

Trinity Episcopal Church

Vestry Leadership

Donna Steppe, Sr. Warden, Jeffrey Albright, Jr. Warden

Karen Keune, Clerk, Margaret Baehren, Treasurer

Dennis Degnan, Becky Koskinen, Leah Reed

Fritz Hany, Gary Franklin & Jamie Paul

Parish Staff

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector

Heather Meyer, Director of Operations and Community Development

George Benson, Director of Community Engagement

Chelsie Cree, Director of Music & the Arts

Grace Mauk, Assistant Director of Music and the Arts

Brian Buckner, Trinity@Home Accompanist

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & COPYRIGHT INFO:

Bulletin Cover Image: ASanctified Art, seeking

Collect of the Day: Prayers for an Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare. Readings and Gospel from: Revised Common Lectionary: lectionarypage.net, 2021.

Affirmation of Faith: Prayer by Rev. Sarah A. Speed, A Sanctified Art LLC, sanctifiedart.org

Psalm: From Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill.

Prayers of the People: Refrain from Psalm 103, alt. Taize – GIA Publications.

Confession & Absolution: from The Road We Make by Walking, Brian McLaren

The Great Thanksgiving: A Wee Worship Book, Iona Community

Lord’s Prayer: New Zealand Prayerbook

Fraction: Enriching Our Worship

All printed music from The Hymnal 1982, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, My Heart Sings Out, Wonder, Love, and Praise was used by permission through purchase of riteseries.org.

All other printed music permission through purchase of CCLI Copyright license #20577215 Size B

Streaming License #20577284 Size B

Secular music permission through purchase of CCS WORSHIPcast Copyright license #13190

All printed music from Gather permission through purchase of onelicense.net License # A-700000

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