Welcome
Below you will find prayers, songs, readings, and a message to help you experience worship. You can light a candle, like we do at church, to remind you of the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can have a bowl of water in the vicinity to remind you of your baptism, and to use during the ‘Thanksgiving for Baptism’ portion of worship.
Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we find creative ways to worship together, even though we are not in the same building.
One good thing about virtual worship is that if you really like a song, you can listen to it again! Do what you need to do to worship God wherever you are.
Thanksgiving for Baptism
Read these words to yourself our out loud. Mark the sign of the cross on your hand or forehead or in the air space in front of you. If you are with other people, you can mark the sign of the cross for each other.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as your children, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Opening Song (click video to play)
CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT
verses 1,2,5
Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us. Make us your living voice.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another, signs of your kingdom come.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today
Prayer of the Day
Listen to our prayers, Lord Christ, and help us to know that you are with us. By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the creator and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Reading
PSALM 23
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no
evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff — they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
Children’s MomeNT (click video to play)
Reading and Message (click video to play)
JOHN 9: 1-41
The Gospel reading can be found on page 432 in the Spark story Bible “Pool of Siloam” or printed below.
1As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The 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?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He 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.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now
it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then
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.” 16Some
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. 17So 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.”
18The 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 19and
asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does
he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that
this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21but 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.” 22His 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. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age;
ask him.”
24So 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.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is
a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They
said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your
eyes?” 27He 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?” 28Then they reviled him, saying,
“You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We
know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he
comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an
astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my
eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he
does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never
since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person
born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do
nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born
entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39Jesus 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.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Hymn of the Day (click video to play)
GOD, WHOSE ALMIGHTY WORD
God, whose almighty word chaos and darkness heard and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray, and where the gospel day sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.
Christ, who once came to bring, on your redeeming wing, healing and sight;
health to the troubled mind, sight where illusions blind;
oh, now to humankind let there be light.
Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy dove, speed forth your flight;
move on the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place let there be light.
Holy and blessed three, glorious Trinity, Wisdom, Love, Might:
boundless as ocean’s tide, rolling in fullest pride, through the earth, far and wide,
let there be light.
Prayer
PRAYER FOR A PANDEMIC
HISTORIC ST. PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, LEXINGTON, KY
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close, remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Franciscan Sending
Read this out loud. If you are with other people, take turns reading the parts out loud.
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the Blessing of God, who Creates, Redeems, and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forevermore. Amen.
Closing Song (click video to play)
Go, My Children, with My Blessing
“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
“Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story, here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.”
“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. Amen.
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
