Fourth Sunday in Lent
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Fourth Sunday in Lent, 15th Mar 2026
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
Let me tell you a story about not one, BUT TWO, two blind men who had both been healed by Jesus. They happened to meet one day, and each was so excited to meet someone else who had been healed.
They talked about the wonder and the power of having seen the face of Jesus.
They were laughing and having a great time together, when one of them said, “And do you remember how Jesus took spit, made mud, and put it into your eye?” The other man looked kind of stunned, and answered, “Why no, he just said, ‘Receive your sight,’ and I could see.”
The first man said, “Wait a minute. You mean he didn’t use any mud?”
“No.”
“Well, did he at least have you wash in the pool of Siloam?”
“No, of course not. Who ever heard of anything as ridiculous as mud in your eye, washed off in a pool?”
“Well,” said the first man, “if he didn’t put mud in your eyes and have you wash in the pool of Siloam, you are still blind! Blind – do your hear me? Because that’s the way Jesus healed me; that’s the way He does it!”
Then the second man began to get angry. He shouted, “Mud, mud! Who ever heard of using mud?! That’s the dumbest thing I have ever heard! You still have mud in your eyes. You’re the one who’s still blind!”
They got into a big argument – their relationship was destroyed, and right then and there, they formed the first two denominations: the Mudites and the Antimudites! <PAUSE>
My story fictional illustrates story illustrates, how easily human frailty produces division. We forget how far more unites us than can ever divide us. So … Who’s blind now?
This story from John 9:1-41 is long and detailed. A tapestry so rich in its teaching that there is no way that a single sermon can do it justice.
The disciples ask questions about the sin and fault and blame behind the man’s lack of sight. So … Who’s blind now?
There is the beauty when Jesus tells his disciples (and us!) that God didn’t make this man blind as a punishment. This particular blind man has come to us so that they (and WE!) can be made to see. So … Who’s blind now?
The investigation and stiff-necked resistance to change of the Pharisees. Yes, each time the Pharisees look at Jesus they see …. nothing …. they were looking with the eyes of their religious authority, not with the eyes of faith. So … Who’s blind now? The Pharisees and others who witnessed, first hand, The Christ, were faced with the signs and wonders of God Incarnate in their lives and yet couldn’t see who and what Jesus was. So … Who’s blind now?
I don’t want to be overly harsh on The Pharisees because I’m sure most of them were good men, well-meaning men who spent their lives devoted to their faith. Trying to protect their beliefs and practices … BUT … when Jesus came He changed the world. They didn’t want to see that change. They didn’t want to accept that change. Even though that change came from God! <PAUSE>
But then again ….
How about people today? How about those folks who say, “We can’t do that here, because we’ve always done it this way?” or “I don’t want to do it that way so I’m not gonna listen to you!” or “I want it done my way and I’m not going to change!”
Isn’t that resistance to ANY sort of change what those Pharisees ranted and raved about?
What if … just what if …. some of these completely different approaches to the way we do things are ALSO from God?
I can almost hear people say … This is tough for us to face. We’re good people. We try to follow the rules and get a handle on what it is God wants from us. We try and struggle to do the right things so, David, PLEASE don’t tell us that doing and\or accepting something completely different might also be from God! <PAUSE>
But that’s what is really important here … it’s important to embrace BOTH tradition and change … and remember we don’t have to select the either/or.
I have my own thoughts about Christianity. Rightly or wrongly, I have in my mind what constitutes Christianity. I do NOT, however, know the mind of God. No one does. As the prophet Isaiah (55:8) says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”.
But sometimes humans, ancient and modern, slip into thinking that they actually do know how God chooses to do God’s work. How God wants things done. So … Who’s blind there? <PAUSE>
But what I do know, to paraphrase Luke 4:18 is that gathered here today, from ll around the globe, from all different denominations - - - The Spirit of the Lord IS upon US, because he has anointed US to proclaim the good news. He sends US to proclaim the regaining of sight to the blind - to, first and foremost - PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
So, will we take up this challenge, spread the good news, try to understand and accept those who do things differently and bring sight to the blind … and to God will be the glory.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Holy God, you gave us our Mothers, for which we give You joyful thanks.
Today, we especially thank you for all that our mothers gave to us from the moment we were born into this amazing life. We remember the love and care they surrounded us with through our early years; the guidance they continued to give as we grew to maturity; the support that they continued to give as many of us became parents ourselves and the role they played as grandparents, playing such a vital role in society.
<Longer pause for personal reflection>
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for the role that so many mothers played in introducing us to You and Your son Jesus Christ, through bedtime prayers and stories, in the way they served as an example of Christian life and introducing us to public worship in our first faith communities.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, as we watch and read the news we see the brokenness of our world and that for many families life is more dangerous than ever before. We pray for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; that Your love may bring peace to all your children.
We also raise before You for all people who suffer in conflicts around the world, in Iran, The Holy Land, Ukraine, around Africa and elsewhere – Lord please bring peace.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, Your Son, was born into the human family of Mary and Joseph; bless all those that we live amongst who are parents and all who care for children in our local communities. Strengthen all families who are living under stress and shine your love into homes where no human love is found.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for all mothers of children suffering from serious illness, recognising not only their anguish but also the way that their love and determination really makes a big difference to chances of recovery.
We thank you for the many hours our parents spent caring for us when we were ill, and thank you too for the many children who grow up to be their parent's carers in later life.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, like a mother, You gather Your people to You as gently as any human mother with her children. Turn the despair that comes through the parting of death into hope, and may we, through Your gentleness, find comfort and restoration in our sadness and loss.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sisters and brothers, Cynthia (USA), Emilia (UK), Carmelo (Uruguay).
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Everlasting God, You alone can see the future, and so we pray to You, who can see ahead of us, asking for Your protection for each of us, for our families and those who we love.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach 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 for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
