March 22, 2026
FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE SEASON OF LENT
A Service of Prayer, Song, Symbolism, and of ‘Rising Up"‘
THEME: “Seeing the ‘Sometimes’ Mission Impossible”
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Bob Gibbenus & Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Elizabeth Wegg
“Be still…and let God’s peace wash over you like waves lapping over pebbles; smoothing rough edges of overwhelming worries and turning them into grains of sand…and let the peace of God be with us all today.”
PRELUDE
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PROCESSION of BONES (Instrumental version of VU#144 “Were You There”)
PSALM 61:1-5
Rev. Jope: Were you there, when that which was death-dealing had
more power than that which was life-giving?
Were you there, when the icy fingers of fear choked the spirit
of creativity?
Were you there, when that which appeared dead found new
life?
Were you there, when old bones began to dance?
(Bones are shown…)
I was there…and you were there…we each know that when
something needs to die, new growth may
blossom forth.
(Loraine MacKenzie Shepherd, Westworth U.C., Winnipeg, Man. Gathering Magazine)
SERVICE of DIMINISHING LIGHTS
Rev. Jope: During Lent, we remember the events that led to the crucifixion. Jesus had come to bring hope and light to the world……
…….As the small bag of coins was traded from hand to hand, a little of the light that had come into the world went out
(Extinguishing of the Fifth Lenten Candle)
All in Prayer: Loving God, we open our hearts to you. We invite you into our inmost being…only to find you’re already there. Strengthen us in our quiet places and then lead us into the work of justice and of peace…Amen.
INTROIT VU # 121 “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery”
(verses 1-5)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR TERRITORY (Rev. Jope)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Rev. Jope: The hand of God brought me into the midst of the valley, and it was full of dry bones.
ALL: This will be the means by which the Son of Man will receive glory
Rev. Jope: God’s Spirit asked, “Mortal, can these bones live?” and I answered, “God only knows!”
ALL: Our friend Lazarus is dead: let us go to him.
Rev. Jope: Speak to these bones.
ALL: “Lazarus…come out!!”
Rev. Jope: See what happens when they hear the Word of God… suddenly the bones fit together. Ligaments and tendons, muscle and skin formed the body, but there was no breath.
ALL: The body walked, but it was wrapped head to toe in the clothing of death.
Rev. Jope: Speak again and let the wind of the Spirit return life to these hopeless ones.
ALL: Unbind the body that the breath of God may excite new life.
Rev. Jope: Both Old and New Testaments witness that God enters our death-filled existence to bring us to life, reminding us that Jesus took upon himself our pain, our isolation.
ALL: As Christ’s disciples, we have unfinished business in this world. Our obligation is to speak the word of promise to the dry bones of our communities, to be a conduit for the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Our daily work is removing the bindings of injustice, oppression, and poverty, permitting all God’s people to exercise and enjoy the freedom of new life in Christ.
*HYMN MV # 138 “My Love Colours Outside the Lines”
OPENING PRAYER (Unison)
With the coming of spring, O God, we are aware of ourselves as gardens. We have lain fallow through the winter, our souls untended, reminders of an old life still clutter the surfaces of our lives. Things dormant in us are beginning to grow.
We stretch toward the sunlight, with gratitude for the warmth. We wait to be tilled, to have the hard earth broken and made soft once again. We long for the gentle rains of your Spirit to give life to the good things inside us. We lament the weeds that grow despite all our best wishes. Come, O God, and renew the life that is in us. Raise us up to fruitfulness in this, your world. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ who worked alongside ‘The Most High Gardener’….Amen
Engaging the Sacred Text
(Reader: Elizabeth Wegg)
EZEKIEL 37:1-14 (704) The valley of the dry bones…
PSALM 130 (VU # 853) Out of the depths I cry to God…
Refrain # 2: (VU # 853) “Out of the depths I cry to you;
my hope is in your promise true.”
Elizabeth: Out of the depths have I called to you. O God, hear my cry!
All: Let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
Elizabeth: If you should keep account of what is done amiss,
O God, who could stand?
All: But there is forgiveness with you,
therefore, we will honour you.
Refrain “Out of the depths I cry to you;
my hope is in your promise true.”
Elizabeth: I wait for you, God; my soul waits,
and in your word is my hope.
All: My soul waits for God more than the watchers long
for morning, more than the watchers long for morning.
Elizabeth: O Israel, wait in hope, for with God there is love unfailing.
All: With God is great power to redeem, to redeem you,
Israel, from all your sins.
Refrain “Out of the depths I cry to you;
my hope is in your promise true.”
JOHN 11:1-45 (873) The raising of Lazarus…
MESSAGE “Mission Impossible”
*HYMN VU # 339 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
Responding
OFFERING INVITATION (Leader)
Receive our gifts, O God. May they be used to show to the world the greatness of your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Christ, your perfect gift and our Saviour…our offerings will now be taken up…
(Beth W Johnston, while at Bridging Waters P.C., Nipawin, Sask. Gathering, pg. 33)
OFFERTORY MUSIC “Out of the Depths” by: Debra Scroggins
OFFERING DEDICATION PRAYER (Rev. Jope)
CLOSING LENTEN PRAYERS of the PEOPLE (Unison)
(Taken from Joyce Rupp’s Out of the Ordinary, and entitled, “Come Out!”)
Jesus stood at the tomb of Lazarus, a friend, dead, buried three days, and he demanded, “Take the stone away!”
But Martha, sister of the dead, turned in alarm to her friend: “No, you can’t do that. He can’t come out. He’s been in there too long. He smells.”
That fearful voice of resistance has echoed through the ages, leaving fragments in our souls: “You can’t find a new life. You’ve been dead too long. Don’t think you can change now.”
VU # 376 “Spirit of the Living God” (Verse #1)
The old message repeats itself to those life-giving parts of us that have died and gone to smell and need to be raised up: the child in us who succumbed to neglect, the self-esteem that was choked by fear, the intuition that withered with mistrust, the joy that submitted to anxiety and worry.
Many are the names of the dead in ourselves, many are the risings that need to take place.
Jesus stands at the tomb and calls them out, ignoring the loud protest of our inner voice that cries, “You can’t call that back to life!”
This Easter, welcome the inner Lazarus, let the stone unseal the smell. Let the Risen Voice resurrect our deadness and give it an entrance into light.
VU # 376 “Spirit of the Living God” (Verse #2)
LORD’S PRAYER
Blessing
COMMISSIONING (unison)
Go with joy. God’s hope be in you. God’s peace spread through you. God’s laughter ring in your heart. Let us let go of all that needs to die in order that we may rise to new life…may we journey away from this place in love… Amen.
CLOSING HYMN MV # 169
“When Hands Reach Out Beyond Divides”
BLESSING
RECESSIONAL
POSTLUDE MUSIC
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Palm / Passion Sunday in the Season of Lent
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
PSALM 118:1-2, 19-29
MATTHEW 21:1-11