Sunday service for 27 March 2022, fourth Sunday in Lent

27 March 2022, fourth Sunday in Lent
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by the Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143
Email: tpeterson@churchofscotland.org.uk

In the sermon, there’s a pause to watch a video that I cannot embed in our worship video, for copyright reasons. You can watch that video on YouTube by clicking here!

Prelude Music

Welcome

Call to Worship
1: When the time is right, Jesus calls us to follow.
And sometimes, he calls us to wait.
2: When the time is right, Jesus calls us to speak.
And sometimes, he calls us to listen.
All: In every time, Jesus gives us what we need to be faithful,
to look past our fear toward Life anew.

Prayer with Hymn 776: Ukrainian Kyrie
Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.

Faithful God, you have made us in your image and called us your own.
We confess that we have not lived up to our potential,
and we admit that the gap between your kingdom way and our daily lives
is larger than we can bridge.
We have tried to do it under our own power,
proving our strength and earning our place,
even as you teach us to rely on your grace in our weakness.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.

We confess that in our attempts to be worthy,
we have actually lost our way.
Though we know you are near,
we cannot hear you over the voice of fear roaring in our ears and minds,
coursing through our bodies and telling us lies about who we are.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.

Forgive us for denying who you made us to be,
in favour of projecting an image that makes it easier to get along in this world.
Forgive us for pretending we do not know you,
in order to pursue our own instant gratification.
Forgive us for meeting your “I am” with our own scared “I am not,”
and bridge the gap between our ability and your vision,
that we may hear you clearly and obey your word.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.

Your word is alive, O God,
out in the open,
moving in hearts and minds and lives.
Your good news cannot be contained or controlled,
and there’s no stopping your revolutionary love
rippling out through the world.
Give us ears to hear your voice, calm and sure,
guiding us through fear to resurrection faith.
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Music
Online: The Voice of Truth (Casting Crowns)
In person: improvisation on St Columba (by P Norris)

Reading: John 18.12-27 (NRSV)
Last week we heard about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, and instructing them to do the same: to demonstrate love by serving one another. After the meal ended, Judas went out and met the authorities, and showed them where to find Jesus and the disciples meeting and praying in the garden. Meanwhile, Jesus spoke to the disciples at great length about his upcoming trials and triumphs, and prayed for his disciples to be faithful in following his way, including teaching them that the world will recognise them as his disciples by their love. When the authorities arrived with their lanterns and torches, Judas stood with the soldiers and police who came to arrest Jesus. When they said they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus himself stepped forward and said “I am,” and he instructed his disciples to leave, so that none might be lost. Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave, and Jesus told him to put his sword away, it wasn’t the way. We pick up the story in the gospel according to John, chapter 18, beginning at verse 12. I am reading from the New Revised Standard Version.
~~~

So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the religious leaders that it was better to have one person die for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.’ When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, ‘You are not also one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

For the word of God in Scripture
For the word of God among us
For the word of God within us
Thanks be to God.

Sermon: The Voice of Fear
Sometimes I wonder about how much pressure Peter felt. He was, after all, the one that Jesus re-named “The Rock” the very first time they met. He was one of Jesus’ inner circle of closest friends. He was the one who felt most free to speak up, and he had some spectacular successes…though John’s gospel says someone else is the “beloved” disciple. Peter was a leader among the disciples, and he had been told that he’d be a leader in the community of Jesus followers in years to come. Not to mention that, narratively in the story, he stands in for us a lot of the time, saying and doing things that we might think! Though of course he wouldn’t have known that at the time. But by this point in John, Peter has been with Jesus for three years, learning, absorbing, watching, and being empowered. But that night in the garden, Peter heard Jesus predict his strength would falter. He heard Jesus say “you cannot follow me now, but later you will.” He heard Jesus send his disciples home.

And then a crack appeared in the Rock. He not only pulled out his sword, he brandished it about and he injured someone, and Jesus told him to stop. He had gotten this spectacularly wrong, misunderstanding who Jesus was and what he had to do, and also what it meant to be a disciple of the Prince of Peace.

Once that crack opened, it’s as if the pressure got greater and greater, because the foundation was compromised, and Peter just fell apart.

I think that’s something we can relate to — in fact it’s a common enough experience that there’s a whole song about it in the recent Disney film Encanto.

Luisa’s Song (Surface Pressure): https://youtu.be/tQwVKr8rCYw

Sometimes the pressure comes from outside expectations, things people need or want from us, the things they ask us to carry or handle or hold. And sometimes it’s on the inside — thoughts like “who am I if I don’t have what it takes?” or “I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of service.” Those are the things that, when we say them to ourselves, mean that one little crack feels like the end of it all. One crack, and we fall entirely apart, as Peter did. One mistake in the garden — granted it was a big mistake, but still — and it was as if he’d passed some point of no return, and left behind everything he’d learned, all the transformation and experiences of the past three years becoming a disciple of Jesus.

So there Peter stood in the high priest’s courtyard — not with Jesus, whom he followed there in spite of being told it wasn’t time for him to come yet, but rather with the guards and police, around a fire. The light of the world was a few metres away, but Peter chose the lesser light, almost as if he felt he no longer belonged with Jesus. In Peter’s mind, he’s failed in such a big way that he is no longer able to call himself a disciple of Jesus. One crack and his entire identity fell apart, so when he was asked: are you not also one of this man’s disciples? — which tells us that the other person Peter went there with was already known to be a disciple, and was presumably standing with Jesus during this interrogation — but when Peter was asked, having had this crack open up, he could not say yes. Who was he, if his courage faltered? Well, he certainly couldn’t be a disciple, could he? He was a disciple before, sure…but now?

That’s the voice of fear talking, not the voice of the Shepherd. The voice of fear calls us to forget who we are. It talks round and round in circles until we are trapped by it and all we can imagine is this wee cage that holds us stuck in place.

That’s what the voice of fear wants — for us to forget, or at least hide and deny, who we really are. And even better, to drown out or ignore any other voices that might remind us. That way we will behave entirely in self-serving ways, seeking our own safety without thought for others or for the common good or the bigger picture.

Fear makes us forget ourselves. It takes the truth to set us free.

Perhaps Peter could not see the truth, that he was still a disciple, even though his courage had faltered. He made one mistake and then the voice of fear told him that was it, he was finished, he could never live up to his name. If you don’t keep it together all the time, then there’s no point in trying again. And turning to the other disciple for support was of course out of the question, because the voice of fear and the voice of self-sufficiency are best friends…a friendship made possible by the fact that they are both liars.

The voice of truth says “do not be afraid” — which is easier said than done, of course! With so much pressure both from the outside and the inside, and so many competing voices, it can feel impossible. So perhaps we might listen instead for the voice of truth reminding us who we are.

Fear wants us to forget who we are, or if that’s not quite possible, to at least pretend to be something else. Peter was not the first nor the last to hide his true self out of fear of how others would react to him. We have neighbours, brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren, who are hiding themselves because they are afraid of what others will think of them, or afraid for their safety if they’re honest, or afraid of being alone in the world. Whether they have to hide because of who they love or because of what faith they practice or because of some past trauma or because of some illness that they’re ashamed of, that fear is real and it traps us in that tiny cage that obscures our view of ourselves and the world.

But what if the voice of truth reminds us who we are?

The voice of truth says: you are my beloved.

The voice of truth says: I made you in my image, for my glory.

The voice of truth says: I believe in you.

The voice of truth says: you were never meant to carry this all alone.

The voice of truth says: I know you make mistakes, and I still love you.

The voice of truth might even quote Leonard Cohen and say: it’s okay if you crack now and then — there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

The voice of truth says: the worst thing is never the last thing.

The voice of truth says: come, follow me.

Though the voice of fear wants you to forget or deny yourself, remember who you are. When the pressure is overwhelming, remember who you are. When the world is out of control, remember who you are. When everything feels dangers, remember who you are. Even if you can’t manage to let go of fear, instead focus on who you are: you are a child of God, and you belong to God who loves you. Hone in on that truth, and though the other voices will still be there, they won’t be quite so loud. Because the truth will set you free.

May it be so. Amen.

Online hymn 533: Will You Come and Follow Me
(In person Hymn: The Truth That Sets Us Free (words: John L Bell; tune: Courage Brother))

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer: Fiona Webster
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

In person Hymn 533: Will You Come and Follow Me (John L Bell, tune Kelvingrove)

Benediction
Go into your week to hear and obey the voice of truth which says you are a beloved child of God, and let that love that is the foundation of all things give you courage to stand firm in who God has made you to be.
And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Go in peace. Amen.

Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Announcements

* We are now about halfway through the season of Lent, a season of preparing for Easter. During Lent we are invited to be particularly attentive to our spiritual practices, to remove things from our lives that are hindering our relationship with God, and to be diligent in pursuing faithful ways. This season is meant to get us ready to meet the risen Christ on the other side of the tomb, and to follow him wherever he will lead. The theme for worship during this Lenten season will be “Who’s Calling?” — thinking about how we incline our ear to the voice of Jesus through the cacophony of the world around us.

*You are invited to join in reading the Bible in a year for 2022 — immersing ourselves in God’s word throughout the year. Click here to find a reading plan that’s five days a week (leaving a couple of days for catch up each week!). Watch this space for information about a Bible study as we go through the scriptures together!

* All worship is online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print) and we also meet in person, subject to the usual protocols for distancing, hand hygiene, mask wearing. We can now welcome up to 85-100 people for worship with one-chair-between-households distancing. No booking is required. Masks are required at all times inside the building, including while singing. If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door.

* Tonight we will gather for evening prayer on the Connect Facebook Page, led tonight by David. Log on at 6:58pm to join in.

* The Kirk now has online giving! If you have not already set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Peter Bennett, our treasurer, or Teri and she can give you his details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. Remember: no one is coming to your door to collect your envelopes, so please stay safe!

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email devotions! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email. Feel free to share with your friends, too!

* The Spring Church Notes are now available! You can read them by clicking here.

* The Lower Clyde Mission Group (of which St. John’s is a part) is hosting an Easter Trail on Saturday 16 April, on Tower Hill, from 2-3pm. All are welcome!

*Young Adults Bible Study is on Zoom most Sunday afternoons. Contact Teri for the link to join and for a copy of the book they are using.

*Mark your calendars for Holy Week and Easter worship:
10 April:
11am, Passion Sunday service in St. John’s
4pm, CONNECT Palm Sunday event at OGA, with a light dinner served

14 and 15 April:
7:30pm, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services

16 April:
2-3pm, Easter Trail on Tower Hill
8:30pm, Easter Eve service in St. John’s

17 April:
7am, Easter service on Tower Hill
8am, Easter breakfast with communion in St. John’s large hall
11am, Easter service in St John’s sanctuary