Lent 2018 Worship ResourcesUbuntu: Reflecting on Christian Community

Fourth Sunday in Lent, 11 March 2018

“Returning to Goodness”

Suggested Scripture: John 3:14-21

Contemporary Reading: “Christian theologians use the word repentance or the Greek word

metanoia to describe this act of reorientation. Metanoia, or repentance, literally means “rethinking.” Many things might prompt us to rethink our words or actions. Perhaps the response to our words or tone prods our remorse.... Reorientation and returning are hard both for the person who inflicts harm and for the person harmed. Returning to goodness, recovering wholeness are tasks for both of them. When I cause a hurt, it is hard for me to stop, repent, and return. I must gather up the shards of damaged or broken relationship that injury implies and begin the work of restoration. When I have been harmed, I also need to gather myself up from brokenness. Whether I inflict the harm or I am the one who is hurting, I need to be restored to wholeness.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth, Made For Goodness

Call to Worship: One; All we need is oneOne GodOne worldOne lifeOne loveOne human raceOne destiny..we all are in pursuit of one collective destinyWe all need just oneOne dreamOne dayOne hourOne minuteOne secondOne moment…Be the one you are created to beBecause that’s all you can beThe whole pursuit of life is to be one

Jesus said I and the Creator we are oneUnity The purpose of GodIntegrity The essence of GodIt’s about onenessOne dreamOne lifeOne worldOne GodOne destinyOne love One (adapted from a poem by Nigerian poet Sage Hasson)

Prayer of Reflection: We have a paradox here, God, because your holiness and goodness both overwhelm and attract us. We want to approach you, and yet, we are overawed by your holiness, which overwhelms us. And yet you, God, come in Jesus as the friend of sinners who sits at table with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners whom the world despises. You welcome your wayward children like the father of the prodigal, who sets aside all his patriarchal dignity as he rushes out to welcome his long-lost son. You do not stand on ceremony. You, God, in Jesus Christ go after the troublesome lost sheep, and when you find this unattractive rogue, you bear it joyfully home on your shoulders and have a celebration to mark its finding and return. We thank you and praise for this. Amen.

(adapted from Archbishop Desmond Tutu in An African Prayer Book)