Fourth Sunday in Lent

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link:  https://fb.me/e/6nnHDs93F?mibextid=RQdjqZ, hear it in the church parking lot at 107.1 FM, or join us in person. 

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Gathering Music                                    Ed Yokley                                 

Welcome and Announcements with recognition of visitors      Diane Lee            

 Community Reading

When we search for the real in life,

   inevitably we are led to people experiences.

It is when love is shared with another -- openly,

   deeply, honestly – that we find meaning.

It is the understanding concern of another

   that penetrates the wall of our loneliness and allows us to endure.

It is the gift of caring that lifts us out of ourselves

   and enables us to give in return.

When we experience these things – love, understanding, caring –

   we find ourselves called beyond our limits;

We discover the courage to be; we become something new;

   our lives expand.                                                 Author’s name lost

Opening Hymn  “Open My Eyes, That I May See” Hymnal #451

1)  Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.

Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free,

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes; illumine me, Spirit divine!

2)  Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear.

And while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my ears; illumine me, Spirit divine!

3)  Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere.

Open my heart, and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my heart; illumine me, Spirit divine!

 Gospel Reading for the 4th Sunday in Lent             John 9:1-41

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The 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?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He 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.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then 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.” Some 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. So 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.”

The 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 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but 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.” His 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. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So 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.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He 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?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus 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.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

The seven signs in John are:

1.     Changing water into wine in John 2:1-11 - "the first of the signs"

2.     Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54

3.     Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15

4.     Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14

5.     Jesus' walk on water in John 6:16-24

6.     Healing the man born blind in John 9:1-7

7.     Raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-45

Message “Surely we are not blind, are we?”       Rev. Dr. Steve Morgan

Sharing of Prayer Concerns and Praise Notes

Prayerful Response 

Closing Hymn     “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”                Hymnal #649

  Kristin Cascio, soloist

  Singing in Cherokee

1)  Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

2)  ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

3)  Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

4)  The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

Closing 

Conversation 

Shalom   (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

        Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

       Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.

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Calendar of Service    

March 26 - Keith Ray; Re-Member Garden dedications

April 2 (Palm Sunday) - Keith Ray; 1st Sunday Potluck meal

April 9 (Easter) - Keith Ray

April 16 - Steve Morgan

April 23 - Keith Ray

April 30 - Sarah Woodard from CDCA

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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP?  Would you like to make this community your spiritual home?  Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.

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The Alliance of Pendleton Churches will be hosting a series of Community Lenten Lunches in area churches on Wednesdays in March from 12 -1 pm. A full schedule can be found here: https://www.smore.com/qxg82-community-lenten-lunches?ref=email-content#w-0476105465

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Tom Wright recommends the Reflections on the Lenten Journey blog by Mike Boucher. Check it out here: https://spirituschristi.org/category/lent/

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We are looking for a leader for the Spring Equinox Labyrinth walk on March 20th. Please contact Sharon Fowler if you are able to lead the way for this event!

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United Way of Anderson County is sponsoring free Mental Health First Aid Training on various dates in February and March. Register at https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/MentalHealthFirstAid

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If you are interested in a class on Advanced Directives and/or the “Stop the Bleed” program let Barb Barham know so that she and Rosie Thompson can plan accordingly for future programming.

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It’s time for Undie Sundays! We are collecting socks, men’s underwear (great need for Small men’s underwear) and women’s underwear and bras of all sizes for South Main Chapel and Mercy Center.  Bring your items between now and May 28 when we have our next turn serving lunch at South Main.

Additionally, South Main is currently experiencing a bottled water shortage. Donations welcomed at the South Main facility!

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Sarah Shumpert shared the Westside Community Center needs a new roof. They are asking folks to donate $40 in honor of the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day being signed into legislation as a national holiday. Donations can be made online through the United Way of Anderson County.  Use the “Donation Description” box to designate your donation for the Westside Community Center roof.

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Several of the church hymnals seem to have left the building. If you took a hymnal home for a walk (since they don’t have legs of their own), don’t forget to walk it back to church!

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Remember in prayer: Patti Pitts; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Michael Little-Bell and Family; Violet Taylor (Kristin Cascio’s granddaughter); Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Whitney and Taylor Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Jackie Moore;; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; Victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions

and the journey to the answers.

Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray

Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford

Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622

Phone: 864-225-3575

Website:  naccpchurch.org

Church News:  naccpnews@yahoo.com

Instagram:  northandersonccp

Facebook:  NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian