Second Sunday in Lent, 2025
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):
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and 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:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Luke.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Second Sunday in Lent 2025
Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>
As you may know, foxes and chickens are natural enemies.
There is a children’s story called “The Fox and the Little Red Hen”. In the story, Papa Fox sneaked up quietly behind the little red hen, grabbed her, and put her into his bag. Then he quickly ran off down the hill toward his home to eat some chicken dinner. Inside the fox’s bag, the little red hen remembered that she had some scissors in her pocket. So, when the fox stopped to rest, she cut a hole in the bag, slipped out, put a large stone in the bag, and ran away. When the fox got home, all he had in his bag was a stone. The little red hen was too smart for the sly old fox!
In Luke 13:31-35, a group of religious leaders tell Jesus that Herod Antipas wants to kill him Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must go about my business. It just wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem.”
Then Jesus went on to compare himself to a mother hen. “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”
What a beautiful picture of Jesus. The fox couldn’t defeat him, but like a mother hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings to protect them, Jesus will willingly gave himself to save his children - even though many had rejected Him time and time again. <PAUSE>
Jesus still loves his children today. He still wants to gather them in his arms and protect them and care for them. Sometimes we stray away, but Jesus still loves us just the same. <PAUSE>
Jesus knew what type of man Herod was and despite this He was determined to complete the work God sent Him to do.
He would be ready to go only when the work was completed.
He refused to be intimidated.
The time of His death was approaching, and He wanted to reach as many people as possible before He died.
When He faced down the Pharisees, Jesus showed us how to act courageously. He didn’t flee from the challenge. He met it head-on. This shows Jesus’ character. Jesus shows us that vulnerability is essential for courage.
Courage gives US strength to be open to the needs of people around us.
Jesus uses the image of a hen gathering her brood of chicks to her for protection and safety to illustrate God’s love and concern for His people and remind US about how we need to be concerned for, and love, those around us.
Jesus also connected to the prophetic tradition He inherited a tradition that continues today. Prophets come in many shapes and sizes and they speak about many different ideas, but according to Jesus the one thing they have in common is that their truth is often rejected by those who have a stake in maintaining power and the status quo.
Prophets challenge the status quo. They speak God’s truth, and that threatens the world’s power structure. They challenge the world’s power structure.
If we want to be prophets, if we want to show Christ to the world, our lives have to be grounded in the truth of Christ.
God calls us to make our voices heard no matter how small the act of love or the witness of hope. <PAUSE>
In the original Greek, and in Luke’s Gospel, the word “Jerusalem” occurs three times in a row at the end of verse 33 and the beginning of verse 34. Luke focuses his readers’ attention on that city and the events about to happen there. The events that our current Lenten journey is leading us towards.
Jesus warned the Israelites that they would face God’s judgment and the result of the hardness of their hearts was their destruction at the hands of the Romans in the siege of Jerusalem, the crushing of rebellion, and the destruction of The Temple in AD 70. <PAUSE>
Jesus sadly accepts the fact that there are people who will reject Him. The agony He had over the Israelites and their hard hearts is the same agony He has for people who reject Him today. He grieves over those who don’t accept what He is offering - salvation, grace and unconditional love. <PAUSE>
There are two great lessons in this gospel passage that we can apply to our lives today.
First, we need to have a spirit of calmness and confidence about things that have yet to happen. This doesn’t mean that we become irresponsible and do nothing. We should try to follow Jesus’ example.
Second, we must remember God’s compassion towards ALL people. We need to follow Jesus’ example and show patience and compassion for those who are not at the same stage on their spiritual journey as we are.
The season of Lent invites us to realise that we’re a lot more dependent on God than we realise.
Lent is a time to realise that, just like the chicks in Jesus’ illustration, we’re helpless on our own.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. AMINE.
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:
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our plea is, “hear our prayer”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Mighty God, you spoke to Your servant Abram telling him not to be afraid; to use You as his shield; and to expect a great reward. Help us in our times of fear and worry; and constantly remind us of the reward of everlasting life that we can expect through faith in your son Jesus Christ.
<longer silence for personal reflection>
Almighty God, help us as Your children to avoid the evil of the world and, like young chicks, to always seek shelter under Your wings. <short silence>
May we all join in imitating St Paul, and live according to the example set to us by the life of Jesus.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, as we pray for the world, its peoples and leaders, especially The Ukraine. Be with all those people who live in places troubled by disaster, natural or man-made. We thank You for all of the wonders of the world which belongs to You but was given into our care at the beginning of time. Help us to be good stewards, always mindful of the tragic consequences of our lack of care.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, the psalmist tells us to “seek your face” in the people who we live amongst. May they too, as they look upon us, see something of You and of Your son Jesus Christ shining from us. Make us always a beacon of faith as we live the gospel out in all our words and actions.
<short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God we raise before you those we know and love who are ill or in need at this time and we pray for all who care for them at home or in hospital.
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, 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
Gracious God, we pray for those who have died especially those who have died recently and for all who mourn their passing.
May all the faithful departed, now spend peaceful eternity gazing upon the face of The Risen Christ as they rest in peace having risen in glory..
<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
Loving God, as we go out into the world in days to come help us to Live as Jesus lived and to go about the ministries that you have given us, remembering that Your Son chose faithfulness over popularity, service above fame and sacrifice instead of power.
(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.
