Planting A Seed Of Hope

Welcome to your online Sunday worship from St. George’s, Georgetown for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

This week I have provided the links to hymns and resources to help us give God our worship this Sunday, but in place of my message I have included a link to the Diocesan Online worship. This gives me the opportunity to take a bit of a break this week. I continue to be available for your pastoral needs and our current online worship will return next Sunday.

Family Ministry

St. George’s families, this week in our Sunday email we have a Family Page and some colouring and activity pages for parents and children to with their children which focuses on the seed of promise and hope that is planted in us by Jesus example and Good News and reflects on John 12:20-33.

Please sign up for our weekly emails to get those links to these great resources to use together with your family.  

Opening Music

For this week I am suggesting “In Christ there is no East or West” as an opening hymn. 

The Reading

The reading for this Sunday is John 12:20-33:

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.“1

Diocesan Worship

And here is the link to the video of this Sunday’s Diocesan Online Worship: 

Or watch it after, when it is posted to the diocesan YourTube channel:

Click the image above to go the diocesan YouTube Channel

Prayers of the People

We pray for all medical staff, all essential frontline workers and their families, for those living and working at Long Term Care and seniors residences, and for those that are helping to distribute the vaccine: that God will be their strength and support.

We pray for all who are facing trials and difficulties and for those who are sick. Show them your kindness, mercy, and healing. God of love, hear our prayer. AMEN.

(To find the list of those we are praying for in our parish please sign up for our Parish email. To add a name to our prayers please contact me.)

Closing Music

In keeping with I am picking a hymn about planting the seeds of the Good News, “We Plough the Fields and Scatter.”

For our contemporary song this week I have selected “Build Your Kingdom Here.”

I wish you all a blessed and safe Sunday and week. If you haven’t joined in our Thursday morning online gathering, it is a wonderful time of fellowship. We reflect on current events, share stories, and end with a short time of prayer. Look for the link in the Wednesday email!

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s. I do look forward to us being able to gather together again in-person when we are able.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Check out week 5 of the Lenten Musical Calendar that “Infinitely More” are making along with a few clergy from the diocese. Today’s special guest is the Rev. Michael Mondloch. His short message is based on the Gospel reading,John 12:20-33.  The song this week is “If Not For Him” which is written by Gerald Flemming and performed by Infinitely More.
Click the image above to watch the video on YouTube.