The Fifth Sunday in Lent, At-Home Service for March 21
Some of you may know the 1993 movie entitled, Groundhog Day. In that movie, Bill Murray played a character named Phil Connors. He endured the very same day over and over, countless times. Every morning when he woke up it was February 2 all over again. He couldn’t find a way out of repeating the day of February 2. After realizing what was happening, he tried using it to his advantage. He engaged in all kinds of bad behavior, but despite the things he had done during the day he would go to sleep and wake up the next morning to repeat February 2.
Click here to view the at-home version of the service.
Pastor Rike’s Sermon
Last week I mentioned the repeating tragedy or cyclical nature of the human story from the sons of Adam up through the wilderness journey of the Israelites. Despite committing themselves to do all that the LORD had spoken after receiving the words of the covenant at Sinai – the Ten Commandments, the people trusted other things more than the one, true God. That pattern continued well after the Israelites settled in Canaan, the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham. It continued when they demanded to have a king rule over them like all the other nations instead of being governed only by the LORD, God. The pattern continued as those kings worshipped false gods and killed their children, making them walk through fire as sacrificial offerings to the pagan god, Molech. The pattern continued into the waning years of monarchy in Jerusalem during the time of the prophet, Jeremiah. Like the movie, Groundhog Day, there seemed to be no way out of that pattern.
Click here to read Pastor Rike’s sermon.
Video Options
Follow along with the service on video led by Pastor David Rike, with music performed by Randy Broker.
Click on the image below to view the video
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Service for March 21st includes: Penitential Rite Hymn: Seed That in Earth is Dying, performed by Randy Broker First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Gospel: John 12:20-33 Sermon by Pastor David Rike Hymn: In the Cross of Christ I Glory, performed by Randy Broker Prayers & the Lord's Prayer Blessing