Jesus tells Martha, in John 11, that her brother Lazarus who has died will be raised up. Martha replies (Message translation) “I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time.” To which Jesus replies, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.”
What part of your existence needs Resurrection and Life right now, this very day? Perhaps jot it down… think on it… and then listen to the song below.
Cody – FCC
Sermon
Grab a bible (or use your bible app) and open to Mark 12:18-27 prior to pressing play below.
Song of Response/Benediction
May this song be your prayer of response and your benediction as you go from this space and on with your day…
Gavin – HCCC
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus For my life is wholly bound to him Oh how strange and divine I can sing “all is mine” Yet not I but through Christ in me
The night is dark but I am not forsaken For by my side my Saviour he will stay I labour on in weakness and rejoicing For in my need his power is displayed
To this I hold my shepherd will defend me Through the deepest valley he will lead Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome Yet not I but through Christ in me
No fear I dread, I know I am forgiven The future sure, the price it has been paid For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon And he was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated Jesus now and ever is my plea Oh the chains are released I can sing “I am free” Yet not I but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus For he has said that he will bring me home And day by day I know he will renew me Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus All the glory evermore to him When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat “Yet not I but through Christ in me”
In this conversation Pastors Erik, Cody, and Gavin discuss chapter 20-24 of the book of Proverbs. Read those chapters, listen to the audio of the conversation, and chip in on the comments section below with your own thoughts on the Scripture and to these four questions:
What verses or particular proverbs most caught your attention when reading this section?
How do you see the wisdom of Proverbs in this section reflected in the wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels?
What is one practical step people in the faith community could take toward living more wisely?
What simple drink OR snack would you pair with this selection of Proverbs (it’s fasting season – keep it simple!)?
Next week we continue our conversation on the Gospel of Mark discussing Proverbs 25-29. Read those chapters and tune back in next Wednesday! And don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
In this season of Lent, we go with Jesus on his journey toward the cross. In Mark’s account of these days, Jesus asks a lot of questionsand we continue to sit with some of these questions allowing the Spirit to stir us through them.
Call to Worship – 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
If you are meeting with others, take turn reading lines from this prayer from Scripture. If you’re a household with kids, maybe have the kids read the plain print while an adult reads the bold.
Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our ancestor Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might to make great, and give strength to all. Now, our God we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. Amen.
Songs of Praise – “10,000 Reasons” and “Who You Say I Am”
Gavin and Mark – HCCC
10,000 Reasons Bless the Lord, oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I’ll worship Your Holy name
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I’ll worship Your Holy name
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger Your name is great and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I’ll worship Your Holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years, and then forevermore
Bless the Lord, oh my soul Oh my soul Worship His Holy name Sing like never before Oh my soul I’ll worship Your Holy name
Who You Say I Am Who am I that the highest King Would welcome me? I was lost but He brought me in Oh His love for me Oh His love for me
Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am
Free at last, He has ransomed me His grace runs deep While I was a slave to sin Jesus died for me Yes He died for me
Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am In my Father’s house There’s a place for me I’m a child of God Yes I am
I am chosen Not forsaken I am who You say I am You are for me Not against me I am who You say
Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am In my Father’s house There’s a place for me I’m a child of God Yes I am
Scripture Reading – Mark 12:13-17
Before you watch the sermon video, read the text from Mark 12.
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
Now, after this reading, allow your imagination to do some work recreating the scene. Jesus in in Jerusalem here – near the hubbub of the temple. Pay special attention to any details in the text. If you were there, what would you see, hear, smell…? What are the expressions on the faces of those in the story? What is the tone of their voices? After doing some imagining, read the text one more time.
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
Sermon – Mark 12:13-17
Gavin – HCCC
Responding in Prayer
Take a few minutes to quietly sit with the question “What does it mean to give all that YOU have and all that YOU are to God?” Pray. Ask God for some insight on how He is inviting you to respond to Him now, and listen for His answer.
Song of Worship – “I Surrender All”
Jerry – HCCC
All to Jesus I surrender All to him I freely give I will ever love and trust him In his presence daily live
I surrender all I surrender all All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender Humbly at his feet I bow Worldly pleasures all forsaken Take me Jesus Take me now
I surrender all I surrender all All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender Make me Savior wholly thine May the Holy Spirit fill me May I know thy power divine
I surrender all I surrender all All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender Lord I give myself to thee Fill me with thy love and power Let thy blessings fall on me
I surrender all I surrender all All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all
Offering
Lord Jesus Christ, we kneel before You – our Lord and our King; help us to see and know Your unending love for us, so that we may place at your feet all that we have and are. Amen.
In this conversation Pastors Erik, Cody, and Gavin discuss chapter 15-19 of the book of Proverbs. Read those chapters, listen to the audio of the conversation, and chip in on the comments section below with your own thoughts on the Scripture and to these four questions:
What verses or particular proverbs most caught your attention when reading this section?
How do you see the wisdom of Proverbs in this section reflected in the wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels?
What is one practical step people in the faith community could take toward living more wisely?
What simple drink OR snack would you pair with this selection of Proverbs (it’s fasting season – keep it simple!)?
Next week we continue our conversation on the Gospel of Mark discussing Proverbs 20-24. Read those chapters and tune back in next Wednesday! And don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
We have reached the midpoint in the Gospel according to Mark.Jesus is headed to Jerusalem. We go with Jesus on this journey. Jesus asks a lot of questionsin the gospels. In this last half of Mark, Jesus asks a LOT of questions. We are going to sit in some of these questions as part of our Lenten journey. Maybe God’s Spirit is going to use these questions to flip the switch in our heart and mind producing some Kingdom light for God’s glory and neighbour’s good!
Opening Prayer
We praise you with joy, loving God,for your grace is better than life itself. You have sustained us through the darkness; and you bless us with life in this new day. In the shadow of your wings we sing for joy and bless your holy name. Amen.
Song of Praise – Reckless Love
Cody – FCC
A Conversation on Mark 10:35-52
Gavin – HCCC/ Erik – FCC
Prayer Prompt
Simply respond to Jesus question which he asked in a few different places in Mark 10. Jesus, by his Spirit, now asks you:
What do you want me to do for you?
Talk with Jesus, as you would with a friend.
Song of Response – Our God is Greater
Jerry – HCCC
Take a quiet moment to give God thanks for what you have experienced this day. Trust him with the moments that come next. If able consider partnering with the work of our two churches. Thanks be to God for his kindness and provision! Amen.
In this conversation Pastors Erik, Shannon, and Gavin discuss chapter 10-14 of the book of Proverbs. Read those chapters, listen to the audio of the conversation, and chip in on the comments section below with your own thoughts on the Scripture and to these four questions:
What verses or particular proverbs most caught your attention when reading this section?
How do you see the wisdom of Proverbs in this section reflected in the wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels?
What is one practical step people in the faith community could take toward living more wisely?
What simple drink OR snack would you pair with this selection of Proverbs (it’s fasting season – keep it simple!)?
Next week we continue our conversation on the Gospel of Mark discussing Proverbs 15-19. Read those chapters and tune back in next Wednesday! And don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
We have reached the midpoint in the Gospel according to Mark.Jesus is headed to Jerusalem. We go with Jesus on this journey. Jesus asks a lot of questionsin the gospels. In this last half of Mark, Jesus asks a LOT of questions. We are going to sit in some of these questions as part of our Lenten journey. Maybe God’s Spirit is going to use these questions to flip the switch in our heart and mind producing some Kingdom light for God’s glory and neighbour’s good!
Pray, Fast, Give
These are the “big 3” practices during Lent. We are actually going to start with giving and end with prayer (fast from the sermon maybe…?)
Reach out to a friend
Give a friend a call/text/fax/Facetime/email/letter/telegraph… whatever. Just spread some love and share some life as we begin!
Call to Worship
If you are with other’s read the following call to worship responsively, with one person reading the bold print and the other(s) reading the plain print.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-2)
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us–and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. (1 John 3:16)
Message – Mark 9:33-37
Erik – FCC
Song of Response – Open the Eyes of my Heart
Jerry – HCCC
Pray – ABC prayer
In Mark 10:15 Jesus says: “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Let us prayer this simple childlike prayer as we hold open hands ready to receive God’s Kingdom!
Ask – Do it! Just ask God whatever is on your mind. What you need, want, are curious or mad about… Ask!
Be still and silent – Take 1 minute minimum. Listen. God might actually want to speak to you!
Celebrate – Celebrate who God is. Celebrate God’s many good gifts to his children. Celebrate!
In this conversation Pastors Erik, Cody and Gavin begin a conversation on the book of Proverbs, and discuss chapter 1-9. Read those chapters, listen to the audio of the conversation, and chip in on the comments section below with your own thoughts on the Scripture and to these four questions:
What verses or particular proverbs most caught your attention when reading this section?
How do you see the wisdom of Proverbs in this section reflected in the wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels?
What is one practical step people in the faith community could take toward living more wisely?
What simple drink OR snack would you pair with this selection of Proverbs (it’s fasting season – keep it simple!)?
Next week we continue our conversation on the Gospel of Mark discussing Proverbs 10-14. Read those chapters and tune back in next Wednesday! And don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
These reflections are intended to help you pray through the day – morning, noon hour, and evening – as you enter into Lent. Carve out a few minutes for each of these reflections if you are able.
Morning
Song for Reflection – “Give Me Jesus”
In the morning when I rise In the morning when I rise In the morning when I rise Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world But give me Jesus
Scripture – Mark 1:35
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Invitation to Prayer
In the darkness (before daybreak) and in isolation Jesus came to prayer. Sit silently, and remember that you are in the presence of God. Remain in that stillness for a few moments, and then pray:
Now, O Lord, calm me into a quietness, that heals, and listens, and molds my longings, and passions, my wounds, and wonderings into a more holy and human shape. Amen.
Noon
Consider going for a short walk and listening to this noon time reflection with your headphones in, or simply find a quiet place and allow the audio below to help you reflect and pray.
Evening
As you sit down to begin this time of evening prayer, light a candle and have it nearby.
Scripture – Mark 8:34-37
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Invitation to Prayer
Prayerfully consider Jesus’ questions above as he ask them directly to you: What good is it to get everything, but lose your soul? Is anything of greater value than true life?Take a few moments to answer Jesus’ questions in prayer and then read the following from the Psalms.
Scripture Reading – Psalm 90:1-6, 12
Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!” For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.
At this point, extinguish the candle.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Song for Reflection – “I Surrender All”
Remember You are Dust
Grab the wick of the extinguished candle between your finger and thumb and gather some of the ash or soot on your fingertips. Hear these words as a reminder of the frailty of life and the need for God’s salvation.
Remember that you are dust And to dust you shall return; Repent and believe the Gospel.
As you begin this time of worship and reflection, take a moment to consider who you might encourage with some loving words today. Send two people a text or an email – or give them a call; greet them in love.Go for it. Do it now. Here’s some music for you to listen to as you do.
Scripture Reading – Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26
If you’re with others, read the following as a call and response with one person reading the bold print, and another reading the response in plain print.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Song of Worship – “Reckless Love of God”
Cody – FCC
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me You have been so, so good to me Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me You have been so so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99 And I couldn’t earn it I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me You have been so, so good to me When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99 And I couldn’t earn it I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God
There’s no shadow You won’t light up Mountain You won’t climb up Coming after me There’s no wall You won’t kick down Lie You won’t tear down Coming after me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99 And I couldn’t earn it I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God
Message – Mark 7
Kids, don’t forget to break out your coloring and activity pages as the sermon gets underway. Parents, if you need to download another copy of those pages, you can find them HERE.
Gavin – HCCC
Reflecting on Love in Mark’s Gospel
Love is the very center – the heart – of the Gospel of Jesus. Take a few minutes to slowly read through these verses that speak specifically of “love” in Mark’s telling of Jesus’ story. After each short reading there are prompts and invitations to pray.
Song of Worship – “Thy Mercy”
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue; Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground And weep for the praise of the mercy I’ve found
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine
Offering
We give not only as an act of obedience, but as an expression of gratitude and love for the gracious kindness and love God has shown to us. May God nurture love in us as we learn to give.
Benediction – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Announcement
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of preparation and a countdown to Easter. Check back here on Wednesday, February 17th, for a service you can participate in as you enter this season.
Winnipeg Covenant 