Fifth Sunday in Lent: Youth Sunday

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Every fifth Sunday our congregation has Youth Sunday. On that day the youth lead the service. On this particular Sunday three baptisms were scheduled, one youth and two adults. In light of the special occasion the entire service was dedicated to the theme of Baptism. Scriptures related to baptism were read, confessions were heard, and each candidate went into the watery grave of baptism. The youth gathered the offering and served communion. At the end of the service various young people shared their own remembrances of their baptism.

None of the lections were used in the worship service, but in order to maintain the devotional theme of the lectionary in this blog I submit my brief reflections on the Lectionary Scriptures using the title "New!" For the full benefit of this entry, first read the passage and then my brief comments.

JEREMIAH 31:31-34 A new covenant is promised to the exiled children of Israel, a covenant written in the heart, not on stone tablets, internal, not external, freely received, not imposed—offering intimacy with God, not obligation.

HEBREWS 5:5-10 A new priesthood is introduced in Christ pre-dating the priesthood of Aaron, by God’s appointment, after the order of Melchizedek. [Read Genesis 14:18-24.]

JOHN 12:20-33 People outside Israel inquire of Jesus. (Later Jesus tells his disciples to take the gospel to all nations!) As a grain seed dies a crop is produced, so the death of Jesus produces a new community following in his ways.

PSALM 51:1-12 A plea for mercy after intentional sin.