Today’s service will be offered in 2 formats – video and text.
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As we gather today on these treaty lands, we are in solidarity with Indigenous brothers and sisters to honour and respect the four directions, lands, waters, plants, animals and ancestors that walked before us, and all of the wonderful elements of creation that exist. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for being stewards of this traditional territory.
Good Morning, congratulations on being here even though you lost an hour of sleep, but it is worth it to have the extra light in the evening in our lives. We welcome Yvonne Zhang to lead our music ministry this morning. Welcome, Yvonne! Thank you for being part of this March Break service. We think of those travelling this week during March Break on trips near and far, we offer our prayers for travelling mercies. We are at the halfway mark on our Lenten journey.
Four candles are lit, as well as the Christ candle.
One: We live in a world of many divisions: class, gender, religion, race, and politics.
Two: It is not easy to risk our vulnerabilities in order to get to know someone who seems different.
One: Though God welcomes all peoples, invites the gifts of all nations, and celebrates the uniqueness of each culture, we live in poverty when we remain separated.
Two: Our lines of separation diminish our togetherness and diminish our humanity.
One: Like the Samaritan woman at the well, we are thirsty for a drink that will quench our deepest yearnings.
Two: We long to drink deeply at the well.
One: Yet, we remain thirsty and we live a life of quiet desperation.
Extinguish one purple candle
One: Let us pray.
All: O Christ, you said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”Therefore, O God, we pray that you will quench our deepest thirst for acceptance, love, and peace. Fill our cup with your spirit till it overflows. May we drink to our heart’s content at your well.May we live a life of blessing by giving to others what you give to us with generosity, courage, and hope. Amen.
One: Along the Lenten way, may our loving God
All: give us calm reflection.
One: Along the Lenten way, may our loving God
All:give us faithful friends.
One: Along the Lenten way, may our loving God
All:give us purpose and direction.
One:Along the Lenten way, may our loving God
All: bring us to Jesus Christ and his cross-bound way.
One: Along the Lenten way, we worship God.
David Sparks, The Gathering L/E 2023
Loving God; Like a lost toddler calling for their mother, we yearn for you, Holy God.
Like a lonely resident in a nursing home, calling out “Help! Help!”
Holy One, you breathe hope into our midst.
You remind us that a church is not a building, but that God Space can be found anywhere that your people gather to worship and to share the Good News.
You sweep over and within us to grant us the ability to sift through the stories in your word, giving us direction for ways in which we can be a loving presence within this community and this world.
We thank you for those times in which your presence has been strongly felt within this community of faith. These moments give us powerful reminders that you are always with us, an unfailing presence, patiently waiting for us to turn to you and generously encouraging us in your way.
We are not alone: thanks be to God. Amen.
Susan Silverthrone, The Gathering A/C/E 2022/23
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
In his sermon today, Rev. Jim is talking about buckets, which reminded me of this book. How many of you have read this book, “How full is your bucket?” In it, the author describes two kinds of people: bucket fillers and bucket dippers.
Each time somebody gives you a compliment, helps you out, or does something kind for you, picture them adding a cup of water to your bucket. But when someone is mean, or bullies you, or treats you unfairly, they take a cup of water out of your bucket.
Do you want a full bucket or an empty bucket?
Do you want to be a bucket filler or a bucket dipper?
Here’s the important part: when you do something nice for someone, it doesn’t just fill up their bucket; your bucket gets more full too. And when you hurt someone or are unkind, it’s not just their bucket that loses water; yours does too.
Does that remind you of what Jesus taught us? When he says to love our neighbours, he’s telling us to be bucket fillers, not bucket dippers. Can we all make a promise to go out there and fill as many people’s buckets as we can this week?
Let’s pray:
Loving God,
Your love always fills our buckets to the top. Help us to share that love with others, to look for opportunities to fill somebody’s bucket whenever we can. Amen.
So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?”
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
One: As Sarah waited…Ninety years for a son to fulfil God’s promise.
All: We wait in hope for what we thought had been spoken to us.
One: As Moses waited…40 years in the desert, being prepared by God to lead his people.
All: We wait for emptiness and humility; for bravado to wither.
One: As Israel waited…40 years of wandering, hungry, depressed, thirsting, unsure.
All: We wait for the right time to act.
One: As the Prophets waited…1000 years of promises that God would raise up a Saviour.
All: We wait for the signs that God has not forgotten.
One: As Mary waited…9 months of her 14 years for the child of God.
All: We feel the birth pains, yet fear for the child.
One: As John the Baptist waited… Scanning the crowds for the one whose sandals he would not be worthy to untie.
All: We long for an experience of the Divine
One: As Jesus waited… 30 years of creeping time.40 days in the desert of temptation.3 years of misunderstanding.3 days in the depths of hell.
All: So we wait for God’s time.Preparing the way.Our turn to toil on levelling mountains and straightening paths.Our turn to watch the horizon.Our turn to pass on the hopethat He who promised is faithful and will come back.
adapted from Worship Trick No.67 on Johnny Baker’s Worship Tricks website
You know how some events really put a place on the map? For example Wiarton and a groundhog on Feb 2, Rockton and a World’s Fair, Crieff and a retreat centre. Sychar is just such a place. A town in Samaria. Sychar is only mentioned once in all of scripture. Located in the lovely central hill country of Samaria it is famous because there was “no bucket.” That is right; we are talking about Sychar today, for when Jesus came to the town he had no bucket.
What use is a deep well with no bucket? How do you ever get the water out? You need a bucket with a rope on it to lower the bucket into the water and draw it up to use for cooking, feeding animals, watering plants, and – in the case of today’s story – to drink to quench one’s thirst. You see the disciples had gone into the town to buy food for the 12 plus 1 to eat. They left Jesus behind. When we light the Christ candles at the start of the Sunday services we often refer to one candle being the divinity of Jesus and the other candle being the humanity of Jesus. It is a central tenet of the faith, like the Trinity. This tenet is that Jesus is fully human and is fully divine. In the Bible account today we are told about two aspects of Jesus’ humanity. They are ones you and I can relate to as well. After a long hot journey Jesus was tired and sat down by the well. Jesus was thirsty but there was no yeti water bottle for Jesus. No coconut water for Jesus. No Gatorade for Jesus.
This passage is often called the “living waters” passage. We could talk this morning about Jesus being “living waters” which we talk about in celebrating the sacrament of Holy Baptism. There are many sermons alone in that spiritual blessing aspect of this “ living waters” well story. We could also talk a great deal about the fact Jesus spoke to a woman, not just any woman but a Samaritan woman. Two huge social and religious barriers of his time which Jesus transcended.
This morning I will instead talk about another aspect of this well-known story. It is the “no bucket” aspect of the story. Jesus had no way to bring up the water from what is known as Jacob’s well. It is sort of like on Palm Sunday Jesus had no colt to ride into Jerusalem on.Jesus’ disciples had to borrow a donkey to ride upon.
Then a few days later Jesus had no grave to be buried in after the crucifixion. He had to be buried in a rock-cut tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy Jewish follower.
Often in the story of Jesus’ three years of ministry, there were critical incidents where there was “no bucket.” This or that was unavailable or this or that was not enough to fill the presented need. Jesus had a way of more than making do with no bucket.
Today’s story ends up with this blessing, “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” On the wall to my left here in the Walton sanctuary is one of the most famous “no bucket” stories of Jesus’ 3 years of ministry. This liturgical banner hanging up on the northwest wall captures these words in this dramatic story of Jesus: “ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’”
How can a boy’s five loaves and two fish feed 5000? This was such a huge crowd. A good question asked by Andrew. But Andrew forgot that this is Jesus. What happens is that everyone is fed. In fact we read, “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets (aka buckets) with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
As a follower of Jesus, I find this when confronted with “no bucket” situations in my life. Jesus can do the most unexpected things. I recall one time when a person coordinating the card ministry at my former church left the position unexpectedly. We wondered what to do. There was no bucket for a card ministry. There were no prospects from our point of view to take over this position. Then out of nowhere a person, who had just moved to the community, called me up to say they felt called to lead that card ministry. God gave us the bucket. This person not only took over that critical card ministry but grew it far beyond what any of us could ever imagine.
When we are confronted by “no bucket” situations, what do we do? Do we fret, vent, complain, or do we pray, wait on the Lord, seek the counsel of other followers of Jesus? It is like that wedding reception. You know the one. The caterers ran out of refreshment. Then the mother of one of the guests told her son to solve the problem. The result was that her son dealt with the no buckets of wine problem. Six stone water jars, the kind used for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons became wine. What a shock. Not only was there abundant wine, but more than that.
We are told this about the wine, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” Often when we think our lives are like an empty bottle or empty bucket, God has something in store for us. What Jesus did in Cana of Galilee was the first of those signs. His first miracle was changing water into wine.
Over the years, both personally and in ministry, God has that way to supply me with a bucket. It is sometimes right in front of us and it takes someone else to make us see it clearly. Other times the bucket is not in the shape we ever imagined it would be. But it is better than what we thought we needed to get to the water at the bottom of the well. God sees what we do not see. God’s vision is not limited the way our vision is limited by our human condition. God also uses others to bring us the bucket.
If you are in the new Walton kitchen over the three new deep stainless steel sinks there is a new item not found in the previous 1963-built kitchen. It has helped solve a long-held problem in the Walton kitchen. The new plumbing equipment is called a “pot filler.” It is a movable wall-mounted hose with a shower-like head. There is also an adjustable handle to control the filling of pots and coffee urns without turning the taps on or off. Also, it is a great way to rinse off dirty dishes before they go into the dishwasher.
Did you know God can use us as pot fillers in other people’s lives? They may be having a real struggle reaching the well of life. They may need Jesus’ living waters and we can help them with not only providing a bucket, but helping fill it for them as well. The pot fillers in our lives can help solve those problems which seem bigger than ourselves.
One day we got a call at the manse. The opening question of the phone call was this, “ What should I do with the well?” .My immediate response was, “what well?” At our cottage a few years ago we were having some landscaping done out back to create a sitting area around the BBQ. The contractor called to say that they had discovered an unknown well buried in the backyard. We had often wondered why the snow melted in one area of the lawn compared to the rest of the area around it. It now made sense.
It reminds me of the first day of construction back when Walton added the addition of our four stop elevator to make the church building accessible to all interior floor levels. The contractor called to say the excavator had stopped work within the first hour of digging the new basement and foundations because they discovered a hidden surprise. It was not a buried well, but it was full of water. It was a long-abandoned buried 200-gallon fuel oil tank full of water. How to solve both challenges? We had no immediate response. It is of course why you always put contingencies in the budget of any construction project. In both cases, I personally did not have the “bucket” solution to either the hidden well or the hidden tank. But someone else did. Especially in the oil tank discovery. A faithful Walton member had the bucket solution. God used him to solve the challenge and the excavator continued their work of creating the bottom of the elevator shaft. At the cottage, someone was sent to us with the bucket solution.
Where in your life today is there a bucket needed? Where is needing a bucket keeping you from the waters you thirst for? Where is that bucket you need? Is it within you and needs be drawn out of you by the Holy spirit? Do you need the vision to see that bucket? Maybe someone else has that bucket. Are they being led to you or are you being led to them by God? Do not go thirsty just sitting beside a deep well. There is a bucket. I believe it. I pray for it for you. The waters are there for you. The living waters are there for you.
One: Gracious God, In love You created us, and in love You sustain us, day after day.
All: So it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You, knowing that You hear us, and will respond.
One: We pray for the world around us, for the many who continue to suffer and call out for help:for those without enough to eat in East Africa and elsewhere; for those countries involved in war; for those caught up in violence and political uprisings; for those picking up the pieces after a natural disaster; for those desperate to find work to support their families.
All: Gracious God, hear our prayer, and in Your love, answer.
One: We also pray for family and friends who are suffering: those struggling physically or emotionally, those working to overcome mental illness; those facing challenges at home or at work; those grieving the death of a loved one.
All: Gracious God, hear our prayer, and in Your love, answer.
One: God, You have called us to pray for our enemies; to bless, rather than curse, those who deliberately seek to harm us. We bring their names before You now — those who have hurt us, physically or emotionally; those who have stolen from us, or cheated us of what was rightfully ours; those who have spread rumours about us, or turned our friends against us.We ask You to bless them. Open our hearts so that we may see them as You see them, and be able to respond to them with Your love.
All: Gracious God, hear our prayer, and in Your love, answer.
One: We pray for Your church around the world, that it would be a living demonstration of Your coming kingdom: offering hospitality to all, ready to help in times of need, showing love to friends and enemies alike, seeking to live in peace with all.
All: Gracious God, hear our prayer, and in Your love, answer.
One: God, we praise You for Your faithful love, and for the mercy You have shown toward us. Open our eyes to recognize Your presence in our lives. Give us grace to hear Your call, and courage to follow without hesitation, knowing that Your way is the only way that leads to life.
All: In the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, Amen.
You noticed that there were buckets at the doors this morning instead of offering plates. Did you wonder if we had a leak? How did it feel to put your envelope or your money into a bucket?
No leak; we just wanted you to think about the buckets in your life.
God we thank you for the buckets we are offered every day to help us continue on our faith journey. Today we would like to reach out and give a bucket of hope, acceptance, and love to someone, somewhere, through the gifts we have placed in our offering buckets this morning. Our offerings will now be received.
♥ by secure online payment from your debit or credit card. Click here to go to our donation page to make a single or recurring donation. Multiple funds can be included in one donation by using the “Add Donation” button
♥ by cheque through the mail slot at the Church office entrance or by Canada Post
♥ by monthly PAR payments. To sign up contact stuart@waltonmemorial.com
All: Loving God, when we asked for a cup of water, you gave us a fountain. When we asked for living water, you gave us truth. May these gifts we bring be poured out upon a thirsty world, bringing both comfort and truth. Amen.
Wanda Winfield, The Gathering L/E 2023
Go now from this service of worship to the service of God’s people near and far, refreshed by the living water that Jesus offers to you.
Listen for the parched voices of the least of these; search out the dry places and the arid souls, and become for them a spring of living water.
And as you go, may the blessings of the God of life, the Christ of love, and the Spirit of grace be upon you this day and forevermore. Amen.
adapted from the Ecumenical Water Network’s Seven Weeks for Water campaign for World Water Day and posted on World Communion of Reformed Churches
Your Outreach Committee would like to offer a different way to recognize the season of Lent. Starting Ash Wednesday we have prayer themes for each week taking us to Easter Sunday. Please join us in praying for these areas of concern. Each week there is a short scripture and prayer, please add your own as you feel guided to.
Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellbeing for us and for our world.
Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Prayer: Most gracious and loving Father, I want to thank You for all the blessings You’ve given me, my family and friends, and all those I hold dear. Many people are suffering from physical, mental and emotional illness and pain. Please strengthen them and provide the help needed to restore them to health. Amen.
If you feel called to help we can send donations to Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) through the church office and online to help provide much-needed medicine to over 130 countries around the world. After their presentation on Outreach Sunday, we were overwhelmed by your generous support.
Scripture Readers: Susan Sheppard, Evelyn Taggart
Soloist: Ron Tidy
Here is Rev. Jim’s mid-week update for Wednesday, March 8, 2023
