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March 15: Fourth Sunday in Lent

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, March 15, 2026

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March 15, 2026

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Mary Lou Gignac

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

Scripture for meditation: As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. John 9:1

We Gather

PRELUDE: Selected Hymns for Lent

A Stewardship Second
Sharing what we have—our time, our energy, our money, our belongings—spreads water on a world thirsting for justice.

WELCOME

Extinguishing the Fourth Candle of Lent: VU #144 (v.1)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.
Grace United Church is situated on the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. We acknowledge that they are the first stewards of this land and we respect their histories and past and present cultures. We will work to recognize and remove barriers to reconciliation.

LENTEN PRAYER of CONFESSION: (adapted from Psalm 27)
Hear my voice, O God, when I call.
Have mercy and answer me.
Your face, O God, I seek
Do not hide from me or reject me in anger.
In the time of danger, please give me shelter
Hide me in the cover of your wings and set me high above the flood.
Teach me your ways so I may reach level ground
Keep me safe from troubles that lie in wait for me.
I will try to keep strong.
Send your hand of blessing soon.

WORDS of ASSURANCE

*OPENING HYMN: MV #79 “Spirit, Open My Heart “
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

1. God, replace my stony heart
with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear
to your grace I now surrender.
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

2. Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory.
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

3. May I weep with those who weep,
share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ,
may we welcome one another.
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: PIE

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READING: John 9: 1-41
Jesus and the man born blind
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.”But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.”They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.”Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sightand asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind,but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.”Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

RESPONSE: VU #436 “Abide with Me” (v. 1)
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
when other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
help of the helpless, O abide with me.

ANTHEM: “For Where Love Is, There Is God” - Douglas E. Wagner

SERMON: “Blind Faith” Rev Brian Goodings

PASTORAL and LORD’S PRAYER

*HYMN: VU #371 “Open My Eyes, That I May See”
1. Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2. Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

3. Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Give glory to God! One thing we know, that though we can be willfully blind, in Christ our eyes can be opened. In gratitude, let us joyfully praise God with our tithes and offerings.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Good Shepherd, you seek us and all your lost sheep. Use these gifts, and those already given through PAR and online, to comfort and guide the weary, to bind up those who are broken-hearted and strengthen those who are weak, and to feed those who hunger. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Donate”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer.
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

DEDICATION HYMN: VU #579 (v.2)
The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
The words of the Bible in gift and in deed.

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU # 266 “Amazing Grace”
1. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved and strengthened me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

2. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
this word my hope secures;
God will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

5. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than when we’d first begun.

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION: “Go Now In Peace”
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day,
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true,
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there, *within, around, above.
Go now in peace, in faith and in love.
Amen, amen, amen.
*alternate words: watching from above