March 19 - THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Context from : http://www.npm.org/Planning/yeara/3sl.html

The First Scrutiny: Water. Immersion in the font of baptism brings much more than cleansing from sin. The water of baptism slakes our thirst for God and unites us to Christ, making us, like him, "living water."

Exodus 17:3-7. By God's mercy, using Moses as the divine instrument, water gushes from a barren rock at Horeb. The miracle is two-edged, however, because the people doubted that God could provide water in the desert, so it goes down in memory as a kind of edgy blessing. (Tradition held that because Moses hesitated and doubted God at Horeb/Massah/Meribah, he was denied entrance to the Promised Land; he was only allowed to view it from a distance, from the top of Mount Nebo.)

Psalm of the Day: Ps (94) 95
Though this psalm praises God as savior and creator, it also retains the "downside" memory of Horeb. Used by the church as the daily "invitatory" to begin the liturgy of the hours, Psalm 95 encourages us to use "today" to hear God's voice, and not to doubt as the people did "at Meribah/as in the day of Massah in the desert."

If Today You Hear His Voice (Haas) GC 89/PCY1 70/RS 129

Romans 5:1-2, 5-8. God provided water in the desert, but Christ laid down his life for us. “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” There is no greater love.

John 4:5-42. The story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman is used by John to make several points. The Samaritan (who is also a woman) believes and gives witness to Jesus when even his followers don't understand who he is. He is "living water" which comes alive in believers as the source of eternal life. Jesus' disciples do not need to go to a particular place to worship, because they worship "in Spirit and truth." Finally, the church is on mission in the world, sent to reap the harvest that has been planted without our involvement.

Opening: Gather Your People (CC-474) Vs. 1,2,4
Ps: Ps 95: If Today You Hear God's Voice (CC-59)
Offertory: Breathe on me Holy One (see sheet)
Com1: O Lord, I Am Not Worthy (CC-522)
Com2: Be Not Afraid(CC-424)
Closing: Save Your People (CC-254)
CCM Closing: Kindness (see sheet)