March 16, 2023
John 9:1-41
Scripture readings
for Sunday, March 16
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
1As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 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, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The 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?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He 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.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then 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.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17So 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.”
18The 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 sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 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.” 22His 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. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24So 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.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He 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?” 28Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39Jesus 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.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”
• For our community of faith as we seek to do God’s work in the world.
• For those in our congregation and community who suffer silently with illness, financial burdens, and family obligation.
• For people affected by coronavirus, their families, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.
• For Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Trudy Fetzner, Thom Shagla, Alan Anderson, Desmond Drischell, Vince Alessi, Norm Wolff, Sarah VanStaalduin, Charlene Hunter, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, Karen Brown, Tom West, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Christine Kaffka and Ben Wickerham, those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.
• For the ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which
time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need
for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALENDAR
March 20 and 22 Healthy Bones 9:00 am
March 23 Tai Chi 9:30 am and 12:00 pm
Lenten Program 6:00 pm
On the five Sundays of Lent, please join your St. Timothy church family immediately following worship, for a Lenten Bible Study 40 Days of Giving
March 19 – Psalm 23 “You prepare a table before me.” Ps 23:5
March 26 – Psalm 130 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I [God’s] word I hope.” Ps 130:5
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At noon at First Lutheran in Jamestown, there is a brief service followed by a
light lunch for $7.
The overall theme is Turning Toward God’s Abundance.
Week 4 – March 22, Forgiveness Preacher/Leader: Laura Csellak
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The prodigal son
Week 5 – March 29, Love Preacher/Leader: Rob Allport-Cohoon
Gospel: John 12:1-8 Mary anoints Jesus
Lutherans Restoring Creation
One way in which ELCA congregations demonstrate love for our world is by caring for God’s creation. Our actions impact our neighbors and the environment, locally and globally, in the present and in the future. Join the Actions Speak Loudly! initiative to share how your congregation is caring for creation and to learn how others are participating in this movement. Visit www.LutheransRestoringCreation.org for resources or join the effort by completing this form: bit.ly/LRCActionPlan.
Stories of Faith in Action
Across the ELCA we are connected through the stories we tell, the stories we hear and the stories we experience in ministry among one another. “Stories of Faith in Action” features vital ministries made possible by the generous Mission Support shared by ELCA congregations. This Mission Support is available because of the faith-filled regular offerings that individuals give to their congregations. Learn about leaders who step out in faith to try something new, and people who open their arms and their hearts to meet people in new places. Read “Stories of Faith in Action” at LivingLutheran.org/SOFIA.
SUMMER INFORMATION & JOBS:
LAKE CHAUTAUQUA LUTHERAN CENTER
Dear Colleagues -
It is an honor and a joy to serve as the newly appointed Interim Executive Director at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center for this coming summer and fall.
Youth Camp, Confirmation Camp, Sailing Camp...Campfires and Climbing towers...Swimming, Sailing and Kayaking... are just a part of the exciting summer ahead!
I'm reaching out to let you know that your help is needed...in two ways:
1. SUMMER STAFFING NEEDS
*Counselors (College students or older with at least one year out of high school): Salary plus Room & Board.
- PLEASE SEE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION/INFORMATION
*Nurses (RN): WiIling to volunteer either of the following week
- (Room & Board provided for the nurse and their spouse.)
1. July 16 -21
2. July 30 - August 4
2. CAMPERS NEEDED
THIS IS THE MONTH to include information about LCLC in your church newsletters and bulletins...to have LCLC summer camp brochures/registration forms available in your church narthex and on bulletin boards....and to encourage the children, youth and families in your congregation to consider exploring their faith in beautiful part of God's creation.
*Early Bird Discount for Registration is available until April 1st.
*Camperships available! LCLC continues its pledge to never turn a child away due to financial need. Applying for assistance can be as simple as a phone call and a conversation. Please let us know how we can help.
*Additional Summer Camp brochures can be mailed to you. Email: contact@lclcennter.org
My thanks...for your assistance, prayers and support on behalf of this great outdoor ministry we share.
Peace,
Gail
The Rev. Gail Swanson
Interim Executive Director
Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center
5013 Route 430
Bemus Point, NY 14712
Camp Office: 716.386.4125
Pastor Gail's Cell: 614.477.7863
5 Loaves & 2 Fish Backpack Ministry
22/23 School Year
We continuously collect food items for the 5 & 2 Ministry. Bring your donations and place in the black bin in church narthex. Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex. Monetary donations welcome! Contact
Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com
5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date: 108
***ONLINE GIVING now available at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards. 3 ways to give:
- Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com
- Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone
- Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.
For further information, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.
REFLECTIONS
Pr. Ivy Gauvin
Jesus gives sight to the blind so that we may have open eyes of faith. That’s what Jesus is doing in this gospel text and how it can impact us. This text recounts the healing of a beggar who was born blind. But the details of the miracle itself comprise only about one third of the narrative. Most of the story revolves around the disputes that the miracle provoked, and how different people drew different conclusions even though they all saw the same thing (Dan Clendenin, journeywithJesus.net).
This gospel passage can be understood as a five-act drama—the physical healing (vv. 1–7), neighbors’ questions (8–12), Pharisees’ questions (13–17), questioning of the parents (18–23), redirected Pharisees’ questions of the healed man (24–34), and Jesus’ questions (35–41). The light of the world illumines those who are open, but is opaque to those who claim powerful position (Lynn Jost, christiancentury.org).
It is almost humorous, kind of tongue in cheek, the way the Pharisees ask the man who was healed over and over again the same questions. I love the part where he responds, “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?” (V. 27). Either the man is completely naive or he is being sarcastic. What do you think? He must think that the Pharisees just don’t get it, which they don’t.
Which is the bigger miracle; that Jesus healed the man physically or that when all was said and done, the man responded, “Lord, I believe” and worshiped Jesus? And for the man, he didn’t have to choose between one or the other, but God in God’s mercy granted both physical healing and faith to believe in Jesus.
At what cost did the man believe? He could have been thrown out of the synagogue and excluded from the life of the community even more than he already was. His parents kept passing the buck because they didn’t want to lose their position in the synagogue and society. The healed man showed gumption and guts. What did he have to lose? He was likely begging when the disciples and Jesus first saw him.
Are we as willing as the healed man to risk it all for the love of Jesus? Is that relationship with Christ more important than others? The man went from beggar to evangelist. In that way, he reminds me of the woman at the well from last Sunday’s gospel. Outsiders become insiders, become declarers of God’s love in Christ.
