Veronica Dyck spoke on the first of the "farewell discourses". Her assigned text was John 15, which focuses on the pain of separation (Jesus predicting he will die and no longer be with his students), that society will reject both Jesus and his friends, but that God's Spirit will both lead and comfort them. In the chapter's beginning, we have the last of the "I am" illustrations attributed to Jesus: I am the vine, you are the branches. In this metaphor, God is portrayed as the gardener who will prune the branches so they will bear better fruit. The metaphor concludes with Jesus promising that whatever we pray for will be granted (but only if we pray wisely, as Jesus would have prayed, and not make selfish and even foolish requests). Verses 18-25 remind us that the cost of discipleship is high if we are active members of a witnessing community. Sin is then defined as someone not believing in Jesus, not "abiding in him", not being part of a fruitful vine. Veronica reminded us that being productive is not the same as being fruitful. Our value as individuals does not depend upon our productivity but on how we relate to others through love, kindness, peace, gentleness. [JEK]

Passage: John 15
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event: Lent III
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No

Speaker: Veronica Dyck
Worship Leader: Henry Neufeld
Song Leader: Evan Kreider
Pianist: Edward Kehler
Usher:
Zoom Coordinator:
Children's Feature Leader: Angela Ekkert

Bring Flowers: Hildegard & Helmut Lemke
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:

Child Care Volunteer: Nadine Neudorf