Baptism. We shall be welcoming Samar Omidifar in baptism this coming Sunday. The WIC Council is meeting next week Sunday on April 9 after worship

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1 Warsaw International Church Sunday News: April 2, 2017 THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT Tel ; (M) Worship every Sunday at ul. Miodowa 21(near Old Town) at 11:00AM Website: 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; 26 and all those who live and believe in me will never die. John 11: 25-26a. Image copyright ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES Baptism. We shall be welcoming Samar Omidifar in baptism this coming Sunday. The WIC Council is meeting next week Sunday on April 9 after worship Proposals for the Holy Week April ( in some cases changes may take place so please confirm - Tel ) Sunday 9th April, Palm Sunday worship, 10:30AM at Res Sacra Miser; 11:00AM at Miodowa Monday 10th April at 7:30PM - Stations of the Cross at St. Martin's Church (ul. Piwna 9-11) Tuesday 11th April at 8:30AM - Prayer group at Father David Brown's of the Anglican Church at Dorotowska 7/m5 Wednesday 12th April at 8:30AM - Prayer group at Father David Brown's of the Anglican Church at Dorotowska 7/m5 Thursday 13th April at 7:00PM Maundy Thursday worship at Father David Brown's at Dorotowska 7/m5 Friday 14th April at 2:00PM - Good Friday readings at Miodowa Easter Sunday 16th April at about 5:30AM - Easter Sunrise Service at Idzikowskiego Street Easter Sunday 16th April - 10:30 worship at Res Sacra Miser; 11:00 worship at Miodowa Helping to make this Sunday a fine one for our worship:

2 Worship Leader: Music: Young Osawaru Maurycy Stawujak Readings for April 2, 2017 (The Fifth Sunday in Lent): Ezekiel 37: 1 14; Romans 8: 6 11; Psalm 130 and John 11: Jesus is moved to sorrow when his friend Lazarus falls ill and dies. Then, in a dramatic scene, he calls his friend out of the tomb and restores him to life. The Target Prayer group meets on the last Sunday of every month after worship. Our next meeting shall be on Sunday - April 30. WIC reaches out to a number of Children s Homes in Poland aiding in English teaching, financially and in fellowship. We also collect clothes to donate to families in difficult financial situations and to different social services in the region for further distribution. If you would like donate clothes, household equipment or contribute your time in helping please contact Young Osawaru. Last week s scripture readings: I Samuel 16: 1 13; Ephesians 5: 8 14; Psalm 23 and John 9: 1 41 [below]. JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND 1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. 2 His disciples asked him, Teacher, whose sin caused him to become blind? Was it his own or his parents sin? 3 Jesus answered, His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents sins. He is blind so that God s power might be seen at work in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must keep on doing the work of him who sent me; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light for the world. 6 After he said this, Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud with the spittle; he rubbed the mud on the man s eyes 7 and said, Go and wash your face in the pool of Siloam. (This name means Sent.) So the man went, washed his face, and came back seeing. 8 His neighbors, then, and the people who had seen him begging before this, asked, Isn t this the man who used to sit and beg? 9 Some said, He is the one, but others said, No he isn t; he just looks like him. So the man himself said, I am the man. 10 How is it that you can now see? they asked him. 11 He answered, The man called Jesus made some mud, rubbed it on my eyes, and told me to go to Siloam and wash my face. So I went, and as soon as I washed, I could see. 12 Where is he? they asked. I don t know, he answered. THE PHARISEES INVESTIGATE THE HEALING 13 Then they took to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 The day that Jesus made the mud and cured him of his blindness was a Sabbath. 15 The Pharisees, then, asked the man again how he had received his sight. He told them, He put some mud in my eyes; I washed my face, and now I can see. 16 Some of the Pharisees said, The man who did this cannot be from God, for he does not obey the Sabbath Law. Others, however, said, How could a man who is a sinner perform such miracles as these? And there was a division among them. 17 So the Pharisees asked the man once more, You say he cured you of your blindness well, what do you say about him? He is a prophet, the man answered. 18 The Jewish authorities, however, were not willing to believe that he had been blind and could now see, until they called his parents 19 and asked them, Is this your son? You say that he was born blind; how is it then, that he can now see? 20 His parents answered, We know that he is our son, and we know that he was born blind. 21 But we do not know how it is that he is now able to see, nor do we know who cured him of his blindness. Ask him; he is old enough, and he can answer for himself! 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, who had already agreed that anyone who said he believed that Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the

3 synagogue. 23 That is why his parents said, He is old enough; ask him! 24 A second time they called back the man who had been born blind, and said to him, Promise before God that you will tell the truth! We know that this man who cured you is a sinner. 25 I do not know if he is a sinner or not, the man replied. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see. 26 What did he do to you? they asked. How did he cure you of your blindness? 27 I have already told you, he answered, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Maybe you, too, would like to be his disciples? 28 They cursed him and said, You are that fellow s disciple; but we are Moses disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for that fellow, however, we do not even know where he comes from! 30 The man answered, What a strange thing that is! You do not know where he comes from, but he cured me of my blindness! 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do. 32 Since the beginning of the world nobody has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. 33 Unless this man came from God, he would not be able to do a thing. 34 They answered, You were born and brought up in sin and you are trying to teach us? And they expelled him from the synagogue. SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS 35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked him, Do you believe in the Son of Man? 36 The man answered, Tell me who he is, sir, so that I can believe in him! 37 Jesus said to him, You have already seen him, he is the one who is talking with you now. 38 I believe, Lord! the man said, and knelt down before Jesus. 39 Jesus said, I came to this world to judge, so that the blind should see and those who see should become blind. 40 Some Pharisees who were there with him heard him say this and asked him, Surely you don t mean that we are blind, too? 41 Jesus answered, If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty. NOTES FROM LAST WEEK S SERMON TITLED "SPIRITUAL SIGHT" BY YOUNG OSAWARU. Please join me in prayer. May the words of my mouth and the fellowship of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight O Lord. Amen. His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parent s sins. But that God s power might be seen at work in him. In the Gospel reading, Jesus did not exchange a word with the blind man before healing him. He had had long discussions with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well, but his only discussion before to healing the blind man was with his disciples. He had noticed the blind man and taken action without being asked. Jesus seemed to indicate at the very beginning of this passage that in everything God has a purpose. The man was known to be born blind, so at his healing, darkness is overcome and glory brought to his God and Jesus Christ. Christ is revealed as the one who cleanses sin and brings light. Things may not work the way we have planned, but we should give thanks to God for the blessings we receive from him, because he works for the good of his children. We are where God wants us to be today and he wants us to bring glory to his name in whatever we are doing. God s faithfulness, strength and love can be still be seen at, or after times of trials such as natural

4 illness, death, loss of property. The glory may be not be obvious, may be yet to come, but we should always know that God works for the good of his children. The disciples had asked whose sin is it that caused him to be blind? Even today, people sometimes ask such questions at times of illness, misfortune or natural disasters. Jesus replied that having an illness at birth, or any illness at all has nothing to do with the sins of the person or those of his or her parents. He gave the reply so that the disciples would change their way of thinking from the negative (in terms of sin), to the positive in terms of God s willingness to cure in every situation. It isn't the sin of the past that defines a person, but the image of God in him or her. As Christians we are told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In the book of Romans we learn that sin came to the world as a result of the fall of one man Adam. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But also redemption is available as a result of another man our Savior Jesus Christ. Redemption is more important that the sin of the past. By the grace of Jesus Christ and our confession that he is Lord we are saved, put right with God, called his children and citizens of heaven. Jesus did not see the blind man according to his weaknesses or sins, but according to his potentials as one through whom God will do his work. After receiving his sight he had singlehandedly withstood the attack of the Pharisees. Peter had denied Jesus three times, but this man who had been blind was ready to defend Christ in a war of words with the Pharisees. This calls us to refrain from assessing people or nations in regard to sins committed in the past, but to pray at all times that God in his mercy would prove his greatness. Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud with the spittle, he rubbed the mud on the man s eyes and said Go wash your face in the pool of Siloam. So the man went, washed his face and came back seeing. Spiritual sight is acquired when we listen to Jesus and obey his words. Before he was healed, the man was touched and he heard spiritually. We cannot say that of his neighbors, neither can it be said of the Pharisees. They saw a miracle and heard the confirmation from the man "I am the man," but were not convinced. Most of the passage we read is on the discussion that took place between the man and the teachers of the law. In their refusal to accept the obvious, they had called the man parents who confirmed his identity and the fact that he was born blind. There were surely a lot of blind beggars in the town, but one wonders why this particular blind man though he is not named. It could be that the fact that he was born blind did not mean he was unaware of what was going on in the streets. Though physically blind, he had not been blind to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He saw the community and the world from a different perspective behind the curtains. We should also know that our spiritual lives are being observed by those whom we may think do not see. So it is important to see them also, touch them and tell them where to meet Christ. After healing, the blind man had courage. He

5 had the courage to stand before the Pharisees and tell them what he thought. What I would call the argument that took place between them centered on two things sin and whom they knew. The Pharisees were so preoccupied with sin and sinners that they failed to see the person or the work of God whom they claimed to serve. They saw sin and tried to tie it on the man s neck. The desire of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ is to remove sin. We can only bring our sins, and the sins of others to our God who, through his Son cures and makes whole. Deliberating on the past robs us of the opportunities of the future witnessing God at work in the person. Nothing good is achieved when we are deliberating on the sin of others or our own sins. The Pharisees had understood sin so wrongly that Jesus Christ had to tell them that they were the ones in sin. The second word in the dispute between the man and the Pharisees is the word to know. This word has been part of the Gospel messages for the past three weeks. This is because we know from the scriptures, in being touched by Christ and in being led by the Holy Spirit. In today s passage the word know is mentioned ten times during the investigation of the Pharisees. Mainly by the man, who, though blind knew a lot. He knew that Jesus could not be a sinner because God does not listen to sinners but to those who respect him and do what he wants them to do. The Pharisees had thought knowledge was achieved from the volumes of laws read and the years spent bending over them. They knew the Law of Moses, but did not know Moses. Moses always turned to God first for knowledge before going to the people. Any disciple of Moses would also turn to God first for knowledge before settling an important matter such as making a blind man see. On the other hand the man knew just one thing. That Jesus Christ saved him. And that was enough to counter the arguments of a team of teachers of the Law who knew differently. We are also called to witness to what Christ has done in our lives and in what special way we have come to know him. For us, we know that the Son of God died for our sins so that we may be saved, have his light and life everlasting! The season of Lent is a time to be resolved as to what we know from our Jesus. How he has touched us, what he has said to us and where he has sent us. The prophet Samuel did as he was told by God. Even as prophet he did not know whom God would choose as Saul's successor as King of Israel. He would have chosen Jesse's first son Eliab, but God chose the last son, David. This season is also about renewal in faith. Samuel performed a sacrifice before anointing David, the blind man was sent to baptism in Siloam. The messages we have heard are also about testimony. Testimony after receiving life-giving water and spiritual sight. The sight to see love, truth, the beauty of creation and to have compassion for those in need of our attention and take

6 action. Sight that is not based on intelligence or the law, but to see and acknowledge what Christ has done for us and for others. To know that he was sent by God the Father to do what we see done by him and to be patient with those he has saved just as he was with the Samaritan woman at the well. Sight based also on the things hoped for, which is communion with Christ and salvation. Spiritual sight that makes us not dwell in our sins, the sins of others or of the world, but to pray to God to work in miracles. As in the passage sin depends on how it is interpreted and our Lord tells us that we have not been made judges of other people. Natural sight is a gift from God. Spiritual sight is a blessing to self and to others that gives rebirth and makes us to know our Lord and testify to others as to what he has done in our lives. The sight to know only the basics and be open to the Holy Spirit's revealing power that there is only one Lord of this world Jesus Christ; that there is only one law the law to love God and others and only one promise life everlasting with Jesus Christ at the throne of God. Let us therefore pray to that God, in his grace opens our hearts to listen and to obey his words so that day we may have the sight and courage to fulfill the purpose he has for us here on earth. Amen. Christian Calendar [Courtesy of Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg Fortress)] Tuesday, April 4 Benedict the African, confessor ( ) Born a slave on the island of Sicily, Benedict first lived as a hermit and labored as a plowman after he was freed. When the bishop of Rome ordered all hermits to attach themselves to a religious community, Benedict joined the Franciscans, where he served as a cook. Although he was illiterate, his fame as a confessor brought many visitors to the humble and holy cook, and he was eventually named superior of the community. A patron saint of African Americans, Benedict is remembered for his patience and understanding when confronted with racial prejudice and taunts. Thursday, April 6 Albrecht Dürer ( ); Matthias Grünewald (c ); Lucas Cranach ( ); artists These great artists revealed through their work the mystery of salvation and the wonder of creation. Dürer s work reflected the apocalyptic spirit of his time, when famine, plague, and social and religious upheaval were common. He was sympathetic to the reform of Luther but remained Roman Catholic. At his death, Luther wrote to a friend, Affection bids us mourn for one who was the best. Grünewald was born Mathis Neithardt, and is sometimes referred to as Master Mathis or Mathis the Painter (Mathis der Maler); the name Grünwald was applied to him after his death. His paintings are known for their dramatic forms, vivid colors, and depiction of light. Several religious works are included in his small surviving corpus, the most famous being the Isenheim Altarpiece.

7 Lucas Cranach the Elder was born in southern Germany and studied in Vienna, but was then moved to Wittenberg, where he spent most of his career as a court painter to the Saxon electors. His work includes many fine religious examples and several portraits of Martin Luther, although he also painted secular subjects. Besides being one of the greatest German painters of his time, Cranach was also widely known for his woodcuts, some of which illustrated the first German printing of the New Testament.