Sunday Worship, February 18, 2018

First Sunday in Lent

THE RINGING OF THE BELL

A LENTEN WELCOME:  Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 1:  

  • CONSIDERING LENT: 2018
    • Unlike the Christmas season with all its parties, running around, buying presents, baking cookies, and decorating, the season of Lent is a slower time, a time of reflection, self-examination, and commitment. The traditional forty days of Lent offer people a chance to focus on how to live a more Christian life.
    • Use these moments before the ringing of the bell to greet your neighbor and consider:
      How might you live a more Christian life?
  • “Lent,” by Ann Weems (from Kneeling in Jerusalem)
    • Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us, A time to let the events get up and walk around us,
      A time to intensify our living into Christ,
      A time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts, Lent is a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem,
      Or to walk along the sea and listen to his word,
      Or to touch his robe and feel the healing surge through us, Or to ponder and to wonder.
      Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God!
  • Pastor:  We have each gone our own way. You have, and you have, and I have, too. We have each, at least once, failed utterly the sister or brother whom we loved beyond words, who believed in us beyond doubt and fear, and never stopped loving us.
  • People:  We have each gone our own way. Lord have mercy.
  • PRELUDE:   “Durch Adams Fall” –  Dietrich Buxtehude

PART 2:  

  • CALL TO WORSHIP:   Shawn Harmon, Student Minister
    • Leader:  People of God, on this wilderness journey, what will you eat?
      People: The word of the Lord is our daily bread.
      Leader:  People of God, in this time of temptation, how will you live?
      People:  Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.
      Leader:  People of God, at this kingdom crossroad, whom will you serve?
      People:  We worship the Lord our God alone.
    • ALL:  NOW, LET US BEGIN …
  • *OPENING HYMN NO. 83:  “O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High”  DEO GRACIAS
  • CALL TO CONFESSION
    • Leader: We come before you, O God, in the shadow of the cross, grateful for your great love for us.
    • People: As you came to us in Jesus, reveal yourself among us still.  Lord God, you know the ways of good and evil. You know the things that tempt us and the things that give us life. You know our nakedness, and you know our sins. We confess that we have disobeyed your word, denying your providence and care, and relying on our own cleverness. Have mercy on us, we pray; cover us with your grace, feed us with the bread of life, and re-create us in your image once again. Through Jesus Christ our Savior, hear our silent prayers of return … (a time of silence for personal confession)
  • KYRIE, Hymn No. 574
    • Lord, have mercy upon us.
      Christ, have mercy upon us.
      Lord, have mercy upon us.
  • ASSURANCE OF PARDON
    • Our hearts are washed anew in the healing waters of God’s love.
      For the steadfast love of God endures forever …
      Through the Holy Spirit, God nourishes us into life.
      For the steadfast love of God endures forever … WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?
  • CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE, HYMN NO. 85 (first stanza, seated)
    • What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
      What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
      What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the heavy cross for my soul, for my soul,
      To bear the heavy cross for my soul!

PART 3:  

  • TIME WITH THE YOUNGER DISCIPLES:  Ashia Stoess, Student Minister

PART 4:  

  • MUSICAL OFFERING:  The Chancel Choir –  “Give Me Jesus” – arranged by Benjamin Harlan

PART 5: 

  • SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Genesis 3:8-13, 21, 24 (Page 3, OT, Pew Bible)
    • The Word of the Lord.
    • Thanks be to God.
  • SERMON:   BEGINNING THE JOURNEY HOME –  Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 6:  

  • *PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 272:  “God of the Sparrow”  ROEDER
  • *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from THE IONA COMMUNITY
    • With the whole church …We affirm that we are made in God’s image, befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit. With people everywhere …We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity, planted more deeply than all that is wrong.  With all creation … We affirm and celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Amen.

PART 7:  

  • TIME OF GIVING THANKS
  • CELEBRATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
    • Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
    • Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.
    • Give us this day our daily bread: And forgive us our debts,
    • As we forgive our debtors;
    • And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
    • For Thine is the kingdom
    • And the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
  • PRESENTATION OF GIFTS, TITHES, AND OFFERINGS

PART 8:  

  • OFFERTORY:  “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” – arranged by Dale Wood
  • *DOXOLOGY
  • *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison)
  • God of all true power and glory, we thank you that once again we travel with Jesus toward Jerusalem, not with a sword to challenge the powers of this world, but with Love to transform them. May these gifts be a sign of the offering of our whole selves in this season. Amen.

PART 9:  

  • *CLOSING HYMN NO. 293:  “This Is My Father’s World” – TERRA BEATA
  • *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION –  Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 10:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “Variation on GROSSER GOTT” – arranged by Robert Powell

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