Sunday Worship – March 24, 2019

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

  • LENTEN REFLECTION
    • On the Sundays of Lent this year we are engaging “The Seven Deadly Sins.” Desert “Father” and monastic theologian Evagrius of Pontus is credited with first drawing up a list of “offenses and wicked human passions,” but in the late 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great modified the list and ranked them based on the degree to which they “offended against love.” This morning’s “offenses” are LUST and ENVY.
    • LUST is ultimately about control. It’s the desire that wells up inside of us to have everything go our way, on our terms, all the time. LUST may just as easily get tangled up in desires for financial gain, revenge, or ego enhancement, as it may from sexual desire. LUST comes into play whenever we try to bend another’s will to do our bidding, no matter how “high and lofty” our goals may be.
    • ENVY has been defined as “discontent or uneasiness at the sight of another’s excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages.” Some say that if we could control pride and ENVY, the rest of the sins would be a piece of cake. Given its pervasiveness in our lives, we need to think of recovering from ENVY throughout our lifetime, rather than ever “being free” of it.
    • Use these moments before the ringing of the bell to greet your neighbor and consider: How do this morning’s “offenses” negatively affect my life and the life of others?

PART 1:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • A LENTEN WELCOME
    • 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 Adam’s Fall” – Dietrich Buxtehude

PART 2:  

  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Emma MacNiven
    • Leader: The message of the cross sounds foolish to the world.
    • People: But to us, it is the power of God!
    • Leader: Together, we proclaim Christ crucified, for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom.
    • People: And the weakness of God is stronger than our strength.
    • ALL: LET US WORSHIP TOGETHER!
  • OPENING HYMN NO. 101:  “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – HAMBURG
  • 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. Hear our prayer …
  • PRAYER OF CONFESSION
    • Eternal God, from the beginning of time you have called your children into communion with you. Yet, we confess like all the rest, we have turned to our own ways and refused your love and grace. Full of an envy of others and a lust for control, we forget what we have been given and how to live with others. Restore us to the joy of knowing you, and of recognizing your reign among us. In Christ’s name, who brings us your good news, hear our silent prayers of return … (a time of silence for personal confession)
  • KYRIE, Hymn No. 572
    • 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
    • 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 – Mike Yelton

PART 5:  

  • SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Matthew 14:1-11
  • SERMON:  LUST AND ENVY: LETTING GO AND BEING FREE – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 6:  

  • PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 392:  “Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord” – HALL
  • 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
  • PRESENTATION OF GIFTS, TITHES, AND OFFERINGS

PART 8:  

  • OFFERTORY:  “On Eagle’s Wings” – arranged by L. Smith
  • DOXOLOGY
  • PRAYER OF DEDICATION
    • 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. 422:  “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending” – BEACH SPRING
  • CHARGE AND BENEDICTION – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 10:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” – arranged by D.E. Wagner

 

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