Sunday Worship – March 4, 2018

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

  • 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?
  • “A Listening” by Ann Weems (from Kneeling in Jerusalem)
    • Going through Lent is a listening.
      When we listen to the word,
      we hear where we are
      so blatantly unliving.
    • If we listen to the word,
      and hallow it in our lives.
      we hear how we can so
      abundantly live again.

The first blooms of spring

PART 1:  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • A LENTEN WELCOME – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor
    • Pastor: We have each gone our own way. You have, and you have, and I have, too. We stand outside the door behind which our families and friends wait in breathless joy for us to enter. In our humility we wonder: “Are we good enough for them?” In our arrogance we wonder: “Are they good enough for us?”
    • People: We have each gone our own way. Christ have mercy.
  • PRELUDE:  “My Young Life Has an End” – Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

PART 2:  

  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Dan Kinnicutt, elder
    • 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…
    • 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 way and refused your love and grace. 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 …
  • KYRIE, Hymn No. 574
    • Lord, have mercy upon us.
      Christ, have mercy upon us.
      Lord, have mercy upon us.
  • ASSURANCE OF PARDON
    • Leader: Our hearts are washed anew in the healing waters of God’s love.
    • People: For the steadfast love of God endures forever …
    • Leader: Through the Holy Spirit, God nourishes us into life.
    • People: For the steadfast love of God endures forever …
    • ALL: 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:  

  • MUSICAL OFFERING – The Chancel Choir:  “Lord of the Dance” – arr. by John Rutter

PART 4:  

  • SCRIPTURE LESSON Genesis 7:1, 6-7 and 9:8-13 (Pages 6-7, OT, Pew Bible)
    • The Word of the Lord.
      Thanks be to God.
  • SERMON:  ALL ABOARD! – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 5:  

  • RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
  • PROCLAMATION HYMN:  “My Life Flows On” – HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING
  • 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 6:  

  • 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.

PART 7:  

  • OFFERTORY:  “It is Well with My Soul” – arr. by Eleanor Whitsett
  • 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 8:  

  • THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
    • Music Setting 1:  “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” – arr. by Kirke Mechem
    • Music Setting 2:  “The Old Rugged Cross” – arr. by Dale Wood

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:  “Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (Sustain us, Lord with your word) – Dietrich Buxtehude

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