Sunday Worship – April 7, 2019

FIFTH SUNDAY OF 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 “offense” is ANGER.
    • We don’t normally think of ANGER as a deadly sin. Cant’ we feel ANGER now and again without putting our souls in mortal jeopardy? Sometimes expressing ANGER helps heal the soul when someone has wronged us. In fact, didn’t Jesus express ANGER when he toppled the tables of the money-changers? Perhaps ANGER itself doesn’t afflict as much as holding on to ANGER.
    • Letting ANGER steep for more than a day changes its quality, eventually creating an anchor of sorts that keeps us fixated on the past. ANGER really gets deadly when it tethers us both to the past and the future. The ANGER we’ve held onto from the past makes us anticipate it in our future. In this “sustained ANGER” we become like boats dead in the water – anchored in front and behind, unable to move in either directions.
    • Use these moments before the ringing of the bell to greet your neighbor and consider: How does this morning’s “offense” negatively affect my life and the life of others?
  • 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:  “O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” – PAUL MANZ
  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Regan Moore
    • Leader: Sometimes we are a people without hope.
    • People: But not this morning. God has called us to this place.
    • Leader: Sometimes we are cut off from one another.
    • People: But not this morning. God has called us to this place to be together.
    • ALL: LET US WORSHIP GOD AND REVEAL GOD’S WONDROUS WORKS OF LOVE!
  • OPENING HYMN NO. 326:  “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” – MORECAMBE
  • 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 and Almighty God, you have long sought us and we have fled. You have offered us an easy yoke, and we have tied ourselves down with cares and burdens. You have forgiven us, and we have complained against our sisters and brothers. Give us a conversion that turns us around to face the light; teach us a repentance that lives in works of love; lead us into the narrow path; guide us through the valley of the shadow of death. Call us to follow Jesus and his way, to live and suffer, die and rise again. In his name, 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!
  • TIME WITH THE YOUNGER DISCIPLES – Rev. Joel Weible
  • MUSICAL OFFERING:  The Chancel Choir – “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” – HARRY ROWE SHELLY
  • SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Ephesians 4:25–5:2
  • SERMON:  ANGER: PUT AWAY ALL FALSEHOOD – Reverend Joel Weible
  • PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 76:  “My Song is Love Unknown” – LOVE UNKNOWN
  • 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.
  • TIME OF GIVING THANKS CELEBRATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
  • PRESENTATION OF GIFTS, TITHES, AND OFFERINGS
  • OFFERTORY:  “Children of the Heavenly Father” – DALE WOOD
  • 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.
  • THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
  • CLOSING HYMN NO. 428:  “We Give Thee but Thine Own” – SCHUMANN
  • CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “I Danced in the Morning” – EUGENE BUTLER

 

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