Sunday Worship – March 18, 2018

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

  • CONSIDERING LENT: 2018
    • Unlike the Christmas season, 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?
  • Winding Down, Ann Weems (from Kneeling in Jerusalem)
    • We run around the world and church like wound-up toys, looking for a way to get to Easter without reading the instructions. When we wind down, we lie on the floor on our faces, unable to move. Perhaps, in the still and the silence, God will give us the courage to see our souls and give us a chance once more to choose Life: Faith rather than frenzy.

PART 1  

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • A LENTEN WELCOME – Rev. Joel Weible, Pastor
    • Pastor: We have each gone our own way. You have, and you have, and I have, too. Beneath the ice of frozen creek beds, waters run, steady and silent. Above the blanket of clouds, light pours forth. But we remain frozen and our eyes see only what is right in front of us.
    • People: We have each gone our own way. Christ have mercy.
  • PRELUDE:  “Ubi Caritas” – Ola Gjeilo

PART 2 

  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Shawn Harmon, Student Minister
    • 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…
    • 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 …
  • 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 

  • TIME WITH THE YOUNGER DISCIPLES – Ashia Stoess

PART 4  

  • MUSICAL OFFERING: The Chancel Choir – “Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God”  -C.F. MUELLER

PART 5  

  • SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Amos 5:21-24
    • The Word of the Lord.
      Thanks be to God.
  • SERMON:  ALL HANDS ON DECK – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor

PART 6 

  • PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 434:  “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples” – KINGSFOLD
  • 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:  “There is a Fountain” – arranged by Harold DeCou
  • 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. 428:  “We Give Thee but Thine Own” – SCHUMANN
  • CHARGE AND BENEDICTION – Reverend Joel Weible

PART 10 

  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “O Lord, We Praise You” – arranged by Benjamin Culli

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