Sunday Worship – March 31, 2019

FOURTH 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 GLUTTONY
    • Today, most of us associate GLUTTONY almost exclusively with food. In many cases, however, GLUTTONY has nothing to do with food. GLUTTONY is the urge to overindulge in anything. And because a glutton can never get enough to fully enjoy, the indulgence ends up killing the very pleasure it seeks. It kills the soul first, and sometimes the body follows.
    • GLUTTONY should be considered not only as it affects individual lives, but as it affects nations and even the world. For example, demand for beef in the United States is so high that people in South America are clearing away rainforest. Early Christians weren’t as concerned with “eating too much and dying.” They were far more troubled by the internal toll gluttony takes on the soul, and the external toll gluttony takes on the society when large numbers of people succumb to consuming too much.
    • 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:  “Sanctify Us by Thy Goodness” – J.S. BACH
  • CALL TO WORSHIP – Rev. Joel Weible, Pastor
    • Leader: The Lord is our Shepherd, there is nothing we lack.
    • People: God guides us in proper paths.
    • Leader: God bathes our heads in oil and our cups are so full, they spill over.
    • People: God’s goodness and faithful love pursue us all the days of our life.
    • ALL: LET US WORSHIP IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER!
  • OPENING HYMN NO. 291:  “O God of Earth and Altar” – LLANGLOFFAN
  • 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
    • Merciful God, we confess the folly of our sin and the hypocrisy of our complaints. We grumble about the evils of our world, even as we commit injustices and profit through deceit. We fret about the scarcity of resources while hoarding earth’s goods and cheating the poor. We protest the problems of our world, but we do not actively work to address them. Expose our sins in the light of your grace. Heal us and free us from our foolish ways that we may know the joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ. In his name, hear our silent prayers of return…
  • 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 – Lynne Anderson
  • MUSICAL OFFERING:  The Chancel Choir, “When Jesus Wept” – WILLIAM BILLINGS
  • SCRIPTURE LESSON
  • SERMON:  GLUTTONY – Ashia Stoess, Director of Youth
  • PROCLAMATION HYMN NO. 391:  “Take My Life” – HENDON
  • 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
  • PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
  • PRESENTATION OF GIFTS, TITHES, AND OFFERINGS
  • OFFERTORY:  “Fairest Lord Jesus” – JAMES KASEN
  • 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.
  • CLOSING HYMN NO. 358:  “Help Us Accept Each Other” – BARONITA
  • CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
  • THE RINGING OF THE BELL
  • POSTLUDE:  “Rejoice, the Lord is King!” – JASON PAYNE

 

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