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5th Sunday in Lent

03/17/2024

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CENTERING MUSIC                    Chorale and Variation I                            Samuel Barber

MOMENT OF HOPE

CALL TO WORSHIP

People: O god, it is good to be here in your presence, among your people.  Make us radiant with the light of your Christ.  Help us to worship with reverence, and serve you with joy in the world.  May our words, our songs, and our thoughts be pleasing to you, O God.  For we pray in the name of Jesus our Sovereign.  Amen.

 

*OPENING HYMN  #367   Come, Ye Thankful People, Come   Vs. 1, 2

Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home.

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.

Come to God’s own temple come; raise the song of harvest home.

 

All the world is God’s own field, fruit in thankful praise to yield,

Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear.

Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

UNISON PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE:

Healing River, Source of Life, forgive our lack of faith in you.  Heal our diseases and wash away our fear.  Free us from our demons and from every desire that enslaves us.  Help us always to come to those shores where the rivers of your love can make us clean and whole; through Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.

(moment of silent prayer)

SONG OF RENEWAL     God, Listen to your Children Praying                 

God, Listen to your children praying

God, send your spirit in this place

God, listen to your children praying

Send us love, send us power, send us grace.

CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE

This is the good news in Jesus Christ: God loves us more than we love ourselves.  God forgives us, encourages us, and frees us to love others.  Thanks be to God.

 

ANTHEM                                          Wondrous Love               Arr. A. Parker and R. Shaw

BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

 

Today’s Story                         "The Synagogue and the Upper Room"

                     Kathleen Krentz & Joyclyn Van

 

Leader:                             And as we continue our worship…

Congregation:                           May God be with you there.

Children:                                May God be with you here.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader:      God in your grace,

People:      Hear our prayer

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you.  Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:

Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

SCRIPTURES: Psalm 102:12-17, Mark 13:1-8, 24-37

RESPONSE                                                   

Reader:      The word of the Lord

People:      Thanks be to God

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively

Pastor:       May the words of my mouth

People:      And the meditations of our hearts

All:            Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord,

                  Our rock and our redeemer.  Amen

SERMON         Stay Alert and Prepare

MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION

*HYMN OF RESPONSE    #649   Amazing Grace    vs. 1-4

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

 

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.

‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

 

The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

MOMENT OF THANKS

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY                                                    Variation II                                       Samuel Barber

*DOXOLOGY                                                                                                                      

            Praise God from whom all grace flows forth.

            Praise Life all creatures here on earth.

            Praise Light who guides us on our way.

            Praise Love who forms us day by day.

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

We give you thanks, God, that your grace and love are bigger than our doubts, bigger than our fears, bigger than our sleepy thoughts.  With these gifts we rededicate ourselves and all we are to you.  Amen.

*CLOSING HYMN   #35   Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,

  the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy

  health and salvation!

    All ye who hear,

Now to His temple draw near;

Sing now in glad adoration!

 

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all

  things so wondrously reigneth,

Who, as on wings of an eagle,

  uplifteth, sustaineth.

    Hast thou not seen

How thy desires all have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

 

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that

  is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come

  now with praises before Him!

    Let the Amen

Sound from His people again;

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*PASSING THE PEACE

Pastor:       The peace of Christ be with you.

People:      And with you also.

Pastor:       Let us pass the peace of Christ.

People:      The peace of Christ be with you.   (To one another)

POSTLUDE                                             Toccata                        J. Christopher Pardini  
                                                              New Britain

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