WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: During this season of Lent, let us follow the way of Christ.
People: May we share God’s steadfast love in service to our fellow human beings.
Leader: In walking with Jesus, may we make new discoveries as we journey through the wilderness.
People: Let us commit ourselves to faithful discipleship.
Leader: In this time of self-examination, let us discern how God is working in us and through us.
People: In our mission and ministry, let us worship our Lord who calls us to carry, and lift high, the cross.
HYMN Lift High the Cross Ken Heischman
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Refrain: Till all the world adore His sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
The Lamb victorious, Christ the Son of God.
(Refrain)
Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Christ who died.
(Refrain)
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Your death has brought us life eternally.
(Refrain)
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!
(Refrain)
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
Merciful Lord, although You shine Your light upon our Lenten landscapes, we have often
preferred to seek our own way in darkness.
Because we are comfortable remaining in the shadows of worldly wisdom, we have
neglected Your teaching, only to find out how foolish we really are.
We have pretended to be thoughtful and altruistic, yet in fact we have sought
nothing but self-interest.
Have mercy upon us, Lord, and forgive our lack of trust in You.
Break through our resistance and our fear with Your illuminating love,
so that we may respond to Your call,
live according to Your word,
and follow wherever You lead us,
for we ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from Psalm 130:3-4)
Leader: If the LORD would mark iniquities, who could stand?
People: But there is forgiveness with God, so that God would be revered.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
HYMN You Are My King (Amazing Love) Ken Heischman
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well.
Your spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again.
I’m forgiven because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well.
Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again
Amazing love how can it be? That You, my King, would die for me.
Amazing love I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor You. In all I do, I honor You.
Amazing love how can it be? That You, my King, would die for me.
Amazing love I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor You. In all I do, I honor You.
You are my king
You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Amazing love how can it be? That You, my King, would die for me.
Amazing love I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor You. In all I do, I honor You.
SCRIPTURE Mark 8:27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
MEDITATION “Maladjustment and the Messiah”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION TO GIVE
HYMN Let Us Break Bread Together Ken Heischman
Let us break bread together on our knees,
Let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees,
Let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees,
Let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
BENEDICTION