WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: As we continue our Lenten journeys, let us share God’s love.
People: May our love for our fellow human beings reveal God’s presence among us.
Leader: As we persevere on our Lenten journeys, let us walk in God’s ways.
People: May we embrace the truth of God’s Word and follow God’s path.
Leader: As we participate in our Lenten journeys, let us magnify God’s light.
People: May we illumine the world with God’s grace and point all people to the dawn of new life.
HYMN O Jesus, I Have Promised Ken Heischman
O Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway If Thou wilt be my guide.
O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near:
I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me, Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, And shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, The murmurs of self-will.
O speak to reassure me, To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory There shall Thy servant be.
And, Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, My Master and my friend.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
God of justice,
with repentant hearts, we confess that we are guilty of contributing to injustice,
constructing the tables
that oppression dines on,
that inequality thrives on,
and that racism lives on.
Because we have chosen the junk food of the world
rather than the bread of life You offer,
we have savored revenge;
we have partaken in prejudice;
and we have feasted on greed and aggression.
Have mercy upon us, Lord, and redeem us from our sin.
Overturn the misplaced priorities in our lives,
and reshape us into living sanctuaries of faith, hope, and love,
where all people can be nourished with Your wisdom
and we can be strengthened to follow the way of Jesus Christ our Lord, in
whose name we pray.
(Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from Isaiah 50:7-9)
Leader: Because the Lord God helps us, we have not been disgraced.
People: If the Lord God helps us, who will declare us guilty?
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
HYMN Sanctuary Ken Heischman
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true,
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You
(Repeat)
SCRIPTURE John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
MEDITATION “When Jesus Arrives”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (“Baba Yetu” sung in Swahili)
Baba yetu, yetu uliye Our Father, who art
Mbinguni yetu, yetu amina! in Heaven. Amen!
Baba yetu yetu uliye Our Father,
Jina lako e litukuzwe. Hallowed be thy name.
Utupe leo chakula chetu Give us this day our daily bread,
Tunachohitaji, utusamehe Forgive us of
Makosa yetu, hey! our trespasses,
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe As we forgive others
Waliotukosea usitutie Who trespass against us
Katika majaribu, lakini Lead us not into temptation, but
Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele! deliver us from the evil one forever.
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. On Earth as it is in Heaven.
(Amina) (Amen)
INVITATION TO GIVE
Because Jesus Christ has revealed the way of life to us and to the church,
we now have the joy and responsibility of bringing life to the world around us
through the gifts and talents we can offer.
Here at NCCC, we are seeking to serve our friends in Honduras by assembling “Buckets of
Care,”
and the generosity of our congregation has been extraordinary,
as you can see from this small sampling.
In addition, we continue to embrace our mission partners at Project: Hope,
and next week several saints from our congregation will donate their time and
energy to serve the less fortunate folks at the Gennesaret Food Ministry.
Truly we remain immensely grateful for the many ways
that you support the work of Jesus Christ through the offerings you share,
and may God forever bless you in all that you do.
HYMN Jesus Messiah Ken Heischman
He became sin, who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
His body the bread, His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names, Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
All I hope is in You, all I hope is in You
All the glory to You, God, the Light of the world
All I hope is in You, all I hope is in You
All the glory to You, God, the Light of the world
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.
You’re the Lord of all.
You’re the Lord of all.
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
BENEDICTION