WELCOME
PRELUDE The Church’s One Foundation – Wesley
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We come to praise the Lord by sharing our abundance with those in need, and by
offering our care to those who are sick and suffering.
People: Let us honor God by embracing with friendship those who are excluded,
and by uniting in solidarity with those who fight injustice.
Leader: Let us serve the Lord by promoting peace in situations of conflict,
and by comforting those who are burdened with grief.
People: We gather here to sow the seeds of our hopes, our prayers, and our songs
into the fertile soil of God’s presence.
Leader: Let us worship the One who is our light and our salvation.
People: Let us lift up our praise to the Lord, the Almighty, and the King of creation.
*HYMN OF PRAISE Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty #482
Praise ye 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;
Praise Him in glad adoration!
Praise ye the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise ye the Lord! O 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.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
Loving and merciful God,
although You have cared for us like a loving mother,
we have been unwilling to place You at the center of our lives.
Not only have we sought our security in the false illusions of the world,
but we have also failed to trust Your promises,
and we have refused to embrace Your truth.
Have mercy upon us, Lord,
and touch us with Your forgiving grace.
Fill our hearts with Your presence,
so that we might recognize the One who has come to gather
us up and lead us into the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus Christ
our Lord, in whose name we pray. (Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from 1 John 2:1-2)
Leader: If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous.
People: And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
MINUTE FOR MISSION Holy Cow Survey
SCRIPTURE Psalm 27:1-5
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh — my adversaries and foes — they shall
stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up
against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me
under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
SCRIPTURE Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here,
for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me,
‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day
I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside
of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones
those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See,
your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes
when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
MEDITATION Jesus, The Mother Hen
ANTHEM What Wondrous Love Is This – Southern Harmony
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH adapted from The Confession of Belhar
We believe that the unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active
in a variety of ways:
in that we love one another;
that we experience, practice, and pursue community with one another;
that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing
to one another;
that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind;
that we have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one
baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one
Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope;
that together we come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of
Christ;
that together we are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity;
that together we know and bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ
that we need one another and upbuild one another, admonishing and comforting one
another;
that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness;
that we pray together; that together we serve God in this world;
and together we fight against all which may threaten or hinder this unity.
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.
INVITATION TO GIVE Lenten “Super 6” Food Collection – Peanut Butter
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Words of Institution and Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
We have “open” communion, and therefore all who desire a closer relationship with God
and want to share in the love of Jesus Christ are invited to participate fully in the sacrament.
*HYMN Blest Be the Tie That Binds #438
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE As The Deer – Nystrom / Hayes