WELCOME
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP:
We give you thanks, O God, for you are good; your steadfast love endures forever.
When we cried to you with our troubles, O Lord, you saved us from our distress.
We give you thanks, O God, for your wonderful works to all of humanity.
Hear now our offerings of praise and thanksgiving, as we tell of your deeds with songs of joy.
Let us worship God!
*HYMN: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (223)
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
O God, in Christ Jesus you proclaimed your love for all creation. Have mercy upon us as we confess our sin. We have overpopulated the earth and violated its goodness. We have depleted nature of its vital resources. Pollution besets us, waters lie stagnant. We care not for ourselves as temples, nor for communities as building not built with hands. We plead for forgiveness and ask for your guidance. Help us to be disciplined in taking care of your gifts, lest in neglecting them we lose them forever. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
PASSING THE PEACE (you are invited to share the Peace of Christ as you feel comfortable doing)
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21:4-9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
SCRIPTURE: John 3:14-21
14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.
21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
PRE-SERMON PRAYER
SERMON: A Lenten Pep Talk
POST-SERMON PRAYER
ANTHEM
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH:
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from Heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
(Joys): Lord, we praise you. Thanks be to God.
(Concerns): Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace.
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE/THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO SHARE:
OFFERING/MUSICAL INTERLUDE
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
COMMUNION
Invitation to the Lord’s Table
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy One, we glorify your name… Therefore, we join the ancient song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of you glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy One, we glorify your name… but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Holy One, we glorify your name… Spirit, Savior, Sovereign God, we glorify your name. Amen.
Words of Institution
Prayer after Communion
*HYMN: O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (610)
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*CHORAL RESPONSE
*POSTLUDE
*- those who can stand are invited to stand