Sunday, March 27
Fourth Sunday of Lent Sunday
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “Psalm 51” J.S. Bach
David Gay, organ
David Gay, organ
Call to Worship – Return (modified from work by Roddy Hamilton)
One: Let us be open:
All: Let this be a welcoming place, a place of return.
One: Open to be built by a love
All: Open to bend towards those who come here
One: Open to love that is waiting, like a candle in the window, holding back the dark.
All: A love that has been waiting like a parent for a child, a child for their home.
One: God you are open to us, you open the world to us.
All: So let us be open, amen.
All: Let this be a welcoming place, a place of return.
One: Open to be built by a love
All: Open to bend towards those who come here
One: Open to love that is waiting, like a candle in the window, holding back the dark.
All: A love that has been waiting like a parent for a child, a child for their home.
One: God you are open to us, you open the world to us.
All: So let us be open, amen.
Hymn of Praise UMH #140 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (vs. 1 & 3) FAITHFULNESS
1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(Refrain)
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923 Music: William M. Runyan, 1923
Scripture
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
Music of Preparation “For the Beauty of the Earth” John Rutter
The Chancel Choir
Message
Open
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Musical Response “Kyrie” from Flori Musicali Frescobaldi
David Gay, organ
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Sending Hymn UMH #2197 “Lord of All Hopefulness” (vs. 1 & 3) SLANE
1. Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
3. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Words: Jan Struther, n.d. Music: Irish Folk Melody, n.d.
Benediction
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Postlude “If Thou Bur Suffer God to Guide Thee” J.S. Bach
David Gay, organ
Sunday, March 20
Third Sunday of Lent
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “Fantasy in A Minor” J.S. Bach
Janet Tolman, organ
Call to Worship
based on Psalm 63:1-4, 8
One: O God, you are my God, I seek you,
All: my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
One: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
All: Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
One: So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
All: My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
All: my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
One: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
All: Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
One: So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
All: My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Hymn of Praise UMH #127 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (vs. 1 & 2) CWM RHONDDA
1. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more.
I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more.
2. Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield; be thou still my strength and shield.
let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield; be thou still my strength and shield.
Words: William Williams, 1745 Music: John Hughes, 1907
Scripture
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 and Luke 13:1-9 NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
Music of Preparation “My Savior’s Love” David Schwoebel
The Chancel Choir
Message Paying Attention Rev. Beth Rambikur
Musical Response “Air” Eric H. Thiman
Janet Tolman, organ
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Sending Hymn UMH #396 “O Jesus, I Have Promised” (vs. 1 & 3) ANGEL’S SONG
1. 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.
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.
3. 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.
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.
Words: John E. Bode, 1866 Music: Arthur H. Mann, 1881
Benediction
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Postlude “Prelude in B Minor, BWV 544” J.S. Bach
Janet Tolman, organ
Sunday, March 13
Second Sunday of Lent Sunday
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “Day by Day the Shepherd Leads” arr. R. Mallory
The Christ Church Ringers
Call to Worship based on Psalm 27:1-2,7-8, 13-14
One: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
All: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
All: Come, my heart says, “seek God’s face!”
One: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
All: We wait for the Lord; we will be strong, and our hearts take courage; we wait for the Lord!
All: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
All: Come, my heart says, “seek God’s face!”
One: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
All: We wait for the Lord; we will be strong, and our hearts take courage; we wait for the Lord!
Hymn of Praise UMH #139 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (vs. 1 & 4) LOBE DEN HERREN
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near, join me in glad adoration.
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near, join me in glad adoration.
4. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again; gladly forever adore him.
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again; gladly forever adore him.
Words and Music: Joachim Neander, 1680
Scripture
Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 and Luke 13:31-35 NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
Music of Preparation “Blessed Assurance (With Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring)” arr. C. Dobrinski
The Christ Church Ringers
Message
Hear Me Out
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Musical Response “Drawin’ At the Well” Phil Johnson
Tom Messmore, solo
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Sending Hymn UMH #141 “Children of the Heavenly Father” (vs. 1, 2 & 4) TRYGGARE KAN INGEN
1. Children of the heavenly Father safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e’er was given.
nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e’er was given.
2. God his own doth tend and nourish; in his holy courts they flourish;
from all evil things he spares them; in his mighty arms he bears them.
from all evil things he spares them; in his mighty arms he bears them.
4. Though he giveth or he taketh, God his children ne’er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.
his the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.
Words: Caroline V. Sandell-Berg, 1855 Music: Swedish folk melody
Benediction
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Postlude “Prelude in A Minor, BWV 543” J.S. Bach
Janet Tolman, organ
