Third Sunday in Lent, Girl Scout Sunday

                                                    March 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

 

                                                   GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

IN SILENCE                                              from Peter Block, Community, The Structure of Belonging

     Invitation is the means through which hospitality is created.  Invitation is not only a step

     in bringing people together, it is also a fundamental way of being in community. It

     manifests the willingness to live in a collaborative way.

   … Invitation is the call to create an alternative future.

 

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP                                                                           Psalm 63: 1-2

            O God, you are my God, I seek you,

                 my soul thirsts for you;

                 my flesh faints for you,

                        as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

            So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

                 to behold your power and glory.

 

PRELUDE                  Meditation on “Let Us Break Bread Together”             arr. D. Wagner

                                                                    Hyfordol                                           arr. M. Helman

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

 

CHIMES/CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP   There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy     K. Staton

             LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                from Psalm 63: 3-4

 

            Because God’s love is better than life,

                 our lips will praise.

            So we will bless the Lord as long as we live;

                 we lift hands and hearts and voices and call upon the name of the Lord.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 84                                               In the Cross of Christ I Glory

 

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION on Isaiah 55                                                          James Thyren

           

            God of Grace,

            Our souls thirst for you, and yet we seek relief at other fountains.

            Our hearts hunger for your Word and Wisdom,

                 and yet we feed at other tables.

            Our lives are nurtured and nourished by your steadfast love,

                 and yet we stop short of bearing the fruits of your Spirit.

            Forgive us, Lord.

 

            Give water for our thirst, feed our hunger, cultivate our gifts,

                 so that we may share your love with the world.

                                        (time for silent, personal confession) Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE & THE PEACE

 

            Hear the Good News from the letter to Roman Christians:

            If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord

            and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

                 For one believes with the heart and so is justified,

                        and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

            The scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

                 Thank God!

 

            The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

                 Peace be with you.

                          (worshipers share words and gestures of the peace of Christ)

 

                                                   PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                  Luke 13: 1-9 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                          Pew Bible pg. 71

 

ANTHEM                             He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word               spiritual H. Hopson

                                                          Laura Fahning, Violin

 

WORD WITH THE YOUNG

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                Isaiah 55: 1-9 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                        Pew Bible pg. 644

SERMON                 “’Why…money for…not bread? and your labor for that which does not satisfy?’”

 

                                                 RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

CALL TO OFFER OURSELVES

OFFERTORY                  Keeping My Eyes on You                                        S. Pethel

                                                        Brandon Shaw, Maracas

 

PRAYER, DEDICATING, THANKING AND ASKING GOD,

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ecumenical)                                                     Hymnal p. 16

 

                                                        GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN # 536                                                                                  Lord, Make Us More Holy

 

*CHARGE                                                                                                         from Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found.

     Call upon him while he is near;

Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts.

     Let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,

                        and to our God, who abundantly pardons.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

     For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

                        so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

*BLESSING

 

CHORAL RESPONSE

 

POSTLUDE               Variations on “Almighty Fortress Is Our God”                     R. Hobby

                                  (Note that some will be seated and others depart in joy and silence.)

 

                                                        WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Musical Leadership

Canterbury Ringers

Westminster & Chancel Choirs

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster 

Nancy Deeth, Organist/Pianist

Greeters

Harlan & Ruth Bockbrader,

Randy & Carrol Aylesworth

Head Usher

Sarah Sams