Worship Service Bulletin

A Service for the Lord’s Day

5th Sunday in Lent

(*Please stand in body or in spirit)

The Instrumental Prelude and Time for Meditation

Announcements,

Celebrations and the Birthday Song,

  Happy birthday, happy birthday, your friends are all singing.

May the year that is coming bring gladness to you.

   May it teach you to be helpful, kindhearted, and loving.

     Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

Call to Worship,

Leader: O Lord, open our lips,

People: and our mouths will declare your praise.

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God,

People: according to your steadfast love.

Leader: Restore to us the joy of your salvation,

People: and sustain in us a willing spirit.

*Hymn #417 “At the Cross”

*Call to Confession,

Are you thirsty for grace? Are you hungry for mercy? God is calling; come to the waters. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin, first in silence, and then aloud together.

*Prayer of Confession, In Unison

(Begin with individual silent prayer before joining in unison)

Eternal God, our judge and redeemer, we confess that we have tried to hide from you, for we have done wrong. We have lived for ourselves, and apart from you. We have turned from our neighbors, and refused to bear the burdens of others. We have ignored the pain of the world, and passed by the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. In your great mercy forgive our sins and free us from selfishness, that we may choose your will and obey your commandments.

 

*Assurance of Forgiveness,

If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Therefore, consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*The Gloris #108, In Unison

  Glory be to the Father

And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost

   As it was in the beginning,

     Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen

*Passing of the Peace,

May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination,

Gracious God, our way in the wilderness, guide us, by your Word, through these forty days, and minister to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be reformed, restored, and renewed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Reading, Psalm 23 (pg. 537)

Sermon, “We Need a Shepherd, We Have a Shepherd”

*Hymn #228 “The Old Rugged Cross”

*Affirmation of Faith, (Philippians 2:5-11)

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death−even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Call to Offering,

All that we seek to accomplish, all that we strive to achieve, all that we claim to possess−all of this amounts to nothing without the grace of Christ. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.

Offering,

Monetary gifts may be placed in the offering plates by the door to the sanctuary or in the narthex:

Offerings of volunteer hours may be made by filling out a slip of paper regarding the number and type of hours, an putting it into the jar on the table by the door inside the sanctuary.

*Doxology #109

  Praise God from whom all blessing flow,

Praise God all creatures here below,

   Praise God above ye heavenly host,

     Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication,

Let us pray: Gracious God, take our offerings, and use them and us for your purposes. By your Spirit, strengthen our souls to be brave and bold in Christ’s service. Amen.

Prayers of the People,

…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.

Choral Response,

  Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord,

Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen

*Hymn 235 “Lead Me to Calvary”

*Charge & Blessing,

*Choral Response, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

  Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Lead me on to the light,

   Take my hand, precious Lord lead me home.

*The Choral Amen,

  Amen, Amen, Amen.