WATCH THIS SPACE FOR SERVICE AND PROGRAM ALERTS.
March 17, 2024
Sunday Gathering
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
. . . . . . . . . .
-PRELUDE-
“Londonderry Air” - arr. L. Lukas
Brenda Gardiner
-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.
We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.
We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.
We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.
-WELCOME-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
"You Raise Me Up”
WHEN I AM DOWN AND, OH MY SOUL, SO WEARY.
WHEN TROUBLES COME AND MY HEART, BURDENED BE.
THEN, I AM STILL AND WAIT HERE IN THE SILENCE,
UNTIL YOU COME AND SIT AWHILE WITH ME.
YOU RAISE ME UP SO I CAN STAND ON MOUNTAINS,
YOU RAISE ME UP TO WALK ON STORMY SEAS.
I AM STRONG WHEN I AM ON YOUR SHOULDERS,
YOU RAISE ME UP TO MORE THAN I CAN BE.
-OPENING PRAYER-
RADICALLY INCLUSIVE GOD, YOU OFFER EACH ONE OF US
A LIFE-CHANGING LOVE THAT LEAVES NO ONE OUT.
SOMETIMES OUR HEARTS FEEL SO HEAVY
THAT WE STRUGGLE TO RISE UP AND CLAIM IT.
IN THIS MOMENT OF QUIET, WE LIFT UP TO YOU
THOSE THINGS WE’D LIKE TO GIVE UP FOR GOOD…
FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD.
-OPENING DEVOTIONAL-
-GREETING EACH OTHER-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Love Lifted Me”
I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN,
FAR FROM THE PEACEFUL SHORE,
VERY DEEPLY STAINED WITHIN,
SINKING TO RISE NO MORE;
BUT THE MASTER OF THE SEA
HEARD MY DESPAIRING CRY,
FROM THE WATERS LIFTED ME-
NOW SAFE AM I.
LOVE LIFTED ME,
LOVE LIFTED ME,
WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP,
LOVE LIFTED ME;
LOVE LIFTED ME,
LOVE LIFTED ME,
WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP,
LOVE LIFTED ME.
ALL MY HEART TO GOD I GIVE,
EVER TO GOD I’LL CLING,
IN THE BLESSED PRESENCE LIVE,
EVER THE PRAISE TO SING.
LOVE SO MIGHTY AND SO TRUE
MERITS MY SOUL’S BEST SONG;
FAITHFUL, LOVING SERVICE, TOO,
WE ALL BELONG.
LOVE LIFTED ME,
LOVE LIFTED ME,
WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP,
LOVE LIFTED ME;
LOVE LIFTED ME,
LOVE LIFTED ME,
WHEN NOTHING ELSE COULD HELP,
LOVE LIFTED ME.
-SCRIPTURE-
John 12: 20-33 - NRSV
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say: ‘Abba, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Abba, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
-THE MESSAGE-
"Lifting Up"
Kenny Bishop
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Change My Heart, O God”
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAKE IT EVER TRUE;
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAY I BE LIKE YOU.
YOU ARE THE POTTER,
I AM THE CLAY;
MOLD ME AND MAKE ME,
THIS IS WHAT I PRAY.
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAKE IT EVER TRUE;
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAY I BE LIKE YOU.
-COMMUNION-
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
-SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS-
-PASTORAL PRAYER-
-OFFERING-
“Let It Be A Dance We Do” - R. Masten
-IN GRATIDUDE-
-ANNOUNCEMENTS-
-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Change My Heart, O God”
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAKE IT EVER TRUE;
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAY I BE LIKE YOU.
YOU ARE THE POTTER,
I AM THE CLAY;
MOLD ME AND MAKE ME,
THIS IS WHAT I PRAY.
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAKE IT EVER TRUE;
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
MAY I BE LIKE YOU.
-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
-POSTLUDE-
“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” - arr. P. Keveren
Brenda Gardiner
. . . . . . . . . .
-THE TEAM-
ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner
BUILDING CARE: Kathy Lyons, Margaret McGladrey, Jessica Stamm, Barry Thompson
BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Seth Tuska
NURSERY: Linda Netherton
PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner
PROPERTY CARE: West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste
SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson
SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Margaret McGladrey
TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Dale Hamilton, Timmy Smallwood
MARCH BULLETINS