Worship Resources for March 21st
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Then Mary said,
“Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.”
—Luke 1:38
Gathering
Call to Worship and Gathering
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, Hebrews 12:2-3
the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Let us consider him who endured such opposition from sinful people,
so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.
We have come to fix our eyes on Jesus, and it is God himself who calls and greets us.
To those who are called, Jude 1-2
who are beloved in God the Father,
and kept safe for Jesus Christ:
May mercy, peace, and love be yours
in abundance.
Amen.
Song
Prayer of Adoration
We give thanks to you, God our Father,
for mercy that reaches out,
for patience that waits our returning,
for your love that is ever ready
to welcome sinners.
We praise you that in Jesus Christ
you came to us with forgiveness,
and that, by your Holy Spirit,
you move us to repent
and receive your love.
Though we are sinners,
you are faithful, wonderful, and worthy of all praise.
We praise you, great God,
in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Song
Service of Confession & Assurance
Call to Confession Exodus 20:1-2, 16
Then God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious Father,
you desire truth in the inward being.
For the times we have lied to one another,
and the times we have been lied to,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have spoken when we should have remained silent,
and the times we have remained silent when we should have spoken,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have rushed to judge,
and the times we have been judged in a rush,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For the times we have betrayed our neighbor’s good name,
and the times our name has been betrayed,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
For our failure to love the truth,
speak it candidly,
and openly confess it,
heal us, Jesus, Savior of the world.
Do not cast us from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from us.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within us,
through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon Psalm 103:8, 10, 13-14, 17-18
Hear these words of assurance from Psalm 103:
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The Peace
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Word
Prayer for Illumination
Blessed are you, O Lord; -based on Psalm 119:9-16
teach us your ways.
As we hear and meditate on your life-giving word,
fill us with your Spirit,
that with our whole hearts
we may seek you,
delight in your decrees,
fix our eyes on your ways,
and with our lips declare your truth.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Word made flesh. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened—
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Here I Am
Sacrament
Song of Response
Spiritual Communion
For those worshiping with us online, and not able to partake of the sacrament, we invite you to pray the following prayer of Spiritual Communion and listen to the song below, knowing that God himself is with you, that Jesus himself feeds you, and that your union with Christ remains unbroken.
O Christ, we love you above all things,
and we desire, at all times and in all ways, to be fed by you.
And since we cannot now come to your Table,
we ask you to come by your Spirit into our hearts.
Unite us to you, together with all your faithful people,
and help us to embrace you with all our affections, body and soul.
Never permit us to be separated from you.
By your goodness we pray, Amen.
Communion with the triune God forms us to be a people sent into the world with the gospel of a God who is ever searching for his lost children. The God of all creation invites us to share in his life, and then sends us to extend that life to the world. The song below echoes God’s call to Isaiah, and invites us to echo Isaiah’s faithful response.
Song
Refrain
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
Words: Daniel L. Schutte (b. 1947) © 1981 OCP (New Dawn Music), admin. OCP Publications
All rights reserved, OneLicense.net 734287-A
Moment for Missions
Rev. Pablo and Sheryl Canché have been long-time missionaries with Resonate Global Mission in Central America and Mexico. We have had the privilege of supporting their ministry for much of this time, and we celebrate now with them in their recent retirement. See the video below for an update, and we look forward to celebrating with them in-person as a church when we are able.
Word of Thanks
Offering
In addition to our various funds (General, Building, Mission, Benevolence, Christian Education), online giving is also now available for today’s special offerings (Sisters House 2, World Renew, Community Action House Ministries) through the Give button below.
Sending
Blessing
As you continue your life’s pilgrimage as a child of God,
may God go before you to lead you,
behind you to guard you,
beneath you to support you,
and beside you to befriend you.
Let the blessing of God—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit—
come upon you today and settle in around you.
Do not be afraid.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Amen.
Song
Refrain
Lead me, guide me, along the way,
for if you lead me, I cannot stray.
Lord, let me walk each day with Thee;
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
I am weak, and I need Thy strength and power
to help me o’er my weakest hour.
Help me through the darkness Thy face to see.
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
Refrain
Help me tread in the paths of righteousness;
be my aid when Satan and sin oppress.
I am putting all my trust in Thee.
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
Refrain
Words: Doris M. Akers, alt., © 1953 (renewed) Doris M. Akers, admin. Chappell & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved, OneLicense.net 734287-A