March 28, 2024
GATHERING IN GOD’S PRESENCE
MUSIC FOR GATHERING & CENTERING
Joyce Rhodes, Keyboard
“It Happened on that Fateful Night”
~ Edward Broughton
“The Last Supper”
~ arr. by Earl Hazelle
CHORAL INTROIT
David Herberg, Director
Chancel Choir
Joyce Rhodes, Keyboard
“Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God”
~ John Carter
PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray.
ALL: Holy and Mighty God, Holy and Immortal One: we come before you in awe, praise, and with the imperfections in us which you love and forgive. Thank you for making a place at the Table for us that we might know your love for us; in Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
*HYMN
“Jesus, We Are Here” ~ TFWS #2273
Jesus, we are here;
Jesus, we are here;
Jesus, we are here;
we are here for you.
Savior …
Master …
Spirit …
GREETING & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Daniel F. Diss
*HYMN
“Lord Be Glorified” ~ TFWS #2150
In our lives, Lord, be glorified, be glorified (repeat)
In our homes,…
In our church,…
In our world,…
LISTENING FOR THE WORD OF GOD
SCRIPTURE READING
Pastor Daniel
Exodus 12: 1-14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb per house. If a household is too small for a lamb, it should share one with a neighbor nearby. You should divide the lamb in proportion to the number of people who will be eating it. Your lamb should be a flawless year-old male. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You should keep close watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month. At twilight on that day, the whole assembled Israelite community should slaughter their lambs. They should take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and on the beam over the door of the houses in which they are eating. That same night they should eat the meat roasted over the fire. They should eat it along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. Don’t let any of it remain until morning, and burn any of it left over in the morning. This is how you should eat it. You should be dressed, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. You should eat the meal in a hurry. It is the Passover of the Lord. I’ll pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I’ll strike down every oldest child in the land of Egypt, both humans and animals. I’ll impose judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be your sign on the houses where you live. Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over you. No plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
“This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the Lord. You will observe it in every generation as a regulation for all time.
Pastor: The Word of God for you the people of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM
Chancel Choir
Joyce Rhodes, Piano
“In Remembrance”
~ arr. Lloyd Larson
SCRIPTURE READING
Pastor Daniel
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully.
Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.”
“No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.”
Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus responded, “Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”
After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.
When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’
“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
Pastor: The Word of God for you the people of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Pastor Daniel
Broken and Mended
INVITATION TO THE CONFESSION
God’s Table welcomes all people. We celebrate this truth of our faith always, but tonight we are particularly mindful that each of us has a place at God’s Table. God has invited you to this the Marriage Feast of the Lamb at which we come to know God’s abundant and abiding love, mercy, and favor — grace — made known in Jesus, the Christ.
As we pause before going to the Lord’s Table, let us offer ourselves and our hearts to God’s work in this world seeking assurance we are forgiven our mistakes.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Let us pray.
ALL: You, O God, are wrapped in holiness. As we consider You and Your holiness, we know that we have strayed from You. We have followed the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have not always done, said, or thought that which is pleasing in Your sight. Forgive us. Help us to amend our ways, and to more fully know Your ways and follow Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
A time of silence is kept.
Pastor: The example is clear: Jesus made a place at the Table for one who would betray him. He washed that same person’s feet. Jesus’ embrace is for all people no matter who you are. Remember and be thankful: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
PEOPLE: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
ALL: Thanks be to God!
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you all.
PEOPLE: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us offer one another signs of God’s peace and love.
GATHERING AT THE LORD’S TABLE
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
Pastor: Jesus gave us the example of service by kneeling at the feet of his friends to wash their feet. He took the place a servant or slave would have taken. He humbled himself. He washed the feet of the Twelve, even the one who would betray him. He sat at the Table, and made a place at the Table, for the one who would betray. God’s love for us is greater than our ability to understand. Jesus teaches us we will learn of God’s love by serving.
As we prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, there are a few instructions you need for this evening.
You will come into the Fireside Room with Pastor in groups of 12. As you come into the space, wash the hands of the person next to you. We can’t come to the Table with dirty hands. Then find a place to be seated in the room.
Those who remain in the chapel while the others receive communion are invited to pray and join in the singing as you are led. The words for the songs are on the song sheets handed out with this worship folder.
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
After everyone has participated in the Lord’s Supper.
Pastor: Let us pray.
ALL: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we might go into the world in the strength of your Holy Spirit to give ourselves for others; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SENDING FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE
DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
Pastor Daniel
We United Methodists are guided by three simple principles:
Do no harm.
Do good.
Stay in love with God.
COMMUNITY BENEDICTION RESPONSE: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
Pastor Daniel
The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious, gracious.
The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord lift his countenance on you and give you peace, give you peace. Amen.