Fourth Sunday in Lent
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
GATHERING MUSIC / PRELUDE
Mimi Carlson, flute
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Prelude & Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque”
~ Claude Debussy
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Pastor Jeffrey
CHORAL INTROIT
Chancel Choir
David Herberg, Directing
“Humble Thyself” ~ TFWS #2131
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Jeffrey
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Maggie Harris
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
P: That he may teach us his ways and walk his paths.
*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Maggie Harris
O God, our Shepherd and our Guide, thank you for your open invitation to us. You invite us to journey with you through the seasons of our lives and to experience your peace. You invite us to love you, and to know your joy. You invite us to hear your voice and to know the right paths for us to follow. You invite us to be confident in your guidance and accept risk and struggle that lead to new life. As we worship you in this holy space today, may we know your peace, your joy, your guidance and follow in the paths where you lead us. Amen.
*HYMN
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” ~ UMH #140
CHILDREN DEPART FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
Parents are invited to accompany their children to Sunday School, sign them in, and return to the sanctuary for worship. After the worship service, parents are asked to return to the classroom and sign their children out.
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Maggie Harris
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Maggie Harris
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
HYMN
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” ~ UMH #474
COLONET / L4L MISSION UPDATE & VIDEO
Pete Taylor
JOYS AND CONCERNS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor Jeffrey
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Maggie Harris
God of Light and Love, we worship you with all that we are, and we bless your name for all that we will be as we continue on our lenten journey. We offer you these gifts, that you might bless them and send us out into the world as a church meant for mission, giving glory to your name. Amen.
OFFERTORY
Mimi Carlson, flute
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“The Little Shepherd from the Children’s Corner”
~ Claude Debussy
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH #95
ANTHEM
Chancel Choir
Mimi Carlson, flute
David Herberg, Directing
“Come, Follow Me”
~ Elly & Steve Kupferschmid
SCRIPTURE READING
Maggie Harris
John 9:1-25
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
SERMON
Pastor Jeffrey
One Thing I Know
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Pastor Jeffrey
Introduction & Presentation of the Candidates ~ UMH #33
Mimi Shilov, Faith Lutheran Church
Cindy Brain: Sponsor
*CLOSING HYMN
“As a Fire is Meant for Burning” ~ TFWS #2237
*BENEDICTION
Pastor Jeffrey
*CHORAL BENEDICTION
Chancel Choir
Mimi Carlson, flute
David Herberg, Directing
“May the peace of the Lord”
~ Douglas Wagner
POSTLUDE
Mimi Carlson, flute
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Arabesque No. 1”
by Claude Debussy
- Stand as you are able