Prelude Voluntary on Aberystwyth Gerald Near
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Hymn O Jesus, I Have Promised
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.
O let me feel thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear:
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will.
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory,
there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend.
Confession of Sin/Assurance of Pardon
Gracious God,
We want to see you.
We want to be known as the people who looked for Jesus;
But not only that, we want to be people who have your covenant written on our hearts.
Why do we feel so far away from that at times?
What went wrong?
Where did we lose our way?
Could you, would you, once again, write on our fragile hearts?
We would be so grateful.
Amen.
Scripture Reading John 12:20-33
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—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, 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.
Sermon “Fourth” Nick Wallwork
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that flowers need the rain.
We believe that humans need community.
We believe that bodies need rest.
We believe that hearts need connection.
We believe that mornings need sunrise.
We believe that seasons need change.
We believe that grief needs space.
We believe that change needs time.
We believe that love needs security.
We believe that pain needs art.
We believe that joy needs company.
We believe that our spirits need God.
Again and again, our spirits need God.
Fortunately for us, we trust that
God is here.
God is at work in our lives.
God is a lighthouse keeper that never gives up.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Lenten Testimony Anne Berutti
Offertory You Satisfy the Hungry Heart David Cherwien
Richard Hagen, horn
Hymn Rise Up, O Saints of God!
Rise up, O saints of God!
From vain ambition turn;
Christ rose triumphant that your hearts
with nobler zeal might burn.
Rise up, O saints of God!
His kingdom’s task embrace;
redress sin’s cruel consequence;
give justice larger place.
Give heed, O saints of God!
Creation cries in pain;
stretch forth your hand of healing now,
with love the weak sustain.
Commit your hearts to seek
the paths which Christ has trod,
and, quickened by the Spirit’s power,
rise up, O saints of God!
Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Benediction
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