You can watch today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
One: Before we were born,
All: Before we took our first breath,
One: Before the week started,
All: Before the year started,
One: Before we said, “I love you,”
All: Before we said, “I’m sorry,”
One: Before we figured out who we really are,
All: Before we figured out who we want to be,
One: Before it all—
All: God loved us.
One: Unconditionally and freely,
All: Fully and honestly—
One: God loved us.
All: Again and again, this is where our story begins.
One: Let us worship God!
OPENING PRAYER (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
God of yesterday and God of tomorrow, you gave us the gift of remembering so that we might learn from the past, practice gratitude, and remember who we are. In this Lenten season, help me to reflect and remember your story, my story, and the way the two connect. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Christ has lifted up our brokenness so that we might see the wounds of the world. In the light of Christ, we can find healing and mercy. Let us confess our sin before our merciful and healing God.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
God of love,
We forget the beginning of the story—
That we were made from love, to be love, to give love.
Instead of rooting our narrative in the goodness refrain of creation,
We skip ahead and find our worth at the fall,
With Cain and Abel, lost in the wilderness.
We forget that first there was you, and you are love.
We forget that out of that love you created us.
We forget that from the very first day, you loved first.
We forget, because a love like that doesn’t make sense to us.
Forgive our low self-esteem.
Forgive our resistance to love ourselves.
Forgive our hesitation to trust that even we could be made good.
And forgive our tendency to pass that doubt on—from generation to generation.
Write a new beginning for us that roots our confidence in your unrelenting love.
With hope we pray, again and again. Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
One: Family of faith, no matter what we do, where we go, or what we tell ourselves—
God is love, and God is loving us.
All: Again and again, we are claimed, held, forgiven, and cared for.
In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself—thanks be to God. Amen!
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
God of the here and now—
We have heard the words,
“For God so loved the world
That he gave his only son,”
Time and time again.
We have read them on billboards,
Heard them in worship,
And seen them on signs.
And yet we know,
There is a difference between
Hearing those words
In passing
And truly, deeply listening.
We long to listen, God.
We long to hear your truth.
We long to know your love.
Open our hearts and minds.
We are listening.
Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
JOHN 3:14-21 (NRSV)
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’
Consider:
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What associations or memories do you have related to John 3:16 (“for God so loved the world…”)? In the past, perhaps when you first encountered this famous verse, what was the meaning you gleaned from it? What meaning do you glean from it now?
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Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the night. What questions, longings, or wonderings stir you awake in the night?
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What is God’s redeeming light exposing in the world right now? What is it exposing in your community, your church? How are we being drawn back to love in the midst of being exposed?
HYMN O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
1 O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.
2 O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.
3 O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain
that morn shall tearless be.
4 O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Again and Again, God Loves First,” here.
HYMN I Love You, Lord
Words and music by Laurie Klein
© 1978 House of Mercy Music (admin. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice
to worship you; o my soul, rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what you hear;
may it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (John Birch, Faith and Worship)
God of love
hear the cry of those who yearn for love;
fractured families, broken homes
neglected, unwanted, alone.
God of love
hear our prayer
God of justice
hear the cry of those who yearn for justice;
persecuted and oppressed,
exploited, ill-treated, broken.
God of justice
hear our prayer
God of peace
hear the cry of those who yearn for peace;
in battle zones and broken states,
frightened, fearful, anxious
God of peace
hear our prayer
God of healing
hear the cry of those who yearn for healing;
physical and spiritual
hurting, weakened, depressed
God of healing
hear our prayer
God of mercy
Hear the cry of those who yearn for mercy;
convicted, in need of your Grace,
contrite, humble, bowed down,
God of mercy
hear our prayer
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying, …
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.
HYMN Revelation Song
music and lyrics by Jennie Lee Riddle
© 2004 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song
To Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat
Worthy is the
Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
We sing a new song
To Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat
Is the Lord, God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
Flashes of lighting, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
To You, the only wise King
Is the Lord, God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
INVITATION TO OFFERING (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. God has given to us many good gifts, and calls us to respond. Let us now give in return.
MORNING OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Gracious God, accept what we offer today in the hope that it reflects the offering of our lives as dedicated to you and your service. Bless all that we offer so that it might serve you in this church and in our world. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
We believe God is love—
Unconditional, constant love.
We believe this love exists for all
Choosing each and every one of us,
Day after day,
Again and again and again.
We believe that God’s love is like a river.
Rivers cannot help but flow toward the sea;
God’s love cannot help but move toward us.
We are swimming in it.
We believe that God loved first.
We believe that God breathed life into dust.
We believe that God said, “This is good,”
And because we believe that God loved first,
We strive to build lives that reflect God’s love.
May we begin again here. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION (ADAPTED FROM A BENEDICTION BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)
May your mouth speak of God’s goodness.
May your arms hold those in need.
May your feet walk toward justice.
May your heart trust its worth.
May your soul dance in God’s grace.
And may this be your rhythm—
Again and again and again,
Until God’s promised day.
In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself,
Go with courage, go with heart, go in peace.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with THIS LINK. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003. There will be a brief congregational meeting at the beginning of coffee hour to officially elect Bill and Cindi to continue serving as deacons. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.