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Fifth Sunday of Lent
03/22/2026 - 10:30 pm
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Clean Start” Sharon Krhoun
CENTERING MUSIC “Just As I Am” Guy/Brown
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
PROTESTANT STATIONS OF THE CROSS – STATION FIVE
One: As we look at the fifth Station of the Cross, we witness the soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ clothing:
People: Jesus, I want to follow you on this journey. But I cannot watch this. I must turn away as you are humiliated.
One: You came into this world amid celebration and anticipation. Angels sang in the heavens to celebrate your birth. As a child, Magi from the East paid homage to you as to a king. The people followed you by the thousands as you taught on the hillsides of Galilee. They wanted to make you king! Just a few days ago the crowds followed you in the streets of Jerusalem singing praises to God. Yet now you are forced to suffer the worst of human indignity. You stand alone as the soldiers strip from you the last thing that you possess, and play games to see who will claim it.
People: Just yesterday you removed your cloak and laid it aside to wash your disciples’ feet. You called them to follow your example as a symbol of humility and service to others. Now you allow others to strip you of your clothes. You allow them to publicly disgrace and ridicule you. You are left with nothing, not even human decency.
One: Are you still trying to teach us something about what it means to serve others? Is your surrender to such degradation a model for how we are to live in the world as your followers? I don’t like such an idea. I would rather walk with you into Jerusalem with the praise of the people ringing in my ears than to risk such humiliation. I want to follow you! But is this really what it means to be a follower, that I must lay aside everything and risk this kind of degradation? And yet, that is exactly what you are doing.
People: Lord, forgive us when we want to take the path of glory and reward. Forgive all of us when we are selfish and chose to serve you in easy ways that seek the reward of others’ praise. Teach us humility of the spirit that replaces self-centeredness with a sacrificial spirit. Make us vulnerable so that we may follow your example. Help us to see those around us who are in need. Give us the courage to lay aside the things that we use to hide from their need, and give us the strength to find ways to minister to others as you have shown us.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
Kyrie Eleison 
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
God is always there to help us to be more the people God calls us to be. God is always there to open eyes, ears and hearts to loving more fully. As we do so, we become more full ourselves. Thanks be to God for God’s amazing grace!
Amen.
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Leader: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
SPECIAL MUSIC “Come to Me” by Dan Forrest
Men’s Quartet
Lewis Patzner, cello
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Today’s Story “Jesus the King”
Kathleen Krentz & Jane Moseley
Leader: And as we continue our worship
… Congregation: May God be with you there
Children: May God be with you here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
our kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS Psalm 22, John 19:19-24, and Luke 23:32-43
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON Beaten while we are down. Pastor Barbara Barkley
MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION
*HYMN OF REFLECTION #223 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross vs. 1,3,4
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “He’s Everything To Me” R. Carmichael
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God whose breath fills all the earth
Whose love reveals our sacred worth
Whose Spirit forms one family
Whose grace brings peace and harmony. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We come with our gifts, with our all. As we give, may our hearts be made whole. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #451 Open My Eyes, That I May See
Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes; illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear.
And while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears; illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere.
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see
Open my heart; illumine me, Spirit divine.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*Congregational Response: Go with God
Go with God, go with God.
As you leave this place, go with God.
God will direct your way, God will light every day.
As you leave this place, go with God.
*Postlude “Because He Lives” W. Gaither