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Third Sunday of Lent
03/08/2026 - 10:30 pm
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Free Tomato Project” Matt
CENTERING MUSIC Peaceful Piano #9 / Joyful, Joyful Hayes/Beethoven
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
PROTESTANT STATIONS OF THE CROSS – STATION THREE
One: As we look at the third Station of the Cross, we witness Simon being compelled to carry Jesus’ cross when Jesus was too weak to continue to carry it:
People: Jesus, I can only imagine the awful weight of that cross you carry. It is not just the weight of beams of wood that presses down on you. It is also the weight of the burden you carry for those whom you have loved. You came to offer them life, and yet they return only death.
One: I see you fall from the crushing weight of pain and grief. I don’t know how many times you have fallen. But I know that your physical strength is failing. The soldiers must recognize this as well, because they force a man from the crowd to help you carry the cross to the place you will be killed. Just a passer-by, Simon carries the weight to save your strength.
People: I would like to think that if I had been there I would have volunteered to carry the cross for you. But would I have had the courage?
One: Besides, I have my own crosses already. I have as much as I can bear without taking on the burdens of others.
People: It is easy to pretend not to see the needs, the grief, and the suffering of those around me. It is easy to pretend not to hear the cries for help. It is easy to believe that I am busy, or tired, or carry too much already. There are simply so many who need so much.
All: Christ, forgive me for becoming so preoccupied with myself that I have become deaf and blind to the grief and suffering of those around me. Forgive my indifference. Remind me that I cannot love you without loving your people as well. Help me always remember that to be a follower of yours means that I share in the burdens of others. Christ, show me someone whose cross I may help carry.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
Kyrie Eleison 
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
God loves each of us and wants us to help one another. Opportunities come, always. And when we cannot pick up another’s cross, another opportunity will come to do so. We are called into love and we return love to God by loving one another. It is a circle of love. Thanks be to God!
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)
ANTHEM “Sanctus” by Charles Gounod
(from the St. Cecilia Mass)
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 and Bartimaeus”
Kathleen Krentz & Peter Cloven
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.
Your 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 Matthew 27:32-34 and Luke 23:26
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 The Burdens we Carry for One Another
MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION
*HYMN OF REFLECTION #707 Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord
Take thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray;
Give us the mind of Christ each passing day;
Teach us to know the truth that sets us free;
Grant us in all our thoughts to honor thee.
Take thou our hearts, O Christ; they are thine own;
Come thou within our souls and claim thy throne;
Help us to shed abroad thy deathless love;
Use us to make the earth like heaven above.
Take thou our wills, Most High! Hold thou full sway;
Have in our inmost souls thy perfect way;
Guard thou each sacred hour from selfish ease;
Guide thou our ordered lives as thou dost please.
Take thou ourselves, O Lord, heart, mind, and will;
Through our surrendered souls thy plans fulfill.
We yield ourselves to thee: time, talents, all;
We hear, and henceforth heed, thy sovereign call.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “Pavane” Ravel
*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
Thank you for this time of reflection and centering. Help us to carry your love in our hearts, minds and souls to all we encounter as well as to ourselves. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #727 The Servant Song
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey; we’re together on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you in the nighttime of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony
*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 “He is The Way” Otis Skillings