Note: This bulletin can be printed by pressing cntrl+P or by clicking here.

        First Sunday of Lent

                                  02/22/2025 - 10:30 pm

                                        

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CENTERING MUSIC           “Interlude #1” Mark Hayes

MOMENT OF HOPE

CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE

PROTESTANT STATIONS OF THE CROSS – STATION ONE

One: As we look at the first Station of the Cross, we hear Pilate condemning Jesus to death, even as he washed his hands of the crucifixion.  We call to Jesus and ask Jesus to help us understand:

People: Jesus, I wish you would speak!  I wish you would proclaim who you are.  I wish you would confront the disbelief of the crowds and the arrogant cowardice of the powers that be.  Surely someone will speak up for you!  Where are the lepers who were healed?  Where are the blind who can now see?  Where are all the people who ate the bread and fish on the hillside?  Where are those who followed you so easily when they thought you would become King of the Jews?  Yet no one speaks.  No voice in the crowd comes to your defense.  You stand alone.

All: Jesus, I see in your silence the quiet strength that reveals a peace and a resolve.  O lord, help me deal with the unfairness of life without becoming critical of others.  Help me to be sensitive to the pain and feelings of others.  Give me the courage to do what is right without being swayed by the demands of others.  

MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER

Kyrie Eleison

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE

This is the good news in Jesus Christ:  God loves us more than we love ourselves.  God forgives us, encourages us, and frees us to love others.  Thanks be to God.

*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                            “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”            Arr. Mark Hayes

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                       “The Mystery of Easter”
                                                  Kathleen Krentz & Joyclyn Van

      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. 
or Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS    Mathew 17:11-26 and John 18:28-40

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               Power Vs. Truth                                                            Pastor Barbara

MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION

*HYMN OF REFLECTION  #209   My Song is Love Unknown    vs. 1,3,5

My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
O who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?

Sometimes we strew his way, and his sweet praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to our King. 
Then “Crucify!!” is all our breath, And for his death we thirst and cry.

Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine:
Never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend

MOMENT OF THANKS

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY                                                          “Cavatina”                     Cecil Bolton

*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 thank you for this day and every day that we draw breath.  Help us to live give from gratitude and to find joy in the giving.  Amen.

*CLOSING HYMN        #203   Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love

Refrain:
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them.

 Neighbors are wealthy and poor; varied in color and race;
neighbors are near us and far away.

These are the ones we should serve;
These are the ones we should love;

All these are neighbors to us and you.
Loving puts us on our knees, willing to wash others’ feet; this is the way we should live like you.

*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                    “Down By The Riverside”                Traditional