March 29, 2020
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Gathering in God's Presence
Prelude
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*Call to Worship
Lift up your voice and call out to God.
We cry out, believing that God hears us.
Come together and wait for God.
We come together, trusting that God is still speaking.
Surely God’s presence is here with us now.
We wait in hope, for God’s steadfast love lifts our hearts.
Come, worship the Lord.
We celebrate the power of God that restores us.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, Creator of Life, you call us out of our dark places, offering us the grace of new life. When we see nothing but hopelessness,
you surprise us with the breath of your spirit.
Call us out of our complacency and routines,
set us free from our self-imposed bonds,
and fill us with your spirit of life, compassion, and peace,
In the name of Jesus, your anointed one, we pray. Amen.
*Hymn of Praise #276 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Call to Confession
Silent Prayer of Confession
Corporate Prayer of Confession
God of the past, present and future,
God in whom all things are renewed, we praise you.
In the face of all that wearies us and worries us,
your words echo through the centuries with love and hope.
As we follow the footsteps of Jesus in this Lenten season,
the Cross stands before us.
And so we trust you are never far from our sorrows.
In him you walk with us; you share our tears.
You stand beside us when we don’t know which way to turn.
In this hour of worship, renew our trust in your resurrection promises
and draw near to us when we need you the most,
whenever we can’t even find the words to call on your holy name.
God of our lonely places and hard times,
there is no place dark for your presence.
There are no situations beyond your grace.
Yet we confess we sometimes lose track of you,
when sorrows stack up or loneliness surrounds us.
Forgive us our hopelessness.
Remind us of your presence as we go through every valley of shadow.
Bring life where there is death,
healing whether there is pain,
and courage where there is fear. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Since God has made peace with us in Christ,
let us greet one another in Christ’s peace
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Song of Praise Gloria Patri
The Word
Prayer for Illumination (unison)
Life-giving God, steady us with your Spirit.
Create deep inner peace within us,
so that we may attend to your words of hope and promise
for the sake of Christ, your Living Word. Amen.
First Scripture Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
For the Word of God in Scripture
For the Word of God among us,
For the Word of God within us,
Thanks be to God
Second Scripture Reading John 11:1-45
For the Word of God in Scripture
For the Word of God among us,
For the Word of God within us,
Thanks be to God
Sermon
RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD
*Declaration of Faith
Apostles' Creed
Prayers of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Lord, in your steadfast love,
Hear our prayer.
Lord's Prayer
Offertory
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
This morning we place ourselves into your hands, O God.
With your transforming grace,
may we become seeds springing forth with new life.
Fill our hearts with that transforming grace
so that we bear new hope for weary souls.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hymn of sending #341 Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Blessing
