February 17, 2013

This is the First Sunday in Lent.

Theme: Wondrous Love--A Mystery to Us All, for Us All

"The Passion Story of Christ is a love story. It is the story of God sending his one and only son--the Holy Lamb of God--to redeem all of humanity in a sacrificial act of love so that we might be eternally united with the Creator of the universe. It is the story of Jesus who willingly came to give his life for [our} eternal souls."

 --Lloyd Larson, Narration to Wondrous Love: Suffering Servant, Crucified Christ, Risen Redeemer

Liturgist: 

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”   

Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 

 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”  

 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”  

 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you  do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.  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.

Preparing for Worship

Chimes

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude 

Words of Preparation

Hymn of Praise: Red Hymnal # _________  Immortal Invisible God Only Wise

Call to Worship:

Leader: For God so loved the world;

The sparrows, the mountain lions,
the fish and the people.

People: God so loved the world!
Leader: In success and failure,
in sickness and health,
in mediocrity and extraordinary.

People: God so loved the world!

Leader: Enough to become one of us,

enough to suffer along with us,
enough to offer new life for us.

People: God so loved the world!
Leader: Let us worship God!

— written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on her Liturgies Outside website. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Invocation

The Lord's Prayer

Gloria Patri

A Time for Offering

Call to Offering

Offering Meditation

The Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

We Join in Prayer

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

Morning Prayer                                                                                        

We Contemplate & Live God's Word

Children's Sermon           

Choir Anthem: "Wondrous Love" from Wondrous Love (Larson)

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Sermon             

Invitation to Discipleship

Hymn of Invitation: Red Hymnal # _____________ "Trust and Obey"  (First and last)

Gathering at the Lord's Table

Call to Communion

Hymn of Communion: Red Hymnal (I think, but maybe Blue) "Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken"  If it doesn't exist, use "Let Us Break Bread Together on Our Knees"

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Words of Institution

Breaking Bread & Pouring the Cup

Musical Meditation

Partaking of the Lord's Supper

We Depart to Serve

Benediction

Parting Hymn: Red Hymnal # ________ "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"   1

Postlude