Sunday, March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022
Second Sunday of Lent
10:15 A.M.
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge
Choral Introit “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me” (Spiritual)
I want Jesus to walk with me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.
Call to Worship
L: Open your hearts to God’s love today.
P: In the midst of winter darkness, we seek the brightness of God’s love.
L: Don’t be afraid. God is with you.
P: With the Lord’s help, we can overcome the darkness.
L: The Lord is your light and your salvation.
P: Even though everything around us is disturbing, yet God’s love is constant. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
Opening Hymn “Gather Us In” TFWS 2236 Vs, 1, 2 & 4
1. Here in this place new light is streaming
Now is the darkness vanished away
See in this space our fears and our dreamings
Brought here to you in the light of this day
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken
Gather us in, the blind and the lame
Call to us now and we shall awaken
We shall arise at the sound of our name
2. We are the young, our lives are a mystery
We are the old who yearn for your face
We have been sung throughout all of history
Called to be light to the whole human race
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty
Gather us in, the proud and the strong
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly
Give us the courage to enter the song
4. Not in the dark of buildings confining
Not in some heaven light years away
But here in this place the new light is shining
Now is the kingdom, now is the day
Gather us in and hold us forever
Gather us in and make us your own
Gather us in, all peoples together
Fire of love in our flesh and our bones
Psalter Reading Psalm 27: 1, 4, 7-9, 13-14 NIV
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. …Thanks Be To God
Prayer of Confession (Unison)
There is a certain winter in our spirits today, O Lord. We feel that the journey on which we have embarked will demand too much of us. There are so many other things in our lives which claim our spirits, our energy, our hopes and fears. It’s easy to be like Jerusalem, turning our backs on those whom you send.
The world shouts its solutions to us and then deserts us when we are in need. Forgive us for the many times in which we have strayed from your pathway of life; when we have chosen not to hear the cries of those in need; when we have belittled the gifts and skills you have given us in order to avoid serving others. Heal us, O Lord. Place us back on your path to Jerusalem, to live, for we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Words of Assurance
When God called your name, God called you to a journey of faith. Do not be afraid to look inside to see those things which are holding you back from being who God created you to be. Place your trust in God who is always with you, loving you into wholeness. AMEN.
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Cares Chorus” TFWS 2215
I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
And any time I don’t know just what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.
Gospel Lesson Luke 13:31-35 NIV
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
The Word of God for the people of God….Thanks Be To God
Sermon “Tears for Jerusalem” Rev. Debbie Scott
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Gracious Lord, Hear Thou Our Plea” (Balakireff/Dash)
Gracious Lord, hear Thou our plea:
O make us ever more like Thee.
As Thou hast lived, so may we live
In love and meek humility,
That living we may follow Thee,
And dying we may swell with Thee.
Thy love is great, Thy mercy true;
Thy Word is life, Thy pardon sure.
O gracious Lord, hear Thou our plea:
O make us ever more like Thee.
Offering Prayer (All)
Generous God, as we travel this Lenten journey, allow us to walk beside Jesus as he makes his journey into Jerusalem. As we offer our gifts this morning, may it be our way of saying we won’t turn away from the problems and conflicts of this world; but like Jesus, we will walk toward them. All we take for the journey is the compassion, mercy, and sacrifice that he carried—moving toward what waited in the Holy City. We journey in Christ’s steps and pray in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
Closing Hymn “Abide with Me” UMH 700 Vs. 1, 2 & 5
1. Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me
Benediction
L: Dare this week to follow where Jesus leads.
Dare to love the unlovable and care about others.
P: We want to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
We want the poor to eat and be satisfied.
L: Do not be ashamed to challenge values of our culture.
Dare to question all that denies God’s reign.
P: We want to live with faith, hope and love.
We want to extend God’s rule to all people.
L: The promises of God are for you and for all.
God will make you exceedingly fruitful.
P: We will trust the promises of God.
We go out to live as covenant people. Amen.
Choral Benediction “Steal Away” (Spiritual, arr. Moore)
Steal away to Jesus;
Steal away; I ain’t got time to stay here.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Remember to order your Easter flowers. Forms available.
Please note that Lenten study this week will begin at 12:00PM.
We are grateful that you have come to be with us this morning. It is our hope that you experience the love of Christ this morning and his presence during our worship. Please find our contact information below if you would like to reach out to us:
Church Office Number: 410-889-1512
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Email: Lovely.Lane.BCS@gmail.com
Pastor: Rev. Deb Scott
Phone Number: 301-641-4601
Email: revdeb8@aol.com
Social Networks:
