LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A
MARCH 15, 2026
† Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge, Lay Leader
Choral Introit “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me” Spiritual, arr.Moore
I want Jesus to walk with me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.
†Call to Worship
Christ is our light in the darkness.
We come to walk in the light of God.
Open our eyes to see what is true.
Open our hearts to love what is good.
Let us worship the God who gives sight and sets us free.
Amen.
†Opening Hymn “Christ Is the World’s Light” UMH 188
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, breath of the living God, open our ears to hear what is good, and open our hearts to receive what is true. Where we have made faith a performance, teach us worship that becomes justice. Where we have settled for easy answers, give us the wisdom of the cross. Where we have grown weary or afraid, speak the blessing of your kingdom again: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers. Illuminate your Word within us, that we may do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you—not only in this sanctuary, but in the world you so love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Reading from the Psalms Psalm 23 NRSV
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
God of light, shine into the places we keep hidden. We confess that we can see with our eyes and still miss what matters. We judge by appearances; we rush to conclusions; we overlook your work in ordinary people and unexpected places. Forgive us. Heal our blindness. Teach us to recognize Christ among the overlooked, the hurting, and the forgotten. Make Lovely Lane a beacon of your compassion—bold enough to tell the truth, humble enough to learn, and faithful enough to follow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Passing of the Peace “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH 334
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Holy Spirit, Come to Us” TFWS 2118
†A Reading from the Gospel John 9:1-25 NRSV
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the he.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.
Sermon Reverend. Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “O Lord, Be Merciful” Franck
O Lord, be merciful unto us, be merciful.
O god, we pray Thee to be merciful.
Lord, be merciful unto us;
We beseech Thee to hear our prayer;
Hear our prayer, we beseech Thee, O lord
Offering Prayer
God of light, receive these offerings and make them a testimony. Use them to illumine pathways of hope, strengthen your ministry of healing, and bless your people. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” UMH 672
†Benediction
Go in the light of Christ. See with mercy, speak with courage, and walk in God’s way. Amen.
†Benediction Response “Steal Away” Spiritual, arr. Moore
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus
Steal away, steal away home; I ain’t got time to stay here.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude