LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A
MARCH 22, 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
Come, Spirit of the Living God.
Breathe new life into your people.
Come, Lord Jesus, into our sorrow and our hope.
Raise us with your resurrection power.
Let us worship the God who makes dry bones live.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
†Opening Hymn “Blessed Assurance” UMH 369
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 Prophets Ezekiel 37:1-3 NRSV
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
God of life, we bring you what feels dead in us: hopes that have withered, relationships strained, courage depleted, prayers grown quiet. We bring you the places in our community where life is fragile—where grief lingers, where poverty presses, where violence threatens, where loneliness isolates. Speak your life-giving Word again. Breathe your Spirit into your church. Teach us not to surrender to despair, but to live as people of resurrection hope. Make us faithful companions and courageous servants, in the name of Jesus. 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 11:1-15
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.
†Meditational Hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour” UMH 397
Sermon Reverend. Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
†Responsive Hymn “Because He Lives” UMH 364
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Lord, How Long?” Mendelssohn
Lord, how long wilt Thou forget me,
While in lonely grief I mourn?
And how long Thy face be hiding?
Wilt Thou nevermore return?
Lord, how long must I take counsel,
Having sorrow in my heart?
Foes relentless rise against me,
And no helper take my part?
Wilt Thou nevermore return?
Offering Prayer
God of resurrection hope, receive these gifts. Use them to bring life where there is need, healing where there is pain, and hope where there is despair. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” UMH 664
†Benediction
Go in peace. The God of life goes before you. Do not fear: what is weary can be renewed, and what is broken can be made whole. 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