Worship Guide - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Worship Guide

March 27, 2022

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

 

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

 

Greetings:

 

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

 

Special Music: “Oceans” Meagan

 

Centering Words:

 

The lost are found. The dead return to life. This is the Lord’s doing; it is wondrous in our sight.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:   Like a loving Father, God offers us freedom to choose our own path.

People:  In God’s freedom, we are a new creation.

Leader:   Like a merciful Mother, God offers us compassion when we lose our way.

People:  In God’s mercy, we are a new creation.

Leader:   Like a forgiving Parent, God welcomes us home with open arms.

People:  In God’s embrace, we are a new creation.

Leader:   Come! Let us worship the one who makes all things new, as we pray

 

ALL: Merciful God, you seek the lost sheep of your pasture; you call out to all who have strayed. As the father welcomed the prodigal son home, receive us back into your loving arms. Your steadfast love, O God, knows no bounds. Your loving embrace is always there for us. Be with us in our time of worship, that we may feel your presence and know that you are our true home. Amen.

 

Hymn: The Church’s One Foundation”

 

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;

she is his new creation, by water and the Word.

From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;

with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

 

Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth,

her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;

one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,

and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

 

Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed,

by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed;

yet saints their watch are keeping,

their cry goes up, "How long?"

and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

 

Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war

she waits the consummation of peace for evermore;

till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blessed,

and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

 

Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three in one,

and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.

O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we

like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

Hold fast to these words of assurance: “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away!”

In Christ, we are reconciled indeed, for we have found our true home.

Amen

 

*Old Testament Reading: Joshua 5:9-12

9 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.

10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “The Prodigal Son”

 

Hymn: Amazing Grace”

 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found

was blind, but now I see.

 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved.

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come.

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

and grace will lead me home.

 

The Lord has promised good to me,

his word my hope secures;

he will my shield and portion be

as long as life endures.

 

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

a life of joy and peace.

 

When we've been there ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we'd first begun.

 

Sermon: “Lost & Found” Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 

3 So he told them this parable:

 

“There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

 

25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

 

Hymn: “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”

 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,

threaten the soul with infinite loss;

grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.

What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

brighter than snow you may be today.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see his face,

will you this moment his grace receive?

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Psalter: Psalm 32

 

1    Blessed are those whose transgression is

forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2    Blessed are those whom the Lord does

not hold guilty,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3    When I did not declare my sin, my body

 wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

4    For day and night your hand was

heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up as by the

heat of summer.

5    I acknowledged my sin to you

and I did not hide my iniquity;

I said, "I will confess my

transgressions to the Lord';

then you forgave the guilt of my sin.

 

6    Therefore let those who are godly

offer prayer to you;

at a time of distress, the rush of great

waters shall not reach them.

7    You are a hiding place for me,

you preserve me from trouble;

you encompass me with deliverance.

8    I will instruct you and teach you

the way you should go;

 

I will counsel you with my eye upon

you.

9    Do not be like an unruly horse or a mule,

without understanding,

whose temper must be curbed with bit

and bridle.

10   Many are the pangs of the wicked;

but steadfast love surrounds those

who trust in the Lord.

11   Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,

O righteous;

shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

 

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen

 

Prayers of the People   Joys and concerns:        

Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

 

SENDING FORTH

 

Hymn: “Love Lifted Me”

 

I was sinking deep in sin,

far from the peaceful shore,

very deeply stained within,

sinking to rise no more,

but the Master of the sea,

heard my despairing cry,

from the waters lifted me,

now safe am I.

 

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!

 

Souls in danger look above,

Jesus completely saves;

he will lift you by his love,

out of the angry waves.

He’s the Master of the sea,

billows his will obey,

he your Savior wants to be,

be saved today.

 

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me!

 

Benediction