Worship Guide
March 10, 2024
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: “Thank God I Do” Stefanie
Centering Words:
Grace is the gift that binds us to God. It protects us, redeems us, restores us, and makes us whole.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: The goodness of God beckons,
People: calling us to goodness and grace.
Leader: The grace of God redeems,
People: saving us and making us whole.
Leader: The love of God welcomes,
People: inviting us to worship and praise.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: God of goodness and grace, gather us in your arms of love. Gather us as people of your goodness and grace. Gather us in worship and prayer, that we may be strengthened with faith and courage. Gather us as those who are eager to live and to share your goodness and grace. Amen
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.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
In Christ Jesus, we are created to do good things. By God’s grace, we are able to be good people.
In God’s goodness, we are created good. In Christ’s grace, we are saved by love, that we may love and be loved.
Thanks be to Christ our King. Amen
*Old Testament Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
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: “Open Your Gift”
Hymn: “Give Thanks”
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ his Son.
And now let the weak say "I am strong";
let the poor same, "I am rich
because of what the Lord has done for us
And now let the weak say "I am strong";
let the poor same, "I am rich
because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ his Son.
Give Thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ his Son.
And now let the weak say "I am strong";
let the poor same, "I am rich
because of what the Lord has done for us
And now let the weak say "I am strong";
let the poor same, "I am rich
because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks!
Sermon: “Loving the Light” John 3:14-21
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “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.
17 “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. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
Psalter: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
1 O give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose steadfast love endures for ever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, who the Lord has redeemed from trouble
3 And gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
17 Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
18 They loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;
20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
22 And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Amen.
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Jesus, the Light of the World”
See the bright and Morning Star,
Jesus, the Light of the World!
He has risen in our hearts,
Jesus, the Light of the World!
Walk in the light, beautiful light;
come where his love and his mercy are bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the World.
He's the lamp that lights our way,
Jesus, the Light of the World!
Step by step and day by day -
Jesus, the Light of the World!
Walk in the light, beautiful light;
come where his love and his mercy are bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the World.
No more darkness, no more night -
Jesus, the Light of the World!
He will shine forever bright,
Jesus, the Light of the World!
Walk in the light, beautiful light;
come where his love and his mercy are bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the World.
Benediction
