Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

11 AM Worship                                                 Third Sunday in Lent                                      27 March 2011

 

GATHERING

    Caprice                                                                                                                                                          J. Southbridge

 

GREETING AND WELCOME

    Be kind to one another,

    tenderhearted,

    forgiving one another,

    as God in Christ has forgiven you.

 

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

    And also with you.

 

INTROIT

    I Will Praise Him                                                                                                             Gloria and William Gaither

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                                           

    Let us contemplate Jesus the Lord:

    Instead of the joy meant for him,

    he endured the cross, disregarding its disgrace

    We worship you, Lord.

    O Jesus Christ, born in humility

    to confound the proud and to raise the humble:

    We worship you, Lord.

    You lived among us, healing the sick,

    proclaiming good news to the poor and freedom to prisoners.

    We worship you, Lord.

    You came to unbind the chains of every slavery,

    O friend of the humble, bread of hungry hearts.

    We worship you, Lord.

    Jesus, full of patience and goodness,

    you showed forgiveness and kindness to the very end.

    We worship you, Lord.

    Jesus, gentle and humble of heart,

    you call to yourself all who are weary and burdened.

    We worship you, Lord.

    Jesus, you came into the world to serve and to give your life;

    you were betrayed for money, dragged before judges,

    and nailed to a cross.

    We worship you, Lord.

    Jesus, Lord of the universe,

    by your resurrection from the dead you are alive at the Father’s side,

    and there you prepare a place for us.

    We worship you, Lord.

   

*HYMN  UMH 298

    When I Survey the Wondrous Cross                                                                                                              Hamburg

 

*PRAYER  in unison

    Enduring Presence,

    goal and guide,

    you go before and await our coming.

    Only our thirst compels us

    beyond complaint to conversation,

    beyond rejection to relationship.

    Pour your love into our hearts,

    that, refreshed and renewed,

    we may invite others to the living water

    given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

ANTHEM

    A Lenten Prayer                                                                                                                                                  R. Powell

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

GOSPEL READING

    John 4:5-42

 

EPISTLE READING

    Romans 5:1-11

 

    The Word of the Lord.

    Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

    Following the message, children from K-3 are invited to attend the Junior Church program.

 

SERMON

    Antihomosexual

 

*HYMN  FWS 2108

    O How He Loves You and Me                                                                                                                            Patricia

 

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

PASTORAL PRAYER

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER  in unison

    Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will

    be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us    

    our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into

    temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and   

    the glory, forever.  Amen.

 

PRAYER RESPONSE 

    Into Your Hands

 

    The congregation is invited to sing the prayer response with the choir.

 

*THE PEACE

 

OFFERING

    Melodia Semplice                                                                                                                                                 L. Smith

 

*DOXOLOGY  UMH 95

 

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

*HYMN  UMH 549

    Where Charity and Love Prevail                                                                                                                       St. Peter

 

*BENEDICTION

 

*GOING FORTH

    See the Lord of Life and Light                                                                                                                           J.S. Bach

 

*Those who are able are invited to stand.