Fear and Hope

March 15, 2020

 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Third Sunday in Lent

Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor

March 15, 2020                                        Worship 10:30 AM

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Providing God, striking water in the desert,

People: Refresh us and quench our thirst.

Leader: Revealing God, walking with us through suffering,

People: Refresh us and send us your grace.

Leader: Ever-present God, accompanying us each day,

People: Refresh us and bring us life.

Leader: We are God’s people, loved and cherished,

People: We follow in love.

Leader: We are God’s people, called and challenged,

People: We follow in grace.

Leader: We are God’s people, refreshed and forgiven,

People: We follow in hope.

*HYMN #384 (Green)                                     Rock of Ages

*INVOCATION (in unison)

You are the Spirit who gives us sight into ourselves. God for whom blame is an obstacle to be crushed, you are endless optimism. You search among us not for hardened beliefs but for openings. You carve chinks in us so that you may illuminate our judgments of others and ourselves. Bless you for your unending pursuit of new life and light in our dead, dark places. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses)

ANTHEM          I Want Jesus to Walk with Me    arr. Lloyd Larson

HEBREW BIBLE LESSON       Exodus 17:1-7                           Pg. 62

CALL TO PRAYER        Come Bring Your Burdens to God 

Come bring your burdens to God (3 times); For Jesus will never say no!

MORNING PRAYER

*HYMN # 430 (Green)                  Be Not Afraid

EPISTLE LESSON            Romans 5: 1-5                                 Pg. 142

 

SERMON       Fear and Hope                   Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen

OFFERING Invitation to Share

Offertory        Londonderry Air          arr. by Gottfried H. Federlein

*The Doxology #34 (Green)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)

What joy there can be, Loving God, in the giving and receiving of cool, refreshing water! Thank you for the living water we have received from Christ and are privileged to share. Bless the resources gathered today to sustain the programs and outreach of this church. May they and we give fitting expression to our thankfulness. Amen

*HYMN #469 (Green)         Lord of All Hopefulness

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

Call to Worship reprinted from Eggs & Ashes; Invocation adapted and reprinted from Breathing New Life Into Lent; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Fresh Winds of the Spirit, Book 2