4th Sunday in Lent
Service of Prayers and Communion
Color: Purple (symbolizing Penitence)
The United Methodist Church of Chugiak
Pastor: Rev. David Hall
Ministers: The Entire Congregation
10:15 am Worship Service on Facebook Live
March 22, 2020
Please Note: You can download this Order of Worship as a PDF file if you would prefer to print a copy. Click this link to Download the Order of Worship for March 22, 2020
You can also download a pdf of this service’s hymns, or you can click on the links provided in the order of worship to view the hymn in a virtual, website-based Hymnal.
Prelude
Introduction and Welcome
Call to Worship
One: The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing I lack.
Many: God Guides me in proper paths for the sake of God’s good name.
One: God bathes my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over!
Many: Yes, God’s goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.
Hymn: UMH #133 “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms ”
Call to Confession
One: As children of God’s light, we are called to do what is pleasing to the Lord: to participate in what is good and right and true, and expose what is unfruitful and evil. Knowing that we turn from the light, we bring our confession to God, so that what is hidden in us becomes visible, and the shadows of our hearts may be illumined by grace.
Prayer of Confession
Many: Gracious God, we are people who still love darkness rather than light. We keep shameful deeds secret, but flaunt our occasional acts of virtue. We see ourselves as blameless, but pass judgment on others. We do not stand firmly enough with those who are vulnerable, but step back, protecting ourselves. Forgive us, we pray. Bring us into your light that we may see ourselves rightly. Bring us into your light that we may know ourselves loved. Bring us into your light that we may live more fruitful lives. Keep raising us, we pray, from the deadness of sin, and shine upon us with your grace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Moment of Stillness and Reflection
Words of Assurance
One: The psalmist assures us that God’s goodness and mercy will follow us, even pursue us, all the days of our life. As God’s forgiven people, receive this goodness and mercy, and live a new life in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Many: We will live as children of the light for Christ shines on us.
Prayer of the Forgiven
Many: Holy God, why is it that we look, but do not see? Bring us again and again into your light until your ways become visible to us, and bear fruit in us. Touch us so that we are utterly changed, a “before” and “after”, a “now” and “then”; that we may also say, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Lord, we believe; help our unbelief. In Christ’s light, we pray. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
During this time the pastor will invite you to share your prayers, both in celebration and in concern, in the comments section of the Facebook Live Broadcast. Over the course of the next few minutes we will work to name these prayers of our communal Body of Christ. As prayers are lifted, please respond with the words, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Children’s Moment: The Good Shepherd—Psalm 23
Offertory Hymn: UMH #361 “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me ”
If you wish, please visit our online offering system, found at:
https://umcchugiak.org/giving/
Presentation of Offering: “Glory Be to the Father” UMH #70
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.
Closing Prayer
Blessing
One: May the love of God pursue you, the light of Christ enfold you, and the Holy Spirit keep you; as you dwell in the house of the Lord your whole life long. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Many: Amen.
Postlude
The liturgy of the service is adapted from: “Feasting on the Word, Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1, Advent through Pentecost”, edited by Kimberly Bracken Long and published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2013.