ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MARCH 19TH 2017-3RD SUNDAY OF LENT

The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s

United Church of Canada

Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS

Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarksuc@gmail.com

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

Ministers: The Whole People of God   Minister: Nan Corrigan D.M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

March 19th, 2017-3rd Sunday of Lent

A thought around which to gather as we worship— Life is full of reversals: the Israelites complain that there is no water, and God provides it to them, in abundance. The woman at the well comes simply to fetch a bucket of water for her household, and yet Jesus offers her new life…When have you been surprised by the reversals of life? When have you found reversals happening to widen the circle and include others?

Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Lent • Easter 2017 

Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016, p. 50

Announcements         The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting 

One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit.

*Introit Love Us Into Fullness         v 1, twice MV 81

Call to Worship   Based on Psalm 95

One: Come, let us sing a song to our God! 
All: Let us raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation! 
One: Let us come before God with thanks; 
All: let us shout songs of joy to our Creator. 
One: For God is great, ruler over all Creation. 
All: Mountains and oceans are in God’s hands. 
One: Come, let us worship God!

Opening Prayer

One: In the driest desert, O God, you provided a rock 
that held a fountain for those who thirst. 
All: Come, gracious God, and fill us with your love. 
One: In a helpless world, at the right time, 
you sent Jesus to die for the ungodly. 
All: Come, gracious God, and fill us with your love. 
One: In a place of quarrelling, you provide an answer 
that holds life for those who hope. 
All: Come, gracious God, and fill us with your love. 
One: In a place of wonder, you provided living water, 
for those who met there. 
All: Come, gracious God, and fill us with your love. Amen.

*Hymn Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love      VU 574

Lenten Triad Candle Lighting     Prayer of Confession & Pardon

In place of a Lenten Tenebrae or extinguishing of candles, this year our ritual is one of gathering light to remember how people were drawn to Jesus during his ministry. This is symbolized by a central Christ candle from which a new candle is lit on each Sunday of Lent.

Light the first two candles from the Christ candle.

One: Loving God, there are times we are impatient.
Two: We don’t want to wait.
One: We don’t want to trust.
Two: We are stubborn. 
Both: We are hard as rock.
All: Forgive us, God.
       Light the third candle.
One: Yet, often just below the surface there is goodness, waiting to be tapped.
Two: We are scared to share our gifts.
One: Tap into us, God.
Both: Help us to find our hidden talents.
All: Use our gifts for your glory, O God.
One: God knows us, and God loves us.
Two: God reaches out to us through Jesus, and refreshes us.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.

Water is poured from a pitcher into the font. 

Sung Assurance: Love Us Into Fullness         v 1, twice MV 81

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Exodus 17:1–7 Water from the rock.

One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.
Water is poured from a pitcher into the font. 

Psalm 95 Let us shout to the rock of our salvation. VU 814

*Hymn Come, Children, Join to Sing VU 345

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer

The Gospel Acclamation

John 4:5–42 Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

One: Herein is Good News.   All: Praise be to God. 

Water is poured from a pitcher into the font. 

Opening the Word 2

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn     In Christ There Is No East or West VU 606

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

Your love for us, gracious God, is overwhelming: in the midst of our complaining, you pour out abundant water for us. Now we respond in kind, giving you what we can for the work of your people. Take our gifts, and take us, and use us to share living water with others. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Water is poured from a pitcher into the font during the silence. 
Response: One: We are listening, 
All: we are listening. Journey with us into love
compassion
peace
righteousness
justice
faith

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn     We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection    VU  586

*Commissioning and Blessing

Reconciled and restored to God, 
go out into the world in peace, 
to share the living water that God gives to us so freely, 
and in so doing, to restore others to hope and life.

*Choral Amen