ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY MARCH 18TH 2018-5TH 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 18th, 2018-5th Sunday of Lent

(2 purple and 1 white candle are lit on Lenten triad)

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 3, MV 81

Call to Worship  

One: God has called us to this place 
All: to worship and rejoice. 
One: God has called us to this place 
All: to learn and know. 
One: God has called us to this place 
All: to be formed and grow. 
One: Let us worship God; 
All: with all our hearts, minds, and souls 
we come to worship our God. 

Opening Prayer

Awesome God, out of nothing you created the universe; out of dust you made us, your people. We shake our heads in wonder that you made each of us in your image, that you call us by name and claim us. With the law and love on our hearts, guide us as we live as your people.  Amen. 

*Hymn  Be Not Afraid Printed 

Call to Confession

Lenten Tenebrae: Praying Our Confession with the Psalms

Lent 5--Psalm 51

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1)…And so it is with hope and in great humility that we gather our prayers of confession this day. Let us pray:
All: “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:7). God of New Life, you ask us to look openly and honestly at ourselves and the ways we are living. It is in this light that we acknowledge today that we are broken in so many ways. We can do nothing else but admit that our lives are filled with broken promises, broken hearts, broken relationships. And we confess that we don’t even know where to begin to make things right. Heal hearts that have been wounded by angry words. Soothe souls that have been denied joy. Open minds that have refused compromise. Free spirits that have been bound by fear. 
Silent confession as fifth candle is extinguished. 
God’s promise to us is a clean heart… 
All: a new and right spirit, and because of this, we will rejoice in the presence of the holy; we will dance in the light of God’s overwhelming forgiveness. Amen.

Written by Nora Vedress, Calvary U.C., Prince Albert, Sask. 

Gathering, Lent/Easter 2018, p.65. Used with permission. 

Sung Assurance: May God’s Sheltering Wings (her, his) MV214

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Jeremiah 31:31–34  “I will write my law on their hearts.”

One: This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 51 Put a new heart in me, O God.     Refrain 1 VU 776

*Hymn How Firm A Foundation VU 660

Opening the Word & the Lord’s Prayer

The Gospel Acclamation

John 12:20–33 Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth.

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

Opening the Word 2

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn   When We Are Living VU 581

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer

You have written your promises on our hearts, faithful God. As we learn your words of love for us, may we continue to give our whole selves to serving you. Bless what we offer today – gifts of our lives and our labour. We pray this through the one who gave his very self for us. Amen 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession   In 4 voices

Response: Voice 3: Write your words on our hearts, God, 
Voice 1: that you will be our God 
All: and we shall be your people.  Amen.

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

*Commissioning and Benediction

The love of God has been written on your heart. As you leave today, dwell in that love, live into that love, show others that love, that all may come to know God, from the least to the greatest. Go in the blessing of God's love. 

* Hymn Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

*Choral Amen