Sunday March 17th Worship Service

(Image: “Mosaic from Lullingstone Villa” 4th Century, United Kingdom)

©Order of Worship for Sunday March 17, 2024

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Women’s History Month

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)

The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am

Prelude:…“Beneath the Cross of Jesus”…………….Greg D.
Words: E. Clephane, Music: F. Maker/“No Greater Love”
Words and Music: R. Carmichael © 1969 Lexicon Music, Inc.
 
Coming of the Light:……………………………………………..
 
Greetings:……………………………………Pastor Steven
 
Opening Prayer: ………………….………..……..…Ian D.
Love that knows no boundaries: we crowd our lives with so much activity that it is hard to find time for you.  We become so focused on ourselves, we can overlook those around us who are searching for hope. We fill our spiritual emptiness with junk, rather than feasting on your Word.
 
Abundant Mercy, forgive us. Open our eyes, that may see your new covenant written in plain sight on our hearts.  Open our hearts, that we may join you in serving the broken of the world. Open our love, so we may pour it out as abundantly and graciously as your love is given to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
 
Opening Hymns:“Jesus Calls Us” #398 UMH
Words Cecil Frances Alexander, 1852, Music: William H. Jude, 1974
 
1. Jesus call us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying,
“Christian, follow me!”
 
2. As of old the apostles heard it by the Galilean lake, turned
from home and toil and kindred, leaving
all for Jesus’ sake.
 
3. Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden
store, from each idol that would keep us, saying,
“Christian, love me more!”
 
4. In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of
ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Chirstian, love me more than these!”
 
5. Jesus call us! By thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy
call, give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and
love thee best of all.
 
“This is a Day of New Beginnings” #383 in The UMH
Words by Brian Wren, Revelations 21:5; Music by Carlton R. Young
© 1983, 1987 Hope Publishing Co
 
1. This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
 
2. For by the life and death of Jesus,
God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.
 
3. Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.
 
4. Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.
 
5. In faith we gather round the table
to taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.
 
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri:………“Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
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.

Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings …………………
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory:……………..“Via Dolorosa”…………………Melanie B.
Words: Billy Sprague Music: Nils Verov
© 1984, Meadowgreen Music
 
Offertory Response:….. “The Doxology” #94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623;
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God,
all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the
source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!  Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Prayer After Receiving:………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Prayers of the People:………………….……….Pastor Steven
 
Anthem:…………….“Lamb of Glory Medley”………………Choir
Arr. Russell Mauldin © 1992 River Oaks Music Co.
 
Gospel Lesson:…………….John 12:20-33……….Ian D.
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
 
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
 
Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
 
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say–‘ Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.  Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”  The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”  Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.  Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
 
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Hymn of Preparation:..“Glorify Thy Name” #2016 TFWS
Words and Music: Donna Adkins © 1976 Maranatha! Music
 
1. Father, we love you, we worship and adore you,
glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name
in all the earth.
 
2. Jesus, we love you, we worship and adore you,
glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name
in all the earth.
 
3. Spirit, we love you, we worship and adore you,
glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name
in all the earth.
 
Sermon:……..“Preparing for Life”…………Pastor Steven
 
Closing Hymn:“Lift High the Cross” #159 UMH
Words: George William Kitchin and Michael Robert Newbolt, 1916
Music: Sydney Hugo Nicholson, 1916 © 1978 Hope Publishing Co.
 
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
 
1. Come, Christians, follow this triumphant sign.  The
hosts of God in unity combine.
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
 
2. Each newborn servant of the Crucified bears
on the brow the seal of him who died.
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
 
3. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as
thou hast promised, draw the world to thee.
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
 
4. So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise
to the Crucified for victory!
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
 
Dismissal with Blessing:…………………Pastor Steven
 
Postlude:…………………………………………………….Greg D.

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