(Image: Desert Image, artist unknown)
©Order of Worship for Sunday March 09, 2025
First Sunday in Lent
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………………..Since Jesus Came into My Heart………..Greg D.
Words by R. McDaniel, music by C. Gabriel / “Into My Heart” words and music by H. Clarke (c) 1924, renewed 1952 Hope Publishing Co.
Coming of the Light
Greetings…………………………………………..Pastor Steven
Announcements………………………………………..Lorri B.
Women’s History Moment………………………………………Margaret S.
Call to Worship……………………………………………………Ian D.
On this first Sunday in Lent, we join Jesus in the wilderness, a place of wild and dangerous things, of testing and temptation away from the security of home.
God, rescue us in the wilderness!
Once again, we watch and listen as Satan throws out temptation upon temptation, and we find our security in Jesus, who does not waver from the truth.
God, rescue us within the wilderness!
Once again, we face our own frailty and realize that the wilderness is not nearly as dangerous as our choices to prioritize selfish gain and hoarding of power.
God, rescue us through the wilderness!
Once again, we call upon God in the wildernesses of our lives, and we trust God’s faithful reply:
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2024.
Opening Prayer…………………………………………………….Ian D.
God, you are our refuge.
You are the shore in sight,
you are hands that reach out,
you are the ground on which to rest.
God, you are our strength.
You are the life we long for,
you are the refusal to give up,
you are the keys of home we carry with us.
God, you are our help in time of trouble.
We call on you from the ruins and the rubble,
We call on you from the wildness and the deep,
ALL: We call on you to meet us in this place! Amen.
Found in Cláudio Carvalhaes, Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the Ends of the World (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2020), 40.
Opening Hymns…”Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”….UMH #269
1. Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins
and close by thee to stay.
2. As thou with Satan didst contend,
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.
3. As thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy word.
4. And through these days of penitence,
and through thy passiontide,
yea, evermore in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.
5. Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering over past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last.
“Grace Greater than our Sin”………………..#265 UMH
Author: Julia H. Johnston (1910), Tune: MOODY (Towner)
1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2 Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]
3 Dark is the stain that we cannot hide
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today [Refrain]
3 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]
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.
Giving of our tithes and offerings………..Pastor Steven
Offertory………“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”……Handbell Choir
Charles Wesley, Arr. James D. Kimball
Offertory Response:
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95 UMH
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer After Receiving……………………..Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People………………………Pastor Steven
Anthem:……………..“Lead Me, Lord”………….Handbell Choir/Catherine S.
Samuel Wesley Arr. James D. Kimball
Hymn of Preparation:..“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”…#2112 TFWS
Words: American folk hymn; Music: American folk hymn
1. Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
he had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
he had to walk it by himself.
2. We must walk this lonesome valley;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
we have to walk it by ourselves.
3. You must go and stand your trial;
you have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
you have to stand it by yourself.
Gospel Lesson:…………….Luke 4: 1 – 13……………Ian D.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’ ”
Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Sermon:………….Why Are You Here?………Pastor Steven
Closing Hymn….“If It Had Not Been for the Lord” #2053 TFWS
Words: Margaret P. Douroux Music: Margaret P. Douroux
© 1980 Margaret P. Douroux
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
He kept my enemies away;
he let the sun shine through a cloudy day.
He rocked me in the cradle of his arm
when he knew I had been battered and scorned,
So…
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
He never left me all alone;
he gave me peace and joy I’d never known.
He answered when I knelt to really pray,
and in vict’ry the Lord brought me his way,
So…
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
If It had not been for the Lord on my side;
tell me where would I be, where would I be.
Dismissal with Blessing………………Pastor Steven
Postlude………………………………………….Greg D.
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Sunday March 9th Worship Service