Image:Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Judas from Jesus Christ Superstar 1973
©Order of Worship for Sunday April 6, 2025
Fifth 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
Coming of the Light
Greetings………………………………………….Pastor Steven
Announcements……………………………………..Lorri B.
Call to Worship……………………………………………….Phillip J.
We come to worship, remembering God’s goodness that has carried us and sustained us to this present moment.
We remember the days when God covered us in love and filled us with joy.
We come to worship, weary from stress, heavy with grief, and wondering when relief will come.
We long for the days God covered us in love and filled us with joy.
We come to worship to remember and remind one another that God’s love has never left us, and God’s joy cannot be extinguished.
God, restore us that we know your love and your joy once again.
We come to worship to remember and become the Body of Christ, a community called to restore the world around us.
God, empower us to be your restoration people who fill the world with love, laughter, and abundant life. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.
Opening Prayer…………………………………….. Phillip J.
Come to this sanctuary, this house, this home, Holy Christ,
And let us receive you with a lavish welcome.
You are the Restorer of our fortunes,
The Promise of new life –
We pour out our praise to you.
Fill this room with your Spirit:
The sound of wind, the warmth of flame, the scent of perfume
And fill our hearts with your compassion,
Not just in this time and place,
But in all times and in all places,
So that as we celebrate the great things you have done for us,
We may also embody the love you give to all. Amen.
Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive, http://www.ucc.org/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/02/opening-prayer-psalm-126.html.
Opening Hymns…Fairest Lord Jesus……#189 UMH
1 Fairest Lord Jesus,
ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.
2 Fair are the meadows,
fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.
3 Fair is the sunshine,
fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.
4 Beautiful Savior!
Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross………#298 UMH
1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
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
AFUMC Online Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/
Offertory
“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
Hymn of Preparation:………….Give Me Jesus…………………….#3140 W&S
1 In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus.Refrain:
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You may have all this world,
Give me Jesus.
2 I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
Give me Jesus. [Refrain]
3 Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Give me Jesus. [Refrain]
4 Oh, when I come to die,
Oh, when I come to die,
Oh, when I come to die,
Give me Jesus. [Refrain]
Gospel Lesson:…………….John 12: 1 – 8………Phillip J.
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Sermon:………..“What Is Your Perspective?”………….Pastor Steven
Service of Holy Communion:……………….Pastor Steven
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Steven: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Steven: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Steven: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Steven: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Steven: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Steven: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Steven: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Steven: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn……O How I Love Jesus………#170 UMH
1. There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds as music in my ear,
The sweetest name on earth.
(Refrain)
2. It tells me of a Savior’s love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner’s perfect plea.
(Refrain)
3. It tells of One whose loving heart
Can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears a part,
That none can bear below.
(Refrain)
Refrain:
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!
Dismissal with Blessing………………….Pastor Steven
Postlude………………………………………………
For Online Giving, follow this link Avent Ferry Give . You can also mail checks to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
For additional AFUMC Announcements: See your AFUMC Announcements E-mail or Click Announcements Here
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Join Avent Ferry UMC for our Annual Church BBQ Fundraiser. On Saturday April 12th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm you can purchase a BBQ Dinner plate for $20.00. Dinner plates can be picked up anytime between 4:30pm and 7:30pm, or you can join us an eat in for your dinner.
If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily in Honor or in Memory of a loved one, you can request a Lily and provide the name or names of the persons you would like to honor or remember. Suggested Donation for a Lily is $15.00. Lilies will be available for pick up after the Easter Sunday Service on April 20th.
Buy now
If you have not filled out your order form, please do so here so that we can recognize your loved ones during our Easter Service on Sunday April 20th. Easter Lily Requests (This link will open in a new window)
Sunday April 6th Worship Service