March 17, 2013 Service

WORDS OF WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

ORGAN PRELUDE

+CALL TO WORSHIP

  Leader:   This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember, and move on,

   People: Time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone.

   Leader:   For by the life and death of Jesus, love's mighty Spirit, now as then,

   People: Can make for us a world of difference as faith and hope are born again.

  Leader:  Then let us, with the Spirit's daring, step from the past, and leave

               behind

  People: Our disappointment, guilt and grieving, seeking new paths,

               and sure to find.

  Leader:   Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love

               can do.

   People: This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.

+ HYMN                       “Be Thou My Vision”                                     #451

PRAYERS OF CONFESSION, ASSURANCE AND PARDON

We confess to you, all-knowing God, what we are. We are not the people we like others to think we are. We are afraid to admit, even to ourselves, what lies in the depths of our souls. But we cannot hide our true selves from you. You know us as we are, and yet you love us. Help us not to shrink from self-knowledge. Teach us to respect ourselves for your sake. Give us the courage to put our trust in your guiding power. Raise us out of the paralysis of guilt into the freedom and energy of forgiven people. And for those who through long habit find forgiveness hard to accept, we ask you to break their bondage and set them free; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

All pray in silence.

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atonement for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Thanks be to God.

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

Time with Young Disciples

GOSPEL GOULASH

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

SCRIPTURES Philippians 3:4b-14         

MESSAGE

OFFERING

Let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.  

+DOXOLOGY #95

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 OF DEDICATION

+ HYMN                       “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”                   #384

+ SENDING FORTH WITH BLESSING

+ POSTLUDE

(+) Those who are able are invited to stand.        

*Communion is available following the service where consecrated elements are distributed in the front of the sanctuary