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St. John’s United Church of Christ

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

The Service: 10:30 a.m.                     March 29, 2009

 (Let us be silent and prayerful as we prepare our lives for worship.)

Prelude

Welcome

Announcements and Passing of Peace & Greeting

Sharing of  Joys and Concerns  

Introit –  

*Hymn – (Black Hymnal) #199 “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”-  

*Call to Worship

 M:       We are on a journey of faith.

 P:        We travel with Jesus Chris t as our guide.

 M:       The promises of God shine like a star before us and give us strength for the        journey.

 P:        But still, in the wilderness, we become impatient and rebellious, and lose our      way.

 M:       We gather, seeking to be fed by the manna of God’s Word, to rediscover the paths       of righteousness.

ALL:   O God, Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  Glory be to        you in Jesus Chris t and in the church to all generations. (Ruth Duck)

*Call to Confession:

            We turn to God when we know we have failed to walk the narrow path, God calls us to.  We know that with God’s loving forgiveness, we will change our ways today.  Let us pray together:  

*Prayer of  Confession: (together)

                  We do not always walk well along the edge, God.  At times we fall into chasms which separate us from you, from one another, from ourselves.  With eyes closed, we risk falling into the abyss.  We attempt to stabilize our journey by demanding signs and seeking wisdom along the way.  We fail to ask, “Where is Chris t being sacrificed now?”  At the end of our journey the hour will be at hand.  The questions flood our conscious minds: What would we have done that night in Gethsemane ?  Could we have been part of the political machinery that murdered Chris t?  We shudder at the answers.  We need the strength and assurance of your grace.

*Silent Confession

*Kyrie No. 750 (Lord have mercy upon us. Chris t have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy                          upon us).

*Assurance of Pardon: (together)

We have this assurance that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Chris t. Amen.  (Weadon United Methodist Church )  

The Holy Scripture        Reader:  Deb Gutelius

                                                Jeremiah 31:31-34

                                                John 12:20-33

Children’s Chat

Baptism of Carter Brent McCormick

Congregational Assent

All who are able may stand as the congregation is asked to make promises:

M.     Jesus Chris t calls us to make disciples of all nations and to offer them the gift of grace in baptism.   Do you, who witness and celebrate this sacrament, promise your love, support, and care to the one who is about to be baptized, as he lives and grows in Chris t?

C.      We promise our love, support and care. 

Hymn #325  “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise” –Ronald S. Cole-Turner, 1981  

Sermon: “Jeremiah in Trouble, Jesus in Trouble”

Anthem: “Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord” –

                                performed by the Chancel Choir                 

Prayer Vesicle

            One:    God be with you.

            All:      And also with you.

            One:    Let us pray.   

Prayers, Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, Lord’s Prayer (using ‘sins’, and ‘sinned against us’)

Prayer Response #192 (Black Hymnal

            When Jesus wept, the falling tear in mercy flowed beyond all bound;

            When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear seized all the guilty world around.  

The Offering

Offertory  

*The Offertory Response No. 780 ‘The Doxology’

     Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;

     Praise God above, you heavenly host:  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.  

*Prayer of Dedication  

*Hymn – (Black Hymnal) #195 “On a Hill Far Away”-  

*Benediction           

*Postlude