Service Preview for March 25

Service Preview for March 25

Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.

Our Spoken Call to Worship
Based on Matthew 21:9 (ESV)

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

As we are called into worship today,
it is sobering to remember
that when God appeared on earth in the person of Jesus,
most of the world did not recognize him
and therefore did not worship him.

Today we ask for faith that will open our eyes
to see Jesus for who he is,
that we might worship him in truth.

People of God, behold and see your God!

Lord Jesus, let us see you!
Open our eyes to see your glory.
Open our ears to hear your wisdom.
Open our hands to serve your cause.
Open our mouths to sing your praise.
Open our hearts to receive your grace.
You are Lord!

Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!

Our Sung Call to Worship – The Children’s Choir will sing this song.
The Bright Rose of Sharon

Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.

Our Spoken Confession
From The Worship Sourcebook

Loving Father,

Your Son rode a donkey and came in peace,
humbling himself and giving himself for us.

We confess our lack of humility.

As he entered Jerusalem,
the crowds shouted, “Hosanna: ‘Save us now!’”
On Good Friday, they shouted “Crucify!”

We confess our praise is often empty.
We sing “Hosanna,” but cry “Crucify.”

As the crowd laid their palms in front of him,
he took no glory for himself.

We confess that we want to be accepted.
We choose to take the easy way.
We do not stay true to your will.
Forgive us, Lord, and help us
to follow in the way of obedience.

Amen.

Our Sung Confession
Gethsemane Hymn

Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Based on Psalm 118 (NRSV)

Hear the Word of the Lord from Psalm 118:

Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.

In Christ, God answers us and sets us free!
In Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Power of the Cross

Thanksgiving and Petition

We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.

We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well.
On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings—one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.

We Give Thanks in Song
What Wondrous Love is This

Scripture Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 ESV

1For everything there is a season, and a time for
every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to
gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain
from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I
have seen the business that God has given to
the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has
made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he
has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he
cannot find out what God has done from the
beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and
to do good as long as they live; 13 also that
everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in
all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures
forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything
taken from it. God has done it, so that people
fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God
seeks what has been driven away.

This is the Word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower fades,
But the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen!

Sermon
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 – Get Rhythm — Pastor Michael Felkins

The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be celebrating the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.

If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
If you are not able to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers.

PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Lord Jesus, You claim to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in my pursuit of knowing You. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent and convincing, and that leads me to the life in You. Amen.

PRAYER OF BELIEF
Lord Jesus I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserve in order to purchase my complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been raised form the dead, I turn form my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be the one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit in a local community of Christ followers. Amen.

adapted from D. A. Carson, ed., Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)

Gluten Free Lord’s Supper: The elements of our Lord’s Supper are gluten free.

Song During the Lord’s Supper
Behold the Lamb

Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in spoken word.

Blessing
May the Lamb who was slain for our sins give us grace this week to take up our cross and follow him.
Amen.