Coffee Host:  Lew Sullivan

ORDER OF WORSHIP

March 18, 2007                                                                                        10:00 a.m.

*Opportunities to stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE                              “Adagio”                                                                Liszt

BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THIS ROOM

*CALL TO WORSHIP

ALL:  (Hymn 210, verse 1)  Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our  shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

ONE:  God instructs us and teaches us the way we should go.

ALL:  Therefore we shout for joy!  We give thanks to God and rejoice.

ONE:  All who are faithful offer prayer to God who delivers us.

ALL:  Let us be glad in the Lord and rejoice!  In this hour, let us lay aside our cares, and turn to God!

*HYMN  145                 “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, we know we worship idols of our own making.  When temptation overtakes us, we submit to its charm.  We find it easier to grumble about our hardships than to praise you for the blessings we receive every day.  Forgive us when we take advantage of your love!  Restore us to relationship with you, in Jesus’ name.

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 579)

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.

RESPONSIVE READING 222                                                                   Psalm 103

READING FROM THE WRITINGS                                                       Joshua 5:9-12

READING FROM THE EPISTLE                                                2 Corinthians 5:16-21

ANTHEM                       “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”                        Bonner

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Jesus loves me, this I know!  For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong, They are weak, but he is strong!  Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!

(Toddlers may go to the Nursery, older children to Children’s Church)

READING FROM THE GOSPEL                                                         Luke 15:11-32

SERMON        “Death and Dying – Old Dreams Die Hard”          Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

*HYMN INSERT           “In the Bulb There Is a Flower”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991)

In life and in death we belong to God.  Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.  We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God, [who] proclaimed the reign of God.  We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father.  In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image.  We trust in the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

A table with votive candles has been placed to the right of the pulpit.  During this time of silent prayer, you may come to the table and light a candle representing your prayer for a particular person or situation. Once you have lit the candle, you may return to your seat.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Page 16, Traditional)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen.

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                       “Brother James’s Air”                               arr. Simone

*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 592) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

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.

*HYMN  285             “God, You Spin the Whirling Planets”

*THE CHARGE AND THE BENEDICTION

*CARRYING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

And the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts, shall keep your minds on Jesus Christ.