BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH April 16, 2023

PRELUDE Debbie Harris
GATHERING WORDS Leader: This is the day the Lord has made People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Leader: May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. People: And also, with you.
OPENING SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.


Welcome and Announcements

* Call To Worship
Leader: Let us gather together with glad and generous hearts.
People: For many signs and wonders are being done among us.
Leader: Let us gather together and share our lives in common.
People: Let us give what we can to all who have needs so that all people may regard the goodness of the risen Lord.
Leader: Let us devote ourselves to the spread of the gospel.
People: For in this way God will add to our numbers every day!

*OPENING PRAYER
*OPENING HYMN: Come Christians Join To Sing #131

Be Seated

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION You have shown yourself to us, O God, by Word and Spirit, with signs and wonders, in flesh and blood, yet we still struggle to live and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. (moment of silent confession) Have mercy on us; forgive us. Enter into our lives and cast out our fear so that we may come to trust in you and have life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON Leader: Hear and believe the good news of the gospel People: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
PSALM READING: Psalm 71:14-24 CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

Stand and wave hello to those around you as the children go back to their seats.
PASTORAL PRAYER With Lord’s Prayer SCRIPTURE READING
Gospel Lesson John 13:3-17
New Testament Lesson: Matthew 28:16-20
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God Take a minute to think about what this scripture says to you.
SERMON What’s Next?

*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY #544
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Generous God, you are our portion and our cup. In you our hearts are glad, our souls rejoice, and our bodies rest. Bless and multiply our offerings and pledges that they may bring the joy of your presence more deeply into the world. Amen.

*THE APOSTLES CREED

*CLOSING HYMN: Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! #407

*Charge and Benediction
Leader: Go to celebrate all that God has done.
People: For Christ breathes new life into us.
Leader: Go out with the spirit of forgiveness and faith
People: As God’s faithful witness to the one who loves us and sends us to make disciples!

BENEDICTION

*Choral Benediction:
The Day of Resurrection! V3 #208

BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH April 2, 2023

PRELUDE Debbie Harris
GATHERING WORDS Leader: This is the day the Lord has made People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Leader: May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. People: And also, with you.
OPENING SCRIPTURE Philippians 2:5-8
 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Welcome and Announcements

* Call To Worship
Leader: Our King has come riding on a donkey.
People: The King is here. Shout for joy!
Leader: Our Savior has come amid waving palms and cheers of praise.
People: The Savior is here. Shout Hosanna!
Leader: Jesus has come, riding on a donkey.
People: Jesus is here. Sing praises!
Leader: The King has come.
People: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
*OPENING PRAYER
*LENTEN HYMN: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna #89 (Blue)

Be Seated

LENTEN CANDLES

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of righteousness, we would rather sing hosannas with a cheering crowd, than stand up for our convictions in the face of an angry mob; we would rather dine with you at your table, than stand up for you in a courtyard of accusers; we would rather fancy ourselves as your champions than admit to ourselves how easily we could betray you with a kiss. (moment of silent prayer) Forgive our fickle faith. Heal our hesitant hearts. Deepen our commitment as your disciples. In Christ we pray, Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Hear and believe the good news of the gospel People: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
PSALM READING: Psalm 118:19-29
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

Stand and wave hello to those around you as the children go back to their seats.
PASTORAL PRAYER With Lord’s Prayer
SCRIPTURE READING
Old Testament Lesson Zechariah 9:9-17
New Testament Lesson: Matthew 21:1-11

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God Take a minute to think about what this scripture says to you.
SERMON The Week Begins

*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY #544
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Holy God, your love for us is so great that you gave us your own Son to teach us the way of life and death. May the gifts and offerings we bring this day, reflect our gratitude: for Christ’s gift of self, for Christ’s anguish and passion, for Christ’s never-failing love. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

*THE APOSTLES CREED

*CLOSING HYMN: Ah Holy Jesus #191 (Blue)

*Charge and Benediction
Leader: May the mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
People: The one who never turned backward in defiance; The One who gave his back to the lash; the one who faced spitting and insult.
Leader: May your bearing be that of Christ Jesus.
People: The One who emptied himself; the One who took the form of a servant; the One who was raised to the heights and given the name above all names.

BENEDICTION

*Choral Benediction:
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley V1,2 #80 (Blue)