BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH March 19, 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 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Welcome and Announcements
Session Today after worship

* Call To Worship
Leader: Listen: the heart of God calls to us.
People: Come, my beloved, my chosen; come home to me.
Leader: Let us respond to the invitation with joy and laughter.
People: Let us bring our dreams and hopes, our jars of ointment, our longings, our desires and our love.
Leader: Let us be open to the indwelling of God, who makes all things new.
People: We come, O God; we come.
*OPENING PRAYER
*LENTEN HYMN: What Wondrous Love Is This #85

Be Seated

LENTEN CANDLES

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION We like sheep, have gone astray: we have turned to our own way, we have denied your presence, we have betrayed your truth, we have laid our iniquities upon you. (moment of silent prayer) Forgive us, and guide us back into your holy presence. As forgiven followers may we be made new in your grace. As sheep of your pastures, may our lives exalt you for all the world to see. 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 41
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 1 Kings 19:3-8
New Testament Lesson: John 13:2-17
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 Anointing of Jesus
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS *DOXOLOGY #544 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION O Lord our God, our giving is from the love you have bestowed on us. May our love be as generous and as kind as Mary’s. May it be so full of beauty and of tenderness that your name is glorified by those who see it. Bless we pray these gifts that we place on our table and bless us in your service. We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus, our crucified redeemer. Amen.

*THE APOSTLES CREED

*CLOSING HYMN: Beneath the Cross of Jesus #92

*Charge and Benediction
Leader: Go forth with tears turned into joy, weeping transformed into laughter.
People: We go forth as a renewed people, with dreams of love and justice for all.
Leader: Go forth to claim your identity as beloved people of God.
People: God has done great things for us. We go to spread this good news to a parched and weary world.

BENEDICTION

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

BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH March 12, 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 James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Welcome and Announcements

* Call To Worship
Leader: We gather today with hands that have worked
People: and feet that are tired.
Leader: We come to Christ
People: who promises to wash us clean.
Leader: Come into the presence of our loving God,
People: The one who comes to serve us.
*OPENING PRAYER
*LENTEN HYMN: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed #78 (Blue)
Be Seated

LENTEN CANDLES

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION We like sheep, have gone astray: we have turned to our own way, we have denied your presence, we have betrayed your truth, we have laid our iniquities upon you. (moment of silent prayer) Forgive us, and guide us back into your holy presence. As forgiven followers may we be made new in your grace. As sheep of your pastures, may our lives exalt you for all the world to see. 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 41
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 1 Kings 19:3-8
New Testament Lesson: John 13:2-17
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 To Serve and Be Served
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS *DOXOLOGY #544 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION God, you are a God of unending generosity, we praise you this day. We cry out with gratitude for the many gifts you have given us, but most especially for your gift of life on this earth. May the life and teachings of Jesus live in us: that the hungry might eat and be satisfied, that the thirsty might drink and be revived, that the poor might receive generosity and kindness. With humble thankfulness, we pray. Amen.

THE APOSTLES CREED

*CLOSING HYMN Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord #392 (BLUE)

*CHARGE
Leader: Christ’s love is poured out for us like water poured into a basin.
People: Christ’s love washes us clean.
Leader: Christ’s love shows us who we are to be and what we are to do.
People: How blessed we are to know such love!
Leader: Go now to love and serve the Lord
People: Just as we are are willing to be served.

BENEDICTION


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

BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH March 5, 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 Isaiah 26:12 Lord, you establish peace for us;
    all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Welcome and Announcements

* Call To Worship
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.
People: According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Leader: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
People: Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Leader: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
People: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
*OPENING PRAYER
*Lenten Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross #101 (Blue)
Be Seated

LENTEN CANDLES

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, being a new creation in Christ means being commissioned to spread the good news of peace and love to a world in need of such news. But we fail to live out the values of the gospel, forgetting the high cost to Jesus when he showed us just how much he values and loves us. Being a new creation means that our identity is shaped by Christ, but we believe that our identity is shaped by what we do and how well we do it. (moment of silent prayer) We come to you merciful God in faith praying that you will heal us and forgive us. 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 32

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 Epistle Lesson 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
New Testament Lesson: Luke 15:25-32
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 Story of the Gracious Father

*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY #544
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Thank you, God, for proclaiming our worth when we do not value ourselves. Thank you for welcoming us to a celebration of life with so many precious gifts. Thank you now for the privilege of sharing so others may be led to your joyous embrace. Help us to be generous in gratitude for your abundant provision for all our needs. In Christ we pray, Amen!


THE APOSTLES CREED

*CLOSING HYMN Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing #356 (BLUE)

*CHARGE
Leader: We, who were once lost
People: have been found.
Leader: We, who were once spiritually dead
People: have been given new life.
Leader: Go into the world, rejoicing that God has welcomed us home
People: and sends us into the world to share that welcome with all!


BENEDICTION


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