This is part of the worship series,
"The Way of the Cross”
Series Introduction | Lent 1 | Lent 2
Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5 | Palm Sunday |
Good Friday | Easter | Pentecost
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Gathering Song
“Be Still, for the Presence” Evans
Call to Worship
Friends of God, believe this—
God loved the world,
God loves the world,
we are the beloved!
May the truth of this great love story
shine through our worship today,
and renew our sense of calling.
So come, with your tiredness,
your frustrations and your discouragements;
come with your doubts, your fears,
and your longings;
come, to discover yet again
how Jesus reveals God’s love and mercy.
Come, in friendship to God
and to each other,
and in friendship to the world,
to listen for God’s Word to us,
to offer our prayers,
and to renew our calling.
Friends of God, let us worship!
—Ann Siddall © 2020. Inspired by John 3:14-21. Stillpoint Spirituality Centre, stillpointsa.org.au. Churches are given permission to reprint or reproduce for noncommercial use in worship services only.
Songs
“Holy God, We Praise Your Name” Walworth, LUYH 540, GtG 4, SSS 431
“Christ, Be All Around Me” Leeland and Smith
Confession and Assurance
Gracious God,
as those who strive to follow Jesus in our living
and to trust your power in our dying,
we gather to reflect upon the life that ended on a cross.
We recognize in ourselves
the strengths and weaknesses of Jesus’ disciples:
although they loved him,
they disappointed and failed him.
And yet, gathering with these imperfect friends at this last meal
Jesus washed their feet in service,
and then extended the bread and cup to each.
Jesus called them to love one another,
and invited them to share in his very life
and in his acceptance of the road ahead.
We are humbled, honored and inspired
by the deep love Christ extended to the world,
and we take seriously the calling to be the body of Christ today.
Forgive us when we disappoint and fail you,
and guide us back to a place of trust and faithful living.
Grant us the vision to see the world as you see it,
with love and compassion for each creature and all of your creation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray to you . . .
Our Father. . . .
—Written by the Rev. Kelly Burd, © 2020 Local Church Ministries, UCC. Published in Worship Ways, www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways. Used by permission.
Song
“Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer” Becker
Message
Mark 14:12–26; Exodus 12:1–14; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34, “The Lord’s Supper”
Song of Response
“Cornerstone” Mote, Liljero, Morgan
Offering
“Your Love Defends Me” Kerr and Maher
Prayer of the People
Closing Song
“Reign in Us” Glover and Neufeld
