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GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
Prelude
"God, That Madest Earth and Heaven"
UMH #688
Welcome and Sharing of Announcements
A Time to Connections
(in-person service only)
Meditation Time
Introit
“Man of Sorrows"
by Philipp Bliss
Adult Choir
Call to Worship
Liturgist: In the quiet of the night, Nicodemus came seeking truth.
People: In the quiet of our hearts, we come seeking new life.
Liturgist: Jesus speaks of being born from above — born of water and Spirit.
People: We open ourselves to the wind of God's Spirit.
Liturgist: The wind blows where it chooses; we hear its sound but cannot control it.
People: Holy Spirit, breath upon us and make us new.
Liturgist: God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world —
People: But that the world might be saved through him.
Liturgist: Come, let us worship the God who loves the world.
People: We come to be born anew, to trust more deeply, and to walk in God's light.
Opening Prayer
Loving and life-giving God, we come before you as seekers, like Nicodemus, carrying questions in the night. Blow through this place with your Spirit. Wash over us with living water. Birth within us a faith that is not afraid of mystery, a trust that does not demand control, and a love that reflects your own love for the world. In this season of Lent, strip away what is false in us. Quiet our fears. Soften our hearts. Help us receive the gift of new life — not as something we achieve, but as something you graciously give. Through Jesus Christ, who was lifted up for our healing and salvation. Amen.
Opening Hymn
"Come to the Table"
TFWS #2264
Holy Communion
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You brought all things into being
and called them good.
When we turned away and our love failed,
your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity,
made covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke to us through your prophets.
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. (UM Hymnal p. 17)
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
In this season of Lent,
we remember his steadfast journey toward the cross.
He proclaimed good news to the poor,
freedom to the captives,
and release to the oppressed.
He healed the sick and ate with sinners.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection,
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us,
he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. (UM Hymnal p. 18)
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever.
Amen.(Hymnal 18, Musical Setting A)
The Lord’s Prayer
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Breaking the Bread
Because there is one loaf,
we, who are many, are one body;
for we all partake of the one loaf.
The bread which we break
is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The cup over which we give thanks
is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
Giving the Bread and Cup
Prayer After Communion
Eternal God, we give you thanks
for this holy mystery
in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world
in the strength of your Spirit,
to give ourselves for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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