ORDER FOR WORSHIP
PRELUDE: Raindrop Prelude Chopin
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP John Westerhaus
Lord God, we gather in this place not because we are deserving of your love and not because we have lived faithfully before your face.
We gather here because you have called us.
You loved us before we could love you. You have given your Son for our salvation.
For this we join all creation in blessing you, praising you, thanking you.
You are great, and greatly to be praised.
As we offer our praise, we long for you to mold us in the image of your Son, whose death and resurrection give us hope.
* HYMN No. 92 Crown Him with Many Crowns
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of compassion, you are slow to anger and full of mercy, welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts.
Receive us in your loving embrace as we come home to you. Seat us at your bountiful table of grace, that, with all your children, we may feast with delight on all that satisfies the hungry heart.
(Prayers of Silent Confession)
Kyrie (sung): Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Assurance of Pardon/Wisdom for Life
In our baptisms, we have been adopted by God.
We are God’s beloved children, and brothers and sister to one another.
In our baptisms, we have been washed by Jesus Christ.
We are forgiven; our shame and guilt are wiped clean.
In our baptisms, we have been anointed with God’s Spirit.
We are temples of the Holy Spirit and signs of God’s restorative work.
In our baptisms, we have been called to God’s mission.
We are disciples, followers of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: God So Loved The World John Stainer
God so loved the world,
That he gave His only begotten Son,
That who-so believeth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world;
But that the world through him might be saved.
Prayer of Illumination
God of love, in the Word-made-flesh, you revealed yourself to us. Keep our feet firmly in the way where Christ leads us; make our mouths speak the truth that Christ teaches us; fill our bodies with the life that is Christ within us. In his holy name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm 19:1-10, 14 p. 433
John 2:13-22 p. 863
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON Disciples at Work Rev. Blaine Crawford
* CONFESSION OF FAITH:
Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: This Do in Remembrance of Me J. Hunnicutt
This do in remembrance of me;
Keep this feast and together we'll be.
This do in remembrance of me;
Till you come to my kingdom.
This is my body, broken for you,
Take and eat in remembrance of me.
Broken that you might rise up from death
Into a life everlasting.
This do in remembrance of me;
Keep this feast and together we'll be.
This do in remembrance of me;
Till you come to my kingdom.
This is my blood, I shed it for you.
Take and drink in remembrance of me.
Shed that you might rise up from death
Into a life everlasting.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
*Communion Hymn Draw Near Steven R. Janco
Refrain (congregation sings)
Draw near, draw near!
Take the body of your Lord.
Draw near, draw near!
Drink the blood for you out-poured.
Verses (choir)
Draw near and take the body of your Lord,
and drink the holy blood for you out-poured:
Saved by his body and his holy blood,
with souls refreshed we give our thanks to God.
Christ our Redeemer, God's eternal Son,
has by his cross and blood the victory won:
He gave his life for greatest and for least,
Himself the offering and Himself the Priest.
Let us approach with faithful hearts sincere,
and take the pledges of salvation here:
Christ who in this life all the saints defends,
gives all believers life that never ends.
With heavenly bread makes those who hunger whole,
gives living waters to the thirsting soul:
Judge of the nations, to whom all must bow,
in this great feast of love is with us now
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Sanctus (pew card)
Mystery of the Faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Carlos Rivera
Congregational Response:
The Lord is my light and my salvation,
of whom should I be afraid,
of whom should I be afraid?
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
* HYMN No. 612 How Firm a Foundation
* BENEDICTION
Response Lord, Have Mercy upon Us
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
POSTLUDE: Etude in F Major Chopin
Announcements
MARCH 4, 2018
Adult Sunday School Opportunity
Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:30 a.m., Library
Adults are invited to join a Sunday morning class entitled, "Ripped from the Headlines - Integrating your Faith with Current Events!" Led by seminary intern Carlos Rivera, the class will extend through the end of April with a new headline discussed every few weeks.
Queens Discipleship Retreat
March 17, 9:30am-2:00pm, Gessner Hall
Being with God and each other strengthens our faith and helps us live it out. But we get so focused on finishing our to-do lists that sometimes we don’t leave enough space in our lives for those relationships. If you can relate, you're invited to set aside space for God and one another by participating in a discipleship retreat next month. Join with other RCA churches in Queens to:
Explore current models of discipleship
Grow your capacity to participate in God's work both personally and as a community
Share a meal and time of fellowship
This is a free event but registration is required. Call the church office or register at: http://www.churchonthehill.org/discipleshipretreat/
Lenten Mission 2018 - Important Dates and Opportunities
Reminders: There are still a few tags for our home goods collection, available in Gessner Hall.
There are also a few Lenten bookmarks at the back of the sanctuary.