ORDER FOR WORSHIP
PRELUDE Improvisation on "Nicaea" Sean Cotty
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP Gerry Mendler
One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
To live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
For God will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble.
God will conceal under the tent and set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up and I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
* HYMN No. 2 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty
JUNIOR SERMON
(After the Junior Sermon, children ages 3-8 are dismissed to Children & Worship. Children & Worship meets in Room 2D. Children can be picked up there after the service.)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord, you desire truth in our inward being;
teach us wisdom in our heart.
Send out your light, send out your truth,
and let them lead us to our home.
Take from us the weight of our sin,
that room might be made for your spirit of truth.
If we prepare a dwelling place, that spirit will abide within us,
and the truth will set our spirits free.
O Lord, you desire truth in our inward being;
teach us wisdom in our 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
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
ANTHEM: Deborah Governor
Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed
Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?
Was it for sins, that I have done He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut its glories in.
When Christ, the great Redeemer, died for His own creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt my eyes to tears.
But tears of grief cannot repay the debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away: 'Tis all that I can do.
LENTEN MISSION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Response Write These Words in Our Hearts
Write these words in our hearts,
we beseech you, O Lord.
* HYMN No. 634 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Prayer of Illumination
Holy and loving God,
as we worship you today,
we long for your Spirit to both comfort and challenge us,
to help us become more holy and more loving.
We often have a hard time understanding repentance,
So we pray for new understanding, humility, patience, and discipline
that will help us die to sin and live for Jesus. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Genesis 15:1-6 p. 10
Luke 13:31-35 p. 830
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON: Desire For God Rev. Blaine Crawford
* CONFESSION OF FAITH:
Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 89-90
Q. What is the dying-away of the old self?
A. To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.
Q. What is the rising-to-life of the new self?
A. Wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: Variants on an Irish Hymn John Ness Beck
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought. by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Amen.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* HYMN No. 441 Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
* BENEDICTION
Response Sevenfold Amen
POSTLUDE Improvisation on "Londonderry Air" Sean Cotty
All are invited to join us in Gessner Hall for coffee hour.
Announcements
Lenten Mission
This year’s focus for the Lenten Mission is homelessness and affordable housing in NYC. Our church is already committed to serving individuals in need of housing through our Women’s Shelter. Our Lenten mission will invite us to deepen our commitment in several ways:
1) Almsgiving: Church on the Hill will collect monetary donations and other items that can be distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness.
2) Education: Volunteers from the Women’s Shelter will share their experiences serving. Guests will share about homelessness and affordable housing in NYC.
3) Prayer: We will pray for individuals experiencing homelessness here in NYC, especially the women we serve in our Women’s Shelter on Friday evenings.
4) Hospitality: We invite you to serve in our Women’s Shelter in a variety of capacities, including preparing meals for them and staying overnight at the shelter.
Music in a Sacred Space Concert
Our second "Music in a Sacred Space" spring concert will take place on Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 pm. The VYCK Quartet will be joining the Church on the Hill Choir with performances of string quartets, choral works, and vocal solos. This concert is free and open to the public. There will be a reception to follow in Gessner Hall.
Ushers Needed
Would you be willing to serve as an usher during worship services? Ushers distribute bulletins, assist congregants to their seats if needed, and collect the offering. Serving as an usher provides a great opportunity to meet new people in the church and to help create an atmosphere of hospitality. If interested, please contact the church office.
Adult Bible Study
For many, the book of Revelation is an intimidating book, full of prophecy and imagery that can confound our minds. For that reason, many of us steer clear of the book as a whole. The book of Revelation, however, starts with seven letters, letters filled with the love and wisdom of Christ. These letters, written by John on behalf of Jesus, are sent to seven churches in Asia who are facing persecution. This Bible study will examine these letters both for what they said to the churches in Asia and also what they might have to say to the church today! Join us on Tuesdays, at 7:30 p.m. in the Library!
Youth & Children Ministries
Sunday School for youths aged 9-13 will meet at 9:45 a.m. in the sanctuary, before moving to room 2C. The class finishes around 10:40 a.m. Jeanne Sarran teaches this class.
Children & Worship children aged 3-8 will be dismissed from the worship service following the Junior Sermon and will meet in room 2D with Molly Mahowald. Children can be picked up after the worship service.
Looking Ahead – Mark your calendars!
· Tues. Mar. 19 7:30 PM Adult Bible Study
· Wed. Mar. 20 7:30 PM Indoor Yoga Class
· Thurs. Mar. 21 10:00 AM Bargain Boutique
5:45 PM Queens Children Comm. Choir
6:00 PM Prayer Group
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal
· Sat. Mar 23 10:00 AM Bargain Boutique
· Sun. Mar. 24 9:45 AM Sunday School classes
11:10 AM Children and Worship
· Sun. Mar. 31 9:30 AM Women’s Communion Breakfast
· Thurs. Apr. 18 6:45 PM Maundy Thursday Potluck
7:15 PM Communion Service
· Fri. Apr. 19 8:00 PM Good Friday Service
· Sun. Apr. 21 7:00 AM Easter Sunrise Service-Bowne Park
11:00 AM Easter Service
PRAYER REQUESTS
Remember the following individuals in your daily prayer:
Diane Blagburn, Michael Breazzano, David Cerqueira, Jessica Costagliola, Allegra DeMelo, Lucas Ditta, Dorothy & Abel, Joan Dwyer, Matt Field, Frocione family, Jose Gracinda, Bernice Herbert, Hotchkiss Family, Ken Hoey, Jason Knese, Marge LiBert, Jane Lynch, Jorge and Tiffany Martinez, Jean Mendler, Larry Murray, Joan Pearson, Kook Ryo, Ivanette and Harold Shinsato, Kane Shinsato, Kathy Shinsato, Janet Stillwagon, Alison Venable and Mel Werbel
Children are always welcome in worship at Church on the Hill. At the back of the sanctuary, the Family Room is open for young children and their parents. Changing tables are also available in the restrooms downstairs in Gessner Hall.