ORDER FOR WORSHIP
PRELUDE Prelude and Fugue in F major J. S. Bach
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP Steve Sarran
Let us worship God, who has done great things.
We rejoice in our God, who made a way
through the desert of this world.
Let us worship God, who has caused streams of mercy
to flow in the wasteland.
We are the people God has formed through Christ;
we worship him, and we rejoice!
Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
We praise God for the grace that has saved us.
* HYMN No. 200 Lord, Who Throughout
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
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.
According to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly and cleanse me from my sin.
Against you have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
(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
If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and
If you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
You will be saved.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek:
The same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.
Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
We are forgiven! We will live in peace!
ANTHEM: Ave Verum Corpus W. A. Mozart
(translation)
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side
water and blood flowed:
Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet]
in the trial of death!
LENTEN MISSION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Response All Things Come of Thee, O Lord
All things come of thee, O Lord,
and of thine own have we given thee.
* HYMN No. 340 Amid the Thronging Worshipers
Prayer of Illumination
Lord God,
in this season of Lent
we look forward to our remembrance of Jesus’ death
and our celebration of his resurrection.
We pray that your Spirit will renew in us today
our anticipation for these events
and our awareness that Jesus’ death and resurrection
are a sure source of hope and life.
In the power of Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 p. 158
Luke 4:1-13 p. 835
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON: Learning to Say No Rev. Blaine Crawford
* CONFESSION OF FAITH:
Based on Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 43
By Christ’s power
our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may offer ourselves as a sacrifice of gratitude to him.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: Offertory John Ness Beck
With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
Shall I come before Him with yearling calves?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give Him my firstborn for my transgressions,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O man;
He has shown you what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and kindness,
and to walk humbly,
walk humbly with your God?
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* HYMN No. 442 O Come to Me, The Master Said
* BENEDICTION
Response Jesus Remember Me
Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
POSTLUDE Fugue in G minor "The Great" J. S. Bach
All are invited to join us in Gessner Hall for coffee hour.
Announcements
Lenten Mission
Our focus for the Lenten Mission this year will be on homelessness and affordable housing in NYC. Church on the Hill is already committed to serving individuals in need of housing through our Friday Women’s Shelter. Our Lenten mission will invite us to deepen our commitment and be comprised of several parts:
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 of their experiences serving. In addition, a guest speaker will share more about homelessness and affordable housing in NYC.
3) Prayer: Church on the Hill will pray for individuals experiencing homelessness here in NYC, especially the women we serve in our Women’s Shelter on Friday evenings.
4) Hospitality: Church on the Hill is invited to serve in our Women’s Shelter in a variety of capacities, including preparing meals for the women and staying overnight at the shelter.
Free Concert Series
Our free concert series "Music in a Sacred Space" returns on Saturday, March 16th with a recital by pianist Abram Korsunsky. He will be performing works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann. The recital begins at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary followed by a reception in Gessner Hall. There will be a free will offering for the concert series fund.
New Members Class
Interested in learning more about what it means to be a member of Church on the Hill and about our ministries and values? A New Members class will be held after church from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on March 17 and 24 followed by lunch. The class will answer the questions above and share more about Church on the Hill's history. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Crawford.
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.
Looking Ahead – Mark your calendars!
· Tues. Mar. 12 7:30 PM Adult Bible Study
· Wed. Mar. 13 7:30 PM Indoor Yoga Class
· Thurs. Mar. 14 10:00 AM Bargain Boutique
5:45 PM Queens Children Comm. Choir
6:00 PM Prayer Group
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal
· Sat. Mar 16 10:00 AM Bargain Boutique
· Sun. Mar. 17 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, 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