Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let me die to the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thoughts can become a hymn of praise to you. I need your loving grace to travel on this hard road that leads to death of my old self to a new life in and for you. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom. Amen. —written by Father Henry Nouwen

PRELUDE Ricercare III Fabrizio Fontana CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)

In the days of old, God called Abraham and Sarah: Come—I am with you; step out in faith. God speaks still, claiming people of every land and race: Come—I will bless you, that you may bless others. Heirs of the covenant, let us continue the journey: Come—let us worship the Lord!

GOD’S GREETING

+*HYMN OF PRAISE 134 (vs. 1-4) Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights Tune: TALLIS CANON *SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. (The congregation may exchange the Peace.)

READING Psalm 121 (responsively) I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. SONG 331 To the Hills I Lift My Eyes Tune: GUIDE

INTRODUCTION TO CONFESSION Romans 4:1-3 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (responsively)

Sending God, you speak to souls both calm and chaotic and summon us to follow. But your call threatens to uproot our lives, so we disregard your voice

and cling to the soils of safe, familiar places. Guiding Spirit, your wind whips through communities both settled and stirring and urges us toward new expressions of faith. But your call threatens to blow us off course, so we ignore your dynamic Spirit and shelter within protected harbors. Saving Christ, you enter into hearts both trusting and skeptical and plant within us the seed of faith. Forgive us when we ignore your summons to grow as disciples. Immerse us in the Spirit’s sustaining waters so that we might respond to your call with faith and faithfulness. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE Romans 4:13-17 GRATEFUL LIVING Galatians 5:22; John 15:8-11 CHILDREN’S TIME SONG OF PRAISE 238 (vs 2 & refrain) Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness Tune: SPIRIT

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Genesis 12:1-4 p. 10 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL LESSON: John 3:1-17 p. 93 This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. *HYMN OF ILLUMINATION 674 As Moses Raised the Serpent Up Tune: O WALY WALY

SERMON “Spiritual Rebirth” PRAYER FOR BLESSING ON THE WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: from Our World Belongs to God, art. 31 (in unison) Jesus stays with us in the Spirit, who renews our hearts, moves us to faith, leads us in the truth, stands by us in our need, and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant. MOMENT FOR MISSION AND SHARING THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS OFFERTORY Sir. John Stainer

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso 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. —Edited by Charles H. Morse, Quartet from “The Crucifixion”

Third Reformed Church

111 W. 13th St., Holland, MI 49423

616-392-1459; office@trcholland.org

CareLine—393-5574 For up to date information, including staff and ministry contacts, visit us on the

web at http://www.trcholland.org

*DOXOLOGY 965 Tune: OLD HUNDREDTH PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION THE LORD’S PRAYER 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. *HYMN OF DEDICATION 426 My Faith Looks Up to Thee Tune: OLIVET *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE +Latecomers will be seated. *You may stand.

Worship Leaders: Rev. Kent Fry, preaching; Rev. James Neevel, liturgist; Phyllis Rietberg, prayer for illumination; Sanctuary Choir; Linda Strouf, Minister of Music.

Sermons and video of the service may be found at

www.trcholland.org/home/media

LIFT Visit to the Warm Friend: This Wednesday, March 11, the children of LIFT will be visiting at the Warm Friend. They will be singing and bringing homemade gifts to the residents who live there. We will need help with chaperoning and driv-ing for this event. Please contact Joyce Fry (joycefry@trcholland.org) if you can help. Thank you.

LENT IMMERSION JOURNEY: Today is the Second Sunday of Lent. Lent is a sea-son of forty days in which we can make a journey back to God, back to basics, back to the spiritual realities of life. The spiritual pilgrimage of Lent can be in-tense, but ultimately our Lenten journey will lighten our burdens because we will enter into the resurrection joy of Easter and new beginnings. A selected key word drawn from the lectionary passages invites us into a Lent Immersion journey. The key word for today is Reset.

PRAYER SPOTLIGHT: Holland Hospital-Brad Warren; St. Mary’s, Grand Rapids-Gene Heideman. Hospice Care-Betty Maier. Home-Craig Anderson, Bill Charlton, Gus Feenstra, Don Maatman, Barb Mummert, Ruby Steketee, Margaret Thurber. Missionaries-Jaime & Martha Amaro (Mexico), Albino & Sandy Rodriguez (Peru).

BLOOD DRIVE: Sign up today in the Gathering Place to give blood at the Blood Drive on Monday, March 9, 12:00-5:45 p.m.

You are invited to attend “Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives” at Third Reformed Church, at 6:00 p.m., on March 10. Rachel VerWys, co-creator of the West Michigan non-profit Solutions to End Exploitation (SEE), will lead a panel of experts from law enforcement and survivor advocacy discussing the issue of hu-man trafficking in West Michigan and how our community can respond to the issue with empathy and practicality.

THIRD SUNDAY FOR HUNGER: Next Sunday, March 15, non-perishable food and other necessities will be collected for our monthly food drive. Donated items can be placed in the designated box in the Gathering Place.

THIRD SUNDAY PIZZA LUNCH will be next Sunday, March 15, following the 11:00 a.m. worship service.

On Sunday, March 22 the Youth and Children’s program will be hosting a Baked Good’s giveaway! Before and after the services on Sunday, March 22 the youth and children will be taking donations for baked goods, and the money will then be do-nated to worthy causes selected by the children’s programs (RCA love gifts for Chil-dren’s Education for a better future and animals for economic development for im-poverished families). Money donated will also be given to Wildlife Victoria (selected by the youth) in support of the recent fires in Australia. Please consider grabbing a tasty baked good and donating to these great causes. If you would like to make a baked good and donate it to be given away during the Baked Good’s giveaway, please contact Hunter (hunter.brumels@trcholland.org).

Macatawa Creation Care has been collaborating with our friends at the Climate Wit-ness Project to bring the JustFaith seminars to West Michigan. Plans are now set for a one night introductory meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Central Park Church, 614 Myrtle Ave. (Entrance C). Pizza will be provided. JustFaith has the materials and the experience to lead each of us into a deeper biblical understand-ing of Christ's call for social justice. The seminars are a great foundation for whatev-er area of social justice you pursue, not just creation care. To register please visit: justfaith.org/grand-rapids-march-2020

We welcome all who worship with us and ask visitors and members to sign the Friendship Folders so that we may get to know one another. Visitors please join us in the Gathering Place for refreshments and fellowship after the worship service.

IF YOU DESIRE PRAYER for yourself and/or others Jane Dalman and Gayle Wilson will be available to pray with you following today’s worship service. Please make your way to the Place of Prayer located in the south hallway on the main level.

ASSISTING TODAY: Welcome Team: Harley and Phyllis Brown; Deacons: Rick Ca-potosto, Sandy Stiesltra, Emily Lievense, Dan Callam.

WORSHIP CENTER: Our Worship Center Program for children aged 4 through the 2nd grade continues today during the 11:00 service. During the 8:30 service, Worship Center will be provided on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Our Wor-ship Center program takes place in Room 2. (Downstairs: Take Northwest staircase down to lower level. The room is the first door to your right.)

ADORACION EN ESPAÑOL: Will not meet today.

Sunday 4:45 p.m. Carillon Choir 6:00 p.m. Lenten Book Study (church & Freedom Village) Monday 12:00 p.m. Blood Drive 1:30 p.m. Miriam Bible Study Tuesday 8:30 a.m. Ruth Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m. Hannah/Elizabeth Bible Study 12:00 p.m. Lydia Bible Study 12:00 p.m. Worship Committee 6:00 p.m. Human Trafficking Forum 7:30 p.m. Outreach Team Wednesday 6:15 a.m. Men’s Bible Study 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Saints 8:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning Prayers 1:30 p.m. Rachel Bible Study 5:30 p.m. LIFT Dinner 6:15 p.m. LIFT Children’s Classes 6:15 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 6:20 p.m. Bilingual Bible Study & Prayer Group 6:20 p.m. LIFT Adult Classes 6:20 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Thursday 7:00 p.m. Special Education Ministry 7:00 p.m. Lenten Book Study at Bassetts’

Share your prayer concerns by using the prayer request cards found on the table at the back of the sanctuary. Place the requests in the prayer box or offering plate. Please remember in prayer those in the hospital and in care facilities.

Please remember to have someone notify the church office when you are in the hospital so you can receive spiritual care by the pastoral staff. Call 392-1459.

Today we have more than one hundred of our congregation at Camp Geneva for the annual church retreat. This includes a number of families participating in Spanish worship. Many of our families with children are at the retreat. The retreat began on Friday and ends at noon today. We trust that this has been a meaningful time for connection with God and also in terms of developing relationships.

Nicodemus, JESUS MAFA, Cameroon, 1973 JESUS MAFA is a response to the New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings were selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings.