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PreludeBeneath the Cross of Jesus

Mark HayesBlessed Be the God of Israel

Michael BurkhardtDr. Mark Baumann, CAGO,

piano & organ

Welcome & AnnouncementsRev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg

Call to Worship

one: Every week is a new week,Another chance to say:

all: “Here I am. Use me.”one: Every day is a new day,

Another chance to say:all: “Thank you for yesterday.

Thank you for tomorrow.”one: Every hour is a new hour,

Another chance to say,all: “Again and again,

make me new.”one: We do not come to this

place to stay the same.all: We come to this time to be changed.

one: So let us worship holy God,Who created yesterday, will create tomorrow,

and even now is creating something new.

all: Thanks be to God. Amen.

Opening Hymn Blessed Be the God of Israel

UMH 209 Connor DeJong, Song Leader

Blessed be the God of Israel, who visits and redeems us, and grants us liberty. The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and

release; God shall fulfill the promise to bring our people peace.

Fifth Sunday in LentMarch 21, 2021 | 9:00 am Worship

Informational graphics at the end of worship guide.

Chancel Flowers:Are given in loving memory of Megan Campbell

from the family of Alan B. Campbell Sr.

Worship Attendants:Rev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg, Lead Pastor

Rev. Jonathan Heifner, Associate Pastor of DiscipleshipDr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, organ and piano

Connor DeJong, Song Leader Kevin Lodge, Worship Technology Director

Dave Radack, Slide PresenterWes Nygren, Videographer

Bob Lee, Audio

Now from the house of David a child of grace is given; a Savior comes among us to raise us up to

heaven. Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way,

the prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day.

On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise, the dawning of

forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes, to guide the feet of pilgrims along

the paths of peace; O bless our God and Savior with songs

that never cease!

Call to Confession

Prayer of ConfessionGracious God,

We want to see you.We want to be known as the people who looked for Jesus;

But not only that, we want to be people who have your covenant

written on our hearts.Why do we feel so far away from

that at times?What went wrong?

Where did we lose our way?Could you, would you, once again,

write on our fragile hearts?We would be so grateful.

Amen.

Words of Forgivenessone: Friends,

despite our wonderings,Despite our distractions,

Despite wrong turns time and time again,

We are known and loved by God.Like a lighthouse keeper by the sea,

God will never stop waving us home.

So hear and believe the good news of the gospel:

All: Our fragile bones are held by the Great Creator.

Our fragile hearts are loved by the Great Creator.

Our tender spirits are forgiven by the Great Creator.

One: Today is a new day.All: Again and again, we are

forgiven;Again and again, we are reformed.

Thanks be to God.Amen.

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Lesson Jeremiah 31:31-34

The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a

new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. It won’t be like the covenant I made with their

ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land

of Egypt. They broke that covenant with me even though I was their husband, declares the Lord. No,

this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my Instructions within them and

engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my

people. They will no longer need to teach each other to say, “Know the Lord!” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the

greatest, declares the Lord; for I will forgive their wrongdoing and never

again remember their sins.

Hymn of Preparation Unless a Grain of Wheat

Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon the ground and die,

it remains but a single grain with no life.

If we have died with him then we shall live with him;

if we hold firm we shall reign with him.



If anyone serves me then they must follow me;

Whereever I am my servants will be.



Make your hoe in me as I make mine in you;

those who remain in me bear much fruit.



Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;peace which the world cannot give is my gift.



Gospel ReadingJohn 12:20-33

Rev. Jonathan Heifner

Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and

made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and

Andrew and Philip told Jesus.Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Human One to be glorified.

I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those

who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in

this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me.

Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.

“Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason

I have come to this time. Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it,

and I will glorify it again.”The crowd standing there heard and

said, “It’s thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.”

Jesus replied, “This voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours.

Now is the time for judgment of this world. Now this world’s ruler will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (He said this to show how

he was going to die.)

HomilyAgain & Again:

We Are Reformed

Response to the Word: Affirmation of Faith

We believe that flowers need the rain.

We believe that humans need community.

We believe that bodies need rest.We believe that

hearts need connection.We believe that

mornings need sunrise.We believe that

seasons need change.We believe that grief needs space.

We believe that change needs time.

We believe that love needs security.

We believe that pain needs art.We believe that

joy needs company.We believe that

our spirits need God.Again and again,

our spirits need God.Fortunately for us,

we trust thatGod is here.

God is at work in our lives.God is a lighthouse keeper

that never gives up.Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

Offertory

DoxologyOur God,

We Are a Church ReformedText: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Tune: AZMON (O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing) Text used by permission

Our God, we are a church reformed,A church reforming still:

We long to grow in your true Word,

And follow more your will.

How awesome is your sov’reign rule;

You reign from heav’n above.Yet you knelt down

in Jesus Christ,In sacrificial love.

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 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.

Sending HymnBeneath the Cross of Jesus

UMH 297

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, the

shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land; a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

from the burning of the noon-tide heat, and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see the very dying form of One who suffered there for me; and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I

confess: the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face; content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, my

sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

Benediction

PostludeWhen I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Gilbert Martin Coe College Choir &

Sanctuary Choir, March 17, 2019

Publishing Credits: The liturgy is reprinted with permission from The United Methodist Book of Worship, © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House. A Sanctified Art “Prayer by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.”

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-714641; CCLI 435430 and CRL030829.

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