Order of Worship
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Gathering Music: Ripples of Kindness (by Cheryl Sager)
-Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Welcome: A Time for Good News Rev. Paula Norbert
Call To Worship:
Welcome to the weary and the worn. Welcome to the
wiggly and the eager.
Welcome to the skeptical and the seeking. Welcome to
the early risers and those still trying to wake up.
Welcome to the rule followers and the rule breakers.
Welcome to those hungry for justice and those desperate for mercy. Welcome to the sinners and the saints.
This is God’s house. You can make yourself at home here.
Let us worship our just, merciful, and faithful God!
Opening Hymn: Amazing Grace #649 vs. 1, 2, 3 & 5
Call to Confession
Jesus once said to a crowd, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” Friends, none of us are without sin. None of us gets it right all the time. None of us can get by without God’s grace. In the Prayer of Confession, we acknowledge this truth. We put down our stones
and we turn to God for forgiveness. Join me in this act of transformation.
Let us pray:
Prayer of confession
Holy God, we love to live our lives by the rules.
We love clear answers. We love right and wrong. We love swift justice. We love to pick up stones, but you show us another way. You welcome shades of gray and nuanced conversation. You prioritize mercy over legality. You prioritize people over tradition. You prioritize love over everything. Forgive us for losing sight of what truly matters. Forgive us for clinging tighter to laws than to each other or to you. Forgive us. Soften our hearts. Root us in mercy, justice, and love. With hope for a better tomorrow, we pray. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness:
My friends, Jesus saw a crowd ready to throw stones and invited them to choose another way. Jesus offered them grace, mercy, and compassion, and the same can be said for us. So hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: Our God is a God of mercy. Our God is a God of compassion. Our God is a God of grace. We are forgiven, loved, and invited to choose another way.
Thanks be to God for yet another second chance. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Front Porch (by Joy Williams)
-Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Readings: John 8:2-11; Matthew 23:23 -Peter McPheeters
Sermon: “Judge not, Lest…” Rev. Paula Norbert
Music: Meditative Instrumental ~ Neal Zweig
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord. Michelle Currie
Prayers of the People
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: Hush- A- Bye(All the Pretty Little Horses) (traditional American folk lullaby ) -Cheryl Sager & Neal Zweig
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication:
Closing Hymn: How Can I Keep From Singing P. 821 vs. 1-3
Blessing:
Postlude: Go In Peace