Sunday Worship on March 22, 2020

Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 22, 2020

Prelude

: Please prepare your heart, mind, and soul to worship God, our Father in prayer.

Welcome and News in the life of the church

: Please remember and keep our church families' health, safety, and spiritual relationship with God in your prayer.

Introit / UMH #328

: Surely The Presence of the Lord

Candle Lighting / Centering Words

Show me Your way, O God, my Shepherd. Open a right path and let me hear Your call to follow. Show me Your way, O Christ, my Healer. Open my eyes to the needs of my world. Amen.

Prayer Request and Silent Prayer

Prayer Response / FWS #2193

: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

Hymn / UMH #

Invitation to Worship

L: Shepherd us, O God.

P: Open our ears to hear Your calling.

L: Shepherd us, O God.

P: Open our eyes to see Your care.

L: Shepherd us, O God.

P: Shear our fascination with the ways of the world.

L: Shepherd us, O God.

P: Prepare us to follow You.

Opening Prayer

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Ministry of Music

God Will Make a Way (Don Moen)

Scripture (Old Testament) / Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm —

he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Scripture (New Testament) / Matthew 21:18-22

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.

19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Sermon / Pastor Gil

Changing from Our Perspective to God's Perspective

Offertory Invitation

If you are able to send your weekly pledge by mail, would you do so, please? Our church address is Contoocook United Methodist Church PO Box 356, Contoocook, NH 03229.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Blessings of the Offering / Pastor Gil

God of our waking, receive these monetary gifts,

that they may bring the goodness of our ministry

to your world.

Receive also the gifts of our transformed lives,

as we open our hearts

to perceive our short-sightedness.

Give us the vision to offer our lives

in service of you.

Light our paths, and shine through our lives,

as we follow you.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn / UMH #348

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

Benediction

Go forth, woke to the call of God, your creator.

Go forth, true to the path lit by Christ, your redeemer.

Go forth, woke to the conscience of the Holy Spirit,

your helper and guide.