February 18 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

First Sunday in Lent

(Link to today's service)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to Him.”         —Luke 9:35b

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Hyeji Park / “Fairest Lord Jesus,” arranged by Susan W. Henry

*Call to Worship (Psalm 25:1, 4-6, CEB)...Amy Abshire

I offer my life to You, Lord. My God, I trust You. Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth—teach it to me— Because You are the God who saves me. I put my hope in You all day long. Lord, remember Your compassion and faithful love—they are forever!

*Hymn...“This Is My Father’s World” (UMH #144)

Litany for Faithfulness at the Beginning of Lent...Amy Abshire (To be read responsively)

Loving Lord, at the beginning of this Lenten season, we are met with the challenge of handing over every bit of our lives that do not come from You, to rid ourselves of what clutters our lives and all that distracts us from the simple truth of Your love for us.

Your prophets have called us to change the way we worship—to make internal sacrifices instead of external ones. To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with You each and every one of our days.

If we don’t give anything up for Lent, then let us at least give up this: that we might live cease living in ways that disconnect us from You, for every one of our steps is like a circle around Your temple. Perhaps this Lent, we can give up our way and give ourselves to Your way for us.

So, lead and guide us on this Lenten way. May we walk with Jesus toward the hill just outside of Jerusalem. May we, like Him, take up our cross and follow, spending each moment of our lives living responsively to You, just as Christ Himself did. For that is the faithful way. Amen.

—Rev. Patrick Ryan, Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church, Barboursville, West Virginia

Community prayer concerns and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer...Pastor Charles

First Gospel Lesson: John 11:45-53...Amy Abshire

Bell Anthem...“Reflections from Iona” by John L. Bell, arranged for bells by Karen K. Thompson

The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian organization in Scotland, founded in 1938, committed to social and economic justice and the inclusion of the most vulnerable in society.

Second Gospel Lesson: John 3:1-15...Pastor Charles

This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Facing the cross: Caiaphas and Nicodemus”

*Hymn...“Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” (UMH #269)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

Postlude...Hyeji Park / “My Tribute” by Andrae Crouch