March 3 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Flowers from Angela Baker

Prayer shawls from Sandy Bainbridge

Prayer shawls from Michele Matthews and Sandy B.

Let's celebrate!

Celebration cake fun!

Third Sunday in Lent

(Link to today's worship service)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross.” —John 19:25

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Hyeji Park / “Be Thou My Vision,” traditional Irish

*Call to Worship (inspired by 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)...Bob Muckle

Leader: Loving God, we come to You in worship and thanksgiving. You are greater than we can understand; People: Open our eyes that we may see the wonderful truths you have shown to us in Jesus. Leader: You are more loving than our hearts can respond to; People: Help us to give ourselves to you in worship so that we learn what you want us to be. Leader: You are wiser than we can know; People: Still our minds as we worship You so that we can understand the things You are saying to us. Leader: Loving God, in Jesus You chose to come to the world in humility. You chose the path the world saw as foolish. You used what the world considered weak. People: We worship and adore You. Amen.           —from The Worship Sourcebook

*Hymn...“God of Grace and God of Glory” (UMH #577)

Prayer of Confession (Book of Worship #480)...Bob Muckle

We confess to You, all-knowing God, what we are. We are not the people we like others to think we are. We are afraid to admit, even to ourselves, what lies in the depths of our souls. But we cannot hide our true selves from You. You know us as we are, and yet You love us. Help us not to shrink from self-knowledge. Teach us to respect ourselves for Your sake. Give us the courage to put our trust in Your guiding power. Raise us out of the paralysis of guilt into the freedom and energy of forgiven people. And for those who through long habit find forgiveness hard to accept, we ask You to break their bondage and set them free, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations                Pastoral Prayer...    Pastor Charles

First Gospel Lesson: John 19:26-27...Bob Muckle

Choral Anthem...“Christ Be With Me,” arranged by Hal H. Hopson

Second Gospel Lesson: John 20:16-18...Pastor Charles

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

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Facing the Cross: Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer  

*Hymn...“Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” (UMH #402)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

Postlude...Hyeji Park / “I Love to Tell the Story,” William G. Fisher