(View this service: YouTube)
Call to Worship:
L: Good and upright is the Lord.
All: God leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
L: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
All: O Lord, my heart is not full of myself and my eyes are not raised too high.
Song – There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy – UMH 121
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good!
There is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple, we should rest upon God’s word;
and our lives would be illumined by the presence of our Lord.
Prayer:
(All) God, who humbled himself to enter into our humanity and walked with those on the margins of life to bring healing, comfort and a new life, walk with us now and show us the way of discipleship- compassion, humility, sacrifice and service. Open the ears of our heart and the eyes of our souls so we may learn from you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Scripture Reading – Luke 14:7-14
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host, and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers and sisters or your relatives or
rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
L: For the Word of God in scripture; for the Word of God within us and for the Word of God among us we say:
All: Thanks be to God.
Our Offering to God
Anthem – Choir
Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow – UMH 95
Offering Prayer: Gracious Lord, receive our humble gifts that we offer to you this day. May our giving reflect our gratitude towards you. Take our “not enough” and multiply it to make it more than enough so that others will experience your abundant love and amazing generosity. Amen
Message
Prayer of Confession – UMH 8
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
P: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen
Passing the Peace
Sharing our joys and concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Great Thanksgiving – UMH 9
P: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
P: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer – UMH 895
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Announcements
Song – A Place at the Table – WAS 3149
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for you and for old, the new way to live.
Refrain
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free.
Refrain
Shirley Erena Murray and Lori True. CCLI# 7123251
Benediction
======================
Licensing
*CCLI copyright #21178338 and streaming #21178321.
**One License Licensing Permission # A-741072.
All Rights Reserved. Reprint/Streamed.
Please keep in prayer: Nema, Chris, Pearl, Ayinde, Nalo, Robert, Nina J., Edna P., Farrah, Melissa, Ruth, Bridget, Sandy, Johnnie K, Susan L., Lydia, Tina, Blanche and family, Charles C., Kyle and family, Kaye, Charlene, Marion G., Valerie H., Millie, Mary, Rosier , Drema, Mary Jane, John, Louise and Mark, Jane, Claire. Marian, Carlos, Al, Margaret Franklin, Hallman family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Wenona. The ministry of Cokesbury. Streetlight, Featherstone School students, teachers, staff, parents. People struggling with mental illness.
Prayer Shawls: You may have noticed the throws on the chairs in the narthex. These were made by our own Prayer Shawl ministry. These “shawls” represent prayer and hugs for people in need. If this describes you or yours, please take one.
Discernment: 859 Prayer
Please pray about Community garden, English language classes, Flea Market.
Wednesday prayer service at noon during Lent
Scripture Focus for Lent: Read Romans 12 every week.
TEMA Choir Festival of Easter Saturday April 1 st at 4 pm,
First United Presbyterian Church
14391 Minnieville Road,
Woodbridge 22193.
Free admission. Directed by Mr. Ebenezer Allotey
The Way of Discipleship
Growing in Grace through study:
Sundays following worship. The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Growing in Grace through fellowship and more:
Welcome Table every Second Sunday 11:30 am. Come and share a meal and conversation.
Friday with Friends every Third Friday 11am in Narthex. Bring bag lunch.
Growing in Grace through intercessory prayer:
Prayer group meets Mondays at 5:30pm on Zoom. All are welcome to join in prayer. Please send or share prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle.
Growing in Grace through service:
A.C.T.S Food Pantry: Canned vegetables 15 oz size, low sodium canned vegetables, snack items, individually packed, Pop-top canned prepared meals suitable for our homeless clients, single serve prepared food suitable for our homeless clients, laundry detergent, dish detergent, cleaning supplies in general, toiletries and personal hygiene items, size 4T pull-ups, size 6 diapers, dog food.
Featherstone School: personal hygiene products: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, brushes and combs. Small and medium size sweatpants in blue, gray or black
Growing in Grace through worship.
Weekly service Sundays at 10am.
Choir practice on Saturdays. Children at 2:30 pm every other week – Adults and youth at 3pm every week.
Sign ups for Liturgists, Ushers, Greeters, Altar Care, Communion Steward, Worship banners.
All Men: Sunday, March 26th, following worship in the fellowship hall. Refreshments and hear about exciting, upcoming mission projects.