An Extravagant Love
Series: The Gospel of John
Speaker: Rev. Tim Latham
Detail:
Third Sunday in Lent March 15, 2020
Gathering // God invites us to enter His presence
Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Preparation for Worship (Time for Silent Preparation)
Call to Worship // Hob Pusey
The earth is the Lord’s, for he made it:
Come, let us adore him.
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
Come, let us adore him.
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting:
Come, let us adore him.
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
Let us worship the Triune God.
Invocation // Hob Pusey
With you, gracious God,
we move into this time of worship,
grateful that you are never farther
than the reach of our need and our prayer.
You who tower over the universe
are yet intimately present,
always renewing the face of the earth,
always renewing the faith of your children.
Now, in your mercy, make your way past
all that worries and distracts us
to lodge in us anew and to center
our small worship on your great glory. Amen.
Hymn of Praise 64 // All Creatures of Our God & King
Confessing // God invites us to be honest with Him
Prayer of Confession // Hob Pusey
Merciful God, you made us in your image, with a mind to know you, a heart to love you, and a will to serve you. But our knowledge is imperfect, our love inconstant, our obedience incomplete. Day by day, we fail to grow into your likeness. In your tender love, forgive us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Time for Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon // Hob Pusey
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Leader: This is the Promise of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God!
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be, world without end.
A-men, A-men.
Minute for Mission
Offering // Thankful of the gifts God has given us, we offer ourselves to Him
Anthem
Invitation
As God’s dear children, then, take him as your
pattern, and follow Christ by loving as he loved you,
giving himself up for us as an offering and a
sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.
Offering // Please pass the plate to the center and then back to the side
Offertory
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. A-men.
Prayer of Dedication
Giving God, just as we love because you first loved us, we give because you first gave to us. Out of gratitude we bring gifts of money to be used for your kingdom work. With these gifts we also pledge to you our whole selves. We give you our bodies as living temples; may we be your hands and feet. We give you our minds; may our thoughts support others and glorify you. We give you our relationships; may our interactions be a light to the world. We give you our work; may we always strive to do our best and help others do theirs. We give you our play; may our leisure bring joy to many. We give you our hopes and our dreams; may our goals reflect your mission. Use these gifts, great God, through the power of your Holy Spirit
Amen
Hymn // Jesus, I Come
Proclaiming // God speaks to us through His Word
Children’s Sermon // Giving Him Your Best // Celia Weber
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 (NIV)
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Lesson // John 12:1-11
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Sermon // “An Extravagant Love” // Tim Latham // Reflection Guide
Responding // We respond to God’s Word
Hymn 185 // When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Confession of Faith
What is it that You believe?
We believe there is no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus;
for we know that all things work together for goodfor those who love God,
who are called according to God’s purpose.
We are convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayers of the People/The Lord’s Prayer
Leader: Your Kingdom Come,
All: Your Will Be Done.
Commissioning // God sends us out into the world as His witnesses
Hymn 367 // Wherever He Leads I Will Follow
Benediction & Blessing
Organ Postlude