Sunday, March 15, 2020
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
110 N. Second Street,
P.O. Box 323 Ripley OH. 45167
Reverend David Harper, Minister
937-515-2995, home
937-515-7070, cell
11:00 AM WORSHIP
3rd Sunday of Lent
March 15, 2020
1O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!
8Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they do not regard my ways.”
11Therefore in my anger I swore, “They shall not enter my rest.” Psalm 95
THE CONGREGATION AT WORSHIP
GATHERING THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH
PRELUDE
MINISTRY OF LIGHT
*CALL TO WORSHIP
If you are thirsty, you are in the right place.
Here in this house of prayer is opportunity of the first kind, an opening into personal refreshment from the depths of that most profound Well-Spring that we call God.
The God of Christ Jesus will quench the thirst of any who come here today in quiet expectation and open-hearted trust.
Therefore, blessed are those who thirst, for they shall be satisfied.
In the name of Christ Jesus I welcome you all.
*HYMN OF PRAISE “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” No. 89
Hymn is available by clicking here
SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 17: 1-7
Scripture is available by clicking here
MORNING PRAYER
Holy Friend, you are the joy of the universe! As we gather at this holy watering place, may each of us pray for the blessing of others gathered around us. Bless us all with enough living water to quench our thirst. Rejuvenate our spirits for the excitement of genuine worship and for the privilege of preparing to follow you in the week ahead. In Christ’s name and to and his glory. Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
A CREED
I believe that our lives are held within the encircling love of God,
who knows our names and recognises our deepest needs.
I believe that Christ is the divine Child of the living God,
and that his grace is like living waters that can never be exhausted.
I believe in the bathing, refreshing, Spirit of God
who yearns over our welfare as a mother yearns for her child.
I believe that God is in the arid desert as well as in green pastures,
and that hard times and disciplines are also loving gifts.
I believe that our journey does have a purpose and a destination,
and that our path leads to a final glory we cannot yet imagine.
I believe that in the church we are fellow pilgrims on the road,
and that we are called to refresh one another as God refreshes us.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Jefferson” Centenary Men’s Ensemble
CHILDREN’S MOMENTS
CHANGE FOR CHURCH can be placed in the can at the back of the sanctuary
OFFERTORY PRAYER for tithes and offerings placed in the collection plate at the back of the sanctuary.
*PRESENTATION AND DOXOLOGY No. 95
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.
* HYMN “Abide with Me” No. 700
Hymn is available by clicking here
GOSPEL LESSON John 4:5-42
Gospel lesson is available by clicking here
SERMON Rev. David Harper
*CLOSING HYMN “He Leadeth Me” No. 128
Hymn is available by clicking here
*BENEDICTION “A Celtic Blessing”
Closed to you be every pitfall, Smooth to you be every steep hill,
Warm to you be every sheltered nook, Sweet to you be every stream of God.
POSTLUDE
*Indicates standing. If you have difficulty standing, please feel free to remain seated.
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS may be mailed to the church at PO Box 323 Ripley OH 45167 with thanks to you and our Lord.