Sunday, March 29, 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
5th Sunday of Lent
March 29, 2020
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my cry!
Let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
If you, Lord, should keep account of sins, who, O Lord, could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more eagerly than watchmen for the morning,
like those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, look for the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
He alone will set Israel free from all there sins. Psalm 130
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Once again we worship beyond the walls of our church building, but we are still the church! May I suggest that you read through the order of worship prayerfully and thoughtfully. Ask questions of yourself or of those you are with. Pause and ponder the words and images that arise as if God or Christ were speaking. Feel your way through the scriptures and hymns. Consider how they speak to our present time. Know of the loving relationship in which God holds you. Imagine others in our faith community who are also reading and praying along with you at home. After all, especially in hard times, we are one in Christ. Sincerely, Dave
THE CONGREGATION AT WORSHIP
GATHERING THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH
PRELUDE
MINISTRY OF LIGHT
* CALL TO WORSHIP combining verses from Ezekiel 37 and Psalm 130
To these old human bones, thus says the Lord God:
I shall cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
We wait for the Lord, our souls wait, and in God’s word we place our hope.
O my people, when I open up your tombs and raise you from your graves,
you shall know that I am the living Lord.
Our soul waits for the Lord, more than night watchmen for the dawn,
more than watchmen for the dawn.* HYMN OF PRAISE “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” No. 384
Hymn is available by clicking here
SCRIPTURE READING Ezekiel 37: 1-14
Scripture is available by clicking here
MORNING PRAYER
God of mercy, Life-giver, Birthing Spirit, you are as mighty as the winds of a tornado,
yet as gentle as a soft summer’s breeze.
You are as ancient as creation itself, yet as fresh as morning dew.
You are as vast as far-flung galaxies, yet as near as each breath.
Today we praise you for your life and for your life in our midst,
and we pray you would work your work in us. Renew, refresh, refashion us.
Raise us from the half-lives we so easily fall into—
scattered in too many directions, unmindful of the moment,
dulled to what is good and holy and momentous.
Root and center us in you.
Open our eyes, minds, and hearts to the glory that is each day.
Teach us to wonder at your gifts, to hunger for what is right, to love with abandon.
God who creates ever anew, create in us a passion for life in all its fullness, in Christ. 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.
LITANY PRAYER FOR OTHERS
God is more ready to hear our prayers than we are to utter them. Let us pray for other people.
Source of life, God of love, let your salvation surround the living who walk under the shadow of death and the dead who are gloriously alive.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to your dying children. By simple faith in your undying grace may they have peace in the hour of their departing.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to people caught up in the rawness of a new grief. Enable them to weep well, free from bitterness or despair.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to all who care for the sick; in hospitals or at home, give them your quiet strength.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to those who fight against untimely death: those who spend their days working for the elimination of cancer, aids, corona virus, so many diseases; the carnage on our highways; and the butchery of warfare.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to the preachers of the gospel of peace. By your tireless Spirit, may inadequate words take flesh and become powerful agents in helping people to begin living eternal life now.
Great Spirit-Friend, Come with your life and light.
Be close to all your children when times seem dark, haunting, and frightening. Help each of us to trust and obey that we might be happy in Jesus, come what may.
Through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
* HYMN “Trust and Obey” No. 467
Hymn is available by clicking here
GOSPEL LESSON John 11: 1-45
Gospel lesson is available by clicking here
* CLOSING HYMN “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” No. 500
Hymn is available by clicking here
* BENEDICTION
God has set before us a life of faith.
That we may live in the light of His love,
I bless you!
That by the grace of Christ you may seek the boundless life that he offers,
I bless you!
Amen! and Amen!
God will bless you and keep you,
the Spirit will smile upon you and be gracious unto you.
the Christ will send his own light upon you and give you his peace.
Amen!
POSTLUDE
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.
As you do so, pray, “All things come of thee of God, and of thine own have we given thee.”