Sunday, March 29, 2020

By Chuck Reeves | 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.