ORDER OF WORSHIP
5th Sunday in Lent
March 26, 2023
PRELUDE What Wondrous Love is This? Hayes/Gaspard
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-LENTEN POTLUCK MEAL will be held today March 26 after worship. Thank you for bringing something to share—please come even if you didn’t bring as there is always enough to share.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House at 9:30ish.
-PIECES & PRAYERS will be meeting at the church on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM. All are welcomed to help with quilting.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 AM at the church.
-PRACTICE FOR SPECIAL MUSIC FOR PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER will be held before worship service on April 2, at 9:30AM.
- LILIES AND SPRING FLOWERS FOR EASTER--we are accepting monetary donations for flowers to grace and beautify our sanctuary. If you prefer, you may bring your own flowers. Names of those honored or remembered will be included as always in the Easter PowerPoint. Please sign-up (sheet on the office counter) by Monday April 3.
-THE PC(USA) ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING SPECIAL OFFERING is from Feb. 22 until April 9. Please put donations in the offering plate and write ‘One Great Hour’ on the memo line or use envelopes by offering plate. Thank you for your generosity!
GIDEON PRESENTATION by John Brawand
CALL TO WORSHIP
Wait for the Lord.
Our souls wait and hope in God’s word.
Hope in the Lord.
With God there is steadfast love, and great power to redeem.
Our souls wait for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
*OPENING HYMN #376 (Blue) ‘Love Divine, All Loves Excelling’
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest;
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Christ is nearer to us than we can imagine. Jesus’ power is not just for a distant past and a far-off future.
Jesus is here for us here and now. Because there is forgiveness with God, let us call upon the Lord.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
God of resurrection, we know the power of death. We have seen its works, we have felt its sting. We have been to the valley of despair, and felt like there was no chance for life. We do not believe in your power to resurrect. We do not believe in your power to redeem our pain, and fashion something beautiful in this world. Forgive us. We cry from the depths—however faint our call may be, we pray you hear our voice. (silent reflection)
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
Thus says the Lord,
You shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.
I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.
We believe the good news!
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. Amen, Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Lord, please open our hearts and minds to hear what you have to tell us in your word. Amen.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Ezekiel 37:1–14
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
Romans 8:6–11
6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
We proclaim Christ crucified— the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God. 1 Corinthians 1:23–25
SERMON ‘Can These Bones Live’ Pastor Mark E. Werner
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -THE APOSTLES’ CREED (in unison)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*SERMON HYMN #210 (Blue) ‘Our God, Our Help in Ages Past’
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.
CALL TO OFFERING
Jesus says: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord. (Matthew 6:21)
SPECIAL MUSIC 'Spiritual and Hymn Medley' John B, Violin
*DOXOLOGY
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.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Living God, we thank you for the privilege of giving in your exalted name. We value our ability to give in a way that honors your spirit. As we present our offerings, we remain secure in our knowledge that you will sustain us by your redeeming grace and your infinite love. May your righteous spirit always dwell in our hearts. Amen. (Romans 8:6-11 David S. Bell)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Continued Health Requests:
-Dale E (Lee’s brother)
-USS South Dakota, captain and crew
-Jim, Dianne L’s husband
-Delores K
-Paige F
-Nelda H (recovery in the Neighborhoods)
-Betty G
-Carol G (recovery)
-Bob J and Jan as caregiver
-Bob O and Nancy as caregiver
-Darwin L (Jeanne’s husband) and Jeanne as caregiver
-Andrew & Beth L
-Laura (Linda’s niece)
-Gwen B (Lee P’s friend)
-Patty (friend of Michele)
-Harry (Bonnie S’s father)
Our homebound or in care members: Bob J, Delores K, Rose P, Cliff R, Art V, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Rozanne M; Daniel & Carolyn M & family Hannah, Allison, & Emma; Marlys M
Those who mourn: We pray for the Broksieck, Canaday, Spitzenberger, Barnett, Fee, VanderWaal, Goodale, McCann, and Webster families and all who have lost loved ones.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #316 (Blue) ‘Breathe on Me, Breath of God’
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breath on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
POSTLUDE O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, arr. Payne
Sources: Call to Worship Lectionary Aids for 2022-2023 Year A Vo.56.1 PCUSA; Copyright © 2023 David S. Bell. Reprinted with permission from www.DavidSBell.org.
5th Sunday in Lent
March 26, 2023
PRELUDE What Wondrous Love is This? Hayes/Gaspard
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-LENTEN POTLUCK MEAL will be held today March 26 after worship. Thank you for bringing something to share—please come even if you didn’t bring as there is always enough to share.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House at 9:30ish.
-PIECES & PRAYERS will be meeting at the church on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM. All are welcomed to help with quilting.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 AM at the church.
-PRACTICE FOR SPECIAL MUSIC FOR PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER will be held before worship service on April 2, at 9:30AM.
- LILIES AND SPRING FLOWERS FOR EASTER--we are accepting monetary donations for flowers to grace and beautify our sanctuary. If you prefer, you may bring your own flowers. Names of those honored or remembered will be included as always in the Easter PowerPoint. Please sign-up (sheet on the office counter) by Monday April 3.
-THE PC(USA) ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING SPECIAL OFFERING is from Feb. 22 until April 9. Please put donations in the offering plate and write ‘One Great Hour’ on the memo line or use envelopes by offering plate. Thank you for your generosity!
GIDEON PRESENTATION by John Brawand
CALL TO WORSHIP
Wait for the Lord.
Our souls wait and hope in God’s word.
Hope in the Lord.
With God there is steadfast love, and great power to redeem.
Our souls wait for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
*OPENING HYMN #376 (Blue) ‘Love Divine, All Loves Excelling’
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest;
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Christ is nearer to us than we can imagine. Jesus’ power is not just for a distant past and a far-off future.
Jesus is here for us here and now. Because there is forgiveness with God, let us call upon the Lord.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
God of resurrection, we know the power of death. We have seen its works, we have felt its sting. We have been to the valley of despair, and felt like there was no chance for life. We do not believe in your power to resurrect. We do not believe in your power to redeem our pain, and fashion something beautiful in this world. Forgive us. We cry from the depths—however faint our call may be, we pray you hear our voice. (silent reflection)
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
Thus says the Lord,
You shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.
I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.
We believe the good news!
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. Amen, Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Lord, please open our hearts and minds to hear what you have to tell us in your word. Amen.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Ezekiel 37:1–14
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
Romans 8:6–11
6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
We proclaim Christ crucified— the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God. 1 Corinthians 1:23–25
SERMON ‘Can These Bones Live’ Pastor Mark E. Werner
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -THE APOSTLES’ CREED (in unison)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*SERMON HYMN #210 (Blue) ‘Our God, Our Help in Ages Past’
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.
CALL TO OFFERING
Jesus says: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord. (Matthew 6:21)
SPECIAL MUSIC 'Spiritual and Hymn Medley' John B, Violin
*DOXOLOGY
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.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Living God, we thank you for the privilege of giving in your exalted name. We value our ability to give in a way that honors your spirit. As we present our offerings, we remain secure in our knowledge that you will sustain us by your redeeming grace and your infinite love. May your righteous spirit always dwell in our hearts. Amen. (Romans 8:6-11 David S. Bell)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Continued Health Requests:
-Dale E (Lee’s brother)
-USS South Dakota, captain and crew
-Jim, Dianne L’s husband
-Delores K
-Paige F
-Nelda H (recovery in the Neighborhoods)
-Betty G
-Carol G (recovery)
-Bob J and Jan as caregiver
-Bob O and Nancy as caregiver
-Darwin L (Jeanne’s husband) and Jeanne as caregiver
-Andrew & Beth L
-Laura (Linda’s niece)
-Gwen B (Lee P’s friend)
-Patty (friend of Michele)
-Harry (Bonnie S’s father)
Our homebound or in care members: Bob J, Delores K, Rose P, Cliff R, Art V, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Rozanne M; Daniel & Carolyn M & family Hannah, Allison, & Emma; Marlys M
Those who mourn: We pray for the Broksieck, Canaday, Spitzenberger, Barnett, Fee, VanderWaal, Goodale, McCann, and Webster families and all who have lost loved ones.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #316 (Blue) ‘Breathe on Me, Breath of God’
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breath on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
POSTLUDE O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, arr. Payne
Sources: Call to Worship Lectionary Aids for 2022-2023 Year A Vo.56.1 PCUSA; Copyright © 2023 David S. Bell. Reprinted with permission from www.DavidSBell.org.